April 2005: A couple of day-hikes at Beacon Rock State Park

Beacon Rock is a large monolithic rock located in the Columbia River gorge. It can be seen in the center of this photo. Beacon Rock State Park includes Beacon Rock and surrounding lands extending up the northern (Washington) side of the gorge.

The army corps of engineers originally wanted to blast the rock to smitherines. Before they could persue their macho bone-headed scheme, a local man bought the rock and later blasted and bolted a trail up the south side in 1915. The area was later donated to Washington State with the understanding it would be a state park.

Dogwood blooms along the trail up Beacon Rock.

The trail is only about a mile long, and climbs 600 feet. Along the way, there are numerous views up, down and across the Columbia River Gorge.

A system of trails also extends up the walls of the Columbia gorge, passing some nice waterfalls, and eventually reaching an elevation of 2400ft. It was particularly rainy and misty on this day - the upper reaches of the trail were covered in clouds.