Beacon Rock State Park — Attraction in Washougal

Beautiful park with friendly staff and clean facilities. 25 regular campsites (closed for winter), 2 equestrian campsites (no potable water up there though), 2 boat launch campsites (open all year, yes there are showers), and 5 rv sites (open all year). There’s also a group camp that’s huge and beautiful. Vault toilets only there though and no showers. Electricity and sink with drinking water available.

Beacon Rock trail is open, .9 to the top. Hamilton mountain is beautiful, you can do it as a 7.5 mile loop or you can just hike 1.5 in to the waterfalls and back. That hike fills up quickly on weekends with nice weather, so prepare to park down below or in the upper parking lot and walk to the trailhead if you go at that time. Equestrian trail (on kueffler rd) leads to all the back country trails- great for hiking or riding bikes/horses, no ATVs. Other short hikes are the interpretive trail (1 mile loop, flat and paved) and river to rock (.75 miles, rugged trail a bit up hill, pedestrian only).

LPA shelter is first come first serve for use, cannot be reserved. It gets busy there on weekends, so not a good idea to plan your event there on a weekend. UPA is reservation only, fully enclosed historical structure with sinks, electricity, and lots of tables. Doetsch day use shelter is also first come first serve, but it can be reserved (last picture I posted). Great place for events with 6 nice bathrooms, sinks, electricity, fireplace, grills, and tables.

With shelter reservations, you’ll still need to pay to park ($10 a day or $30 for annual WA state park pass, good for a full year from when you buy it. credit card machines available at boat launch, beacon trail head, and Hamilton trailhead). With a camping reservation, it covers your day use fee for parking. $10 a night for an...

Beacon Rock's native name is "Che-Che-op-tin," which translates to "the navel of the world." Native Americans weren't far off in their comparison, since the 848-foot basalt column once formed the core, or belly, of an ancient volcano.During the ice age, icebergs and flowing waters slowly carved away the softer exterior rock, leaving Beacon Rock sticking straight out of the north banks of the Columbia River. Lewis and Clark camped here on their way to the Pacific, and it was at Beacon Rock that they first noticed the tides affecting water levels in the Columbia River, more than 120 miles from the mouth. It was this team of explorers that gave the rock its modern name, though they were initially undecided on whether it should be "Beacon Rock" or "Beaten Its sheer walls were unscaled until 1901, and the modern trail to the top follows that original route. Climbers are still able to scale the rock today, but only on the northwest face. The rest of the rock is closed to climbing, to protect nesting falcons.From a developed parking area on the south side of the highway, the hike heads up immediately -- after all, you have 848 feet to climb in less than a mile. But the grade is surprisingly gentle, with plenty of places to catch your breath and enjoy a view. Moss covered boulders line the wide gravelled path at the base. The trail then curves around to the south side of the rock, where you encounter handrails and a sturdy boardwalk trail that switchbacs all the way to the top of the mountain.Along the way, the trail winds in and out of trees -- surprisingly huge for growing out of a rock mountainside. You'll enjoy views up- and down-river of the mighty Columbia, and far below is a boat launch and the day use area of Beacon...

Great place for camping, hiking, or if you just want to spend the day at a park and have a picnic with the family. Plenty of activities for the entire day. Just a side note for campers, there is a camp site just before beacon rock if you're headed eastbound on hwy 14 that has only 2 small camp sites next to a boat launch, but also has rv sites in the area. If you go to beacon rock across the street you will find a road that leads to a picnic area with a small play ground keep going up the road and you will find several camp sites that have a actual bathroom with running water and hot showers. ( showers need quarters for hot water.) These sites are for tents or small trailors. No hook up sites here. Cost per night is $25 and $10 extra for a second vehicle. You can stay up to 20 days as long as its NOT the summer season. At beacon rock there is a trail that leads to the top and it can take about an hour depending on your endurance level. And for those who like to rock climb there is also a spot. Unfortunately i believe its closed till summer. And for those who have big group gatherings there is one spot on the road that the park rangers are on that is...