Washington State Parks

Doug's Beach: Overview

Park overview:

Doug's Beach State Park is a 400-acre, undeveloped day-use park on the Columbia River. This is one of the premier windsurfing sites in the Columbia Gorge and is rated for advanced sailors. Parking is along the south side of SR 14. There is a pedestrian walkway behind the vehicle-parking area, fenced from passing trains. Visitors access the beach down a paved path with railroad-crossing arms and signals.

Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.

The park is open year round for day use.

Current alerts:

Please note: There is a permanent burn ban in effect at Doug's Beach State Park. No open flames of any type; no smoking allowed; trails and undeveloped areas closed to entry; internal RV stoves are allowed.

For information on burn bans throughout Washington state, you may visit the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website. Please note that individual park burn bans may differ from DNR burn bans and may change without notice. Please check current conditions upon arriving at the park.

Agency information:

Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.

The Discover Pass now can be used on either of two vehicles!

Annual pass: $30
One-day pass: $10
(Transaction and dealer fees may apply)
A Discover Pass is required for motor-vehicle access to state parks and recreation lands managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Exemptions: Your purchase of the Discover Pass supports recreation on state lands. However, the Discover Pass is not required if you are camping or renting overnight accommodations, for the duration of your stay at that state park. For additional exemptions and more information, please visit the Discover Pass website.

Park Features

Doug's beach is a popular windsurfing site and (for those less adventurous) a windsurfing observation site. Picnic tables and shade trees line the shore.

History

In 1805, Lewis and Clark stopped for supplies at an Indian village in the vicinity of today's park. The transaction is recorded in their journals. The park acquired its name from a windsurfer who used to frequent the beach when the sport was in its infancy. "Doug" still lives in the Gorge and owns a business in Hood River, Oregon.

Interpretive opportunities

There are currently no interpretive opportunities at this park.

Services/Supplies

	Available in the area
	• Auto repair • Airport • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Hospital • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • White gas • Wood • Swimming

The nearest gas, phone and groceries can be found in Murdock and Lyle. Additional services are available in The Dalles, Oregon.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
	• Fishing (freshwater) • Swimming (freshwater)	• Bird Watching • Sailboarding • Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing is also popular. Be advised that archeological sites and artifacts are protected by both federal and state laws, and their disturbance and/or removal is illegal and carries severe penalties. A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

Events

Free days at state parks: Visit Washington state parks for free. The Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park on ten designated free days in 2013.

The 2013 State Parks free days are as follows:

Jan. 21 – In honor of Martin Luther King Day
March 30 – In honor of Washington State Parks' 100th birthday on March 19
April 27 and 28 – National Parks Week
June 1 – National Trails Day
June 8 and 9 – National Get Outdoors Day and Department of Fish and Wildlife Free Fishing weekend
Aug. 4 – Peak season free day
Sept. 28 – National Public Lands Day
Nov. 9 through 11 – Veteran's Day weekend

Please note: A Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife during State Parks free days. For more information, please visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

Find other events at Washington State Parks

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

The park offers ten unsheltered picnic tables and three portapoties, but no water and no dump site. Visitors are expected to pack their garbage out with them when they leave. Tables are available first come, first served. Fires are not permitted in the park.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Marmots • Raccoons • Skunks • Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Gulls • Hawks • Herons • Ospreys • Wrens	• Bass • Catfish • Sturgeon • Walleye

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life	Special
The park is situated underneath basalt cliffs carved by the flood waters of the last ice age. The basalt emerged as immense lava flows from massive cracks in the earth's crust. These flows covered all of eastern Washington and Oregon long before the floods. An observer can identify the various flows by the distinct stratigraphy along the cliff walls. Some flows appear to have been hundreds of feet thick in some areas. For more information on the floods and geology of eastern Washington, visit Sun Lakes State Park and the Dry Falls Interpretive Center.		• Alder • Poplar • Lupines • Rose • Berries • Poison Oak	Native American villages existed up and down the Oregon and Washington shores of the Columbia River. Consequently, there are artifacts associated with those village sites. The disturbance of sites and/or collection of artifacts is prohibited by state and federal laws. Penalties for such violations are high, and the areas are patrolled by local, state, and federal officers.