Beacon Rock State Park
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{{short description|State park in the U.S. state of Washington}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Beacon Rock State Park
| iucn_category =
| photo = Beacon rock.jpg
| photo_caption = Beacon Rock viewed from the west
| map = USA Washington#USA
| map_caption = Location in state of Washington
| relief = 1
| location = Skamania County, Washington, United States
| nearest_city = North Bonneville, Washington
| coordinates = {{coord|45|39|42|N|122|00|56|W|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = {{cite gnis|1531407|Beacon Rock State Park}}
| length =
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| area_acre = 4464
| area_ref =
| elevation = {{convert|848|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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| designation = Washington state park
| established = 1935
| named_for =
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| administrator = Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
| website = [http://parks.state.wa.us/474/Beacon-Rock Beacon Rock State Park]
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}}
Beacon Rock State Park is a geologic preserve and public recreation area on Route 14 in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Skamania County, Washington, United States. The park takes its name from Beacon Rock, an {{convert|848|ft|adj=on}} basalt volcanic plug on the north shore of the Columbia River {{convert|32|mi}} east of Vancouver. On October 31, 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived here and first measured tides on the river, indicating that they were nearing the ocean.
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Beacon Rock
File:Castle Rock from Eleven Years in the Rocky Mountains.png (1877).]]
Beacon Rock is an {{convert|848|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} monolith composed of basalt on the north bank of the Columbia River. It was named by Lewis and Clark in 1805; they originally referred to it as Beaten Rock, later as Beacon Rock. They noted that the rock marked the eastern extent of the tidal influence in the Columbia. The rock was later known as Castle Rock, until 1915 when its name was changed back to Beacon Rock.GNIS says its decision to rename was in 1915: {{cite web
| url = {{Gnis3|1516208}}
| title = GNIS entry detail for Beacon Rock
| date = September 10, 1979
| access-date = September 9, 2006
}}
Henry J. Biddle purchased the rock in 1915 for $1 and during the next three years constructed a trail with 51 switchbacks, handrails and bridges. The three-quarter mile trail to the top, completed in April 1918, leads to views in all directions.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers planned to destroy the rock to supply material for the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia (see Columbia River Bar), and dug three caves on the rock's south side. During this time, Biddle's family tried to make it a state park. At first Washington refused the gift, but changed its position when Oregon offered to accept. The park was established in 1935. Workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps made improvements which remain in use.
{{multiple image|total_width=350
|image1=Beacon Rock railings.jpg|caption1=Railings of the switchback trail ascending Beacon Rock
|image2=Beacon Rock walkways.JPG|caption2=Another view of the interlocking walkways
}}
=Claims=
Beacon Rock has been variously claimed to be the second largest free standing monolith in the northern hemisphere, or in the world, just behind the Rock of Gibraltar, Stone Mountain, or Mount Augustus, the latter two being very much larger than either of the first two. The assertion depends on how one defines the term "monolith." For example, Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming is larger than Beacon Rock, but is considered an igneous intrusion rather than necessarily a "single rock."
Activities and amenities
File:A Mazamas class snowshoes down Hardy Ridge in Beacon Rock State Park.png class snowshoes on Hardy Ridge]]
Beacon Rock is known for quality, challenging, technical rock climbing. The park's {{convert|4464|acre}} include {{convert|9500|ft}} of Columbia River shoreline and forested uplands with {{convert|20|mi}} of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. The park has boating and camping facilities. Trails go to the top of Beacon Rock and Little Beacon Rock. Hardy Falls and Rodney Falls (Pool of the Winds) are scenic highlights along the trail to the summit of {{convert|2445|ft|m|adj=on}} Hamilton Mountain,{{cite gnis|1520484|Hamilton Mountain}} which has a view of Bonneville Dam and points east. Hamilton Mountain Saddle, located north of the summit, provides additional views, including Table Mountain, and the opportunity for a {{convert|7.75|mi|km}} loop hike.{{cite web|title=Hamilton Mountain Loop in Beacon Rock State Park|url=https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/hamilton-mountain-trail-rodney-falls-hike-columbia-river-gorge-washington/ |publisher=Hikespeak|access-date=December 18, 2018}}
Sources
- {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wq1lfr271oC&pg=PA177 |title=Washington State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide |author=Mueller, Marge |edition=Third |publisher=The Mountaineers Books |location=Seattle |date=2004 |page=177 | isbn = 0-89886-893-9}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web |url=http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/photo/fbiddle.html |title=Henry J. Biddle photographs, c.1860s-1925 |work=Historic Photograph Collections |publisher=University of Oregon |access-date=January 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616055251/https://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/photo/fbiddle.html |archive-date=June 16, 2012 }}
}}
External links
{{commons category|Beacon Rock State Park}}
- [http://parks.state.wa.us/474/Beacon-Rock Beacon Rock State Park] Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
- [http://parks.state.wa.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1840 Beacon Rock State Park Map] Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
{{Protected Areas of Washington}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Climbing areas of the United States
Category:Parks in Skamania County, Washington
Category:State parks of Washington (state)
Category:1935 establishments in Washington (state)
Category:Landforms of Skamania County, Washington
Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Washington (state)
Category:Protected areas established in 1935