Red Mill Beach stretches along the Columbia River's southern shore at 75140 Highway 30, approximately three miles west of downtown Rainier in Columbia County. This riverfront access point sits 0.7 miles west of Rainier's city limits where the Columbia River flows 1,243 miles from British Columbia to the Pacific Ocean 65 miles downstream. The beach occupies the site of historic sawmill operations that transformed Rainier into a lumber shipping center during the late 1800s, with F.M. Warren establishing one of the first large steam sawmills in 1854 to process old-growth Douglas fir and western red cedar logged from the Northern Oregon Coast Range. The Red Mill name likely references the weathered red paint of historic mill buildings that once dominated this shoreline before fire and economic decline dismantled Rainier's timber industry. Columbia County developed as Oregon's timber belt, with dozens of sawmills operating along the river shipping lumber downstream to Portland and Astoria for export.
Swimming at Red Mill Beach proves extremely dangerous due to Columbia River currents exceeding four knots during high water, cold temperatures averaging 60-65 degrees in summer and 45 degrees in winter, commercial shipping traffic including barges and ocean-going vessels, and complete absence of lifeguard services. The Columbia River claims multiple drowning victims annually throughout its Oregon sections. Strong currents sweep swimmers downstream rapidly toward the main shipping channel located 300 yards offshore. Wading beyond ankle depth remains unsafe. Fishing dominates recreational use, with anglers casting from the beach for spring and fall Chinook salmon weighing 20-50 pounds, summer steelhead averaging 8-12 pounds from June through August, and white sturgeon reaching lengths exceeding 10 feet. The beach provides productive shore fishing access without requiring boat launching. Birdwatching rewards visitors with osprey, bald eagles, great blue herons, and cormorants hunting the river, with over 140 bird species recorded in Columbia County's riparian habitats. Beachcombing reveals driftwood, river-smoothed stones, and occasional glass floats.
Access Red Mill Beach via Highway 30 at mile marker 75, approximately three miles west of downtown Rainier. Parking accommodates approximately 10 vehicles along the highway shoulder with no designated parking lot. No entrance fees apply to the informal beach access. Facilities remain nonexistent with no restrooms, picnic tables, or drinking water. The beach operates without posted hours, accessible dawn to dusk year-round. Visitors must exercise extreme caution crossing Highway 30 to reach the waterline, as traffic speeds exceed 55 miles per hour with limited sight distances around curves. Cell phone service proves reliable with most carriers. The nearest developed facilities operate at Dibblee Beach County Park four miles west, charging five dollars per vehicle and offering portable toilets. Boat launching occurs at Rainier Marina four miles east on Veterans Way. PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center provides emergency services 12 miles north in Longview, Washington at 1615 Delaware Street.
Dining concentrates in downtown Rainier three miles east along Highway 30. Cornerstone Cafe serves breakfast all day on Sundays, preparing chicken fried steak with eggs, berry pancakes, and bacon cheeseburgers alongside prime rib dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 5pm. Outpost 30 at 73684 Columbia River Highway operates a burger barn cooking Western burgers topped with crispy onion rings and BBQ sauce, bacon avocado burgers, and hand-cut fries. Interstate Tavern specializes in fresh seafood flown in twice weekly, serving Dungeness crab cocktails with over 10 ounces of crabmeat, beer-battered cod fish and chips, and Manhattan clam chowder. Goble Tavern at 70255 Highway 30 six miles west prepares classic tavern fare including burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and appetizers with live music on weekends. Columbia Bakehouse bakes fresh croissants, cinnamon rolls, sourdough bread, and cookies daily while serving espresso drinks and breakfast sandwiches. Red Mill Beach's informal character and excellent shore fishing access attract anglers seeking productive Columbia River salmon and sturgeon spots without crowds or fees typical of developed county parks.
