The Hamilton Mountain Trail on the north side of WA-14 — through old Douglas-fir forest toward Hardy and Rodney Falls. About 1.2 miles in to the falls.
Now for the other half of this park, and it couldn't be more different from that bare, sunny rock — this one's cool, green, and loud with falling water. Here's how to reach it, so listen up: from the Beacon Rock parking lot, head back out to the highway and follow the signs for the campground and the Hamilton Mountain trailhead — you'll turn up onto Kueffler Road and wind back through the park a little over half a mile to the Hamilton Mountain trailhead parking at the end of the road. Park there; it's a day-use area with restrooms and a picnic shelter. I'll be guiding you the whole way. From the north end of that lot, we pick up the Hamilton Mountain Trail and head up into the woods.
A word on the difficulty first, because it's a real hike: it's about a mile and a quarter up to the falls, so call it two and a half miles round trip, and you'll climb a steady five to six hundred feet at a moderate grade — easier underfoot than the bare rock, but no stroll. Wear decent shoes, bring a little water, and give yourself an hour and a half or two to enjoy it. If the family's got small kids or tired legs, the falls make a fine turnaround; the trail keeps climbing for miles past them up Hamilton Mountain, but you don't have to.
This is classic Columbia Gorge forest: tall Douglas firs, big-leaf maples, moss on everything, ferns crowding the trail, the air cool and damp even on a hot day. The whole way up you've got the sound of Hardy Creek somewhere off to your side, working its way down toward the river. Take your time and enjoy the shade — after the exposed climb up the rock, this green tunnel feels like another world.
Keep your ears open as you climb. Before long you'll start to hear it — a growing roar up ahead through the trees. That's the water we came for. Keep climbing.
Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region · Public domain
