RECREATION
a real benefi t as well.
“There are not many strict straight climbing gear
shops that survive in the world,” said Bonfert. “People
come from Portland and Seattle and every once in a
while, they’ll forget something … and we’re right here
will all that very specifi c climbing stuff to the area.”
Plus, the town of Redmond’s support of climbing
makes climbers visiting feel welcomed. One example
of the city’s support came when Redmond approved a
climbing route on the Maple Avenue Bridge. Caldwell
said the route on the bridge starts at about 45 de-
grees. It’s steep and overhanging at the top, making it
a diffi cult route that challenges even the best climbers.
It’s also a style of climbing you can get at Smith Rock,
Caldwell said.
FUN IN & AROUND REDMOND
The Bulletin file
Student Hayden Sheridan, 14, climbs a route as Yewan Fitz-
Earle, 15, center, looks on while filming during a morning of
rock climbing with other students at Smith Rock State Park.
» Smith Rock
S
Maple Street
bridge doubles
as thrill seeker
for mountain
climbers with
climbing access
points.
Bill Bartlett photo
14
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, fi ne for ev-
eryone 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, 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 occasional-
ly. 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 de-
scends on the west side past Monkey Face.
Trails can be narrow, so don’t forget your mask.