Mental Medication - Smith Rocks/Painted Hills, 6.8.2020 - 6.12.2020, Part 1 of 2
We have travelled through and even stopped for dinner in Bend, Oregon and had skied a couple of days at Mt. Bachelor just west of Bend, but there is a lot to see and do in the high desert country of central Oregon and it has been high on my to do list for quite awhile to spend more time there.
Monday Dana and Bob hopped in their View and Bridgit and I hopped in the Navibahn and away we went for our first trip of this very strange year. Just over six hours of driving put us at Skull Hollow Campground just minutes away from Smith Rock State Park. It is getting more and more unpredictable as to whether sites to camp in the RV’s will be available or if reservations become necessary. We have determined that we can still have some flexibility in our schedules at certain times of the year. So far we have found that June is still a good month to find available sites, especially in National Forest Campgrounds as opposed to RV Campgrounds. This trip was designed to see if it still held true and it did. Skull Hollow turned out to be a great campground out in the middle of nowhere on rolling mountains covered in sage and pinion pine. The place was way less than half full so there were plenty of sites to choose from. Pull-ins were flat and plenty long enough for us so we settled right in and were set up by 1:30PM.
The next day we drove the tow car down the road to Smith Rock State Park. I had read about this mecca for wall climbers and seen photos so I was very eager to try and get sunrise photos during this trip. What I didn’t realize is what a great park this is for hiking as well. The park covers 650 acres and has twelve different trails. We were shocked at how many cars were parked there on a Tuesday but the park never felt crowded. I guess they must have all been up on the walls.
The views start the minute you get out of the car. From the visitor center you can walk left or right along the Rim Trail. Directly across are incredible walls, spires and pillars in assorted shades of red and brown jutting up into the blue sky. Below, the Crooked River lives up to its name as it carves a path through the canyon, allowing for lush green grasses and pine trees to grow along the shore.
Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock State Park
We hiked the Canyon Trail trail down to the Crooked River. I crossed the bridge and followed the River Trail a ways around the corner underneath a huge red monolith. The walk along the river was really pleasant and I’d like to go back and hike more of it as it goes quite a ways.
Descending the Canyon Trail
Picnic Lunch Wall above the River Trail
Beautiful trail along the Crooked River
After hiking back up to the parking lot we drove just a little ways further to the end of the road and a turnaround loop. There we hiked the North Point trail out to a point looking over an entirely different section of the Crooked River to the northern end of the park.
North Point
Looking south from North Point
We spent several hours there and the whole time I was scouting out spots for sunrise photos. The forecast called for clear skies in the morning so my studly wife got up at 4:30AM with me and we headed back to Smith Rock to watch the sun come up. I correctly calculated that the sun would hit a feature known as the Phoenix Buttress first so I found a spot high on the Rim Trail looking across the river at this massive wall. In the magical pre-dawn light, I watched as the colors on the Phoenix Buttress constantly changed in an array of stunning shades.
Pre-dawn glow
As the sun kissed the tops of the Phoenix Buttress the wall changed from a blueish green glow to a pink hue.
First kiss
This one really does it for me. I love the way this one turned out. This was the goal.
After watching the sun touch the wall and start to slowly light up the face we headed up to a more central spot on the Rim Trail where the sun was just beginning to light up the Picnic Lunch Wall. There we were treated to another amazing display as the sun slowly lit up the rest of the park.
Smith Rock sunrise
North Point
Sun hitting Asterisk Pass
Incredible morning light at Smith Rock State Park
Don’t go away because Part 2 is right around the corner!