Rufus Landing Recreation Area

This dispersed camping area is on an old cobble sandbar, on the Columbia River. No soft sand. Fairly flat. No shade. No services other than a vault toilet. Active train tracks not far away. Can be very windy; popular with wind surfers and fisherfolk. I’ve stayed here as an overnight stop several times. I’ve seen every form of camper here. It is well known and widely used. My last time there was 2025. Up to then, everyone was always respectful, no rowdies ruining the peace. Litter and strewn garbage was not a problem. The trade off for no vegetation on the cobble and therefore no privacy sandbar is a sense of open horizons and peace.