Beacon Rock State Park
Hadley Trailhead
Popular Hikes
Little Beacon Rock (ADA accessible)
.5 miles, out and back,
easy, 96’ gain
Hadley Trail (ADA accessible)
1.18 miles, out and back,
easy, 138’ gain
Rodney Falls, Hardy Falls, Pool of the
Winds
2.92 miles, out and back,
moderate, 400’ gain
Hamilton Mountain Summit
7.2 miles, out and back,
difficult, 1838’ gain
Hamilton Mountain Summit Loop
via Equestrian and Hardy Creek Trail
8.27 miles, difficult, 1838’ gain
Via Don’s Cuttoff, Upper Hardy and Hardy
Creek Trails
8.66 miles, difficult, 1838’ gain
Trails open 8AM-Dusk
Foot traffic only
Backcountry camping prohibited
The Hadley Trailhead is in the main
campground, next to campsite #10. The
trail starts under power lines then transitions into a mature second growth fir
canopy. Only a few steps up the trail, a
plaque on a petrified stump designates a
grouping of trees known as “Hadley
Grove,” honoring Clyde Hadley, the first
superintendent of Beacon Rock State
Park. Just past the grove, a spur to the
right leads to Little Beacon Rock, or stay
to the left and continue on the Hadley
Trail. At .59 miles the Hadley Trail joins
the Hamilton Mountain Trail under
power lines. Both the Hadley and Hamilton Mountain Trails were built originally
by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps)
in the late 1930’s.
Looking down at Rodney Falls
from Pool of the Winds.
Enjoy views of Bonneville Dam and the
surrounding area, either return to the
trailhead or continue on the Hamilton Mountain Trail nearly another
mile of moderate trail and arrive at Rodney Falls, Hardy Falls and Pool
of the Winds.
For those seeking the Hamilton Mountain summit, cross the bridge in
front of Rodney Falls and continue a quarter mile to the intersection
with Hardy Creek Trail. At this point, there are two routes to the
summit. Either stay right on the Hamilton Mountain Trail, which is the
most direct and steep route reaching the summit in 1.7 miles, hiking
through exposed cliff areas abound with wildflowers in spring and summer.
Or, turn left on Hardy Creek Trail to reach the summit more gradually.
In 1.3 miles turn right on the multiuse Equestrian Trail reaching the The
Saddle at 2,100’ after a little over a mile. Rejoin the Hamilton Mountain
Trail and hike .8 miles further to the summit at 2,438’. Enjoy expansive
panoramic views of the Columbia River Gorge formed by the basalt
flows and floods which swept the area over the past 15 million years, as
well as surrounding Cascade peaks, Bonneville Dam, Beacon Rock, Table
Mountain, and Hardy Ridge.
