| 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 / 45.5445639°N 122.2359232°W[1] |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
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.
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]
- ^ "Rooster Rock State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
- ^ a b McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
- ^ a b 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 December 27, 2010.
- ^ R, Mike (March 17, 2019). "Rooster Rock State Park Astronomy Site". CosmosPNW. Retrieved January 15, 2022.