Pool of the Winds
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes including this location
- Hamilton Mountain Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Pool of the Winds Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 45.64350, -122.01410
- Elevation: 1029 feet
- Stream: Hardy Creek
Description
Pool of the Winds is a geologic formation along Hardy Creek seen by most on their climb up Hamilton Mountain. A fissure in the bedrock forces a rush of water twenty feet down into a small, dark whirlpool within a cave-like enclosure. As the name implies, wind continually blows out of the cave - offering hikers a nice respite on a hot summer day.
To see the cave, climb about a short, steep slope to a small observation deck. Not only can you lean over and peer into the pool, you also get a great viewpoint looking down Rodney Falls and toward the long wooden footbridge along the Hamilton Mountain trail. Depending on how you define it the small twenty foot drop inside Pool of the Winds contains the top tier of Rodney Falls. Water flows out of the pool and drops another 45 feet. This second cascade is the section of Rodney Falls that most hikers see as they cross the long wooden footbridge along the Hamilton Mountain trail.
For many, this is a destination in itself. In fact, area hiking clubs commonly group together a hike up to Pool of the Winds with a climb up nearby Beacon Rock. Both formations are within Beacon Rock State Park.
For those not stopping here and turning around, Pool of the Winds serves as the first obvious resting spot before the serious climbing begins!
More Links
- Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest
- Dramatic Hamilton Mountain Hike is simply Columbia River Gorgeous (Seattle PI)
Contributors
- jeffstatt (creator)