Smith Rock State Park

We camped one night in the bivouac area, it is very affordable, clean, people were respectful, awesome views, nice showers for folks with a camping pass. There is a cooking area next to the parking and bathroom/ showers, this is about 100 yards on average from your tent which will be in a large area of mostly sand and small shade trees to set up camp. The camping area abuts a cliff that drops straight to the river, offering great views to those who feel safe enough camping next to the cliff, I camped about 100 feet away because it’s not safe for dogs to go running loose, at least for my dog who stayed on the leash.

Absolutely loved our visit here. The trails are well marked and fairly moderate. The landscape is simply gorgeous. Plenty of parking and the pay station is straightforward and easy to use. Birdlife was abundant and we were unable to locate any snakes. Very serene and peaceful place

Amazing. The only word that suits. I'm from Illinois, so I don't see anything like this at home. Breathtaking views and mostly easy hiking. Ends with a steep incline but nothing a few training sessions on a stair master can't prepare you for. Magical. Will be back.

Our group of 20 hiked Misery Ridge Trail at Smith Rock, with my kids (10 and 12) powering through - tears and all! It’s definitely not the most kid-friendly trail, so plan accordingly. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and the weather was perfect. The 3-hour round trip was challenging but rewarding, especially at the top of Misery Ridge. Restrooms were very clean, and we appreciated the volunteers keeping the park beautiful. Parking wasn’t too hard, but it’s a busy spot - be prepared. Note: National Park passes aren’t accepted; there’s a $10 parking fee. No food options on-site, so bring lunch. Highly recommend spending half a day here. We’ll definitely be back!

Beautiful area with great views that come with some moderate to mildy tough inclines. Easier trails appear available as well. Pretty cool to see all the rock climbers doing their scaling the insanely tall rock faces 🤙

Smith Rock State Park is a must-visit for anyone who loves the outdoors. The scenery is breathtaking—towering red rock formations, the winding Crooked River, and wide-open skies that seem to stretch forever. Whether you’re a rock climber, hiker, or just someone who appreciates stunning landscapes, this place delivers. The hiking trails range from easy riverside walks to challenging climbs like Misery Ridge (which is worth every step for the view at the top). Watching climbers scale the sheer cliffs is fascinating, even if you’re not climbing yourself. There’s also great wildlife viewing—keep an eye out for eagles, falcons, and deer.

This is just a wonderful place to go! Easy hike or hard. The views are spectacular.The grounds, trails are well kept up. Photo opportunities abound. I highly recommend this place.

Hiking Trail Review. Misery Ridge and River Trail - 4.5 miles. Absolutely breathtaking in every sense of it. Stunning views and challenging start. Push through the first mile or so and you will be greatly rewarded. Trail is very well marked and easily navigable. Very steep start and end but once you get to the top you are rewarded by stunning views. Decent is a bit challenging but then the trail transitions into an easier walk along the river. You can then begin the climb back up to the parking lot or extend the trail a bit more by following the river and climbing up the back entrance. Either way you are facing a bit of a climb back. Would highly recommend.

My friends and I only spent one full day at Smith Rock, but it was the highlight of our Oregon road trip. I'd personally love to go back. We did the Misery Ridge hike and got to see different parts of the park. The landscape is really unique, and it feels like what Mordor (in Lord of the Rings) would look like, if it were a real place. I'd love to go rock climbing or bouldering the next time I'm back!

While vacationing in Oregon last year, we had to visit this state park. A totally different atmosphere and this part of Oregon looks like back home in the desert. This is a climbing Mecca and offers thousands of climbs within the park. Many of these climbs are bolted. They also offer miles of hiking and biking trails. The canyons are deep and the Crooked River runs through them. Unfortunately, while we were visiting we could not hike the Misery Ridge trail to access the famed Monkey Face. The park was in the middle of constructing a new eight foot wide pedestrian bridge. We could not get across the river. There are also plans to build an actual visitors center which is needed since this park is heavily visited. Camping is open early spring through late fall. Camping is on a first come, first served basis. Lots of wildlife to be seen here such as golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otter and beaver. This is a gorgeous park and so unique. We saw lots of climbers too. I am excited to return to hike someday. If you have a dog, they must be on leash at all times and remember to follow the principles and Leave No Trace.

Really lovely place to go for a hike. We did the misery trail and it was steep in places, but on a 65 degree sunny day, it was perfect. Such a great place to get outside and moving. A few others on the trails and some more climbing, but not very busy on a gorgeous Friday afternoon

Lovely park! I wish I had a chance to come without kids and get some more intense elevation and miles out of this, but as is, we had fun with our little kids. We saw lots of rock climbers and a couple people tubing down the river. DRIVING ACCESS Not far off the highway. All paved roads to get there. PARKING Several spots available around 10am on a Monday (July 1) near Canyon Trailhead. You go to a machine to get a $5 pass. Google and Apple Pay tap-to-pay weren't working, but a credit card worked. No cash. AMENITIES Restrooms at the trailhead and at several spots along the River Trail. They are compost bathrooms that are very clean. Water near the trailhead, but not once you're on trail. SHADE Very little on the River Trail, but there are occasional spots with shade where you can stop and rest. THE HIKE We did the River Trail (https://www.smithrock.com/trails/river-trail) and as an out and back, you can make it as long or short as you want. We did a ~3-mile round trip with 4 kids, ages 3-6, in tow. It took us 2.5 hours. Very flat, except for the first 0.1 miles or so, which is a big downhill (so we gave the kids plenty of warning that it would be a big uphill at the end). CELL SERVICE Yes, surprisingly, we had service throughout the hike! We have T-Mobile. CROWDS It was pretty busy but not crazy. As a slower group with little kids, we often had to stop to let groups behind or ahead of us pass us by, as the trail can be a little narrow at times. We saw lots of rock climbers throughout the park.

Rock climbing. Miles of hiking trails, of varying difficulties (Misery Ridge? Aptly named!). An incredible, easily accessible campsite. Swimming. Bird-watching. An unbeatable view. Gorgeous sunsets. Proximity to Bend and Sunriver. Is there a better outdoor adventure and exploration destination anywhere in the state of Oregon? If there is, I haven't heard of it. Whether you've come to Smith Rock for the hiking, rock climbing, camping, or just a day trip to take in the sights of the spectacular spectacle of this miracle of nature, you're in for something special. There are very few places in Oregon, the PNW, or anywhere else on Earth, that offer the quality, quantity and variety of world-class outdoor experiences that Smith Rock does, for next to nothing. Protect it, treasure it, and above all, enjoy it to the fullest extent of what it provides in outdoor activities and adventure opportunities. You will not regret or forget it.

While staying in Bend, a group of 20-somethings ladies decided to visit Smith Rock and we all loved it. We stayed on the main trail along the water, which was very tranquil and pretty. We ended up turning back after a 1.5 miles as we were crunched on time, but could have done more. So if you are looking for a couple hour, mostly easy-level hike then this is it! There are some shady spots throughout the main trail which helped, but definitely bring a water bottle on a warm day. We did see some people also rock climbing and others heading up to the very top which also looked epic, but outside our wheel of outdoor adventure expertise haha. Also - parking was easy to find (and we went on a Saturday afternoon) as theres a good sized lot. A $5 pass is required which we purchased at a machine near the entrance. All in all, you won't be disappointed!

Great place to bird watch, especially during nesting season. There are several trails to hike, and some of them are very strenuous. If you go in the summer, be prepared for constant direct sun and heed the warnings of bringing extra water. The only place we saw trees on the trails was on Wolf Tree. The initial decent is pretty steep, which means coming back up will be difficult. I saw a lot of people struggle with this. It was a beautiful place to spend the day.

A must stop for my family and me. Of all the interesting things to do here, my favorite is walking to the top and following the trails to stunning views. It's fun to watch the climbers do their thing. The sheer beauty of this clean, well maintained park will always keep me coming back. Bring sun protection clothing, sunscreen and lots of water.

Incredible state park to visit with multiple hiking options. Found in the middle of farm land/residential area this pocket of mountains were a sight we were so thankful to see. We completed the Misery Ridge loop and while we found it was completely appropriately named it was also incredibly beautiful with breathtaking views at the top. My kids loved seeing all the climbers and now aspire to do some rock climbing themselves.

Smith Rock is definitely a must if you're in the area, even if you're not much of an outdoor trail enthusiast. Spectacular views and beautifully maintained natural landscape. Be sure to wear appropriate comfortable shoes, you most likely will stay longer than you think and enjoy the great outdoors! Stay on the paths and/or be very cautious of dangerous natural cracks and cliffs.

Finally got to complete Misery Ridge. If you deal with vertigo or have issues with heights, the going up and over from the bridge can be tough. My vertigo bit hard about 3/4 the way up...just from the turns within the stairs, pretty steep drops at times. Powered through though, and I'm so glad. This trail is so great, fab views literally every given moment. I especially loved the trail down over the back and around Monkey Face, just a spectacular sight. The wind was quite harsh while we were there, so we didn't get to hang out up top and explore as much as we'd like, must return! Just another amazing hike at Smith Rock.

This is an amazing Park. Very pretty! Definitely worth the stop. We happen to have a state park pass.. Also, right up the street from the state park is a great little pumpkin patch with food cards and all kinds of stuff for family and kids. We didn't stop but it looked fun.

We RV and stayed in Bend in 2014 and visited Smith Rock State Park. It was worth the trip. The hike along the river was beautiful. If you are in the area just do it.

I did a really awesome hike in Oregon in Smith Rock State Park! The scenery is really stunning with beautiful rock formations and the river, but this is not for the faint of heart... it is aptly named Misery Ridge Trail ! It's definitely a workout with the elevation gain and countless steps but your rewarded with some pretty amazing views. Trail: Misery Ridge Trail Difficulty: Hard Length: 3.5 miles Elevation gain: 948 feet Try it out if you're visiting! Make sure to always have a map.

One of the most beautiful places I've visited. I'm definitely not a rock climber, but it looks like a good place to do so. I saw quite a few. I am a hiker, but this was a random visit on my way back from a work conference. I wasn't here long enough to do that. Besides, the snakes were out hardcore. I'm not a fan of rattlesnakes, so I'd probably vote for biking here. Take a minute to check out the info in the yurt.

Went to put in some miles on the hiking trails and got my money's worth and then some. Daily parking rate is still $5. The parking kiosk doesn't give you any other options than the daily permit. Unfortunately the office never opened that day; I was hoping to purchase the annual pass. There are multiple hiking trails of various difficulty. Some follow the river and are fairly flat. Some trails can be used for biking and horseback riding as well. And let's not forget the rock climbing possibilities. Truly a multi-use trail system. I took the summit trail then the misery ridge trail for a counter clockwise loop. Near the end of the Burma maintenence road, you get an expansive view of Smith Rock, Red Wall, Three Sisters and Mount Batchelor. The Crooked River is wonderfully ubiquitous in any viewpoint. You also get a beautiful unobstructed view of Mount Hood. Very fortunate to have had such a clear sunny day.

This is no secret, it's 10 o'clock in the morning and there are hundreds of cars & hundreds of Harley's here already. Beautiful fabulous rocks, the landscape here is truly out of this world. Lots of marked beautifully maintained trails with snowcapped mountains in the background. We saw bikers, rock climbers with ropes and many hikers all ages & sizes. At north point, there was a monument indicating that a big fire destroyed this area and it was re-built. There are golden eagles here year-round, their nest is over 4 feet across and 12 feet tall, weighing as much as 2000 pounds. We didn't see anything flying above nor any nests. There are port a potty's, picnic tables, garbage receptacles & lots of clearly marked parking. There was a few to park & a machine to purchase a ticket.

The stay was fabulous, the pool was amazing. The views are spectacular. Do not go to the bar on site, you will never get served. The stars are for just the stay and pool area.

Beautiful place, great hikes, gorgeous river I will be coming back many times. A serious rock, climbing Mecca and many can be seen on the walls.

My favorite place in Oregon I've been you can spend hours here. Breathtaking views, so many trails to explore. I can't wait to come back.

Our fearless local yelp leader inspired me to write this review for Earth Day. Actually this draft has been sitting in my inbox for several years because I thought "who needs another review of Smith rock State Park" but what the heck I can just add to the applause. after my second visit I can say a five star rating is legit. This place is world famous for Rock climbing but you can also walk several paths along the top of the adjacent Mesa, some of which are good for folks with limited mobility. In addition there are numerous Eagles nest in the rocks and you might be lucky enough to see one of the local Golden Eagles. One thing to be aware of is because this place is so popular it gets super busy on the weekends and summer holidays and you might need to wait for a spot to park.

One of the wonders of Oregon and if you go it's east to see why. Smith Rock is so beautiful and it offers hiking, picnic areas, camping and a pumpkin patch/corn maze in the fall. Misery ridge is a popular hike and it's pretty short, just a lot of incline, so bring a hot and lots of water!

Beautiful rocks, plenty of parking and lot of things to do. Main road not really marked that great for the Smith Rock turn. You can see the rocks from main road and while driving towards then. First I came up to a parking area that has wonderful views of area, climbers and paths. This would be great for a stroll and good for wheelchairs. Same area has 2 Porta potties one is handicap. If you don't have a pass it has a pay station and costs $5 for the day pass. When I have more time would love ot explore more below but was just passing by.

Wow funny how I discovered Smith Rock State Park... I was in a gift shop while exploring the Columbia River Gorge area and I was looking through postcards. Then I stumbled upon this really scenic place with rugged hiking terrain and terrific sights from high above! It said...Smith Rock State Park. What? Where? I mean...I'm Mr. Explorer, Mr. National Parks Guy...Mr. Know It All...at least I thought I was. But here was this park...just plain ole, Smith Rock. Lol, Smith...it's the most common last name in America...and here's this park that from the postcard looked anything but ordinary. Best of all for me...I was actually headed down south on my way towards Crater Lake National Park. And here Smith Rock was located right off Highway 97...only 120 miles away from Crater Lake. Perfect! I had no problem taking an extra day and touring around Smith Rock. Had I not been heading towards Crater Lake...who knows when I'd be returning to the Oregon area. I must say...when I visited back in August...there wasn't a cloud in the sky. No matter how hot it was, I was just excited for having the chance to take great pictures and uncover new and interesting sights. Smith Rock Park opened at 7am, which was great for me as I'm an early person. When I arrived, the parking lot area was starting to fill up already. I could sense it was going to be a worthwhile day. It's a $5 entry fee. You can simply use your credit card at a machine to pay. There was a small booth right near the entrance for any information or questions you may have. The bathrooms were located here as well. Cell phone reception for me having AT&T was sort of spotty throughout the day. If anyone is interested in picture taking...I actually found that immediately past the entrance was the best spot for photos. There were a few overlooks that really exuded what Smith Rock State Park was all about. I was able to capture a lot of the cliff faced walls and dramatic backdrops extending into the distance. Although you may get excited to start exploring and hiking when you arrive, I highly recommend stopping and capturing some ideal photographic opportunities. My best pictures came from here...just past the entrance. The primary hike...and what most people come here for is the MISERY LOOP TRAIL. I agree with this. Like the name states, it a strenuous 3.7 mile round trip hike gaining 1700 feet in elevation...it pretty much covers all the ground and main highlights of Smith Rock. There were other hikes that weren't as difficult and traversed different areas of the park...but since I was here specifically for catching the best views of the land, Misery Trail was first and foremost for me. If you have extra time...then I'd consider checking out another trail. Also...a lot of these trails intersect and connect with each other...so you might as well do the best hike since you'll probably be navigating a portion of Misery trail at some point during your time here. I noticed people asking the lady at the info desk for advice on which hikes to take. She recommended Misery Trail to me. So...you can take Misery Trail (since it's a loop) in 2 different directions. Most people were starting just past the picnic area...as it specifically stated the starting point for the trailhead. When you do begin...the initial hike to the top was nothing but elevated switchbacks. It was difficult but might as well get the worst out of the way early. Upon climbing...immediately you're pretty high up and the views start blossoming! One deterrent at the top of Smith Rock was the sun. For me being a photo enthusiast, once I arrived at the summit...the sun shined brightly against my face making moments to snap pictures of the southern Oregon landscape quite hard. Though as I continued on the trail and made my way around the top...the scenery improved greatly. Up at the peak of the rock/mesa you can walk off the path to get close to the edge for better pics. You can see rock climbers from afar. And...Smith Rock is a rock climber's paradise! This place reminded me of rock climbing at Pinnacles National Park in California. Finally, before descending back down from atop Smith Rock...I witnessed probably the pinnacle/apex/iconic moment of what this park is all about. The view looking down below had me in awe! I was confronted by the free standing rock called Monkey face...a 350 foot spire emerging from the ground that I initially viewed in the postcard in the gift shop that had me so inspired to visit Smith Rock. It was as if my journey here had come full circle, lol. As I trekked down the cliff, I had to go very slowly here as the pathway was like a straight drop and so steep...there really weren't any handrails either. I warn, just be careful. The trail the rest of the way was pleasant passing some rivers and creeks. Making it back to the entrance in early afternoon, I had a sense of accomplishment that I made time to check out this under the radar and hidden gem of a State Park...Smith Rock!

This place is so cool! I took a break from skiing and stopped by this state park. It's very well kept and very clean. It's very picturesque with a nice stream running through. Lots of rock climbers enjoying themselves and although it was a bit chilly when we were there, I'm sure it's very nice in the spring. There's only the one single bridge that gets you across the river so you'll have to hike the whole way around or turn back to get back to your car.

I've been to Smith Rock numerous times over the decades. In years gone by the place was mostly a well kept secret and you'd typically just see locals or Mazamas there. These days the word is out so you want to get here early (and I mean EARLY!) if you desire any solitude on the trails. There are many "novice" rock climbing venues in the Portland area. Smith Rock is more for advanced climbers who have at least basic climbing skills. There are a wide variety of climbing choices from fairly easy to quite challenging. It's not Yosemite but unless you are already at the top of your game you'll probably find an ascent that pushes your limits. If you're training for a Hood/Adams/Rainier/etc climb, this is a great place to prep yourself for the climb. Many hiking trails and I believe that this is what draws the majority of visitors to this park. Easy loop trails to more advanced day-long hikes. Unlike the Columbia Gorge hikes, you are pretty much out in the open at Smith so take that into account when preparing. Lotsa water, head covering, sunscreen and so on. I go there mostly for the photography since I am well into geezerdom now. You do want to plan ahead as getting favorable lighting can be a problem especially during Summer months. I tend to go for golden/blue hour light so for me it means driving down the day before, getting a motel room and then showing up at O'Dark 30 to start my day. You rarely run into staff or Rangers beyond the parking lot but the folks who work there are on a par with USFS Rangers.... very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. In my advanced years I have come to really appreciate the professionalism and dedication of these people and the fact that Oregon invests so heavily keeping the park service in top notch shape.

My husband and I and are in aw with smith rock. We stayed for the night and camped out. When we left we had sadly we didn't get to thank the park on how clean and nice the camp ground is. This review is just to say thank you for keeping up with the location and making our stay beautiful.

We had a lovely hike here, not too far from Bend. We just started wandering from the parking lot and ended up with a nice moderate hike that took us to a beautiful, peaceful spot. It was pretty muddy in January, but we were in awe of our surroundings the whole time.

My oh my, where do I start? I feel like a kid frolicking around this beautiful state park. The views are breathtaking, the trails are multi-use, and the facilities are well maintained. There's something for everyone here. The day use fee is $5. Lots of space to social distance! I'm already planning my next trip here!

Beautiful beach. I live in Salem now so don't have beach around.I used to live in Hawaii... me and my family always go to the beach every weekend.so drive that long to enjoy beach every weekend is really worth for us.

Came around 10am Mon morning. Busy but not too bad. Parking is $5 and you get pass from little kiosk in far parking lot. Bring a lot of water! We only brought 2 bottle each not enough. Scenic views. Did a little of Misery Trail and mostly River trail.

Have you ever wondered what the dinosaurs saw as they roamed the earth? Take a trip to Smith Rock and you'll have to look no further than your first steps from the parking lot to gasp into the past. I've had the pleasure of experiencing this gorgeous park twice now, and it has done nothing but exceed my expectations. You can take a leisurely walk, or a more intense hike. Watch rock climbers, or become one. And don't forget to look for the Monkey Face up in the clouds. Add this to your bucket list today - you will not be disappointed.

I came here on a weekday morning around 7:45AM, still plenty of parking left (I heard it gets full pretty quickly on the weekends). Fee to park unless you have a Oregon State Parks pass. The trail was quite pretty, steep at first to go down and then steep up Misery Ridge (which wasn't all that bad), just to go down again. Really liked the parts by the river, the backside of the hike was looking at houses and all which wasn't that interesting. Enjoyable hike for sure, amounted to about 8 miles, took about 2.5 hours.

I LOVE smith rock!!! Traveled to Bend on a whim and decided to visit Smith Rock. I am a big climber however i have only climbed in a gym. I found some friends to go with to Smith and climbed for the very first time OUTDOORS! It was absolutely amazing. Some places are really just plain breath taking and smith rock is one of those. The sunset was so beautiful. Like cotton candy in the sky. The weather was perfect. I really appreciated how everyone there respected the park. There wasn't any trash, people brought their own climbing gear to not put too much stress on the draws on the rocks, it was awesome. My second day I did a hike. I decided on the summit trail which was about 7.5 miles. It was really great, the summit view is amazing. Once again I saw no trash which was really really great. Everyone was so nice, said hi when they would walk by. Very pleasant. The walk back up to your car is pretty steep so prepare yourself for that! I will be back. Thank you for the awesome experience and memories smith rock!

STSP is an absolutely fantastic place to go, for nature lovers of all stripes. This is one of the premier/iconic attractions in Oregon, and for good reason. Because it's so popular, it is quite busy at all times of day and year. Be prepared to hunt for parking, although they have an overflow lot in a field that pretty much guarantees you'll find a spot. The big tip here is to drop someone off at one of the pay stations while you find a spot; otherwise you could be looking at a 10-15 minute walk each way to go buy a pass and come back to put it on your car. I'd also advise bringing cash, as the credit card machine isn't always working. Now that the logistics are out of the way, let's talk about the fun stuff! As mentioned, folks of all levels of fitness and nature acumen can enjoy Smith Rock. The views of the craggy ridges from the parking lot alone make this a worthy drive out from Bend and its surrounds. It's quite a small park, but there are a number of easy trails that let you get a variety of views and experience several different environments (forest, stream, etc). I would advise against the Misery Ridge trail for any hiker; too difficult for beginners and not worth it for experienced hikers. For the latter I would highly recommend the Summit Loop trail instead. This ~7 mile hike takes you on a tour of the entire park, giving you views of every angle and attraction, incl Monkey Rock, iconic Crooked Creek, and breathtaking views of Central Cascades peaks from atop Smith Rock itself. I found this to be a hugely rewarding hike, and would advise doing the loop in a clockwise direction so as to take the final N Unit Irrigation Access Rd as a gentle descent rather than a long trudge uphill. This way you'll also finish via the Wolf Tree Trail, which is a welcome walk in the woods after your long, exposed desert hike. I'm not a rock climber so no advice on that here, but I can see why this place is a mecca for climber community. Climber or hiker, marathon runner or couch potato, make sure to get out and see Smith Rock on your next trip to Central Oregon!

Great hike! We arrived around 11am on Saturday and there were a few parking spots left although the parking lots were mostly filled. We decided to hike the Misery Ridge trail. It took us around 40 minutes to climb to the top with our two young children. The trail felt safe and very much doable for our kids. Then we took a leisurely stroll down the mountain, passing the Monkey Face and then following the river. The whole loop, around 4 miles, took us about 2 hours because we made a lot of stops. The views throughout the hike were spectacular!

If you love the outdoors, hiking and seeing nature then you won't want to miss this gem. Spend your day meandering around the river and watching slack ropers or mountain climbers scaling the beautiful rock faces then hike the trail and watch an amazing sunset.

Literally such an amazing place, EVERYONE IN OREGON (and even if you don't live in Oregon) NEEDS TO COME HERE. It's a beautiful place, beautiful scenery, so many options for hiking (from not a hiker to intense hiker), lots of opportunity to rock climb as well, very good rock faces to try (even if you don't rock climb on real rocks b/c it's downright scary, there's many brave souls you can watch while you hike!). You need a parking pass or a state park pass to park, and wasn't too difficult to find parking (came here on a Saturday afternoon with some friends, one girl had a pass and literally comes here every weekend because it's gorgeous). I heard that it can get pretty crazy at times though especially during good weather, so come early to beat the crowds. The views are so great that even if you don't consider yourself a super outdoorsy person, your breath will be taken away. Really great bathrooms and a parking situation better than most national parks. COME COME COME

Great hike and stunning views at Smith Rock State Park. We did the whole Misery Trail which goes all the way to the top and then circles around the whole mountain, overall approx 4 miles. You can spot climbers on almost every vertical wall, pretty scary to look at them at times. We arrived at Monkey Face right when three climbers were getting at the top, I had vertigo just looking at them. Views from the top are breathtaking and the trails are challenging and fun. The first part of Misery is rated as difficult, but our 9 years old daughter made it no problem and all sorts of people were hiking on it, including dogs, so don't be scared off, so it, it's worth it. Parking is quite huge and you can buy the daily State Park permit right there. Highly recommended!

Not much that I can say that hasn't already been said. This place reminded me of Utah without the red rocks. Go here!!! Beautiful scenery with many different hikes for all capabilities. So fun to watch the rock climbers. We took the Misery Ridge trail to Mesa Verse to the River trail. Misery Ridge has some elevation but doable for anyone in halfway decent shape. Views for days up there! So worth it... So cool to see the wildlife around too. We got there at 630 am to avoid crowds and we only saw a few other people. As we were leaving around 9 the crowds were pouring in. I would suggest hiking boots but tennis shoes will work. The trails are sandy rock so you will slide a bit coming down Misery Ridge if you don't have traction and or trekking poles. Again, it can be done without but a little sketchy in a few areas. 5.00 per car (debit or credit only).

Breathtaking views, so much to do and see. Great place for rock climbing, hiking, walking with your dogs. Lots of wildlife. Beautiful sunsets.

Decided to go to Smith Rock at first light for a impromptu photo shoot and so happy we did! It was a gorgeous morning and we were even blessed with a hot air balloon going between the rocks. We didn't have time to hike at Smith Rock but it is definitely on my todo list. There were a bunch of rock climbers at 6am as well. The park was very clean when I was there and saw a couple of big bucks!

One of the best parks to visit and get an understanding of what nature's explosive nature can entail. Smith Rock is easy to drive to and park. There are machines that take your credit card in order to pay the $5 daily fee (great way to support Oregon's National Parks!). Bathrooms are located at the parking lot and entrance to the climbing trails. The colors in the rocks are amazing and never fail to impress me and all other people on this planet. The resulting rock formations after the river had its way illustrate a solidity and timelessness that dwarfs anything humans create -- with a big caveat for plastics, of course, although in a thousand years it would dissolve as well. Meantime, I will admire as much nature as I can. Please go here. The area has a stillness and beauty that is unsurpassed and you will enjoy the break, before entering the high dessert area.

With all the hype surrounding all the national parks, it's easy to overlook the state parks in your area. To me they would be the local mom and pop shop you got to on the weekends because they have incredible food and it's where the locals go. The much advertised national parks are your big chain restaurants like old spaghetti factory, hooters and such. They're super good and offer great things but everyone goes. So when I was driving north and wanted to see more of Oregon, I searched Instagram and found this park. When I got there, it was exactly what I picture a hidden gem to be. There weren't that many people, it cost only $5 for a day pass, and it was in location that I would've never stumbled across unless I had a local guiding me. I can't begin describe this park so just look at the pictures!

As the "birthplace of modern American sport climbing," Smith Rock State Park attracts serious rock climbers, but also families and tourists drawn to the natural beauty of the sheer cliffs reflecting on the Crooked River. With 11 different trails traversing up, down, and around the cliffs and beautiful rock formations of the 650-acre recreation area, there is something for everyone at Smith Rock State Park. * Hiking * Rock Climbing * Bouldering * Horseback Riding * Mountain Biking * Picnicking * Chillin' the F out We completed the nearly 4-mile Misery Ridge Trail Loop that took us up the 1-mile "most difficult" Misery Ridge Trail to astounding views from the summit. The loop continued down past Monkey Face before winding back and forth along a section of the Mesa Verde Trail to the River Trail for a peaceful walk back around a bend in the river to the bridge ... and hike back up to the parking area. It was tiring and inspiring at the same time. I highly recommend this trail or whichever one fits your mood and energy. We saw wild animals, geese, rock climbers, and friendly (tired) hikers along the way; however, the views from (and of) the rocks and river were the most motivational. Tips: * Day use parking: $5 * Credit card or exact cash * 12-month parking: $30 * 24-month parking: $50 * Passes available onsite or online * Open dawn to dusk year round * Camping sites available * Plan for exercise and heat * Bring water & supplies * No drones * Pets must be leashed Facts: * Over 750,000 visitors per year * 651.68 acres * Began as state park in 1960 * Expanded to current size in 1975 * The rock faces are compressed volcanic ash * They formed 30 million years ago * The Crooked River carved what we see today * Smith Rock is 3,200-feet above sea level * While the river is at 2,600 feet * So, the cliffs are about 600 feet * There are competing stories for the name * Both involve a dead guy named Smith * Site of the first U.S. climb rated 5.14 (8b+) * There are nearly 1000 climbing routes * Check out the map/guide in advance There are a lot of parks for "big rocks" around the United States, but Smith Rock stands out as an impressive and surprisingly accessible playground for exercise and inspiration near Bend, Oregon.

National parks and most state parks will almost always get five stars from me on Yelp. Someone once said that the national park system is America's greatest idea. I tend to agree. No, Smith Rock is not a national park but it's quite a spectacular state park, so I'm not really stretching my rating system by giving it five stars. Were it located in one of the less scenically endowed states (not mentioning which), this park might well have been granted national park status. Certainly, I've been to less memorable national parks. You'll find plenty of photos (some mine) of the park here, and you'll find plenty of reviews extolling its virtues. I'm just piling on. - Easy access - Relatively cheap (buy a biannual state park pass!) - Lots of trails ranging from moderately brutal to walk-in-the-park easy. - Crooked River is awesome, and has done an awesome job sculpting the canyon. - Rock climbing. I don't, have never done and will never be a rock climber, but it sure seems like a great place to do it here. It's kinda cool watching climbers, though. Highly recommended.

The views were truly beautiful all throughout the hike! The switchbacks, rock formations, and river reminded me of hiking Angels Landing at Zion. We typed in "smith rock visitor center" into google maps and when we arrived around 9:40am on a Sunday there were maybe 5 or so spots in the parking lot. There were no open spots on NE Crooked River Dr (which is closest to the entrance. There's a pay station at the entrance of the parking lot so you can drive up to it and pay $5 (day use fee) before you enter and park. When we left around 1pm parking spots opened up so I wouldn't worry too much about finding parking. I definitely recommend doing the reverse Misery Ridge Trail loop (~4mi roundtrip) because for half the hike it's less populated and it's a gradual ascent upward: 1. Pass the welcome center 2. You can take either canyon trail (longer, more gradual descent) or chute trail down to the bridge crossing Crooked River 3. Turn left after crossing the bridge to take the River Trail and go all the way around until 4. There will be a sign that says left is River Trail and right is Mesa Verde Trail. Take Mesa Verde Trail (this is when it starts ascending) 5. You'll see Monkey Face where there may be some rock climbers 6. The trail splits off - left is Mesa Verde and right is Misery Ridge 7. Once you're on the Misery Ridge Trail the signs are facing one way (opposite from you) 8. At the top there's a bench and a great view of Monkey Face, the surrounding land 9. Going down Misery Ridge Trail, it's mostly stairs and quite steep and then you start to appreciate that you're hiking this going down vs going up There are a lot of loose rocks so bring your hiking shoes with good grip on them. I thought one water bottle and a snack was enough (but it was quite cool when we hiked). The high for the day was 54 but there were parts that felt like it was 68 degrees so having a light jacket was helpful (that I could take off and put on). Roundtrip was ~3 hours at a leisurely pace and resting at the top for a bit.

The area has beautiful rock formations and is worth at least a few hours visit. It does tend to get crowded on weekends during the summer when parking is hard to find.

I'll be honest it's not really that much of a business more like a giant fucking rock formation in the middle of the central oregon desert