Overnight at Smith Rock

We got to Smith Rock an hour or so before sunset and parked in the main lot where only a few cars remained. To get to the top of Smith Rock you actually have to hike down a bit into Crooked River Canyon, cross a bridge over the river and then start climbing back up towards the top. We weren't sure how long our ascent would take so we opted for the faster (and steeper) route that lead us off to the right and up towards the top of Misery Ridge.

The trail we took featured sections of steep dusty trail, big steps and very little flat ground. On the way up you can see hundreds of chalk-dusted holds scattered along the rock faces and even tested out the first few parts of some easier routes. This place is a real life adult jungle gym. Although you may be itching to get to the end of the hike, don't forget to stop and take in the breathtaking views that are common as you keep climbing up the rock.

It took us 30 to 40 minutes to make our way up the 3/4 mile trail to Misery Ridge because the elevation gain is 700 feet or more. We opted to keep going along the trail that wound along the top in order to find the infamous Monkey Face, an ape-looking, freestanding spire jutting up out of the earth. It didn't take us long until he was staring us in the face. We explored around this area a bit, taking in the views and climbing over rocks, until we retreated back down the way we came. If you were to keep going from Monkey Face, the trail would actually take you down Misery Ridge and back along the river, as it is one big loop. However, we opted to go back down the quick way we came up.

We bought a camping pass and headed towards the camping area. This campground is unique in that you are not allowed to sleep in your car and can only eat in designated areas near the parking lot. Tents are to be set up around a wooded area away from the parking lot but, if you're lucky, you could land a spot with a phenomenal view of Smith Rock and Crooked River Canyon. Despite the sun, the temperatures were low and dropped even more as the sun went down so setting up camp and sleeping was a little frigid. Early the next morning we walked back towards Smith Rock and watched climbers scaling the many walls before heading off to Bend for an Ocean Roll.