Beacon Rock State Park - Hamilton Mountain — Monday, May. 29, 2023

Trail was great in most places, though there are definitely places that require scrambling and careful footing because of steepness/large step-ups and erosion. Some of the erosion has been caused by people cutting off the switchbacks and straying from the trail. The repairs planned will be most welcome on the heavily used Hamilton Mt trail.

I highly recommend doing the loop if you’re looking for more solitude (and for a descent that is kinder on your knees). While it was quite busy on the way up, I didn’t see a soul after I left the false summit that you first arrive at from the Hamilton Mt trail. Hiking to the saddle (true summit) was a quiet walk in overgrown wildflowers and bushes; the raptors swooping nearby were the only others around. Then, more solitude down Don’s Cutoff and the various trail sections that led to the Hardy trail, reuniting with the Hamilton Mt trail just before the waterfalls. Beautiful pine forests and a lack of rocks, roots, steps and scree on the trail made for easy, peaceful, and fast walking on the descent.

Some bitey flies at the false summit prevented me from lingering long at the views of Adams and Hood.