Hamilton Mountain and Rodney Falls Trail

A few years back I became acquainted with Beacon Rock State Park, an easy scenic jaunt visible down below from the higher elevations on Hamilton Mountain. While Hamilton Mountain has been on my to-hike list since then, I hadn’t explored much of the area other than a quick after thought to Beacon Rock back in June 2017 when I played in the water with two Afghans, two Americans who lived in Uganda and Afghanistan, and a South African friend who was based in Portland.

President’s Day seemed like the perfect opportunity to knock this one off the list. Though cool and wet, the sun was shining more or less and Naomi and I headed out with an arrival around 11:30AM. I had hoped to pick up an annual Discovery pass from Big 5, but they didn’t have any on this side of the border between Oregon and Washington. But I did manage to get an annual Northwest Forest Pass so we can ensure smoother future planning. Not to worry though as the machine at the trailhead was able to grant me a printed annual pass good for two cars ($30).

Some thoughts before pictures:

• be prepared for mud and snow throughout much of the year

• layer up so you can be comfortable no matter what

• hiking poles were super helpful

• I always like my AllTrails app and a fully charged phone so I don’t get lost… I check it throughout the journey to see where the peak is and know how we are progressing

The waterfall is truly breathtaking. Be sure to check out Pool of the Winds, the hole in the rock where the water cascades down. I’ll definitely be doing this hike again!