スカマニア郡の絶景の山頂・トップ14

There were no bears to be seen, and the steep forest road (partly rough gravel) was not ideal for walking—but the 180-degree panoramic view from the summit more than compensates. Four volcanoes can be seen in the immediate and wider area.

As you climb higher, the views of the South Cascades open up and Mount Rainier rises above the horizon. The final half-mile ascent to the ridge is on a beautiful trail with well-planned switchbacks. After two miles, the trail meets the Lake Lillian Trail.

Juniper Ridge Trail takes you to the top of a ridge line with panoramic views along the way. The first miles of the trail go through shaded forest, then going on top of the rocky ridge, passing through meadows with plenty of wildflowers during summer. The trailhead is at Forest Service Road 2904; to get there, a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. In addition, the trail is dry, so make sure to bring water with you.

Red Mountain lookout is one of the last remaining active fire lookout stations in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It has been rebuilt twice throughout the years, and the current iteration was restored by volunteers in 2010.

Congratulations, you have reached the Siouxon Peak at an elevation of 4,169 feet. Enjoy the gorgeous view – on a clear day Mount Hood, Mount Rainier and Mount Adams are visible! The trail is mostly downhill from here until you arrive at Siouxon Creek.

Most people will know the name of Mount St. Helens due to the massive eruption that happened in May 1980. In that event, the top of the mountain was blasted away by the pressure that was released instantly and the north side collapsed with a gigantic landslide. Today, the volcano is still mildly active. You can see steam coming out of the crater and timelapse videos show the evolution of new cones over the years. A steep trail will lead you to the rim with some difficult terrain, the true summit is another 0.4 miles to the west. For summiting Mount St. Helens, you need to obtain a permit year round.

Mount St. Helens is a volcano best known for its major May 1980 eruption.

At 2,488 feet, the summit of Hamilton Mountain is not the highest at Beacon Rock State Park. You'll need to climb Hardy Ridge to Phlox Point to accomplish that feat!