USA Oregon Bend Sparks Lake Mossy Forest Coffee Trailereasytravelpost #SparksLake #Bend #CascadeLak
fhj88
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easytravelpost
#easytravelpost Smith Rock State Park sits off US-97 near Terrebonne, OR—day-use parking $12 (non-resident) / $10 OR resident, self-pay or annual $75 pass; no separate entry fee. I arrived at 7 a.m. before the Bivy lot filled, displayed the hangtag, and walked the River Trail 0.5 mi to the Misery Ridge fork. The climb is 1,000 ft in 0.7 mi of switchbacks—hence "misery"—but the top gives you Monkey Face, the 350 ft prow, and the Crooked River threading 600 ft below.
I did the counterclockwise loop: River Trail → Misery Ridge up → Mesa Verde overlook → downhill ridge → River Trail back, 3.7 mi, 2h40. Golden eagles nest on the west face March–July, so the top pitch is rerouted then—rangers post signs at the junction. No water on trail, carry 2 L; the river looks drinkable, isn't.
Mistake: I wore trail runners and the descent scree on the back side slid me 2 steps—boots with grip. Another: I paid $12 cash at the iron ranger and didn't tear the stub correctly; fill the whole envelope, hang the tag, keep your own copy. Would you climb Misery Ridge clockwise for shade on the switchbacks, or reverse it to hit the summit when the east light hits Monkey Face?
duu78
A Must-See! Practical Guide to Smith Rock State Park: Rock Climbing + Hiking Perfection!