Smith Rock State Park: Everything You Need to Know!

Just 30 minutes outside the ever-popular city of Bend, Oregon there is a state park worth visiting again and again.  Smith Rock State Park is a must-see park, regardless of why you are visiting.

Smith Rock State Park has excellent hiking, incredible rock-climbing, loads of wildlife, and even a small campground.  So whether you are there to hike 10 miles or simply watch for bald eagles, there is something for just about everyone.  

Today we’ll discuss everything you need to know about this incredible Oregon state park. From the fees, to the campground, to the hiking trails, let’s dive right in!

Important Links

• Smith Rock State Park website 
• Hiking Trail Map
• State Park Hiking Trails – AllTrails Link
• Camping Checklist Freebie – A Useful Camping Checklist
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Be Prepared on the Trails
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!
• Camping Journal – Never Forget Your Camping Trips Details Again!

Location

First up, let’s discuss the location of Smith Rock State Park.  The state park sits about 30 minutes northeast of Bend, OR and less than 15 minutes from Redmond, OR.  

And as for bigger Oregon cities, the park is 3 hours from Portland, 3 hours from Salem and just shy of 3 hours from Eugene.  So if you plan on flying into Oregon and driving here, you’re looking at a little bit of a road trip.  

Fees

Next, let’s discuss the fees.  Smith Rock State Park has a daily fee, just like most Oregon State Parks.  Even if you are just going to walk on the paved path, you have to pay that fee to park. 

The fee is $10 for Oregon Residents and $12 for Out of State Visitors.

At the parking lot there is a QR code that you can scan and use to pay the fee.  BUT you might not have phone service here.  So in order to not risk getting a fine, here are a few suggestions to pay said fee!

Pay Ahead of Time

The first option is to purchase your Day Use Parking Permit online ahead of time.  This pass is valid for an entire day and can be used at all of the state parks for that day.  In other words, if you are planning on visiting Tumalo Falls State Park and Collier Memorial State Park all in one day, this pass will cover you. 

And the second option is to purchase an Oregon State Parks Annual Pass. This pass gives you access to all of Oregon State Parks and Beaches for 12 months from the month of purchase.  The resident pass is $60 and the non-resident pass is $75. 

The annual pass only makes sense if you are planning on visiting several state parks/beaches on several different days.  If you are a resident planning to spend more than 6 days in any of the state parks, this pass is perfect for you. And if you are a non-resident planning to spend more than 6 days in the state parks, again, this pass is the way to go.    

Just make sure the math makes sense before you purchase, or you might be wasting some money.

Hours

Open Daily from 30 minutes prior to Sunrise to 30 minutes after Sunset.

Parking 

Smith Rock State Park is well-versed in busy weekends.  So there are plenty of parking spots here!

The first place that people typically park at is right near the Smith Rock Welcome Center.  There are dozens of spots on either side of this building.  These usually fill up first thing in the morning. 

Then there is the parking right near the Amphitheatre. This area has about 20 parking spaces.  Finally, there is the Smith Rock parking lot, which even has a few oversized spaces for larger vehicles. 

So now that you have the logistical things figured out, let’s discuss all that there is to do here! 

Things To Do in Smith Rock State Park

Here at Smith Rock State Park there is so much to do and see!  The most obvious is going hiking.  With over 14 miles of hiking trails that range from easy/paved, to difficult, there is something here for every hiker.  

Next up is the adventurous rock climbing.  You can see rock climbers all over the rocky cliffs in Smith Rock State Park.  And while rock climbing isn’t for everyone, it is world-class here. 

Smith Rock is also a great place to go fishing or take advantage of the horse trails and go horseback riding. And if you enjoy watching or photographing wildlife, you’ll love all of the wildlife in the park.  

And finally, we have the rustic and tent-only camping that you can do here.  The camping at Smith Rock State Park is different from most state parks, so if tent camping is something you would be interested in, check out the camping section below!

Hiking

With over 14 miles of trails, you’ll love taking a hike in Smith Rock State Park.  From challenging routes like the Misery Ridge Trail to the paved River Trail, all levels are welcome.  Check out the hiking map below!

Hiking Map

The trails here will give you an excellent view of the nearby Cascade Mountain Range. On a clear day you’ll be able to see Mount Hood, the Three Sisters, and half a dozen other snow capped peaks.  

The views are gorgeous, both in and around the park.  Which makes hiking the perfect way to see the area at just about any time of year.   

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing in Smith Rock State Park is an excellent pastime if you are up for an adventure.  They have rock walls that range from beginner friendly to extremely challenging.  

While I myself am not a rock climber, HERE is a great resource to get you started with rock climbing in the park.  There are nearly 2000 routes to choose from and the website above can give you a start.

If you are new to rock climbing, or would like a guide, there are several companies that will guide you in Smith Rock State Park.  A simple google search of “Smith Rock rock climbing” will provide you with several companies to choose from.  

Camping – First Come First Serve 

Camping at Smith Rock State Park is a little different than other Oregon state parks.  One major difference is that you can’t make a reservation ahead of time.  Camping here is first come first serve.  

And unlike other first come first serve camping, Smith Rock State Park doesn’t have a set number of campsites.  They have a set number of parking spots.  So if you and your friends can carpool, you might have a better chance of getting a spot and then setting up your tent(s) wherever.  

Also unlike other campgrounds, you pay per person instead of per campsite.  The fee is $12 per person, per day, or $15 per person, per day if you are not an Oregon resident.  Each day you must purchase a new overnight camping pass (credit card only) from the kiosk and put it on the dash of your car.  

Travel trailers, campers or campervans of any kind are not permitted, this is a tent-only campground.  Fires of any kind are also not permitted.  On the plus side, there are bathrooms and showers available for registered campers.  

For all the extra details about camping in Smith Rock State Park, check out this link.

View Points & Wildlife

And if you want to enjoy the beauty of Smith Rock State Park without suffering up Misery Ridge, there are plenty of beautiful sights here.  Right from the parking lot you can see gorgeous mountain peaks and the incredible red rock that rises from the center of the state park.

There is some incredible wildlife here.  We saw 3 Bald Eagles, plenty of Osprey, other birds and even some deer in the morning.  You never know what you might find in this gorgeous state park.   

Our Experience

My husband and I visited Smith Rock State Park in June of 2026.  This was our first visit and we love a good challenging hike.  We got parked early and did the Misery Ridge Trail, the Mesa Verde Trail and then looped back on the River Trail.  

This hike clocked in around 5 miles and we got to see a good sample of the park.  After this, we switched from hiking gear to photography gear and headed out to look for Bald Eagles.  We were able to observe a nest with a juvenile eagle and 2 adult eagles.  

After that, we headed to Bend, Oregon for some lunch.  It was a gorgeous way to spend a morning!

Things to do in the area

With the town of Bend so close, we had to stop at Bend Brewing Company and Bend Cider Co.  My husband had a flight at the brewery, and then I had a cider flight at the cidery.  Both places offered some great drinks and the brewery had an attached restaurant where families are welcome to eat.

Nearby is the gorgeous Tumalo Falls State Park. This state park has a gorgeous, easy to reach waterfall and you can read all about it here.       

Conclusion

Smith Rock State Park is an incredible state park and if you have the time, you MUST add this to your Oregon itinerary.  With great hiking trails, world-class climbing routes, rustic camping, and several other ways to spend your time, you’ll love Smith Rock.  

As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions and I’ll do my best to help!

-Happy Hiking!