Beacon Rock State Park
Encyclopedia
Beacon Rock State Park is a state park
of Washington, USA, in the Columbia River Gorge
National Scenic Area, on State Route 14 about 35 miles (56.3 km) east of Vancouver, Washington
.
The park takes its name from Beacon Rock, an 848 feet (258.5 m) rock next to the Columbia River
. The park also includes 4482 acres (1,813.8 ha) of forested uplands across the highway from Beacon Rock, with a 1.25 miles (2 km) nature trail, 9.5 miles (15.3 km) of hiking trails, and 13 miles (20.9 km) of fire road. Hardy Falls and Rodney Falls are scenic highlights along the trail to the summit of 2445 feet (745.2 m) Hamilton Mountain, which has a view of Bonneville Dam
and points east. A new trail has been constructed to Little Beacon Rock.
On October 31, 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition
arrived here and first measured tides on the river, indicating their long journey was nearing an end.
. It was named by Lewis and Clark
in 1805; they originally referred to it as Beaten Rock, later as Beacon Rock. They noted that the rock marked the eastern extent of the tidal influence in the Columbia. The rock was later known as Castle Rock, until 1916 when its name was changed back to Beacon Rock.
Beacon Rock is 848 feet (258.5 m) tall and is composed of Andesite
. Henry Biddle purchased the rock in 1915 for $1 and during the next three years constructed a heavily switchbacked trail, handrails and bridges. The three-quarter mile trail to the top, completed in April 1918, leads to views in all directions. It is a popular hiking destination.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers
planned to destroy the rock, to supply material for the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia (see Columbia River Bar), and dug three caves on the rock's south side. During this time, Biddle's family tried to make it a state park. At first Washington refused the gift, but changed its position when Oregon
offered to accept.
It has been variously claimed to be the second largest free standing monolith
in the northern hemisphere, or in the world, just behind the Rock of Gibraltar
… or Stone Mountain
… or Mount Augustus, the latter two being very much larger than either of the first two. The assertion depends on how one defines the term "monolith". For example, Devils Tower National Monument
in America is larger than Beacon Rock, but is considered an igneous
intrusion
rather than necessarily a "single rock".
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
of Washington, USA, in the Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to deep, the canyon stretches for over as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south...
National Scenic Area, on State Route 14 about 35 miles (56.3 km) east of Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
.
The park takes its name from Beacon Rock, an 848 feet (258.5 m) rock next to the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. The park also includes 4482 acres (1,813.8 ha) of forested uplands across the highway from Beacon Rock, with a 1.25 miles (2 km) nature trail, 9.5 miles (15.3 km) of hiking trails, and 13 miles (20.9 km) of fire road. Hardy Falls and Rodney Falls are scenic highlights along the trail to the summit of 2445 feet (745.2 m) Hamilton Mountain, which has a view of Bonneville Dam
Bonneville Dam
Bonneville Lock and Dam consists of several run-of-the-river dam structures that together complete a span of the Columbia River between the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington at River Mile 146.1. The dam is located east of Portland, Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge. The primary functions of...
and points east. A new trail has been constructed to Little Beacon Rock.
On October 31, 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
arrived here and first measured tides on the river, indicating their long journey was nearing an end.
Beacon Rock
Beacon Rock, from which the park takes the name, is on the north bank of the Columbia RiverColumbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. It was named by Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
in 1805; they originally referred to it as Beaten Rock, later as Beacon Rock. They noted that the rock marked the eastern extent of the tidal influence in the Columbia. The rock was later known as Castle Rock, until 1916 when its name was changed back to Beacon Rock.
Beacon Rock is 848 feet (258.5 m) tall and is composed of Andesite
Andesite
Andesite is an extrusive igneous, volcanic rock, of intermediate composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. In a general sense, it is the intermediate type between basalt and dacite. The mineral assemblage is typically dominated by plagioclase plus pyroxene and/or hornblende. Magnetite,...
. Henry Biddle purchased the rock in 1915 for $1 and during the next three years constructed a heavily switchbacked trail, handrails and bridges. The three-quarter mile trail to the top, completed in April 1918, leads to views in all directions. It is a popular hiking destination.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
planned to destroy the rock, to supply material for the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia (see Columbia River Bar), and dug three caves on the rock's south side. During this time, Biddle's family tried to make it a state park. At first Washington refused the gift, but changed its position when Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
offered to accept.
It has been variously claimed to be the second largest free standing monolith
Monolith
A monolith is a geological feature such as a mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock, or a single piece of rock placed as, or within, a monument...
in the northern hemisphere, or in the world, just behind the Rock of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
… or Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain is a quartz monzonite dome monadnock in Stone Mountain, Georgia, United States. At its summit, the elevation is 1,686 feet amsl and 825 feet above the surrounding area. Stone Mountain granite extends underground at its longest point into Gwinnett County...
… or Mount Augustus, the latter two being very much larger than either of the first two. The assertion depends on how one defines the term "monolith". For example, Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower is an igneous intrusion or laccolith located in the Black Hills near Hulett and Sundance in Crook County, northeastern Wyoming, above the Belle Fourche River...
in America is larger than Beacon Rock, but is considered an igneous
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
intrusion
Intrusion
An intrusion is liquid rock that forms under Earth's surface. Magma from under the surface is slowly pushed up from deep within the earth into any cracks or spaces it can find, sometimes pushing existing country rock out of the way, a process that can take millions of years. As the rock slowly...
rather than necessarily a "single rock".