Beacon Rock State Park - Hamilton Mountain — Friday, Apr. 10, 2009

Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA

Hiked from upper trailhead in campground to Hamilton Mountain saddle via Hamilton Mountain/Hardy Creek trails. Trail had very light usage for a Friday. There were several sections where the trail was slick and muddy, just short of Hardy Falls and at the "stairs" east of the falls. Winter erosion on the road portion of the Hardy Creek trail made the trail very rocky and a good place to sprain an ankle. A previous hike on March 29,2009 of the entire loop found the trail from just beyond the Y for Hardy Creek/Hamilton Mtn trails to near the summit very rocky with a small stream flowing down a section of the trail. The trail from near the summit along the ridge to the saddle was snow covered with lots of small branches across the trail.