Skamania

Top Spots

Hike To The Summit of Beacon Rock

Stevenson, Washington

3.6

1.8 mi / 700 ft gain

Beacon Rock is one of the most recognizable landmarks along the Columbia River Gorge. It’s a 848-foot basalt monolith (singular piece of rock) that was once the core of an ancient volcano. To access the rock, park in a developed parking area at the rock’s base that has room for about 30 cars. You’ll take a short stroll through a forested trail before you hit the rock.Once you reach the rock, th...

Hamilton Mountain

Stevenson, Washington

4.2

5.61 mi / 2336 ft gain

Hamilton Mountain has one of the best views in the Columbia Gorge. The hike starts out with a gradual uphill climb through an old-growth forest. After about a half-mile in you will come to a clearing where you can see the ridge line going up to the top of Hamilton Mountain. From there you'll pass a couple of beautiful waterfalls, Hardy Falls and Rodney Falls. After the falls the real climbing ...

Hike to Hardy and Rodney Falls

Stevenson, Washington

4.0

3.5 mi / 1200 ft gain

Located on the Hamilton Mountain Trail, the Hardy and Rodney falls out and back hike is a good alternative for those looking for a shorter hike compared to the 7.6 mile hike to the top of Hamilton Mountain.From the Hamilton Mountain Trailhead you will follow the trail through thick trees for most of the way to the falls with a few openings along the way. When you begin to hear the rushing wate...

Hardy Ridge

Stevenson, Washington

8.33 mi / 2185 ft gain

Ponytail Falls

Cascade Locks, Oregon

4.6

0.85 mi / 463 ft gain

Ponytail Falls is an easy 0.8 mile hike located in the gorge that begins at Horsetail Falls. After hiking up mild switchbacks, continue to your right at the first trailhead intersection. The path levels out before coming around the mountain and opening up to the waterfall. This is the easiest waterfall hike in the Oregon Gorge and is accessible all year around. It is also a great spot to begin...

Horsetail Falls Loop

Cascade Locks, Oregon

4.7

2.56 mi / 610 ft gain

Start off on this loop from Horsetail Falls Trailhead. It never hurts to start a hike with a view of Horsetail Falls. This 2.5 mile loop will start you off on Gorge trail #400 up Horsetail Falls Trail. You’ll encounter a few switchbacks before the trail flattens out and leads you into the valley toward Ponytail Falls. As you continue on this loop, you’ll get to hike behind the falls. After con...

Hike to Elowah Falls

Cascade Locks, Oregon

4.8

1.4 mi / 280 ft gain

Multnomah Falls, which is about 5 miles from Elowah takes a large portion of the crowd due to its visibility from the highway. With that said, you may get a much more deserted Elowah Falls if you decide to take the 15 minute hike to its base.When you’re on the trail, keep an eye out for the fork in the trail at about 0.4 miles. There has been a sign in place indicating which direction you shoul...

Hike to Upper McCord Creek Falls

Cascade Locks, Oregon

4.7

2.2 mi / 400 ft gain

Starting at the John B Yeon Trailhead parking lot, begin to walk into the forest. After a little more than a quarter mile, you will see a fork in the road, with one way leading to Elowah Falls, and the other way leading to Upper McCord Creek Falls. Take the trail leading to Upper McCord Creek. The trail will begin to climb, but not too steeply. Keep following the trail and eventually you will r...

Oneonta Gorge

Cascade Locks, Oregon

4.8

0.92 mi / 531 ft gain

*Currently closed (except a small portion of the upper trail between Multnomah Spur and Trail #444 on Larch Mountain)...here This hike is very short (1 mile roundtrip) but does take some time to do. The trail leads down from the road into a stream bed. You follow the stream bed upstream through a narrow gorge. At the entrance to the gorge there is a large log jam. This requires some balance to...

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