Central Oregon Hikes Near Redmond: Smith Rock State Park Hiking

If you’re looking for great hikes near Bend, Oregon – or even better, hikes near Redmond, Oregon – then the beautiful Smith Rock State Park trails are one of the best places to start. Popular with rock climbers and home to other activities like horse back riding, Smith Rock’s hiking trails allow for a variety of activities among dramatic high desert landscapes.

Where is Smith Rock State Park?: Terrebonne, Oregon

This 560 acre State Park is located near the community of Terrebonne, Oregon – just 9 miles north of Redmond, Oregon. It sits around 3000 feet in elevation. The volcanic ridge measures around 600 feet up from Crooked River.

Smith Rock State Park trail map, park hours, and park fees

Trail maps are available in the brochure at the Smith Rock day use entrance from the parking lot. Here’s the official map posted at the park:

The Smith Rock trails are for day use only and they’re open from dawn (30 minutes prior to sunrise) to dusk (30 minutes after sunset).

Day use parking    $5
Hiker-biker per person    $8
12-month day-use parking permit    $30

Check the State Park website for the weather forecast and important park notifications.

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Smith Rock State Park hiking

From the day use parking lot, you’ll need to descend to the river to start any of the hikes. There are two options: the Chute Trail is steeper and the Canyon Trail is a bit more gradual.

River Trail

An easy starter hike is the unpaved, out-and-back River Trail (2.2 miles each way). The hike can become a 3.7 mile loop when connected with the more steep and strenuous Misery Ridge Trail.

By following the Crooked River around the southwest cliffs, you’ll pass many of the rock faces where you can spot climbers. It’s also a great area to keep an eye out for deer and other wildlife.

Misery Ridge Hiking Trail

The Misery Ridge trail is one of Smith Rock’s most difficult. It’s less than 1 mile uphill, finally flattening out at the top of the ridge with fantastic views of the park.

Continue down the back side of the ridge for the perfect view of the iconic Monkey Face rock formation and head down the Mesa Verde Trail to connect to the River Trail for a complete loop.

When to visit Smith Rock

The park gets busiest during the best weather – namely, late Spring/early summer and Fall. It does get crowded, especially on weekends and holidays. We always aim to arrive just after sunrise to beat the crowds, and the parking lot starts to fill up as we finish our hike.

Where to stay near Smith Rock State Park

You can stay at the Smith Rock State Park campground for the most direct access to the trails. There are also a number of great Airbnb’s in the surrounding area as well as hotels in nearby Redmond, Oregon. Click here to see our overview of the best places to stay.

>> For more hikes around Redmond, visit our Central Oregon Hikes Overview & Map