Beacon Rock State Park - Hardy Ridge

The Hardy Ridge hike makes use of the old logging roads that wind through the backcountry or the park north of Highway 14. These routes are closed to vehicles but open to equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers. A WTA built single-track trail traverses the ridge offering a wide vista of the Columbia River Gorge.

The Hardy Ridge Trail starts at the equestrian campground off of Kueffler Road. The trail will begin as an old logging road and winds uphill for about a mile, at which point you will see a junction in the road, as it intersects another old road. Continue straight to do a counter-clockwise loop of the Hardy Ridge Trail. A right turn here will take you on the Loop Trail, and a left will take you up the West Hardy Ridge Trail, the direction from which you will be returning.

After about a half mile, turn left to follow the East Hardy Ridge Trail. A right will take you to the Loop Trail, and a straight will lead you to the Hardy Creek Trail. Along the next mile and a half of trail, you will see the Bridge Trail branch off to the right, but stay left to continue on the East Hardy Ridge Trail. The Bridge Trail connects The East Hardy Ridge Trail and the Upper Hardy Creek Trail.

After another mile and a half, the road will end and the route will continue as a hiking only trail. After about mile of climbing the route crests Hardy Ridge offering a wide view of the Columbia River Gorge. The trail continues west descending the ridge.

But at the ridge you'll notice a 4-way intersection created by hikers going "off-trail" as they explore the ridge. Stay straight to continue on the Hardy Ridge Trail. Heading north up the ridge leads to the highpoint of Hardy Ridge.

Follow the trail as it descends down to a junction with the West Hardy Ridge Trail - turn left on the old logging road that leads back to the first intersection you arrived at when you started your hike. Here you will take a right and continue down to the equestrian campgrounds.

If you are looking to extend your hike, add on a lap around the Loop Trail or head over to the Bridget Trail and loop back on the Upper Hardy Creek Trail. For an Epic climb up Don's Cut-Off to summit Hamilton Mountain and return via the Hardy Creek Trail.