Beacon Rock State Park - Hamilton Mountain — Sunday, Sep. 7, 2025

The advisory about the eroded sections is a little understated. These take some exertion and two hands to get through, including at least one spot that requires a minor technical maneuver to get across a gap, or a brief climb up a 10-foot rock wall. (There are good hand and footholds to get up that way.) Otherwise this trail is magnificent and not heavily traveled after the waterfalls, and especially after the false summit, which some people seem to mistake for the actual summit. By all means complete the loop so you can enjoy the views from the saddle. This also allows you to avoid going down those eroded sections, which would increase the hazard threat. I took an additional loop past the saddle, up and around Don's Cutoff Trail--a nice forested loop that lets you avoid walking down the old road for a bit, if you're like me and prefer trails to roads.