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. 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.
Picnic and day use facilities
The park offers reservable kitchen shelters and unsheltered picnic tables available first-come, first-served.
Camping
The Upper Campground, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, is in a forested setting offering standard sites. The Woodard Creek Campground offers 2 standard sites and 5 full hookup sites accommodating RVs and combinations of 40 feet or less in length. The Equestrian Camp Area offers 2 primitive sites.
The Group Camp is for tent and RV use and includes one kitchen shelter with power and one picnic shelter without.
Hiking
Beacon Rock Trailhead
Hikers can ascend the Beacon Rock Trail built directly on the side of the rock with 52 switchbacks overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.
Equestrian Trailhead
The Equestrian Trailhead is the only multiuse (equestrian, bicycle, hiker) access point for the park and the trailhead for Hardy Ridge. At 1.22 miles in, users will reach the first trail junction to the most popular routes, such as West Hardy Trail and The Saddle.
Doetsch Walking Path
Walk this paved and flat 1.2-mile loop thru what was once a pasture of the Doetsch family ranch. View interpretive panels that explain the area's natural and human history dating back to the Ice Age floods.
Hadley Trailhead
Starting in the upper campground, this trail leads to popular hikes such as Little Beacon Rock and Hamilton Mountain Summit.
Hamilton Mountain Trailhead
Start out surrounded by Douglas fir old-growth to reach Rodney Falls, Hardy Falls and Pool of the Winds. Cross the bridge to reach Hamilton Mountain Summit, the Saddle and Hamilton Mountain Summit Loop.
River to Rock Trailhead
Whether beginning on the north or south end, this leisurely and relatively flat trail stretches from the Beacon Rock Trailhead to the Doetsch Walking Path.
Snacks & Beverages
Starting in mid-May 2024, Better Together Scoops will be serving ice cream treats as well as other small snacks and beverages. They are open June18 - Sept. 3, Thur/Fri from 11:00 - 2:30 and Sat/Sun 1:00 - 3:00. For more information, visit their website or Instagram.
Mountain biking
This park includes 13 miles of bike trails exploring the West Hardy Trail, Bridge Trail Loop and the Saddle.
Fishing
Fishing for sturgeon, salmon, steelhead, bass and walleye is prohibited on the lower Columbia River, below Bonneville Dam.
Rock climbing
Beacon Rock offers excellent opportunities for rock climbing and is considered to have some of the very best "traditional climbing" routes in the Northwest. Climbers do need to be aware of when and where they can climb due to management restrictions.
Interpretive Opportunities
The park offers a 1.2-mile, ADA accessible interpretive trail at the Doetsch day use area. Learn about the natural and human history dating back to the Ice Age floods.