We're here for a picnic, we're having independence day! Parking is $3 for cars. Not enough space for parking, you just passed the spot, but you'd expect to get closer to the covered area, and you ended up parking way back from where you started. Picnic are, concrete and covered, with tables & benches & grilling area. Structure is adequate and protected from the weather. Nice view of the river, and there are boats! Restroom? Go back to the first building, where you could have parked. There are no toilet paper where the stall I picked. When I flushed the toilet, it went on forever! I have to hop to the next stall to find toilet paper. Luckily, I was the only one there! I'd give this one a one star! :( read more

Only $3 entry per car. 30-35 mins from the city. There's a good amount of parking but they fill up fast. Open Volleyball and playground area but limited shaded spots! Get here early and Score a shady spot by a tree and enjoy lounging on the sandy beach or float in the river on a hot Sunday afternoon. Bring umbrellas, water, sunblock, Sanitizer, and trash bags. read more

Frenchman's Bar Regional Park - Snoozin under the shade :) - Parks Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

I came mainly for the walking path, but the park and path leave little to the imagination. If you want volleyball and picnic by a canal, you found your spot. Ample parking and even a covered picnic table spot with a relief station. The trail is U-shaped and very straight. Not much shade and often looking into open fields. I wished I went the other direction and walked toward Vancouver Park/Lake. At least it had a better view. read more

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Vancouver, WA has so many hidden gems, we've lived here 8 months now and we are still discovering new faves! This sprawling park is along the Columbia River and with so much park and beach area even when there are a lot of people here you can find a place to yourself and not feel crowded at all. There is a Clark County Regional Parks parking fee of $3/per day (or $30 a year), but it is well worth it (this is NOT the same parking pass as the Discover Pass for the WA State Parks). And if you pay to park here for the day or over at Vancouver Lake (or any other Clark County Regional Park you have to pay to park at) the day parking pass is valid at the others on the same day (at least that is what we were told when we went back over to Vancouver Lake after coming here). They have a bit of something for everyone: -paved, screened/gravel & beach trails for taking a stroll or hike -lots of beach for swimming & sunbathing (when swimming just be careful as the depth can drop off suddenly in different areas) -of course, being on the river there are ample places for fishing, kayaking, etc. -several picnic tables throughout the park -a few large picnic shelters in the park that you can reserve (I'm not sure what the fees are to do so) -BBQ grills -plenty of open, grassy areas for setting up your own chairs, blanket or tent/shelter for a picnic or playing frisbee, etc. -a beach volleyball area with 8 nets, if I remember the count correctly -at least one playground area for the kiddos -restroom facilities in a couple of areas (I've heard these are closed in the Winter but that there are port-a-potties available during those months) The park and beach areas, for the most part, were very clean when we visited. There was just one secluded picnic table with a little bit of trash around it that we noticed, so we picked that up. Be sure to bring your own bag to carry trash out if you will be generating trash, as there are not trash cans in the more remote beach/picnic/trail areas. read more

Kayaking past this park for the last three years, I was pleased to visit it today at the beginning of winter. It is lovely and vast here with sandy beaches even in the rainy season. There's a $3 parking fee and what you get in return is well worth it: --lots of paved pathways to enjoy --picnic shelters --bathrooms (closed in winter) --portable toilets for the winter season --8 sand volleyball courts --stunning Columbia River views --bountiful birding opportunities--this is bald eagle country --well tended park I'll be back to enjoy this outstanding park. read more

As a person from Southern California that grew up with sandy beaches, I absolutely love this park and was happy to discover it! Parking is only $3 per car and there are plenty of spots to park. What I like is that, even on a Saturday during the peak of Summer, it's not unbearably crowded like LA beaches. The water is very pleasant, just be careful not to good too deep because there are definitely sudden drop-offs. As someone else mentioned in another review, it's nice because it feels like you are in a rural area yet you are only about 10 minutes away from downtown Vancouver and about 20 minutes from downtown Portland. Additional note: I recommend this park over Kelley Point. That park was dirtier and there was a rotting seal or a very large fish, wasn't sure, on the beach. read more

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Driving a few miles east of Vancouver, you quickly enter a quiet rural countryside. It's amazing that you can pass from an industrial port into farmland and wildlife refuge in such a short period of time. It is in this area, close to the city but isolated from the metropolis, that you will find Frenchman's Bar Park. This part lies across the river from Sauvie Island, just north of Kelly Point Park and the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia. There's an unobstructed view of the Columbia, nice sandy beaches, playground equipment, views of the mountains, an abandoned barn, and plenty of walking trails. It's a really nice park! There are a number of parking lots and starting points, so I imagine there's a lot to explore along the banks of the river. I checked out most of the north portion, but there's a paved trail that heads over to Vancouver lake, as well as a number of unimproved trails that head off into the woods here and there. If you're looking for a relaxing alternative to Sauvie Island and a great place to watch a sunset, you could do a lot worse than Frenchman's Bar. read more

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This is as close to the beach as we get here in Vantucky. It's a questionable body of water and questionable sand-like material. Great for hot summer days when you just don't want to make the 2 hour trek to the coast. There are parts of Frenchman's that are filled with the frat/sorority types twerking to popular music. Or, if you're really savvy, you can find one of those super secret secluded spots where you can *cough* drink your beer *cough* and have a picnic. Bring your favorite floaty, a full cooler, and some sun screen! read more

I called out in French several times, "where is the bar? Where is the bar?" No one answered. Se la vie, baby. If you pass by this park you'll find lots of little pull out's that have trails leading to sloughs and fallow agricultural lands teeming with flowers and fowl. I never see another soul, because the twerkers and tweekers trek elsewhere. Many's the time a bird of prey cast it's shadow over me as it glided lithely on a spring thermal like a quiet angel of death. You can't really get lost--except in thought--on these old roads. read more

A great place to stroll with your dogs and enjoy the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere - where you really are in the middle of somewhere. This is an isolated park with lots of room to roam and explore the riverfront. Great views and dog friendly atmosphere. I recommend bringing someone special if you don't have a dog. Great sunset viewing at its best! read more

Lovely place, plenty of space to sprawl alone and be with your thoughts. and your pooch :) read more

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Cool spot to hangout and swim. Unfortunately people can't pick up their trash. So garbage is all over on the beach and sand. Other than that fun place to hangout for the day. read more

Seriously loved this place!! There is a nice grassy area up top with big trees to keep you in the shade. A very short walk down to the beach. Super soft sand, no rocks or gravel or anything. Huge boats come through which was pretty cool to watch. It was the perfect day just chillin and bouncing between the beach and the shady, grassy area. Come early though- the parking lot fills up! 1 minor issue is that there is a "rule" not to have alcohol so... heads up and come prepared. read more

I love this place! It's a big enough park that even though everyone and they momma was out and about, we were still able to find a spot where we didn't have to be squished up next to other people. The water seems pretty clean and there isn't a lot of shade so next time we go on a sunny day we will bring an umbrella to stick in the sand. We will also bring a light weight wagon to haul our stuff so we can look for a spot without having to carry everything because we had to walk quite a bit, but it was totally worth it! It's nice having this gem close to home! read more

The lady who works in the ticket booth was the rudest women who was condescending and belittling for no reason, ruined my whole experience at this establishment read more

I love this place! Even before it became an actual park. I'm the 90's in HS, we'd come out here to play cards and skim board. It's gorgeous out here regardless of the weather. But sunny days like this are fabulous! It's a clean park, people are respectful and your pup is allowed. :) Spacious and plenty of room along the sandy areas, plenty of open grass areas. A few undercover picnic areas, and ppl are always planting fishing poles along the shore. There are sand volleyball courts, but I've never actually seen them used other than a few moments. Lol. Beautiful place to contemplate, read, cool off (when it's hot) or have a beverage with friends. :) read more

It was super hot the day we came here, but beautiful! We snagged a shady spot under the picnic shelter and had lunch with our baby and our dog. Then we went down to the water and splashed a bit and watched some boats and a barge go by. There is a little playground, but there is no shade there so on that particular day it was too hot, but we saw other kids enjoying it. A very peaceful, uncrowded little piece of shore to enjoy the water and a little picnic! read more

Visited here today after first going to Vancouver Lake and finding out I can't walk my pup there until the Fall. We waded around in the water for a while and enjoyed the beach, which had plenty of folks but did not feel crowded. This feels like a nice retreat from the city and so we'll definitely be back - great place! read more

Great little escape 20 minutes outside of Portland that is actually very mellow during the summer at least on a weekday. Very quiet with some good bird watching and a nice little beach to walk along with the dog. Wear some water socks if you want to go in the water as it is very gravelly, and look out as there is sometimes broken glass and people aren't as clean as they should be, so there's some trash around unfortunately which is why I can't give it 5 stars. Otherwise a nice place for a private picnic spot on a sunny day when most places are crowded and loud. read more

Lots of open space and it's nice that there are grills for general public use. Had to pay for parking, but only $3 for a car, not bad. Pretty relaxing place. Good for large or small groups. read more