1.9 hr
Overview
The Equestrian Trailhead at Beacon Rock State Park is the quiet back door to an extensive network of trails that extend to Hamilton Mountain and Hardy Ridge. Horses are not permitted on either of these prominences, but they can both be approached via old logging roads that have been repurposed as horse/bike/hiker trails. This hike takes you into the quiet woods north of the Hamilton Mountain Saddle and down to the upper reaches of Hardy Creek. You can connect to the summit of Hamilton Mountain (1.7 miles extra) and/or also widen the loop to head over Hardy Ridge (see the Hardy Ridge Loop Hike). 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 the four-way Equestrian-West Hardy Ridge-Lower Loop Trail Junction, 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. Keep straight again at the Equestrian-East Hardy Ridge-Lower Loop Trail Junction. (You will be coming back to this spot to complete the loop part of your lollipop.) The trail begins to descend the slope as Hamilton Mountain looms above. Soon, you’ll cross the huge culvert at Hardy Creek and reach the Equestrian-Hardy Creek Trail Junction, where there’s a picnic table and trail map. Here, go left up along the creek to reach the Equestrian-Upper Hardy Creek Trail Junction and keep left. Hardy Creek rushes through an alder bottom down to the left, and a verdant Douglas-fir/hemlock slope rises to the right. Large rotting nu
Trail Stats
0.0 km
571 m
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0 m
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Photos
400px-UpperHardyCreekLoopMap
400px-UpperHardyCreekLoopMap
250px-Stepping_stones_on_the_Bridge_Trail%2C_Beacon_Rock_S
250px-Stepping_stones_on_the_Bridge_Trail%2C_Beacon_Rock_S
250px-Hardy_Creek_from_the_bridge%2C_Bridge_Trail%2C_Beacon_Rock_S
250px-Hardy_Creek_from_the_bridge%2C_Bridge_Trail%2C_Beacon_Rock_S
250px-Approaching_Hardy_Creek%2C_Equestrian_Trail%2C_Beacon_Rock_S
250px-Approaching_Hardy_Creek%2C_Equestrian_Trail%2C_Beacon_Rock_S
400px-Hamilton_Saddle_and_Mt
400px-Hamilton_Saddle_and_Mt