Beacon Rock State Park in Skamania

Beacon Rock State Park, located in Skamania, should be on every nature lover's itinerary. The park is named after the 848-foot-tall volcanic plug that dominates the skyline, Beacon Rock. Visitors can hike up to the top of the rock for breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge. The park also offers opportunities for picnicking, fishing, and camping. History buffs will appreciate the fact that the park was once the site of a strategic military post during the Civil War called Fort Cascades. Today, it is a designated National Natural Landmark and attracts people from all over the world. One interesting fact about the park is that it was once owned by a man named Henry Biddle, who built a trail to the top of Beacon Rock in the early 1900s. His daughter sold the land to the state in 1935 for just $1.