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Hat Rock State Park, Pendleton, OR

Photo: PortlandSaint, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sports & Outdoors

Hat Rock State Park

A desert-edged day-use park on the shore of Lake Wallula along the Columbia River, near a basalt landmark the Lewis and Clark party reached.

Pendleton, OR

About Hat Rock State Park

Hat Rock State Park sits east of Umatilla on the south side of Lake Wallula, the reservoir behind McNary Dam. The park is known as one of the few Columbia River sites from the Lewis and Clark era that has not been submerged. Visitors can picnic under cottonwoods and black locust, fish in a spring-fed pond stocked with rainbow trout, launch boats, and walk a trail to the base of the basalt rock. Interpretive displays cover local wildlife and volcanic history, and a spur leads to an overlook for the Umatilla County Lewis and Clark trail. Waterfowl, barn owls, and wintering eagles are common sightings.

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  • #lake
  • #fishing
  • #boating
  • #picnic

What's around here?

The closest stops to Hat Rock State Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Quake Family Fun Center

    $25–$50

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    Transit: reachable by public transit

    20 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Sacajawea State Park

    Under $25

    A 267-acre day-use state park where the Snake and Columbia rivers meet, with an interpretive center on the Corps of Discovery and Sacagawea.

    21 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    History Buff

    Pendleton Underground Tours

    Under $25

    A 90-minute guided walk through Pendleton's historic underground tunnels, bordello, opium den and jail.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    25 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Heritage Station Museum

    Under $25

    A Pendleton railroad-depot museum on Umatilla County history with a pioneer cabin, schoolhouse and caboose.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    25 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Battle Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor

    Check prices

    A forested Oregon state scenic corridor along U.S. 395 north of Ukiah, known for pine and fir stands, wildlife, and spring birding.

    46 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor

    Check prices

    A scenic drive along Highway 395 through pine and larch forest, with a primitive campground and river fishing.

    55 mi awayMore like this