Parking
Start at Beacon Rock State Park’s Equestrian Trailhead. A Washington Discover Pass is required for trailhead parking.
Overview
About West Hardy Trail
Why go
- Broad west-facing Gorge views along the climb.
Heads up
- A sustained uphill approach and long descent.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation820–1,946 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Columbia River Gorge alerts
- ClosureEagle Creek Fire area closureDo not enter Oneonta Gorge or the specified trail sections because hazards remain following the Eagle Creek Fire.Official details
- CautionAircraft and drone restrictions at developed recreation sitesAircraft and drone landings, drop-offs, and pickups are prohibited at six high-use developed recreation sites to protect visitor safety.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to West Hardy Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Beacon Rock0:00 / 0:26
“You're approaching Beacon Rock, the basalt core of an extinct volcano with a trail wrapped onto its face.”
Plays on the road 1 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Hamilton Mountain Trailhead
- Doetsch Ranch River Walks
- When the Hillside Blocked the River
- Sams Walker Day Use Area
- 217 audio storiesacross Columbia River Gorge’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, Black Bear, American Pika, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 111 trails, 78 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking West Hardy Trail
A steady climb on the west sideWest Hardy Trail is a 5.
West Hardy Trail is a 5.64-mile out-and-back from Beacon Rock State Park’s Equestrian Trailhead, gaining 1,123 feet on a shared multi-use route. It’s a moderate walk through second-growth forest to the junction with Hardy Ridge Trail. Allow about three to four hours; that’s a practical estimate because the park map gives no time. Turn around at the junction for West Hardy. Continuing up Hardy Ridge adds the narrower hiking-only trail and becomes a longer hike.
What the route feels likeThe first 1.
The first 1.2 miles follow Equestrian Trail, a wide, steadily climbing double track through mature second growth. Turn left at the first junction onto West Hardy, then climb the old roadbed along Hardy Ridge’s western flank. Westerly openings look across the Columbia River Gorge. The route ends at the next junction, where Hardy Ridge Trail climbs away from the shared track; the full Hardy Ridge Loop is a separate, harder 7.31-mile outing.
Start and accessBegin at Equestrian Trailhead.
Begin at Equestrian Trailhead. Washington State Parks requires a Discover Pass to park, and park trails are open 8 a.m. to dusk. Dogs are allowed on leash. Water and restroom service at this trailhead were not confirmed, so plan to carry what you need. Expect a sustained climb on the way out and a long descent back.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Columbia River Gorge
267 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
51 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
136 sightingsAmerican PikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
16 sightingsWapitiMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
195 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
74 sightingsChinook SalmonMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Columbia River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
