One byproduct of advances in modern chemistry is the accumulation of synthetic chemicals in the natural environment. These compounds include pharmaceuticals, synthetic fragrances, detergents, and disinfectants present in wastewater and run-off, and are commonly referred to as “pharmaceuticals and personal care products” (PPCPs). Some are endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that have detrimental reproductive effects in wildlife and in humans. Methods have been developed to screen for large suites of PPCPs in aqueous media, but the role of sediments in exposure of aquatic organisms to these chemicals needs to be considered. The first methods capable of analyzing these compounds in solid media were published in 2005, but have not been applied to the Columbia River. Here we present a small-scale reconnaissance of PPCPs in natural bed sediments of the lower Columbia River Basin. Surficial bed sediment samples were collected from the Columbia River, the Willamette River, the Tualatin River, and several small urban tributaries in Oregon. Forty-three pharmaceuticals and personal care products were detected at concentrations ranging from <1 to >1000 ng g^-1 sediment. Concentrations and frequency of detection were higher in tributaries and small urban creeks than in the Columbia River main stem suggesting that the highest risk of toxicity to juvenile salmonids and other aquatic life is present in lower order streams. Thirteen known or suspected EDCs were detected during the study. At least one EDC was detected at 22 of 23 sites sampled; several EDCs were relatively widespread among the sites. This study is the first to document the occurrence of a large suite of PPCPs in the sediments of the lower Columbia River Basin. A better understanding of the fate and effects of these classes of emerging contaminants is needed, especially because their use and discharge into the environment is likely to increase in the future.