Hamilton-Hardy Loop

Beacon Rock State Park has two named summits: Hamilton Mountain at 2,488 feet, and Phlox Point on Hardy Ridge at 2,957 feet — 470 feet higher but far less visited. This loop from the Equestrian Trailhead ties them together with old logging roads and foot trails, crossing the Hardy Creek drainage between them. The route sidesteps the crowded Rodney Falls and Hardy Falls area that makes the standard Hamilton Mountain hike a shoving match on summer weekends.

From the Equestrian lot, the road climbs through Douglas-fir, hemlock, and alder past a rip-rapped slide section and several creek crossings. After a series of signed junctions, the trail drops to the huge culvert crossing Hardy Creek, reaches a picnic table at the Hardy Creek junction, then traverses a level alder bench with crib-wall buttressing. The Hamilton Mountain Trail switchbacks steeply up cliff-edged slopes to Little Hamilton Mountain and continues over the ridge crest to the summit proper — brushy and viewless at the very top, so turn around and follow the ridge trail north to the Hamilton Mountain Saddle, which offers a better panorama of Mt. Hood, Larch Mountain, Yeon Mountain, Aldrich Butte, Table Mountain, and South Birkenfeld.

The loop continues to Phlox Point via the West Hardy Ridge Trail, climbs the final exposed pitch up Hardy Ridge, and returns down the East Hardy Ridge Trail to the outbound road. The Phlox Point ascent gets tricky when the tread is icy and the east wind is blowing hard — skip that portion in such conditions. Sustained elevation gain, two summits, and mostly empty trail outside the Hamilton corridor make this one of the park's best long days. Nettles line some of the lower creek sections; a Washington Discover Pass is required at Beacon Rock State Park.