A picture I took while on a hike at Smith Rock State Park in 2008
I believe that at least once in your life you owe it to yourself to check out Smith Rock State Park located on the outskirts of Terrebonne, Oregon (a twenty-minute drive from Bend). It is nothing short of a Mecca for fitness lovers. Mention Smith Rock to any rock climber, and you are sure to get a smile. Between its Dihedrals and forty-some routes on its Morning Glory Wall, it offers enough vertical latitude to challenge even the most seasoned rock clamberers. For those who do not climb, the park offers miles of moderate to difficult trails for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. In June, runner’s can enjoy the Smith Rock Sunrise Summer Classic with 5K, 10K, and half marathon races.
Smith Rock, cool as Chuck Norris’ beard, or David Caruso’s acting, is a destination spot plain and simple. The icy blue crooked river, and the visually-stunning massive rock cliffs snaking throughout the park are beckoning—surreal even. The fresh made huckleberry ice cream served at the ‘Juniper Junction’ just outside the park’s entrance is worth the trip alone.
