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Smith Rock isn't just one rock; the area boasts an incredible formation of pinnacles and rocks that extend between 500 and 600 feet. |
SMITH ROCK
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Smith Rock isn't just one rock; the area boasts an incredible formation of pinnacles and rocks that extend between 500 and 600 feet. |
The state park encompasses 651 acres of the Central Oregon high desert at roughly 3000 feet in elevation. |
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From the parking area, the trail dips down into a gorge and crosses the Crooked River. The path to the left following the canyon wall is an easy hike. You can spend 30 minutes walking along the river, or a half day making a loop of the entire trail system that extends outside the park. |
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We've hiked in the Smith Rock area several times, once in the winter in several inches of packed snow. An eagle soared overhead, ducks and geese noisily announced their arrivals and departures, and river otters played on the rocks. Even with snow on the ground, several rock climbers were enjoying the warmth of the south-facing cliffs. It's about 1.5 miles from the bridge over the Crooked River to the base of Monkey Face, seen here in the distance. |
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Monkey Face, a free standing pinnacle shooting 400 feet up ... |
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... is considered one of the most difficult sport routes in America. |
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There are over 1,500 climbing routes in and around the park and more than a thousand of them are bolted. |
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Smith Rock sports some of the best climbs in the world. |
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A more challenging option is to hike the Misery Ridge trail. From the Crooked River bridge, continue straight ahead and begin zig-zagging up the mountain. At the top are spectacular views of the Crooked River far below, and patchwork farmland and the Ochoco Mountains to the south and east. |
Once on top of Misery Ridge, follow the trail to the west to catch awesome views of the Cascade Range. For fascinating entertainment, plan to spend some time watching the rock climbers at eye level as they negotiate their way to the top of Monkey Face. |
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Elevation: The parking area is 2,840 feet in elevation and drops nearly 200 feet to the Crooked River where the trailhead begins. From there, an elevation gain of close to 600 feet if you scramble the loop over the top of the ridge. Trail distance: Misery Ridge/Monkey Face trail loops a little over 4 miles. Rated: Easy at the bottom of the trail where it follows the Crooked River; moderate to difficult if you climb up over the ridge. Latitude: 44.36333 Longitude: 121.14528 Directions: From downtown Bend, take highway 97 past Redmond to the small town of Terrebonne. Turn right at the flashing yellow lights - "B" Avenue - which becomes Smith Rock Way. Follow the state park signs to the parking area (the road cuts through farming country for 2-3 miles). Fees: $3.00 daily use fee |
