Beacon Rock is a short, moderate hike on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge that ascends an approximately 840′ tall, basalt rock formation from an eruption 57,000 year ago. Located just about 35 minutes NE of Portland, there are no shortage of great hikes around so the mostly paved trail up Beacon Rock may seem like an odd choice to recommend but just hear me out here as Beacon is well worth a visit.
Why? Well, beyond anything else to me, Beacon rock is just an impressive trail. Built 1915-1918, the trail is a really a connection of 52 switchbacking bridges and carved-into-the-rock paths that shoots directly up the rock with regular views of the Columbia River as you go. Summer, winter, fall, it’s always an impressive sight. The views from the top are decent enough but really, it is the trail its self that draws me in to come back here regularly
In addition to the trail aesthetics, the proximity to Portland and relatively moderate (note: it’s steep, just not steep for long) climb make for a quicker stop than other trails while the short distance and paved footing make it a good choice for a quick workout, or even some laps, when other gorge trails are muddy. It’s the kind of trail where you see casual day hiking families next to trail runners and even rock climbers out scaling the walls if you head to the otherside.
Because the trail is so well built, there are not a lot of non-obvious considerations to point out though I will caution again that though it is short, it is a solid climb so be sure to bring your day pack with water, especially on a hot day, and extra layers on a cool one as it can be quite breezy. There can also be poison oak around the trail so watch where you step!
Speaking of watching where you step, while trail has guardrails at most points, it does look right on down too so those with a serious fear of heights may want to focus on the cliff side view and certainly be mindful of kids or crazy friends, it’s a long drop down. Snow and ice are totally possible in winter too as you can see in some of my photos.
Last but not least, Beacon Rock state park is a nice spot to hang out for lunch or the entire day. The trailhead has a bit of space around to relax and a full restroom too but if you head just a few minutes west (towards Portland/Vancouver), there’s far more to the park. The Skamania general store is a just a few minutes away in the same direction to grab some extra snacks if your hike does turn into a longer outing.
If you’re curious about the geological history or the trail, Washington State Parks has a lot more info on their website that’s fun to nerd out and read. Beyond that, there’s not a ton more to say here except that it’s a great little spot to stop by and hike.
Key Trail Details:
- Trail Stats (moderate): ~1.5 miles round-trip / ~600′ ascent / ~600′ total climb / paved or well packed
- Time to allow: Around an 1 hour
- Parking: Large lot (fills on weekends), $10 per car / pay at trailhead or Discover Pass
- Permits: None (just pay parking fees)
- Restrooms: Proper toilets with running water at trailhead / none on trail
- Water: Available at trailhead restroom / none on trail
- Additional Info: Official Park Website | WTA Trail Info
