Smith Rock State Park, Oregon Climbing & Hiking

Smith Rock State Park, with jaw-dropping 550-foot cliff walls and the sparkling Crooked River, welcomes 500,000 wide-eyed visitors through its gates each year. Unsurprisingly, almost all of them arrive laden with heavy, bright-colored ropes and carabiners, ready to rock-climb.

A ROCK CLIMBING MECCA

Arguably the American birthplace of sport climbing, Smith Rock State Park boasts 1500 different climbing routes at various levels of difficulty. Over 1000 of them are set routes, with bolts already in place, making it the most beautiful rock climbing gym in the country. Just a half hour's drive from ever-developing Bend, Oregon, and two hours from Portland, Smith Rock State Park makes an ideal vacation stop for climbers and non-climbers alike.

If scaling 550-foot rock faces bores you, take in views of the park with Cascade Range in the background on one of the many hiking and mountain biking trails in the area. Golden eagles, mule deer, and river otters are easily spotted in their native habitats and interpretive trails help identify other, lesser-known flora and fauna. The first-come, first-serve campgrounds are a great way to experience the park, but they fill up quickly, so arrive early!