SAUVIE ISLAND, Ore. — On a hot September afternoon, the quiet trails of Sauvie Island offer more than exercise—they deliver history, beauty, and the sweet taste of late summer.
Running into the Woods
Leaving behind farm fields near the island’s edge, I step into the woods, where the trail is soft with leaves and pine needles. The ground cushions each stride, forgiving on older knees and making it a perfect route for runners of all ages.
Every turn brings glimpses of the Columbia River, wide and shimmering, while the forest canopy filters sunlight into golden ribbons. The air carries the smell of leaf dust kicked up by running shoes, mingled with the cool river breeze.
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For me, trail running is a way to quiet my mind after a long day—just moving, breathing, and listening to the world around me.
Blackberry Temptations
Along the path, I encounter a thicket of wild blackberries, the vines so dense I weave between thorns to keep running. The berries, dark and perfectly ripe, are irresistible.
I pause to pluck a handful, their sweetness bursting against the heat of the day. I run a little, stop again, and pick more. Soon, my fingertips are stained purple, evidence of the season’s abundance.
These small, unexpected gifts remind me that running outdoors is never just about distance or pace—it’s about discovery.
History in the Landscape
Sauvie Island holds a deep past that stretches long before today’s joggers and berry-pickers. For centuries, it was home to Multnomah Native villages, thriving communities that lived along the rivers until European diseases devastated their populations in the 18th century.
In the early 1800s, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped near this very landscape during their famous expedition, noting the island’s richness in fish, game, and fertile soil.
That layered history lingers in the wind that rustles through meadows and in the quiet along the Columbia’s shore.
A Meadow of Wildflowers
The trail eventually opens onto a wide meadow where the late-summer palette is on full display. Goldenrod, Queen Anne’s lace, and tansy blossoms scatter bright yellows and whites across the grass.
This is one of the best seasons to run here. The heat of summer has softened, yet autumn hasn’t fully arrived. With kids back in school, crowds thin out, leaving spaces like Sauvie Island peaceful and nearly empty.
Toward the Lighthouse and the Beach
The path continues until it reaches an old lighthouse overlooking the Columbia River. From here, a long, sandy beach stretches into the distance. In high summer, Sauvie Island’s beaches can be crowded, but today the strand feels private, almost wild.
A barge rumbles in the distance, its low engine hum the only interruption to the stillness. Otherwise, it is just me, the sand, and the water.
The Perfect Finish
I slip off my running shoes and T-shirt, stepping barefoot across the cool sand before diving into the river. The cold water shocks my body at first, then soothes sore muscles and rinses away the sweat and dust of the trail.
Floating in the stillness, I savor the contrast—the effort of the run, the sweetness of the berries, the colors of the meadow, and now the silence of the Columbia River.
On Sauvie Island, a simple run becomes an immersion in Oregon’s natural beauty and history, a reminder that the trail offers more than exercise—it offers connection.
