Surprise Beach

Located in the city of Vancouver in Clark County, Surprise Beach is a small beige sand beach.  The beach is positioned along the northern bank of the Columbia River and has a beautiful backdrop of many oceanfront homes, which together provide incredible views of the Oregon-Washington Bridge.

Surprise Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly.

Surprise Beach offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and beachcombing.  If you are planning to go into the water, the waves are usually calm.  It is perfect for visitors looking for a serene experience, as this beach sees fewer visitors than other nearby beaches.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset.

Surprise Beach does not offer an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Surprise Beach is easy - it has a few street parking spots located at 1477 South East Columbia Way, which provides easy access to the beach.

Surprise Beach is the perfect beach to relax, unwind, and watch the sunset over the Columbia River.

There are many attractions near Surprise Beach.  Fort Vancouver National Historic Site preserves a fur trading post that served as the headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company during the 19th century.  It offers interesting insight into the history of the Pacific Northwest, the fur trade, and the early settlements of the region.  Visitors can explore gardens, a three-story bastion, a bake house, a village, a jail, the administrative center, a kitchen, and remnants of Hudson’s Bay Company through self-guided tours.  Esther Short Park is a dog-friendly neighborhood park spread over five acres and offers many amenities, including a playground with swing sets, benches, picnic areas, picnic tables, gazebos, a rose garden, a large fountain, the Salmon Run Bell Tower, and the historic Slocum House.  In addition, the park offers the weekly farmer's market and hosts many interesting events, including music concerts and festivals throughout the year.  Pittock Mansion is a historic house positioned on a hill built in French Renaissance style that has now been transformed into a museum.  It was owned by the Pittock family and features 23 opulent rooms, luxurious furnishings, and many art pieces.  Visitors can enjoy interesting guided tours that offer an intriguing insight into the history of the Pittock family and the city of Portland.  Wintler Community Park is a riverfront park spread over 12.5 acres that offers many amenities, including a sandy beach area, picnic tables, picnic areas, restrooms, paved walkways, observation decks, and a parking lot.   If you are looking for another nearby attraction, The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum is a small museum that showcases bizarre and unusual items, including paranormal artifacts, creepy dolls, aliens, and UFO-themed exhibits.  Visitors can enjoy interactive displays, optical illusions, and experiences.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants within a six-minute drive of Surprise Beach.  The Cove Restaurant is an upscale riverfront restaurant that serves incredible salads, soups, seafood, steaks, and sandwiches. Beaches Restaurant & Bar is a riverfront restaurant that serves steaks, beef, pork, meat, and poultry dishes.  Cecilia serves amazing salads, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, burgers, meat, and poultry dishes.  Hanabi Japanese Restaurant serves amazing sushi, soups, salads, tempura, sashimi, noodles, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes. Ginger Pop serves amazing Thai food, including salads, fried rice, noodles, soups, Thai curries, meat, beef, pork, poultry dishes, and desserts.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Who Song & Larry's serves quesadillas, tacos, burritos, soups, salads, fajitas, enchiladas, and desserts.

If you are looking for a hotel near Surprise Beach, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Portland, is 36 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including an indoor pool, hot tubs, a fitness center, a spa, and a restaurant.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District, which has a few amenities, including a fitness center and a restaurant.  Another moderately priced option is the 4-Star Hilton Vancouver Washington, which offers many amenities including an indoor pool, a whirlpool tub, a fitness center, and a restaurant.  A more reasonably priced option is the beachfront 3-Star Homewood Suites by Hilton Vancouver-Portland, which offers many amenities including an indoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, a tennis court, a basketball court, and complimentary breakfast.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Portland North has many amenities including an indoor pool, hot tubs, a fitness center, a convenience store, a game room, and complimentary breakfast.