Sandy River Beaches Overflow with Crowds Seeking Relief from Soaring Temperatures

Temperatures soared to the 90s in the Portland metro area on Sunday, drawing large crowds of families to the shore along the Sandy River at Glenn Otto Park to beat the heat.

Amanda Lamarco, who visited the river with her family, described the heat as 'really hot'.

Niurka Oliva, another visitor, characterized the atmosphere as 'energetic, happy, very vibrant'.

As temperatures continued to rise, some visitors mustered the courage to take a dip in the water.

'It's cold but it's good. It's a good cold,' Lamarco said, describing the refreshing water.

Despite the crowds, the shoreline was filled by 11:30 a.m., but visitors agreed that the short trip from the city was well worth it.

'It's the reason why we stay in Portland,' Lamarco said. 'You can get your city life and your nature within like 20 minutes.'

The river was packed with swimmers and sunbathers, and Sugarpine Drive-In, located next to the park, had a line out of the door for most of the afternoon.

Sugarpine's soft-serve ice cream was a must-have for many seeking to cool off.

'I've always said my favorite medium of ice cream is soft serve,' said Summer O'Dwyer, who was camping nearby. 'It's just so nice to stay cool. It cools you from the inside out.'

With hot weather expected to continue, parents like Lamarco and Oliva reminded others to stay safe if they plan to use the river to cool off this summer.

'They have life jackets here, but always make sure to bring life jackets,' Oliva said.

'And sunscreen,' Lamarco added. 'And hats, big hats.'

The City of Troutdale partners with American Medical Response's River Safety Program and will typically have two lifeguards at the river throughout the summer.