Beacon Rock State Park

Beacon Rock from the State Park's Upper Picnic Area

Photo by A. F. Litt, 2004

Official Site: https://www.parks.wa.gov/474/Beacon-Rock

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_Rock_State_Park

Wikipedia: Beacon Rock State Park

The park takes its name from Beacon Rock, an 848-foot (258 m) basalt volcanic plug on the north shore of the Columbia River 32 miles (51 km) east of Vancouver. On October 31, 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived here and first measured tides on the river, indicating that they were nearing the ocean.

Beacon Rock

Beacon Rock is an 848-foot-tall (258 m) monolith composed of basalt on the north bank of the Columbia River. 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 1915 when its name was changed back to Beacon Rock.

Henry J. Biddle purchased the rock in 1915 for $1 and during the next three years constructed a trail with 51 switchbacks, handrails and bridges. The three-quarter mile trail to the top, completed in April 1918, leads to views in all directions.

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. The park was established in 1935. Workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps made improvements which remain in use.

Claims

Beacon Rock 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, 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 Wyoming is larger than Beacon Rock, but is considered an igneous intrusion rather than necessarily a "single rock."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_Rock_State_Park (Accessed: May 20, 2022)

Castle RockA majestic scenic landmark on the Washington side of the river, seen for miles from the Columbia River Highway. It was formerly a lookout for the Indians and until 1901 its summit had never been scaled by white men. Covering at its base but 17 acres, it stands above the river, a lonely spire, eleven hundred feet high.
Lipschuetz and Katz. Oregon's Famous Columbia River Highway. Portland: Lipschuetz and Katz. 1920. University of California Libraries.https://archive.org/details/oregonsfamouscol00lips

Beacon Rock Campground Mystery Chimney

"Adjacent to site 17 sits the Chimney Facing Nowhere. Rangers haven't been able to supply a definite history."

Cook, Gorge 237

Links

Beacon Rock State Park - Beacon RockBeacon Rock's native name is "Che-Che-op-tin," which translates to "the navel of the world." Native Americans weren't far off in their comparison, since the 848-foot basalt column once formed the core, or belly, of an ancient volcano.

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission: Beacon Rock State Park Map (PDF)