Hamilton Mountain Trail

The Hamilton Mountain Trail climbs from old-growth Douglas fir past Rodney Falls, Hardy Falls and the Pool of the Winds to a 2,438-foot summit with views across the Columbia River Gorge. The out-and-back hike is 6.4 miles with 2,038 feet of gain, rated difficult. A 7.87-mile loop returns through The Saddle, and if you only want the waterfalls, they are 2.52 miles round trip. It starts across State Route 14 from Beacon Rock and is open to hikers only, 8 a.m. to dusk.

Where to Start

• Hamilton Mountain Trailhead and Lower Picnic Area: the standard start, with the shortest route to the falls and summit. Parking needs a Discover Pass.
• Hadley Trailhead, in the main campground next to campsite 10: joins the Hamilton Mountain Trail after 0.59 miles. Summit 7.2 miles round trip, 1,838 feet of gain.
• Equestrian Trailhead: longer (8.7 miles round trip to the summit), but Washington State Parks notes it usually has parking on busy weekend days.

See parking and directions for each lot.

The Route, Step by Step

1. Old growth at the start. The trail begins among big Douglas firs.
2. Under the power lines, in less than half a mile, with a view of Bonneville Dam.
3. The waterfalls, nearly a mile farther on moderate trail: Rodney Falls, Hardy Falls and the Pool of the Winds, a good turnaround for a shorter hike. See Pool of the Winds.
4. The bridge in front of Rodney Falls, then a quarter mile to the junction with the Hardy Creek Trail.
5. Choose your way up. Stay right on the Hamilton Mountain Trail for the most direct and steep route, reaching the summit in 1.7 miles through exposed cliff areas. Or turn left onto the Hardy Creek Trail for a gentler climb (below).
6. The summit, 2,438 feet, with views of the Gorge, the Cascade peaks, Bonneville Dam, Beacon Rock, Table Mountain and Hardy Ridge.

The Hamilton Mountain Loop

To make a loop, go up one way and down the other. From the Hardy Creek junction, the Hardy Creek Trail runs 1.3 miles to the multi-use Equestrian Trail, which climbs a little over a mile to The Saddle at 2,100 feet. From The Saddle the Hamilton Mountain Trail reaches the summit in 0.8 miles. Washington State Parks lists the loops from the Hamilton Mountain Trailhead as:

• Via the Equestrian and Hardy Creek trails: 7.87 miles, 2,038 feet of gain.
• Via Don's Cutoff, Upper Hardy and Hardy Creek trails: 8.26 miles, 2,038 feet of gain. Upper Hardy for 0.74 miles, then Don's Cutoff through a dark stretch of forest back to the Equestrian Trail, a short way below The Saddle.
• Out and back to The Saddle: 8.0 miles.

Distances from Each Trailhead

• From the Hamilton Mountain Trailhead: waterfalls 2.52 miles, summit 6.4 miles, Saddle 8.0 miles, loops 7.87 or 8.26 miles (all round trip).
• From the Hadley Trailhead: waterfalls 2.92 miles, summit 7.2 miles, loops 8.27 or 8.66 miles.
• From the Equestrian Trailhead: The Saddle 7.0 miles, summit 8.7 miles.

When to Go

The agency's trailhead sheets mention wildflowers on the exposed cliff sections in spring and summer. Trails open at 8 a.m. and close at dusk all year, and backcountry camping is not allowed, so this is a day hike. Start early on summer weekends, when the lot fills.

History on the Trail

Henry Biddle, who built the Beacon Rock Trail, also bought 160 acres that included the summit of Hamilton Mountain. His family gave both to the state in 1935. The Hamilton Mountain and Hadley trails were first built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s. More on the history page.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: a full half-day hike, waterfall views with a real summit at the end, and seeing Beacon Rock from above. Maybe skip if you want something short or flat: the Beacon Rock Trail is 1.8 miles and the Doetsch Walking Path is a paved 1.2-mile loop. Riding a bike or horse? The summit is hikers only; see biking and horse trails.