We are lucky to have lots of splash pads and pools to cool off during the dog days of summer, but if looking to visit a beach, we’ve got those, too! Here’s a ready-to-go list of where to take your kids!
Water Advisory
Ask most Vancouver locals, and you’ll be advised to check the water quality for local swimming beaches in the summer. Clark County works to test, monitor and improve the water quality of designated swim beaches, but despite these efforts, contaminants from animals or algae can sometimes cause a beach to close during prime swimming season. Benthic algae mats have also been identified along parts of the Columbia River shoreline — including at Cottonwood Beach and Wintler Park, two of the beaches on this list — since October 2024, with signs posted encouraging swimmers to check for algae before getting in the water. Check for local advisories online before you go.
Now that you’ve checked the water quality status, here are our five favorite kid-friendly beaches in the Vancouver area.
Captain William Clark Park / Cottonwood Beach
Cottonwood Beach is 20 minutes outside of downtown Vancouver, or a bit longer if you opt for the scenic Evergreen Highway. Parking is plentiful, but the walk down to the water can feel long, so make a pit stop at the bathrooms and carry in everything you’ll need for the day — including bug spray, as the trees along the shore can be buggy. Kids will love the canoe display, commemorating the Lewis & Clark’s six-day expedition in the area. They noted the site’s “handsome prairie” in their travel logs; it’s still an accurate description.
The beach is part of a 93-acre park area, so there are many amenities and water access spots along the trail. Please remember that water access here is directly to the Columbia River, so follow best practices to know depth and flow or simply stay on the sand. If you need gentler waters while still in Washougal, look towards the Washougal River and the Sandy Swimming Hole instead.
Fun fact: Cottonwood beach might be the official name, but many locals refer to this spot as BA Beach or Bare A** Beach. While we’ve only every seen fully clothed swimmers on our jaunts, apparently a long-ago group of teens once got caught onsite skinny dipping, and the name stuck!
On your way home, check out Ashwood Taps & Trucks in Washougal, a kid-friendly food cart pod with outdoor seating.
Wintler Community Park
A bit closer in is the popular Wintler Community Park — emphasis on popular, as the small parking lot fills up quickly, so head there early to snag a spot. The morning arrival is worth it, as the beach is easily accessible and absolutely lovely. Kids can watch planes take off from the Portland airport, just far enough away that the noise is exciting rather than scary. Older kids will enjoy the walking trail along the waterfront to the marina. Everyone will be glad to end the day at nearby restaurant The Cove.
Vancouver Lake Regional Park
On the other side of town sits Vancouver Lake Regional Park. The $5 parking fee (or $40 for a Clark County Regional Parks yearly pass) is well worth it for families, who will appreciate the narrow beach and the shallow, calm water. If older kids need more entertainment, point them towards the sand volleyball court or the many picnic tables beneath wide trees to get some space and cool down.
Motorized boats are not allowed to launch from Vancouver Lake Park, so you’ll enjoy a peaceful experience with paddling and swimming without the extra noise and wake.
Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park
Due west from Vancouver Lake, Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park is just across the Columbia from Sauvie Island. The Clark County parking pass covers you here; look for the lots nearest the main picnic shelter for the easiest beach access, or park near Bluerock Landing and hike or bike in. Pro tip: Clark County currently advises against swimming here due to steep drop-offs and swift currents in the river, so this is more of a sand-and-shoreline beach than a swimming one — kids can dig, build and wade at the edge, and there’s plenty to do beyond the water, too: a playground, and cargo ships to watch drift by. A scoop of something sweet at Treat in downtown Vancouver is the perfect way to wrap up your beach day here or at Vancouver Lake.
Klineline Pond
Pull off at Chuck’s Fresh Markets (formerly Chuck’s Produce) for picnic fare on your way to Klineline Pond, part of Salmon Creek Regional Park. A paved path takes you directly from the parking lot (use your Clark County parking pass again!) to the pond, where you can set up on the beach or beneath the trees. The park has a designated swim beach with free life jackets to borrow, but no lifeguards are guaranteed to be on duty, so keep an eye on the little ones. Dogs aren’t allowed. And if your kids need a change of pace from the beach, they can play in the splash pad as well as on the updated playground. Truly, this spot shines — especially for families with younger kids. Pro tip: Afterward, swing by west-side favorite treat stand Tropical Sno Vancouver and choose from a large variety of shaved-ice flavors.
Looking for more swimming adventures? Check them out here!