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.
There is a burn ban in effect at this park. No open flames of any type; no smoking allowed, trails and undeveloped areas closed to entry; (internal RV stoves are allowed).
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.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| None |
| None |
| Open |
| Open |
| None |
| None |
|
Schedule Note:
No toilet facilities Nov. 1-March 31.
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Driving Directions
Located between Murdock, Wash., and Lyle, Wash. in Klickitat County.
From Oregon:
On I-84, take exit #87 at The Dalles. Drive north on US 197 over the Columbia River about 2.5 miles to the SR 14 junction, then head west about five miles. The park is located on SR 14.
From Washington:
Travel east on SR 14 from Vancouver,WA. The park is about three miles east of the town of Lyle.
Traveling west:
On SR 14 from US 97 or I-82 near the Tri-Cities, drive about five miles past the US 197 junction. The park is located near milepost-78 on SR 14.
Park Maps
Doug's Beach downloadable pdf map #1
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
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. |
Events
Full list of
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.
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Park photo gallery
