When people seek out a home on the Columbia River, their bucket list will often include views, recreational access, and privacy, with many listings fulfilling perhaps one or two of those criteria, but not often all three. That's why this listing is such a treat—it has all of the above, and then some, including 1,850 feet of shoreline and a seasonal sandy beach in its own cove, attached to almost six acres outside Washougal, Washington.

Here at Property Watch, we like to delve into the history and possibility of homes, and this listing has both. Located just two minutes off of Highway 14, per the real estate agent, it was once part of a much larger parcel that was divided into four at some point, with this house located last on the shared road. The home was built in 1909, and looks like a classic farmhouse from the exterior, down to the red siding and gable roof.

Inside, the finishes are decidedly more mixed, but there's a nice amount of space for anyone who wants to restore or rebuild (per proper approvals). With 1,224 square feet spread over two floors, it has one bedroom and a bathroom, as well as a sizable upstairs loft, and a cute freestanding stove in its own river rock alcove. The home is being sold as a fixer, so due diligence is needed, but we see the potential, sited as it is on a rise so the wraparound porch and the big windows get the views.

And speaking of those, it's hard to imagine that Portland International Airport is only 35 minutes away from such a bucolic setting. This is the kind of scenery typically only appreciated via Gorge hikes, of which there are many close by, since Washougal is at the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Still, with this place as home base, there's much to appreciate closer at hand. Across the railroad tracks, there's the swimming hole for a quick dip, and the sandy cove for launching watercraft. Or, just stay put and watch all of the waterfalls emerge across the river on the Oregon side, as they start really pouring after a rainstorm. 

Listing Fast Facts 

• Address: 52 Puzzled Woman Rd, Washougal, WA 98671
• Size: 1,224 square feet/2 bedroom/1 bath 
• List Date: 2/13/2026
• List Price: $1,400,000 (dropped from $1,750,000)
• Listing Agent: William Purta, Real Broker LLC

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. Contact Dalton here. 

Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].