Hamilton Mountain Loop

Hamilton Mountain Loop is the signature long hike of Beacon Rock State Park, delivering sweeping Columbia River Gorge panoramas from the 2,438-foot summit of Hamilton Mountain through a challenging and scenically diverse circuit. The trail begins near the base of Beacon Rock and climbs through lush forest where Hardy and Rodney Creeks tumble through mossy gorges in a series of cascading waterfalls. Hardy Falls and Rodney Falls are both accessible via short side trails and reward early effort with impressive water features in a deeply shaded canyon setting. Beyond the falls, the trail steepens considerably as it ascends through increasingly open terrain to the summit ridge. The true summit and the slightly lower Saddle viewpoint both offer spectacular 180-degree vistas across the Columbia River, with Oregon's hills to the south, Washington's forests extending northward, and the river gleaming in the middle ground. On clear days Mount Hood and Mount Adams are both visible. Spring brings exceptional wildflower displays on the open upper slopes. The loop returns via a different descent route, providing variety and allowing hikers to experience different aspects of the park's diverse forest ecosystems. Start early to avoid the parking crush that develops at this popular trailhead on spring and summer weekends.