Hamilton Mountain Loop

Hamilton Mountain is the flood-truncated end of a basalt ridge on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, rising directly above Beacon Rock State Park. The loop starts with a passage through cedar-and-fir forest before reaching the Pool of the Winds and Rodney Falls, where spray whips through a narrow basalt slot — a Gorge classic worth the stop.

The climb to the 2,438-foot summit delivers steady switchbacks through dense forest with brief open sections east toward Table Mountain. The wooded summit itself is thicketed, so the best views come from a bench a few yards beyond the high point, and from the Hamilton Mountain Saddle further along the loop. The return leg along Hardy Ridge opens up more expansive Gorge vistas before dropping back via an old service road.

Year-round access, but winter icing can make the switchbacks treacherous. The Discover Pass is required. The trail is well-maintained — please don't shortcut switchbacks.