Day Hike - Smith Rock

Read all leader notes before requesting leader permission. 

Members only.  Leader permission required - include interest(s)/experience in naturalist and/or photo trips, and experience with Mountaineers naturalist and/or photo trips.  Priority registration 3/16 - 3/31 to photographers and naturalists, with recent history of Mountaineers naturalist and/or photography trips.    After 3/31:  open to all other member hiker inquiries with leader permission required. 

Minimum 3 persons required, or trip may be canceled.

Weather forecast (as of 4/14):  no precip, day temps 40s - 60+, near freezing nights.  Partly to full sunshine days.

Itinerary:  Day 1 & 3 Monkey Face  4 mi loop (800' gain) approx 1/2 day wi varied direction & side trip on two days. Optional:  Day 1 sunset photos & day 3 sunrise  photos. Day 3: Will aim to finish hikes by mid-day to early afternoon. Day 2 Summit Trail 6.9 mi loop (1,100' gain) 2/3 to full day hike; optional:  sunrise & sunset photos.  

Pace (approx 1 - 1.5 mph) will be leisurely (mostly) to moderate with abundant stops for photo and naturalist opportunities.  Flexible pace with priority for photo/naturalist stops while we leisurely explore trails and viewpoints, and take advantage of good light for photography. 

Daily mileages are upper estimates, with emphasis on photo/naturalist interests, and taking advantage of good light and interesting natural or other subjects (ie, rock climbers), rather than achieving the estimated mileage.  Loop lengths may be shortened, or modified to out and back travel. 

Trail guides, photos and other info: 

https://oregonisforadventure.com/smith-rock-hikes-climbing/

https://smithrock.com/suggested-hikes

Camp at walk-in bivouac camp, non-reservable only, with daily fee. Bivy camp tends to fill most spring weekends Friday-Sun. Other accoms nearby in Terrebone and Redmond, and see link below to nearby campgrounds. Walk in Campground:  Tent sites located 150+ feet to south of campground parking area.  Bivy camping fees are $8 per person per night. Check-in 4pm & check-out 1pm.  Fee station takes credit cards & exact cash/coins only.  Campground restrooms and showers are on north side of Bivy parking lot. Cooking in common area next to bivy parking; not in camping area. For more info: https://smithrock.com/campground-bivy

If bivy camp is full, see link to nearby vehicle campgrounds (within about 15mi), ranging from primitive to developed RV camps:   https://smithrock.com/campgrounds-rv-parks

Other campgrounds w/approx distance from Smith Rock SP include: Skull Hollow CG/For Svc (~8mi NE, 76 rustic sites w/ tables & fire pits, pit toilets, no water); Haystack Res. CG/For Svc (abt 15-20 min N, 28 rustic sites w/tables & fire pits, pit toilets, water pump); KOA Redmond/Central OR (abt 20-30 min N nr Culver betw Madras & Terrebone, gravel tent sites, rustic cabin/1 Dbl & 1 bunk, sm fridge & space heater/elec, no bathroom in cabin, water, bathrooms, showers in CG, reserve for $39/N tent site or $85/N cabin& ); Cove Palisades SP (W of Madras & abt 30-40 min N of Smith Rk, tent sites, showers, water, toilets, scenic/short trails), Madras County Fairgrounds (Madras, ~20 mi N of Smith Rk, lovely campsite, showers, water).

Visitor guide/photos: https://missrover.com/smith-rock-a-complete-guide-to-viewing-this-oregon-wonder/

See featured geology hike in Hiking Oregon's Geology. 

See hike descriptions in 100 Hikes/Travel Guide - Central Oregon Cascades (Sullivan)  for Smith Rock.  

Smith Rock State Park is located within the immense Crooked River Caldera.   For more info on the caldera, see:  https://sites.google.com/site/oregonvirtualfieldtrips/smith-rock?pli=1

Photo recommendations, see:  Photographing Oregon: A Guide to the Natural Landmarks of Oregon (Vaughn).  Great sunrise and morning light in spring, and climbers in mid-morning.

REQUIRED PASS:  Oregon State Parks daily or annual vehicle pass.  Purchase before arrival at Smith Rock SP. 

Note:  Be sure to read "Leader Notes" (click "More" link)

4/22 Arrive mid- to late-afternoon at walk-in campsites. 

4/23 - 4/25:  Meet 8:30am at trail head for walk-in campsites, ready to hike.

Daily options to meet earlier  near main trail head for sunrise & early AM photography.

Approx 5.5 hour drive from Seattle.