At Smith Rock, you're just as likely to climb alongside adventurers from Australia, Japan or France as someone from Central Oregon, Portland or Eugene.

In more recent history, Alan Watts is the Oregon man who put Smith Rock on the map. Watts began climbing and establishing bolted routes on the walls there in the 1970s and in 1986 a picture of him ...

Smith Rock State Park's First Day Hike on Jan. 1, 2015, a sunny, cold day in central Oregon. (Terry Richard/The Oregonian) Talk about visiting Smith Park at the right time. Instead of having to ...

In the quiet of the dawn, my sisters and I sat on what felt like the top of the world. We were in Central Oregon, perched at the summit of the volcanic spires of Smith Rock that shoot up, almost ...

Smith Rock State Park is a world-renowned climbing destination, home to the 550-foot (168 meters) volcanic rock formation that boasts nearly 2,000 climbing routes. Spanning 259 hectares (641 acres) of ...

Although Oregon's Smith Rock State Park is mostly known as a mecca for rock climbers, the trail running and hiking opportunities within the park should not be ignored.

A rock climber climbs Smith Rock on May 16, 2020. It was the first weekend that Smith Rock State Park was open since the pandemic shut down parks in Oregon. Stephani Gordon / OPB ...

Outdoors Travel Oregon’s Smith Rock park gets new hiking trail, visitor center Originally published June 12, 2013 at 7:00 pm Updated June 21, 2013 at 12:06 pm ...

From 2011 to 2016, visitation at Smith Rock State Park increased from 450,000 to about 700,000 day use visitors annually. Amanda Peacher / OPB Central Oregon residents have a chance this week to ...

Urness is the author of “ Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon ” and “ Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at [email protected] or 503-399-6801.

Matt Davey, OPRD Park Manager - Smith Rock Mike Davis, Areo Drone Corp; Columbia Gorge CC UAS instructor; drone pilot Sarah Lathrop, State Aviation Coordinator, Oregon Dept. of Forestry ...