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 visitor 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 overflow and 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 visitor center is built.
Milestones
- Refined preferred draft master plan concept.
- Refined cost estimate.
Next Steps
- Programming and schematic design of visitor center.
June 12, 2023 Note:
The
final Smith Rock Master Plan is now available. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission will review the “final” draft Smith Rock Master Plan at their upcoming meeting June 14, after which Deschutes County and DLCD will review the plan prior to adoption into Oregon Administrative Rule.
The current general obligation bond estimate is $4-$6 million.
Last updated December 2023. Additional updates as information becomes available.