Hardy Ridge Loop Hike

Overview

This loop hike at Beacon Rock State Park will give you views, solitude, and a great wildflower display in June. It mostly follows a system of old logging roads now used by horses. However the foot trail over the crest of Hardy Ridge as well as the rough trail north along the spine of the ridge are hiker-only. The higher you get on the ridge, the more open the terrain, once blighted by the 1902 Yacolt Burn, becomes, and the more the views open up. The hike begins at the Equestrian Trailhead on Kueffler Road. You can examine the map in the parking area before starting, but all of the junctions mentioned in this description are marked with signs, and some of them have maps posted. Behind the information kiosk, there’s a gated road and, to its right, a trail marked “Equestrian Trailhead.” Take either one – they come together in short order, and you’ll be following the gravel road up below a talus slope in Douglas-fir/hemlock forest with a sword fern and Oregon grape understory. A rip-rap buttressed section of road is where a slide took away the tread many years ago. After crossing a couple of creeks, the road levels on an alder bench and curves uphill to pass over another plunging creek. At a four-way junction with the West Hardy Ridge and Lower Loop trails, keep straight. Turn into the Hardy Creek drainage, and keep gently rising, getting glimpses across to Hamilton Mountain through the alders. This is a mixed slope forest of Douglas-fir, hemlock, maple, alder, and wild cherry. When you reach the junction with the East Hardy Ridge Trail, turn left to hike up a salmonberry-lined road track under a canopy of alder. A big looping switchback takes you on a traverse on the east slope of Hardy Ridge, and you'll soon enter a coniferous forest of same-age Douglas-firs and hemlocks, with the road grade becoming gentler. The Bridge Trail, which connects to the trail system near Hardy Creek, comes in from the right. Continue up the track in deep forest to reach the road's end and the east end of the hiker-only Hardy Rid

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-DonNelsonHardyMap

400px-DonNelsonHardyMap

250px-Hardy_Ridge_summit

250px-Hardy_Ridge_summit

250px-Paintbrush

250px-Paintbrush

250px-Tableview

250px-Tableview

250px-Hamilton_Mountain_and_Mt

250px-Hamilton_Mountain_and_Mt

250px-Lower_end_of_the_Equestrian_Trail%2C_Beacon_Rock_S

250px-Lower_end_of_the_Equestrian_Trail%2C_Beacon_Rock_S

400px-Hardyridge

400px-Hardyridge

Tags