Beacon Rock

Posted on April 18, 2022 by Darcy Waits No Comments

Striking Out… to Almost Strike Out

It’s an early spring day in the Pacific Northwest, and we have a break in the weather. When you’re cooped-up for a season, getting out in the sunshine to re-up on Vitamin D is necessary!

We pack the picnic basket and head to Spirit Falls on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. Andy has been wanting to share this special place with me for quite a while. But as we arrive we see that the trail is closed for restoration due to recent stormy weather.

We’re a bit disappointed, but the wilderness is huge, so we’re not giving up! We head about 30 miles away to Falls Creek Falls, a trail we’ve hiked before. But that time, Andy neglected to put a chip in his camera, so we’re hoping to get some stellar shots of the amazing double waterfall today.

However, a ranger informs us the trail is under five feet of snow… and will require snow shoes! Me in snow shoes? Ha ha ha! Until they come with a heel, that’s a no.

The View Inspires a New Goal

We unpack our lunch overlooking a channel of the mighty Columbia River just downstream from Bonneville Dam.

Feeling defeated (and hungry), we find a spot along the Columbia River at the Fort Cascade Park Trailhead just off Washington Highway 14. We munch our picnic lunch with a view of the thundering Bonneville Dam. We will fill our tummies, have a sip of wine, and rethink our hiking options.

Go full-screen to get a sense of what it was like!

Turns out, we have a view of Beacon Rock from our lunch spot too. Andy mentions that he has always wanted to hike up to top. I had no idea you could do that! If it’s open, we have to do it!

Not only is it open, but we still have a few days left on a Forest Adventure Pass we bought the year before. Yay! Adventure… and free parking!

Beacon Rock State Park is just east of Skamania, Washington. This 850-foot monolith that towers over the Columbia River among the Cascade Mountains was christened by Lewis and Clark.

From far away, you wouldn’t know there’s a switchback trail leading to the top. And until 1918, there wasn’t! That one-mile trail takes you 848 feet to the top for a panoramic view of the Columbia Gorge.

Beacon Rock is considered a moderate hike, but after six months of bad weather and bad food decisions, we’re a bit out of breath, huffing and puffing some, as every step is up-up-up. But no worries. We’re cool, we’ve got this!

We make it to the top and are drinking-in the view, and I think we are looking pretty good! Andy offers to take a photo for a young couple and their baby.