A virtual forest walk / hike to the top of Hamilton Mountain, Washington with no talk, no music, just nature & relaxation. The full journey in real-time, 4K video.

When it comes to the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon & its world-famous waterfalls net the lion's share of visitors. But just a hop across the stateline on the Washington side of the gorge, the scenery is equally spectacular and one of the best ways to experience it is the trail climbing Hamilton Mountain.

Looming quietly across from eye-catching Beacon Rock (an 850ft / 259m high monolith that's both an iconic Gorge landmark & a fun hike on its own), Hamilton Mountain's flanks boast acres of pristine forest, impressive cliffs, and a creek that gives rise to three waterfalls: shy Hardy Falls (trees have mostly blocked the view from the trail unfortunately), multi-tiered Rodney Falls, and the one-of-a-kind, epically-named Pool of the Winds, where rushing water funnels into a secluded, rock-carved alcove.

This hike begins from the much more scenic and lesser-known (for mysterious reasons) Hadley Trailhead, which travels through a serene grove to a side-path with Little Beacon Rock. From there, the way winds through more forest before joining the main trail on the way to the waterfalls. The journey gets quieter as the trail climbs, winding up many switchbacks (& views!) up to the somewhat anti-climactic summit. But wait, there's more! From there we explore beyond, through encroaching brush and sun-dappled trees to a wind-blown saddle for some final far-off vistas. Enjoy!

Highlights:
00:00 - Intro
5:32 - Hadley Grove
8:00 - A Rocky Detour
12:25 - Little Beacon Rock
18:45 - The Windy Way Back
24:19 - Millipede & Old Trees
31:36 - Powerlines (but also views!)
35:00 - Climbing the Main Trail
44:35 - Side Creeks #1 & 2
48:40 - Side Creek #3
50:30 - Approaching Hardy Creek & The Falls
53:27 - The Pool of the Winds
58:26 - Down to Rodney Falls
1:00:05 - Rodney Falls
1:05:58 - Quiet Climb
1:08:16 - Balcony View
1:16:29 - The Long Climb Up
1:24:48 - Rugged Switchbacks, Big Rocks
1:32:10 - Breezy Hillside Vista
1:35:00 - The Ledges
1:42:11 - Wind-blown Flowers & Trees
1:48:06 - Western Valley Lookout
1:50:54 - The Rim
1:58:38 - The Upper Slopes & Flowers Galore
2:10:49 - Quiet Approach to the Top
2:27:38 - The Summit
2:34:19 - A Modest High Point & the Brushy Beyond
2:40:31 - Sun-Dappled Woods
2:49:25 - The Saddle
2:59:02 - Outro & Ratings

Trip Stats:
* Distance: 4.2 mi / 6.8 km one-way
* Elevation Gain: 2000 ft / 610 m
* Trailhead GPS: 45.6358, -122.0240
* Restrictions: WA Discover Pass required; bikes, stock, leashed dogs allowed
* Camping Available: Yes (but not on this trail), designated sites

Filmed May 2023. I'm still ironing out the camera setup, as well as the format/structure for future videos. Please feel free to comment on the good, the bad, or the ugly; this is an on-going learning experience. My hope is for each video to improve on the last.