For centuries visitors have flocked to Sauvie Island; a 24,000 acre rural paradise situated where the Willamette and Columbia Rivers meet.Located just 12 miles north of Portland, today's visitors are drawn by the 13,000 acre Sauvie Island Wildlife Management Area's flat hiking trails, wide sandy beaches, plentiful waterfowl and rural charm. But, for visitors who know where to look, you can explore the island's rich history as well; one that includes a wealthy tribe of Native American residents, visits by famous explorers, the roots of Oregon's statehood, and some pretty amazing pioneer families.Early explorers wrote about Sauvie Island's friendly native population, its plentiful but noisy waterfowl, and natural beauty in their journals. The waterfowl are still plentiful and the natural beauty relatively unchanged.Pioneer businessmen came west to build a town on the island and harvest its natural resources, scientists came to sketch and catalog its wild plants, and pioneer settlers were attracted by the fertile soil. This book will help you to discover all of Sauvie Island's recreational opportunities. It shows you where to hike, picnic, sunbathe, swim, hunt and fish, as well as where to find the island's historic sites, how to explore the island by boat, and where you'll find island cafes and snacks, u-pick crops, and annual events.