Hat Rock State Park Explained

Hat Rock State Park
Map:Oregon#USA
Map Width:220
Type:Public, state
Location:Umatilla County, Oregon
Nearest City:Hermiston
Coords:45.9149°N -119.165°W
Coords Ref:[1]
Operator:Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Hat Rock State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The park is located off the east side of U.S. Highway 730 in Hermiston,[2] on the south shore of Lake Wallula behind McNary Dam on the Columbia River.[3]

History

See also: Columbia River Basalt Group. Hat Rock is a geological formation that, along with another outcropping rock in the park called Boat Rock, are thought to be exposed remnants of a 12-million-year-old basalt flow. Floods from the Ice Age eventually left these bedrocks, as well as others along the Columbia River Gorge exposed at the surface of the Earth.[4] It is 70abbr=offNaNabbr=off high.

Hat Rock was the first landmark passed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition once they reached the Columbia River, and is one of the few remaining sites that has not been submerged by the river. On October 19, 1805, Clark noted in his journal "a rock on the Lard... resembling a hat".[5] [6]

During the construction of the nearby McNary Dam in 1951, 175 acres were purchased by Oregon State Parks from Charles and Eileen Kirk for $5,000. Another 191 acres were leased from the Army Corps of Engineers in 1953, with 2 small additional parcels purchased in the following years.

On June 10, 2023, a wildfire began known as the Hat Rock Fire. It burned over 16,816 acres before being 100% contained by June 13.[7] [8]

Amenities

Hat Rock State Park features hiking trails, horse trails, multiple picnicking areas, flush restrooms, fishing areas, and a boat launch.[9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. 1121655 . Hat Rock State Park . 2011-06-21.
  2. Book: Fanselow, Julie . Traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail . Falcon . 2003 . 252 . 0-7627-2589-3.
  3. Web site: McNary Dam and Lake Wallula . U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . July 18, 2014.
  4. Book: Bannan., Jan Gumprecht . Oregon State Parks . Mountaineers Books . 2002 . 212 . 0-89886-794-0 .
  5. Web site: History of the Oregon State Parks — 1917-1963 (Section 5: State Parks and Waysides) . 2024-07-22 . npshistory.com.
  6. Web site: Hat Rock (U.S. National Park Service) . 2024-07-22 . www.nps.gov . en.
  7. Web site: 2023-06-13 . Hat Rock fire in Umatilla County 100% contained . 2024-07-22 . kgw.com . en-US.
  8. Web site: Oregonian . Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and East . 2023-06-13 . Hat Rock Fire remains at 8,500 acres Wednesday morning; WA and OR resources mobilized . 2024-07-22 . Union-Bulletin.com . en.
  9. Web site: Hat Rock State Park - Oregon State Parks . 2024-07-22 . stateparks.oregon.gov . en.