Parks & Cruising Places
ROOSTER ROCK
Per Portland Blog website:
“This Oregon state park was actually the first official clothing-optional beach in the entire country and lies along the Columbia River east of downtown Portland. The nude beach itself is secluded from the rest of the park, so there’s privacy for everyone. Rooster Rock isn’t as popular these days as Collins Beach, but local naturists are working to reclaim the clothing-optional beach here.” Original article written March 2008, updated August 2011.
2003 - Chuck Palahniuk mentioned Randy in his book Fugitives and Refugees on page 107 “Getting Off; How to Knock Off a Piece in Portland: Cock Rock. Local historians say the Lewis and Clark Expedition named this thin towering basalt monolith “Cock Rock” for obvious reasons. Located between Interstate 84 and the Columbia River, a few miles east of Portland, we now discreetly call it “Rooster Rock”.
The trails lead out to the clothing-optional beach on Sand Island. Trails through the neighboring woods secluded clearings in the willow thickets host sex scenes you’ll occasionally glimpse – so be warned. Despite park rangers on horseback handing out $300 tickets for lewd behavior, Portlanders still spread their blankets – and so much more – at the base of Cock Rock.”
It was featured in the Just Out magazine November 2012 issue on page 39 “BEACHES” Rooster Rock State Park View a 360-degree moving panoramic of Rooster Rock taken at an extreme Columbia River low water level. Fully 100% legal nude beach.
It was also cited in THE GUIDE Magazine, October 2005, in article PORTLAND Oregon’s little gem page 30: “Other cruising possibility include the nude beaches at Rooster Rock, eastward along the Columbia River, and on Sauvie Island off US Route 30 to the northwest.”
Interstate 84 Exit 25 Corbett, OR 97019 East end of Beech 25 miles east of Portland [Approximately 29.6 miles from downtown Portland heading east on Hwy 84.]
Rooster Rock State Park: Head east on I-84 past Troutdale to get to Rooster Rock State Park, then walk over to the easternmost side to find the popular nude beaches. The rest of the island is not clothing-optional, so be prepared to suit up as you walk back to your car. $ 5/day use fee per vehicle.
— OREGONLIVE
citations & references:
∙ NOT listed in GAY PLACES 1971 International Guild Guide
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1972 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note (east end) about 30 mi. E. of Portland along Columbia River.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1973 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note (east end) about 30 mi. E. of Portland along Columbia River.
∙ Listed in Guild Guide 1973 USA & International (east end) about 30 mi E. of Portland along Columbia River.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1974 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note (east end) about 30 mi. E. of Portland along Columbia River. ALSO called Rooster Rock of St. Paul
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1975 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note (east end) about 30 mi. E. of Portland along Columbia River.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1976 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note (east end) about 30 mi. E. of Portland along Columbia River.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1977 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1978 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1979 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1980 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ In Edmund White’s book States of Desire published in 1980, he cites on page77, “The other nude beach is still farther along the Columbia: Rooster Rock, or “Cock Rock”, as it’s known. “For a while,” Tom says, “the cops were harassing gays at Rooster Rock, but now everyone knows we’re there, and they leave us alone.”
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1981 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1982 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1983 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1984 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1985 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1986 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1987 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1988 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1989 under Cruising Areas with notations Cruising Areas and note ‘B.A.’ Beach – east end 30 mi. E. of Portland.
∙ Listed in Damron Road Atlas 1994 Under: Cruisy areas
∙ Listed in Damron Road Atlas 1995 Under: Cruisy areas
∙ Listed in Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA 1996 Under: Nude Beaches “This popular beach is 20 miles east of the city on route 84 in the scenic Columbia Gorge. The gay section is to the right, along the river, about a half-mile up.”
∙ Listed in Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA 1997 Under: Action
∙ First listed in Ferrari Guides Men’s Travel 1999
∙ Listed in Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide 2000 Under: Cruisy Area
Listed in Worldwide Guide to Naked Places 8th Edition 2012 – Rooster Rock State Park (Rooster Rock, OR). Rooster Rock is a very traditional clothing-optional beach area on the Columbia River, patrolled by park staff, with a boat launch and picnic tables. It has been clothing optional for as long as anyone can remember because it is not illegal to be naked in public in the state of Oregon. It has lots of parking (for a fee) and miles of Sandy Beaches.
Rooster Rock State Park: Head east on I-84 past Troutdale to get to Rooster Rock State Park, then walk over to the easternmost side to find the popular nude beaches. The rest of the island is not clothing-optional, so be prepared to suit up as you walk back to your car. $ 5-day use fee per vehicle. https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2015/06/how_to_get_naked_in_oregon.html
https://www.wweek.com/culture/2017/09/08/things-every-gay-male-portland-transplant-should-know/
Cited in THE GUIDE Magazine www.guidemag.com October 2005 in article PORTLAND Oregon’s little gem page 30 Other cruising possibility include the nude beaches at Rooster Rock, eastward along the Columbia River, and on Sauvie Island off US Route 30 to the northwest.
In her book, Secret Portland, Oregon: The Unique Guidebook to Portland's Hidden Sites, Sounds, & Tastes By Ann Carroll Burgess written in 2003