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Directions
Smith Rock State Park is located in Central Oregon, 3 miles east of the small town of Terrebonne. The larger cities of Redmond and Bend are 8 and 23 miles to the south, respectively. Our office/store is located at the park, within walking distance of the rock. There are state park signs marking the way from Terrebonne, although they are sometimes missed at night. Here are the directions:
- From Hwy 97 in Terrebonne, turn east onto B Ave, at the flashing light. (The name soon changes to Smith Rock Way)
- Go over railroad tracks, down a short steep hill, and turn left onto NE 1st Street. This turn is a half mile from the flashing light.
- Follow for 1.8 miles (the name changes to Wilcox Ave), and turn left onto NE Crooked River Drive.
Follow this road for a half mile. We are located on the left, at 9297 NE Crooked River Drive, approximately 100 yards before the bivouac (camping) area.
Driving Times
| Redmond |
15 min |
| Bend |
35 min |
| Sisters |
35 min |
| Sunriver |
50 min |
| Portland |
2.5 hrs |
| Seattle |
5.5 hrs |
Air Travel
The Redmond Municipal Airport (Roberts Field) is the main airport for central Oregon, located approximately 15 minutes from Smith Rock State Park. The airport has daily direct flights servicing Portland, Eugene, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. There are twice weekly flights servicing Las Vegas as well.
Parking
There is free parking at our shop for clients. Otherwise, the state park charges $3 a day, unless you have paid to camp at the bivouac area.
Camping at Smith Rock
There is plush tent camping located just behind our store, at the state park bivouac area. Located on the canyon rim, the view can't be beat! There are no designated sites or reservations, so you can usually find a spot to pitch your tent even on busy days. Fires are prohibited; there is a cooking area with picnic tables where camp stoves can be used. The price is $4 per night, which includes a hot shower, plumbed restroom facilities, and a parking pass for the next day. No RV's or travel trailers are permitted, and campers cannot sleep in their vehicles.
Free camping is available eight miles from the state park at Skull Hollow campground (call for directions). There is no running water; the restrooms are outhouses. Fires are permitted in this area, and most sites have picnic tables.
Smith Rock Weather
There are definitely four seasons at Smith Rock. Be prepared for cold in the winter, a bit of rain or wind in the spring and fall, and lots of sun during the summer. The climate in the high desert is perfect for climbing! It is easy to find either shade or sun, with pleasant climbing conditions year-round. Be sure to visit smithrock.com to check current weather and view an updated webcam of the park.
weather averages:
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Ave High |
43.0 |
48.7 |
56.1 |
62.7 |
70.8 |
78.7 |
87.5 |
87.4 |
79.2 |
66.3 |
51.0 |
42.9 |
| Ave Low |
24.0 |
27.1 |
29.4 |
32.0 |
37.5 |
43.1 |
47.2 |
46.2 |
39.4 |
31.9 |
28.1 |
23.3 |
| Rain (in.) |
1.25 |
.93 |
.89 |
.83 |
.95 |
.58 |
.53 |
.48 |
.46 |
.76 |
1.39 |
1.21 |
| Snow (in.) |
3.34 |
1.73 |
.16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2.0 |
2.26 |
What to bring
Clothing - Be sure to wear comfortable clothes that will not restrict movement. Cargo pants, capris, or mid-thigh length shorts work great. Layering works good if the weather turns cold. We recommend bringing a light base layer (such as a t-shirt), then one or more insulating layers and perhaps a windbreak, depending on the season. Be sure to wear footwear you are comfortable hiking and scrambling in, for approaching climbs.
Food and water - Food is not provided, so be sure to bring enough for the day. We also recommend you bring at least two liters of water per person for a full day trip.
Gear - A daypack is great for carrying food, water, camera, sunscreen, etc. We provide all necessary climbing equipment, unless you prefer to use your own.
note: Our store sells specialized climbing clothing, packs, snacks, bottled water, sunscreen, etc. for your convenience.
Required Forms
All participants must sign a waiver and medical release before we climb. Minors will need these signed by their parent or legal guardian. The forms can be downloaded here or they can be provided when you arrive at our store.
Summer Schedule
Half day trips are four hours long (not including the approach walk), meeting either morning (8:30 am) or afternoon (2:30 pm). Full day outings last as long as you would like and the meeting time is up to you. Trips begin and end at our store, within walking distance of the rocks. Feel free to take a break for food, photos, etc. It's your day!
Age Concerns
A day of rock climbing is the perfect family activity, and is something the kids will love telling their friends about. We have specialized equipment for small children, and commonly take kids as young as four out climbing. As for a maximum age, if you can still make it up a ladder, there is plenty at Smith you can climb!
Questions?
We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
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