I Hiked This Historic Hiking Trail in Washington, Here’s Why I Recommend It

Back and forth, over and over again, and up we go! That’s the simplified description for this hike. But, when you add in the stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge and the long history of the Rock itself (did you know you’re standing on a volcanic core noted down in the journals of Lewis and Clark?), the Beacon Rock Trail becomes incredibly unique and a must-do during your time in southern Washington. 

Beacon Rock itself is the remnants of the core of a cinder cone volcano that erupted around 57,000 years ago and is part of the Boring Volcanic Field (named for the town of Boring, Oregon — it’s not a statement on the quality of the volcanos). But why does only the core remain? Well, during the last Ice Age, the glacial lake Missoula flooded the land, sending water and ice barreling through the Gorge. The force of the water was enough to strip rock and soil, carving the landscape into what the Columbia River Gorge looks like today. However, the strength of the volcanic core allowed it to remain standing even while everything else around it was torn to shreds. 

In November of 1805, the party of Lewis and Clark passed through the Gorge and Clark noted, “a remarkable high rock on Stard. Side about 800 feet high & 400 yds round, the Beaten [Beacon] Rock.” It was here that Lewis and Clark claimed that they were able to see the influence from tides in the Columbia River Gorge, marking the most eastern point from the Pacific Ocean. 

Ownership of Beacon Rock and the surrounding land has changed hands many times, with multiple names going along with it: Beaten Rock to Castle Rock to Beacon Rock. When the land ended up in the hands of Henry J. Biddle in 1915, he said that he bought the land with one singular purpose — to build a trail to the top. Construction of this trail took four years due to not being able to survey the land before building, and it cost ten thousand dollars. In the end, a 4,500-foot-long trail with 22 bridges and over a hundred concrete slabs was established.

Henry J. Biddle died in 1928, and his children decided that they wanted to donate the land for a state park. This wish was not achieved until 1935, but today you can visit Beacon Rock State Park and take the trail that Biddle put so much time and effort into creating. 

The parking lot near the Beacon Rock trailhead has a bathroom and an area to pay for your parking. A note — you don’t need to pay if you already own a Discover Pass. The hike takes about an hour and is around 1.5 miles long. It’s moderate in difficulty, but is not ADA-accessible due to uneven terrain. Additionally, the trail could also pose problems for people who have a hard time with sharp inclines. Children can, and do, hike the trail, as well as leashed dogs (and your occasional cat in a backpack), but you need to keep a sharp eye on them and their safety. 

The rock is about 848 feet tall, and as a result, the views from this hike are truly stunning. However, this also means that it’s a popular hike and crowds during bouts of nice weather are all too common. Ironically, the hike at the top is not, in my opinion, the best view (although it is beautiful). Instead, there are two spots on the edge of a switchback that have more unobstructed views of the Gorge, and I would recommend that you take your pictures there. 

The descent of this hike follows the same formula, just in reverse — back and forth, over and over again, and down we go! But now, you have a hiker’s high, and coming down the rock with the views of the Columbia River Gorge feel even more incredible. But maybe you think another Washington hike has even better views? Fill out our nomination form and tell us all about it!