PLACES
Smith Rock
Amanda Peacher/OPB
Visitation at Smith Rock State Park increased from 450,000 in 2011 to 776,000 day use visitors annually in 2019.
S
mith Rock State Park draws rock climbers from all
over the world and has plenty to offer for even the
most casual visitor. The 600-acre park has trails
(easy and challenging), a green and shady picnic area, a
campground and views that cannot be beat anywhere in
the state.
The trail down to the river from the parking lot is a fairly
steep dirt and gravel path, fine for everyone but the least
sure-footed. A walking stick helps. At the bottom of the
trail is a picturesque footbridge, a water fountain and a
toilet. Hikers who walk into the canyon have three choices
after they cross the footbridge over Crooked River — right,
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left or up.
At the footbridge if you turn left, you’ll follow the river
for about two miles, past the majority of the climbing
routes, so be sure to look up occasionally. This isn’t a loop.
If you take a right turn at the footbridge, the trail again
hugs the river for slightly over a mile, but in a less rocky
and wooded manner.
The Misery Ridge trail also starts its climb just across
the footbridge. The trail winds past Parking Lot Wall and
Red Wall to the summit and descends on the west side past
Monkey Face.
Trails can be narrow, so don’t forget your mask.