Westport Beach stretches along Westport Slough where it meets the Lower Columbia River, approximately 26 miles east of Astoria and 50 miles northwest of Portland along U.S. Route 30. This river beach sits in a quiet unincorporated community of Clatsop County, offering access to one of the Columbia River's most productive fishing sloughs. Westport County Park provides the primary public access point with 27 acres and 2,600 feet of Westport Slough frontage. The slough opens to the Columbia River near Puget Island, creating a tidally influenced backwater that attracts salmon, sturgeon, and bass. The Westport Ferry operates daily from 5am to 10pm, connecting Oregon to Puget Island across the river, providing scenic views of shipping traffic and wildlife along the lower Columbia River waterway.
Swimming at Westport Beach requires extreme caution due to swift Columbia River currents, cold water temperatures, commercial shipping traffic, and lack of lifeguard services. The river flows at speeds exceeding three knots during high water, creating dangerous conditions for swimmers. County Line Park and small beaches at Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge permit wading and toe-dipping, though swimming beyond shallow areas proves unsafe. Fishing dominates recreational activities, with anglers targeting spring and fall Chinook salmon runs, massive white sturgeon reaching 10 feet in length, and smallmouth bass in the slough's protected waters. The two-lane concrete boat ramp at Westport County Park accommodates vessels up to 30 feet, with aluminum boarding docks and extensive trailer parking. Kayakers circumnavigate Puget Island on eight-mile paddles exploring sandy beaches, quiet sloughs, and open water sections of the Columbia. Birdwatching proves excellent year-round, with bald eagles, great blue herons, and osprey hunting the slough's shallow waters.
Access Westport Beach via Westport County Park located half a mile north of Highway 30 in Westport. The park entrance sits on River Ranch Lane off Old Portland Road. Parking accommodates approximately 40 boat trailers and 20 single vehicles in a large paved lot. The county park charges no day-use fees, though Oregon State Marine Board registration requirements apply to all watercraft. Flush restrooms operate year-round near the boat ramp. Cell phone service proves reliable with Verizon and AT&T coverage. A park host resides on-site during summer months providing assistance and monitoring facilities. The Westport Ferry landing sits two miles west, charging 2 dollars for pedestrians and bicycles, 6 dollars for vehicles to cross to Puget Island. No lifeguards patrol the beach area at any time. The nearest hospital, Columbia Memorial Hospital, operates 30 miles west in Astoria with emergency services accessible via Highway 30.
Dining options concentrate in Westport and nearby communities along Highway 30. The Berry Patch Restaurant at 49289 Highway 30 has served homemade pies since 1993, specializing in marionberry pie, huckleberry pie, and raspberry cream cheese pie alongside breakfast fare including biscuits and gravy, Belgian waffles, and omelets stuffed with Columbia River smoked salmon. Blue Scorcher Bakery and Cafe in Astoria 26 miles west prepares organic breads, pastries, and lunch sandwiches including the Astoria, featuring local Dungeness crab salad on house-baked bread. Bridgewater Bistro overlooks the Columbia River in Astoria, serving pan-seared Oregon albacore tuna, wild salmon, and grass-fed burgers with views of passing ships. Pig and Pancake offers classic American breakfast and lunch in Astoria, cooking sourdough pancakes, crab cake eggs Benedict, and clam chowder served in bread bowls. Westport Beach's position on the working Columbia River preserves its character as a fishing and boating destination rather than a swimming beach, attracting anglers and paddlers seeking trophy sturgeon and quiet slough exploration along Oregon's northern river boundary.
