Near North Bonneville in Skamania County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
"Remarkable" Rock
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 11, 2026
1. "Remarkable" Rock Marker
Captions: (background) Some tribes of this region ("Kiksht" speakers) have only known Beacon Rock by another name - Ikalalamat -meaning "big rock."; (photo middle left) Beacon Rock, circa 1909.
Beacon for Travelers
For thousands of years, travelers on the Columbia River marked their progress by Beacon Rock. For downriver travelers, the rock signified the end of the rapids and the beginning of the tidal influences of the Pacific Ocean.
Beacon Rock's importance as a landmark to area tribes is reflected in their name for the rock, "Che-che-op-tin," meaning "the navel of the world." Members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also named the rock. William Clark described it as "a remarkable high detached rock," and gave it the names "Beaten Rock" and "Beacon" Rock"
Walk Up the Rock
A descendant of Nicholas Biddle - the first editor of the journals of Lewis and Clark - bought Beacon Rock in 1915 and built a trail to the summit. Henry Biddle's project took two and a half half years, resulting in a 4.500-foot-long trail. Today, there are 52 hairpin turns and 22 wooden bridges. Henry's children, Spencer and Rebecca Biddle, donated Beacon Rock to Washington state in 1935.
"a remarkable high detached rock Stands in a bottom of the Stard Side near the lower point of this island on the Stard Side about 800 feet high and 400 paces around, we call the Beaten rock"
this page online
William Clark
Just a Young Pup
Beacon Rock is new in the neighborhood. Most of the surrounding rock is millions of years old. But Beacon Rock is only 57,000 years old - just a youngster! Geologists believe the rock is a solidified core of a volcano. The soft outer layers that once surrounded this volcano were washed away by the Ice Age floods, leaving behind the wonder.
Erected by Washington Lewis % Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Natural Features. A significant historical date for this entry is October 31, 1805.
Location. 45° 37.125′ N, 122° 1.685′ W. Marker is near North Bonneville, Washington, in Skamania County. It can be reached from Doetsch Ranch Road near Evergreen Highway (U.S. 14), on the right when traveling east. This marker is near the DAY USE parking area of Beacon Rock State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stevenson WA 98648, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Columbia River Gorge and in Southwest Washington State. It is also on the American Pacific
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 11, 2026
2. "Remarkable" Rock Marker, in kiosk
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Journey Through the Columbia River Gorge (here, next to this marker); Passage Through Time (here, next to this marker); Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (here, next to this marker); Beacon Rock State Park (approx. ¾ mile away); "Beacon Rock" (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Beacon Rock (approx. 0.8 miles away); Warrendale (approx. 1.2 miles away in Oregon); "skin of a wild sheep" (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Bonneville.
More about this marker. In my travels, this contributor seen a couple of places called "navel of the world" or translates to words with that meaning. It is an interesting subject.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 11, 2026
3. Beacon Rock
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
