Complete information for Beacon Rock

Park overview:

Beacon Rock State Park is a 5,100-acre year-round camping park with historic significance dating back hundreds of years. The park includes 9,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River.



Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 8 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk. Limit camping is available. Click on the winter schedule for details.

Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks

Current alerts:

Agency information:

Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.

Campsite Information:

The main campground has 26 tent sites. It is an older camp in a forested setting suited more for tents than RVs. There are a limited number of sites that accommodate RVs over 20 feet. This campground closes seasonally.

The Woodard Creek Campground has five utility sites that provide electricity, water and sewer. Follow signs off Highway 14 (near mile post 34) to the watercraft launch area; follow the signs to the RV campsites. The sites have a maximum length of 40 feet. These campsites are open year round.

The equestrian campsites, located at the equestrian trailhead, feature two standard sites that will accommodate a horse trailer each, a hi-line for horses, livestock water and a CXT vault toilet. There is no potable water and no electricity. Primitive camping fee applies. All campsites are first come, first served.

Winter facilities at the moorage area include 2 tent sites, one shower and one restroom. Overnight moorage and the boat launch are available year-round.

Group Accommodations:

The group camp is for tent and RV use. It accommodates 200 guests. Facilities include one kitchen shelter with power and one picnic shelter. There are two Adirondack (three-sided) sleeping shelters and two vault toilets. Showers are available in the main campground and moorage area. Fees vary with size of the group. To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

2013 camping fees:

Please note that the following general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not all fees will apply to all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).

May 15 – Sept. 15 (peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $23 non-premium site, $26 premium site
Partial-utility campsite*: $30 non-premium site, $35 premium site
Full-utility campsite*: $32 non-premium site, $37 premium site
*Please note: Camping fees during the 2013 peak season are $28 for partial-utility sites and $29 for full-utility sites at Beacon Rock, Lewis & Clark and Schafer state parks. These parks are first come, first served.

Jan. 1 – May 14 and Sept. 16 – Dec. 31 (off-peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $22 for non-premium and premium sites
Partial-utility campsite: $28 for non-premium and premium sites
Full-utility campsite: $29 for non-premium and premium sites

Maximum eight people per campsite.

Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.

Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.

More about park hours
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park from April 1 through Sept. 30; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

Driving Directions

Located 35 miles east of Vancouver, Wash. in Skamania County.


From Seattle:
Take I-5 south to Vancouver. Just north of Vancouver, take I-205 south. Follow I-205 south to the Hwy. 14 exit (last exit before crossing the Columbia River into Oregon). Follow Hwy. 14 east. Beacon Rock and the park entrance are located at mile post 35.

From Portland:
Take I-84 eastbound along the Columbia River to Cascade Locks. At Cascade Locks, cross the Columbia River into Washington on the Bridge of the Gods toll bridge. Turn left onto Hwy. 14. Follow Hwy. 14 west for seven miles to Beacon Rock.

Park Maps

Beacon Rock downloadable pdf map #1


List of all downloadable Washington State Park maps.

Park Features

Located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Beacon Rock is the core of an ancient volcano. The mile-long trail to its summit provides outstanding panoramic views of the Columbia River Gorge. The park has over 20 miles of roads and trails open to hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use.

History

"Beacon Rock" was originally named by Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean on October 31, 1805. It was near Beacon Rock that they first measured tidal influences from the ocean on the Columbia River.

In 1811, Alexander Ross of the John Jacob Astor expedition called the rock "Inoshoack Castle." The rock was known as "Castle Rock" until, in 1916, the United States Board of Geographic Names restored the name "Beacon Rock."

Henry J. Biddle purchased the rock in order to build a trail to the top. The trail was built, and in 1935 his heirs turned the rock over to the state for use as a park. Additional development was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Interpretive opportunities

The park offers a one-mile interpretive trail at the Doetsch day-use area. The trail is ADA accessible. Additionally, there are interpretive signs about the Ice Age floods along the Beacon Rock Trail.

Services/Supplies

Available in the park	Available in the area
• Camping	• Auto repair • Airport • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • White gas • Wood • Swimming

Portland International Airport is located 35 miles west of park.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 1 mi. ADA Hiking Trails • 8.2 mi. Hiking Trails • 13 mi. Bike Trails • 13 mi. Horse Trails	• Boating (freshwater) • 1 boat ramp (freshwater) • 916 feet of dock (freshwater) • 916 feet of moorage (freshwater) • Fishing (freshwater)	• Mountain Biking • Rock Climbing • Wildlife Viewing
Beacon Rock offers opportunities for rock climbing, except where it interferes with nesting raptors (primarily on the south face). The presence of the falcon nest requires that the south face be closed to technical rock activity February 1 to mid-July annually; open the rest of the year. The east face is closed year-round due to environmental sensitivity. Call the park at (509) 427-8265 for more information. The horse and bike trails are multi-use, with hikers allowed. There is fishing on the lower Columbia River, below Bonneville Dam, for sturgeon, salmon, steelhead, bass and walleye. The park is a popular site for weddings. A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

Events

Events
Date/time	Event description	State Park
May 2 - 5 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.	Painting in the Parks – Beacon Rock: Celebrate the centennial of Washington State Parks by painting in the parks. Take a journey through a state park and find artistic inspiration. Then spend the day creating a work in Washington’s great outdoors. From May 2 through 5, participants are welcome to paint at Maryhill, Columbia Hills and Beacon Rock state parks. Balsamroot and lupine line the gorge’s rocky hillsides in May. Artists may check-in with an event facilitator when they arrive. A full schedule of Painting in the Parks days is available at www.pleinairwashington.com. Presented by the Plein Air Washington Artists.	Beacon Rock (509) 427-8265
June 1 10 a.m - 3 p.m.	National Trails Day - Beacon Rock: Celebrate the centennial of State Parks at a special National Trails Day celebration at Beacon Rock State Park. The day will include meeting and talking to park staff, learning about technical rock climbing, informational handouts about trails in the Gorge, light snacks and refreshments, good conversation, camaraderie and some extremely incredible scenery. Presented in partnership with the Beacon Rock Climbers Association, Friends of the Gorge, Skamania County Chamber of Commerce, the Washington Trails Association, US Forest Service and A&J Select Market of Stevenson. National Trails Day is sponsored by the American Hiking Society. RSVP not required. For more information, visit www.americanhiking.org/events. Please note: June 1 is a State Parks free day in honor of National Trails Day. A Discover Pass is not required for vehicle access to state parks on free days.	Beacon Rock (509) 427-8265
June 16	Beacon Rock 50K/25K: Explore the Columbia River Gorge in a new way by racing in the Beacon Rock 50K/25K through Beacon Rock State Park. After the race, soak in the view of early-summer wildflowers and listen to live music during the post-race party. Registration and fee required for participation. Presented by Rainshadow Running. For more information, visit www.rainshadow-running.blogspot.com.	Beacon Rock (509) 427-8265

Full list of events at Washington State Parks

Boating Features

The park offers one boat launch, 916 feet of moorage dock and a boat pumpout.

A daily watercraft launching permit for $7 and a trailer dumping permit for $5 may be purchased at the park.

Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.

There are six electrical hookup sites for boats at the moorage dock (these sites are closed during the winter). The fee for these moorage sites is the standard moorage fee plus an additional $6 per night.

Winter facilities at the moorage area include two tent sites, one shower and one restroom. The boat pumpout and electrical hookup sites on the moorage dock are closed for the winter. Overnight moorage and the boat launch are available year round.
Moorage fees are charged year round for mooring at docks, floats and buoys from 1 p.m. to 8 a.m. Daily and annual permits are available. For more information, call (360) 902-8844.

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

There are two kitchen shelters with electricity in the park, plus two sheltered and 53 unsheltered picnic tables.

The lower picnic-area kitchen shelter is located at Hamilton Mountain Trailhead, available first come, first served. Water and power are available in the shelter.

The upper picnic-area kitchen shelter is available by reservation for groups of up to 100 people. Water and power are on-site. To reserve, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Bears • Bobcats • Chipmunks • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Rabbits • Skunks • Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Doves or Pigeons • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Grouse • Gulls • Hawks • Herons • Hummingbirds • Jays • Ospreys • Owls • Woodpeckers • Wrens	• Bass • Crappie • Salmon • Steelhead • Sturgeon • Trout • Walleye

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
Beacon Rock is the core of an ancient volcano. The ice-age floods through the Columbia River Gorge eroded the softer material away, leaving this unique geological structure standing by itself on the banks of the Columbia River.		• Douglas Fir • Ponderosa Pine • Alder • Cherry • Maple • Daisy • Lupines • Paintbrush • Rhododendron • Berries • Ferns • Moss or Lichens • Thistle • Poison Oak

Park photo gallery