Beacon Rock State Park - Hamilton Mountain — Saturday, Mar. 30, 2019

Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA

Hiked Hamilton mountain trail all the way to the top. To the equestrian trail, to hardy creek and back on Hamilton mountain trail to hardy falls and the parking lot on 3/30/19. First one in the lot at 3:30 am, bathrooms were clean and open. Hamilton mountain trail after the cutoff to hardy creek trail is hard with multiple areas where you are climbing up the ridgeline. Also multiple areas the trail looks like it is washed out. You are climbing right next to the first wall on the ridge. In certain areas there is water running down the trail, snow on the trail and rocky faces to maneuver over. There is snow on top of Hamilton mountain, a fair amount between where Hamilton mountain releases you onto the view point and the equestrian trail on the saddle. I was super thankful I had trekking poles and microspikes. Also in between that area in the snow the trail is mainly Bush whacking as there is a lot of debris on the trail. I hiked 7.7 miles. Started at 4am and finished at 9am with an hour break on top to watch the sunrise. The equestrian trail has some snow, not much though and hardy creek has no snow that I recall seeing. Hardy creek is definitely and easier option to getting up to the saddle than the Hamilton mountain trail. The falls were raging when I passed them in the early morning, later when I passed it didn't seem as loud. lots of mud by the falls.