Beacon Rock State Park

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A dizzying mile-long switchback trail takes you up 848-foot Beacon Rock, but that’s not the only way to a tip-top experience. 

Rock climbing and hiking to waterfalls are the rage at this park, where there are plenty of vantage points for eagle-eye views. Cyclists and horseback riders also will find trails to the vistas from Hamilton Mountain saddle, and boaters can delight in the majesty of Beacon Rock from the Columbia River. 

Beacon Rock overlooks a breathtaking section of the Columbia River Gorge, a deep, wide gouge in the earth carved by Ice Age floods. The mighty Columbia River rushes down to the ocean in a froth of whitecaps, bisecting Washington and Oregon, with walls of columnar basalt and mountains rising thousands of feet on both sides. 

The park’s proximity to Portland and Vancouver make it popular with locals and visitors from around the world. No matter what activities you choose at Beacon Rock, you will be awed by this special place and its stunning surroundings.

Park features

Beacon Rock State Park is a 4,458-acre, year-round camping park located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Beacon Rock itself is the core of an ancient volcano. The park includes 9,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River and more than 26 miles of roads and trails open to hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use.

Discover Pass: A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the Discover Pass web page.

Automated pay station: This park is equipped with an automated pay station for visitors to purchase a one-day or annual Discover Pass.

  1. Activities
  2. Boating
  3. Camping
  4. History
  5. Maps

ADA amenities/facilities

  • Campground
  • Hiking trail
  • Restroom

Use our interactive ADA recreation map to search for other state parks with ADA amenities and facilities. 

Picnic & day-use facilities
There are two kitchen shelters with electricity in the park, plus two sheltered and 53 unsheltered picnic tables.

The lower picnic area kitchen shelter is located at Hamilton Mountain Trailhead, available first come, first served. Water and power are available in the shelter.

The Doetsch day-use kitchen shelter is available by reservation for groups of up to 100 people. Water and power are available in the shelter.

The upper picnic area kitchen shelter is available by reservation for groups of up to 100 people. Water and power are on site.

Activities

Trails

  • 1 mile of ADA hiking trail
  • 8.2 miles of hiking trails
  • 13 miles of bike trails
  • 13 miles of horse trails

Select a file below for a description of trailheads:

Water activities & features

  • 916 feet of dock
  • 916 feet of moorage
  • Boating
  • Fishing (freshwater)
  • Watercraft launch

Other activities & features

  • Mountain biking
  • Rock climbing
  • Wildlife viewing

Interpretive opportunities

The park offers a 1-mile interpretive trail at the Doetsch day-use area. The trail is ADA accessible. Additionally, there are interpretive signs about the Ice Age floods along the Beacon Rock Trail.

Additional information

  • Beacon Rock offers excellent opportunities for rock climbing and is considered to be some of the very best "Traditional Climbing" in the northwest. Climbers do need to be aware of where and when they climb due to management restrictions. Only the northwest corner is open to climbing year round. The east face is closed year round due to environmental sensitivity. The rest of Beacon Rock is closed to rock climbing from Feb. 1 to mid-July annually to protect sensitive wildlife habitat. Call the park at (509) 427-8265 for more information.
  • The horse and bike trails are multi-use, with hikers allowed.
  • There is fishing on the lower Columbia River, below Bonneville Dam, for sturgeon, salmon, steelhead, bass and walleye.
  • The park is a popular site for weddings.
  • A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information, or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
  • Printable park brochure (PDF).