Beacon Rock Trail

Beacon Rock Trail is a scenic 1.5 to 1.8-mile hike famous for its 52 switchbacks and wooden catwalks engineered directly into a steep cliffside. Climbing approximately 600 feet, the trail features protective metal railings along sharp drop-offs and rewards hikers with panoramic vistas of the Columbia River Gorge.

Commenters enthusiastically praise the trail for delivering a great workout and breathtaking gorge views despite its short distance. However, some caution that the cliffside heights can be intimidating and note that the trail tends to get heavily crowded on weekends.