{{Short description|State park in Oregon, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Hat Rock State Park | image = HatRockSPOR.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Hat Rock | map = Oregon#USA | map_size = 220 | type = Public, state | location = Umatilla County, Oregon | nearest_city = Hermiston | coordinates = {{coord|45.9148548|N|119.1650109|W|region:US-OR_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref>{{cite gnis |id=1121655 |name=Hat Rock State Park |access-date=2011-06-21}}</ref> | area = | created = | operator = Oregon Parks and Recreation Department | visitation_num = | status = }}
'''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,<ref>{{cite book |first=Julie |last=Fanselow |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDRWjVjRpogC |title=Traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail |publisher=Falcon |year=2003 |page=252 |isbn=0-7627-2589-3}}</ref> on the south shore of Lake Wallula behind McNary Dam on the Columbia River.<ref>{{cite web |title=McNary Dam and Lake Wallula |publisher=U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |url=http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/McNaryDamandLakeWallula.aspx |access-date=July 18, 2014 |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725235804/http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/McNaryDamandLakeWallula.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
==History== thumb|left|upright|Anchor, a landmark in the Park {{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.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jan Gumprecht |last=Bannan. |title=Oregon State Parks |publisher=Mountaineers Books |year=2002 |page=212 |isbn=0-89886-794-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=boFO8l8R7BsC}}</ref> It is {{convert|70|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} 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".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History of the Oregon State Parks — 1917-1963 (Section 5: State Parks and Waysides) |url=https://npshistory.com/publications/oregon/history/sec5.htm |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=npshistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hat Rock (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/places/hat-rock.htm |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722085033/https://www.nps.gov/places/hat-rock.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0" />
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-13 |title=Hat Rock fire in Umatilla County 100% contained |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/umatilla-county-wildfire-hat-rock-fire-evacuation-osfm/283-b6aef290-6d31-421a-96ac-1a328d2903eb |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=kgw.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Oregonian |first=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and East |date=2023-06-13 |title=Hat Rock Fire remains at 8,500 acres Wednesday morning; WA and OR resources mobilized |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/topics/wildfire/hat-rock-fire-remains-at-8-500-acres-wednesday-morning-wa-and-or-resources-mobilized/article_f661b0f4-0a62-11ee-8bfc-03de9369559a.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Union-Bulletin.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Amenities == Hat Rock State Park features hiking trails, horse trails, multiple picnicking areas, flush restrooms, fishing areas, and a boat launch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hat Rock State Park - Oregon State Parks |url=https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=12 |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=stateparks.oregon.gov |language=en |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717162752/https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=12 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==See also== * Hermiston Butte * List of Oregon state parks {{clear}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web |url=http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_19.php |title=Hat Rock State Park |publisher=Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |access-date=2011-06-21}} {{Commons category|Hat Rock State Park}} {{Protected areas of Oregon}}
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Category:State parks of Oregon Category:Hermiston, Oregon Category:Parks in Umatilla County, Oregon Category:Volcanism of Oregon Category:Miocene volcanism
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