Rooster Rock State Park
Rooster Rock State Park is a state park located east of Corbett, in the U.S. state of Oregon. One of the features of the park is Rooster Rock, a column of basalt forming a natural obelisk, which stands near the south side of the Columbia River Gorge, in the lee of Crown Point. The park is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
| Rooster Rock State Park | |
|---|---|
 Rooster rock from the west | |
   | |
 | |
| Type | Public, state |
| Location | Multnomah County, Oregon |
| Nearest city | Troutdale |
| Coordinates | 45°32′40″N 122°14′09″W[1] |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
The monolith was mentioned in the journal of the explorers Lewis and Clark as their camping place on November 2, 1805.[2] The name is phallic in origin,[2] specifically, the column's original name was "Cock Rock". The Chinook word for the rock was iwash, referring to penis.[3] The name was later modified to Rooster Rock so as not to offend the public.[3]
The eastern portion of the park is designated as a clothing-optional beach, the first officially designated clothing-optional beach in the U.S.[4] The only other clothing-optional beach in the state, after Glassbar Island's closing, is Collins Beach, on Sauvie Island in the Columbia River, north of Portland.
The area around the parking lot has been a favorite astronomy spot for amateur astronomers in the area, with organizations such as OMSI hosting multiple star parties at the venue.[5]
Gallery
Rooster Rock sign
Rooster Rock plaque
Squirrels at Rooster Rock State Park
References
- "Rooster Rock State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
- Gulick, Bill (2006). Sixty-Four Years as a Writer. Caxton Press. pp. 102–103. ISBN 0-87004-453-2.
- "10 great places to leave the swimsuit at home". USA Today. June 1, 2007. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- R, Mike (2019-03-17). "Rooster Rock State Park Astronomy Site". CosmosPNW. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
External links
- "Rooster Rock State Park". Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- "Rooster Rock". The Columbia River: A Photographic Journey. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- "Information about clothing optional section of Rooster Rock beach". Oregon Clothing Optional Beach Alliance. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
