Rooster Rock State Park
1946 State Parks Report: Rooster Rock State Park
Rooster Rock is a "minor" state park that has not, up to this time, been directly identified with the Columbia Gorge series. It is situated near the river level and entirely away from the present highway, lying below, and a short distance west of Crown Point. It is described as ... containing 33.63 acres.
Its principal physical feature is a tall, shapely, basaltic monolith, long known as a prominent land mark. In his Oregon Geographic names, page 301, Lewis A. McArthur, says: "This is probably the rock mentioned by Lewis and Clark as their camping place on the night of November 2, 1805". If this site could be definitely, or even approximately determined, it would be quite appropriate to erect a marker at the designated place.
The tract was acquired by purchase on February 26, 1938, for right of way for the proposed river grade highway. It lies between the railroad and river and there are no park improvements of any kind, up to this time.
W. A. Langille
State Parks Historian
December 5, 1945
Recommendations:
Recommendations will be submitted after a thorough survey has been made.
S. H. Boardman
State Parks Superintendent
March 25, 1946
Langille, W. A. and S. H. Boardman. "State Parks Historical Sketches: Columbia Gorge State Parks." OPRD / Oregon State Archives. 1946. PDF. http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/doc/records/state/odot/pdfs/columbia_gorge.pdf
Oregon State Parks: Rooster Rock State Park
Lands for the park were purchased from private owners between 1937 and 1985 to provide public river access and protection of the Columbia River Gorge. However, development as a park was not possible until the new highway was built at water grade in the 1950s. Rooster Rock is situated at the west end of the park. It is said to be the rock mentioned by Lewis and Clark as the camping place for members of their exploring expedition on Nov. 2, 1805.
Acreage: 872.91
Annual day-use attendance: 557,788
...
Is there a clothing optional beach at Rooster Rock? Yes but by design, the clothing optional beach area is completely separate and not visible from the clothing-required area of the large park. The two areas coexist in harmony.
Oregon State Parks: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkHistory&parkId=126 (Accessed March 8, 2020)
Links
Oregon State Parks: Rooster Rock State Park
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkHistory&parkId=126
The Oregonian: STATE PARK TURNS INTO OASIS FOR HUNGRY, DIRTY FIRE CREWS
DAVE HOGAN, October 12, 1991
Requires Multnomah County Library Card for Access