Hamilton Mountain Summit — Attraction in Washougal

The Hamilton Mountain Summit is awesome! 🤙🏼 Stunningly beautiful views await you as a reward for reaching the Summit! You made it!!!

Considering that Hamilton Mountain is located within Beacon Rock State Park, you are right in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area.

The Hamilton Mountain trail hike is so beautiful, and moderate for the first part, but once you pass Pool of the Winds, Rodney Falls and Hardy Falls, and then pass the sign which gives you the option to go left for a more gradual, less steep climb to the summit, or continue on the Hamilton Mountain Trailhead which is shorter but much steeper, know it begins to get difficult shortly past this point, and pretty much where you reach the 'fake summit', is downright treacherous. There are some crazy switchbacks as you ascend, loose dirt areas (wear hiking shoes with good grip!), narrow trails that hug the cliff, and a small foot bridge in which there is some poison oak in the surrounding vicinity.

If you take the left at the junction, you will be on the Hardy Ridge trail in which you will need to turn right onto the Esquatarian Trail (1.3 miles) which leads to the Saddle in about a mile, where you will see a sign that reads Hamilton Mountain. Take that for 0.8 miles to the summit. It's much more gentle on your knees.

With that being said, I hope it helps in choosing  your trail to the summit. Right or left, and you will reap the benefits. Keep watch for the Hamilton Mountain ravens. I wish I would have video taped the raven flying above us at the very beginning of the trail. You can hear them pretty much the entire time hiking up the mountain; and for whatever reason, I almost always see one perched on the skull like rock at Pool of the...

04/12/25 Definitely the most difficult trail I've done. Quite well maintained, so it's not all that bad. Just over 2,000' of elevation gain, so the trail's definitely got its work put in for you.

Not only is the summit a great view, but you also get the added benefit of two bonus waterfalls on the way up. If you are good with heights and somewhat strenuous hiking, I'd...

Hiked this trail 3/30/2019. Sunrise on Hamilton is the best, beat time to hike the trail in my opinion is the dark so you can't see all the crazy drop offs. This trail is definitely hard past the junction for the equestrian trail! The sunrise was worth it. 7.7 miles. 2258 ft...