I love watching their faces as we step out of the car and they get the first glimpse of this Central Oregon gem. Once you see it in person, you won’t be surprised to learn Smith Rock State Park has been named one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon.Įver since moving to Bend, Oregon, we’ve hosted lots of family and friends, and one of the things we’ve done with every single visitor is take them to Smith Rock.

If you look closely you can sometimes even see rock climbers hanging out in the monkey’s “mouth”! It looks like, well, a monkey’s face, with pitted holes for eyes and a gaping mouth. If you look closely at the rocks, you’ll see white chalk marks creating a constellation of sorts, marking the popular climbing routes.Īnd we can’t forget to mention Monkey Face, the iconic rock spire that towers 350 feet over the park and is often a symbol of the park. Juniper trees and desert sage line the path that hugs the river and birds of prey swoop overhead. The the aptly-named Crooked River carves its way through the landscape, creating a deep canyon that is a sight to behold. Rust-colored rocks jut up against a clear blue sky with snow capped peaks in the distance. We’ve been to Smith Rock State Park more times than we can count, but it’s one of those places that we never seem to get sick of. In this guide to Oregon’s most famous state park, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to plan your visit. Central Oregon’s Smith Rock State Park is world renowned as a top-notch rock climbing mecca, but it’s also a premier hiking destination.

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