Little Beacon Rock Loop Hike

From Portland Hikers Field Guide

Little Beacon Rock (Steve Hart)

Pica (Steve Hart)

Start point: Hamilton Mountain Trailhead
End point: Little Beacon Rock
Trail Log: Trail Log
Hike Type:Loop
Distance: 1.9 miles
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Seasons: Year round
Family Friendly: Yes
Backpackable: No
Crowded: Yes

1 Hike Description
2 Maps
3 Regulations or restrictions, etc
4 Trip Reports
5 Related Discussions / Q&A
6 Guidebooks that cover this hike
7 More Links
8 Contributors

Hike Description

Start up the Hamilton Mountain Trail from the Hamilton Mountain Trailhead. About a half mile from the trailhead, you'll come to a trail junction with a bench. The bench has great views of Hamilton Mountain and Bonneville Dam. Take the branching trail towards the west. This is the Hadley Trail named for a former park manager. This trail skirts the edge of the power line right-of-way, usually staying in the forest. After another half mile, you'll come to a junction with the Little Beacon Rock Trail, marked by a stone plaque. Turn left here and head down the Little Beacon Rock Trail.

This short trail soon leaves the forest into the talus slopes around Little Beacon Rock. These rocks a populated by a colony of picas. This trail was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Core in 1939 and rebuilt by volunteers a few years ago. It's heavily built and looks like something in a national park.

From Little Beacon Rock, return to the Hadley Trail. Turn left and you'll find a marker labeling Hadley Grove. Continue passed the plaque and you'll soon reach the Hadley Trailhead. Head left on the road and drop down the hill to the Hamilton Mountain Trailhead and your car.