No Reservations, No Problem: A Panic-Free Guide to Camping on the Fly
Photo:
Beacon Rock. Photo: iStock
Beacon Rock State Park in the Columbia River Gorge
Find it: Beacon Rock State Park is located near the town of Skamania on the Columbia River Gorge.
Details: This park used to be first come, first served, but now takes reservations for its 26 tent sites and five full-hookup sites for RVs.
Day hikers flock to Beacon Rock State Park for the steep 1-mile hike to a stunning panorama of the gorge atop Beacon Rock, which is actually the core of an ancient volcano. This trail has lots of stairs and abrupt drop-offs; while there are handrails, it may be unsuitable for very small children. Other park trails loop through the forest, along the river shoreline and across wildflower meadows.
Plan B: Cross the bridge at Cascade Locks over to Oregon for Viento State Park, which also has reservable sites but decent weekday availability.
Up next: South Beach
