The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-08-18
LYMAN TELLS OF
NOTED LANDMARK

? Mount Hood Lodge and Cloud Cap In
; gathering data for an article, tells in
terestingly of trip to Beacon Rock, o
: Castle Rock, the huge stone pillar aris
ing on the Washington side of the Col
umbia west OF Stevenson. Mr.. Lyman
story follows:
r 1.-The rapid which we have just passe
, is the last of all the descents of the Col
; mbia. As we descended we reached
: creek under bluff on the left: in tn
meadow to the right and at some dis
} tance from the hills stands perpendic
ular sock about 800 feet high and 40
yards around the base. This we calleC
Beacon rock. Just below is an IndiaI
village of nine houses situated between
two small creeks. - Lewis and Clark
Journal, Saturday, November 2, 1905
Such were the impressions of the frs
; Americans, so far as records show, tC
look upon the giant monolith which
stands like a sentinel on the Washington
bank of the river at the center of the
Columbia gorge. A century and IL
years in addition have passed since
Lewis and Clark's little band of ex.
plorers, on the journey overland to the
mouth of the Columbia, viewed many o
the scenic wonders of the Columbia and
named not few of them. including Bea
con rock
Today the same rock, which a century
ago was far outpost of strange land
inhabited only by hostile bands of Ind
ians, is one OF tue most interesting
scenic points which it is possible to visit
in one-day motor trip from Fortlond.
The rock is but little changed and is still
the scenic wonder which caught the
eyes of Lewis and Clark. A railroad
has laid it's track past the base of the
rock, at the edge of the river a high
way has cut its way through the forest
behind the rock, and a trail has con-
quered its sheer walls clear to the top
Beacon rock, which may be justly called
the most interesting feature of the
Washington side of the Columbia gorge,
has been made easily availble to the
motorist, although all the natural fea-
lures of the mass of stone and its i'm
mediate surroundings have been pre-
served.
To reach Beacon rock the motorists
may make the run through Vancouver
out the North bank highway through
Camas and eastward to the rock or may
take the Columbia River highway to
Cascade Locks, ferry across the river to
Stevenson and make the short run
westward to the rock. Either route is
delightful at this season, dry weather
having put the North Bank route in
excellent shape.
In the trip with the Haines the writer
and Mr.. Stevens enjoyed the delights of
both routes by making the trip to the
rock over the North Bank road, stopping
for several hours at the rock and vicinity
and then returning home through Ste
venson and over the Columbia River
highway pavement. This is probably
the most enjoyable way to make the trip.
The North Bank route goes east from
Vancouver to Washougal, then up the
Washougal river for some miles, to get
around the barriers of Cape Horn then
turns back to the river and follows the
river bank up to Beacon rock. The
road is in good shape, paved to Camas
aud graveled most of the way beyond.
There are a few miles Of dirt road,
bumpy, but not offering any difficulty
except after a severe rain.
The highway runs immediatly behind
Beacon rock and offers a splendid view
of it for many miles both from the west
and east. The excellent trail which
was completed about three years ago to
the top OF the rock by ii. j. Biddle, the
owner, starts right at the edge of the
highway and is found without difficulty.
road also built by Mr. Biddle, runs
northward from the main highway
for 200 feet to a beautiful grove of trees
and a spring of cold, clear water. This
is known ar Wahclella park, and offers
an excellent luncheon or camping spot
for the mOtOrist.
Beacon rock has never been accurately
measured but has been estimated by
the United States Geological surrey as
$50 feet in height. For perhaps half
that distance the rock is nearly sheer on
every side, and for the last hall the
south and west sides slope backward to !
point which forms the summit. The |
east and north sides are perpendicular |
for nearly 800 feet, it is estimated. The |
road behind ihe rock is approximately |
$50 feet above the river. thus leaving a |
distance of 600 feet from the road, where |
the trail begins, to the top Of the rock. |
As result of the keen interest in the |
rock displayed by Mr.. Biddle who has |
a beautiful homes a few miles north of |
Vancouver on the Columbia river bank |
ahd who purchased the rock in 1915, the |
trail TO the top was begun in October, /
1915, and completed in April, 1918. 1t /
is, probably without exception, the .
finest trail in the Columbia gorge terri
tory. 1t Is .S5 of mile long, four feet
wide throughout and has a maximum
grade OF 10 per cent. The sides are
well protected bY concrete walls and /
iron railings and no one, man nor wOm-
an, old OF young, SO long as they pos \
sesses a fairly level head, need lear n
making the ascent.
In many places it was necessary to II
carve the trail along the side of the
sheer rock wall. Bridges, some OF them
sverhanglng are numerous, and at tue
point where the trail climbs the "chim-
ney' on the south side il was necessary
TO make 81 switchbacks. There are in
all 81 turns of the trail in its length of
o5 Of a mile.
While the rock and its surroundings
are not public property they may be
as open TO the enjoyment of
the public, through the kindness of Mr.. /
Biddle. who is desirous that this un-
usual scenic feature be enjoyed by as
many people as possible. The public i- |
invited TO visit the rock OF the picnic |
amp at any time and the only restric-
ions are those regarding deiacing the |
rail, picking the flowers, starting fires
md otherwise iuiuring the natural /
Jeauty of the place, which govern in any |
public park. That the rock will remain Il
ereyer a natural beauty spot is doublv \
assured by the attitude 0f Mr.. Biddle II
md by a stipulation In the deed under
\ hich be owns the property. The pur- 4
hase was made by him from the late I III
'harles f. Ladi and associates and it n
vas expressly stipulated IN the deed II
hat the rock be forever preserved IN II
natural state and be not injured Or n
eiaced in any way. MIR. BiddIe stated. II
ycept as was necessary for the building III
f tle trail III
!. L l