Smith Rock State Park current day-use parking area.
About Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock is considered one of the seven wonders of Oregon and its popularity has skyrocketed among local, national and international visitors. Located in the High Desert north of Bend near Terrebonne, the formation is a premier rock climbing destination. Visitors of various climbing skill levels can explore more than 1,500 bolted routes.The park also has many miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking and admiring the views.
Project
- Build a new welcome center and restroom to meet current and future visitor needs.
- The current welcome center yurt is small, does not adequately serve visitors, and is not suited for long-term use.
- Improve parking and traffic flow.
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Improve the main day-use parking lots to more efficiently use the space and provide more visitor amenities.
- Improve some trails.
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Develop more accessible trails and improve visitor flow to benefit hikers of all ages, abilities, and experience levels.
Short-term visitor impact
During active construction, access may be restricted in areas and parking may be temporarily reduced. The greatest impact to parking will be in the main day-use parking lot while the welcome center is built.
Milestones
Next Steps
- Design development of the welcome center - March 2025
- Land use planning - May 2025
- Environmental agency coordination and permitting
- Final design - Sept. 2025
- Bidding - Fall 2025
- Construction - late 2025 to late 2026
The current general obligation bond estimate is $4-$6 million. OPRD was recently awarded an Land and Water Conservation Grant to help fund construction of this project.
Last updated Sept. 2024. Additional updates as information becomes available.