Rooster Rock State Park
State park in Oregon, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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, at the urging of Dalles businessperson Victor Trevitt,[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]