Starting Location: Trailhead parking lot, just up the road across from Beacon Rock.
Point of Interest : waterfalls, forest views
Distance: about 2.2 miles up and down.
Difficulty: easy to moderate. Some steepness, can be wet, muddy.
Bathrooms: Yes, at parking lot
Parking: yes
EV Chargers: no
Dogs OK? on leash
This trail is just across Hwy 14 from Beacon Rock, and since Beacon Rock is a pretty short hike, we decided to do this trail right after. Really, it was about a 1 minute drive.
The trail heads through a forest that was pretty damp from the rain during the night, so there were a few slippery spots, but no real puddles to worry about. Most of our hikers used poles, and those came in handy. I should have brought mine, but I managed fine without them. There were a few spots I missed having them.
There are a few old wooden bridges on this hike. I always enjoy them. They were in good condition for the most part. You can tell they are old, but they are still sturdy.
There are a few small offshoots to get a view of the falls. Hardy Falls is first, and this gives you a decent view of the lower part of the falls.
The trail is well marked, as you can see. There is another trail that links this one to the campground that is part of Beacon Rock State Park.
Since the forest is pretty dense, it is hard for a picture to do justice to Hardy Falls. However, it is a gorgeous waterfall, despite its small volume of water. This is a great place to just pause and maybe have a snack while you enjoy the view and the sound. I'll even post a video for you to get a better sense. Just pretend no one is talking.
The trail splits right between the 2 waterfalls, and the Hamilton Mountain Trail heads off across the creek for another 2 miles. We did not take that trail.
The 2nd waterfall, Rodney Falls, is just up the trail a few hundred feet.
There's not a lot of room on the viewing platform, but this is a cool waterfall. But it's just the top of the falls. There are some cool rock formations from the churning of the water. You can see that a large log is wedged in this waterfall. I wonder how long it will last.
The better view of the falls is from the bridge below, where the Hamilton Mountain trail crosses. Again, it's better in person. I will attach another video here for your viewing pleasure.
Another great photo spot. This also meant it was time to turn around and head back. The trail down isn't too bad, but the slippery spots were more noticeable on the way down. Again, the poles were helpful for those who carried them.
Beacon State Park was built in the 30's by the CCC, so there are some cool buildings to check out. We drove through the campground, which is nice, but only for tent camping. The spots are too small for RV's or trailers.
Of course, hiking builds up an appetite! We drove a bit out of our way to eat lunch at Backwoods, and then to Cascade Locks to get ice cream. All in all, a great day of hiking and food with friends and nature.
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