Smith Rock State Park

About this place

Smith Rock State Park lies in central Oregon's High Desert near the small communities of Terrebonne and Redmond, about 37 km in a straight line north of Bend and about 3.4 km north-east of Terrebonne. Its sheer cliffs of volcanic tuff and basalt rise above a deep bend in the Crooked River, and it is generally considered the birthplace of modern American sport climbing. The rock is volcanic. About 30 million years ago a large caldera formed when rock collapsed into an underground magma chamber, and the ash and debris that filled it hardened into the rhyolite tuff of Smith Rock; later the Crooked River cut down through the layers to shape today's canyon. The state acquired the park land between 1960 and 1975. Orange and red cliffs rise steeply above the green river, and the ridge of Smith Rock reaches 980 m above sea level. Its best-known formation is Monkey Face, a tall spire whose top resembles a face, and trails along the river and over the ridge give wide views of the High Desert and the Cascade peaks. River otters and beavers live along the river, and golden eagles and prairie falcons can be seen overhead. The day-use area is open daily from dawn to dusk, and a parking fee applies. Summer days are hot and shadeless, so start early and carry plenty of water; climbers should check seasonal route closures that protect nesting birds.