Rimrock in the morning, the Deschutes the rest of the day
Bend, Oregon · 3 nights · June–September · up to 8
Smith Rock is half an hour north of Bend and it does not look like Oregon at all — a wall of welded tuff standing over a river in a sagebrush canyon. Walk in early; the exposed climb up Misery Ridge earns its name by the afternoon. The rest of the trip belongs to the Deschutes, which runs straight through the middle of town and is the reason people move here. Three nights, and do not plan the last one.
The ending
A bend in a river under a wall of orange rock, reached on foot from the rim, where the shadow climbs the far face and the top of it stays lit after the trail below has gone cold.
That is Smith Rock State Park. See how private it is and when it’s open, or build the rest of the trip around it.
Do
- Smith Rock State Park
- Deschutes River Float
- Wanderlust Tours
- Deschutes River luxe picnic
Eat
- Ariana Restaurant
- Bos Taurus
Stay
- Tetherow Lodge
- The Oxford Hotel
How hard is the walk in?
The river trail along the base is flat and easy. Misery Ridge is steep, exposed and the one that empties out. Pick according to who is walking.
Best months?
June through September. The canyon holds heat, so an early start is worth more here than an expensive room.