Misery Ridge Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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- Start point: Smith Rock Trailhead
- End point: Monkey Face Viewpoint
- Trail log: Trail Log
- Hike type: Loop
- Distance: 4.1 miles
- Elevation gain: 945 feet
- High point: 3,310 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Year round, except in snow or rain
- Family Friendly: Yes, for kids over 8
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
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Hike Description
Smith Rock is an extremely popular area for rock climbers, but there are some beautiful trails as well. Best times here are in the spring or fall. This area gets really hot in the summer, and there's not a lot of shade. At that time of year, the hike is best early in the day, before the real heat sets in. This is rattlesnake heaven, especially near the river. Care should be taken, particularly in shady areas created by some of the hollow rocks.
Behind the restrooms and picnic area, you can follow the Rim Rock Trail along the edge of a bluff, getting views to the expansive Picnic Lunch Wall and the Crooked River snaking below. A wide concrete path leads down steeply from a railed viewpoint. An interpretive sign explains the geology of Smith Rock’s colorful formations. They are the remains of Oregon’s greatest volcanic eruption, 29.5 million years ago, which created a caldera 20 miles wide (the town of Prineville lies within it, and the Crooked River bisects it). The caldera collapsed and the formations you see are formed of volcanic tuff, consolidated ash, and pumice from the eruption. Basalt flows, which erupted 400,000 years ago from vents on the Newberry Volcano to the south, form the rim of the peninsula that contains the park’s parking areas and facilities.
You’ll be taking the Canyon Trail down. A short steep alternative trail called The Chute shortcuts you to the river, but the Canyon Trail makes a single switchback on a gentler grade. At the river, there’s a grassy expanse with picnic tables and a restroom. Cross the Crooked River Bridge, and come to a junction of three trails, the River Trail to the left, the Wolf Tree Trail on the right, and the Misery Ridge Trail straight ahead.
The Misery Ridge Trail makes several short switchbacks up under the Picnic Lunch Wall as you get better views of the river below. To your left is the crumbly face of Shiprock, which is considered too dangerous to summit. A set of steps takes you to a traverse under the Red Wall, a rhyolite intrusion in the tuff formations. A spur at a switchback offers a view to an imposing spire, and then more steps open up views to The Monument, the impressive tower to the northeast. You’ll enter a rocky defile where hardy mountain mahogany trees survive. Views open up as the trail continues across the Misery Ridge Summit, where you’ll begin to get vistas towards the Cascades, including Mount Bachelor, Broken Top, the Three Sisters, Black Butte, Belknap Crater, Mount Washington, Black Crater, Three Fingered Jack, and Mount Jefferson. As you begin to descend, a spur leads left to a view across to the “head” of Monkey Face, a 350-foot spire of unwelded tuff and an eventual goal for all the rock climbers who come here. The gorilla-like face is most apparent from below, but from this angle you can make out the brow, nose, and mouth. Looking north, you should now also be able to make out Mount Hood, and small ponds and farm fields cover the plains west to the Deschutes River.
The Misery Ridge Trail makes nine switchbacks down to its junction with the Mesa Verde Trail at the base of Monkey Face. This section of trail will be in deep shadow if you’re hiking in the morning. About halfway down the hill, there's a hollow rock that kids love to play in although the area should be checked for snakes or creepy-crawlies first. Head left on the Mesa Verde Trail. It traverses along the side of the hill, heading gradually downward. It's about a half mile farther down to the River Trail.
Continue straight ahead on the River Trail. You'll stay close to the Crooked River for the rest of the hike. The trail runs southward to the bend in the river at the south end of the park. After you loop around the end of the rocks, you'll see lots of climbers on the various cliff faces. Follow the trail about another mile back to the Crooked River Bridge. Cross the bridge and head uphill to your car.
Regulations or restrictions, etc
- Day use parking permit required
- Open dawn to dusk
- Information kiosk, restrooms, picnic area
- Dogs on leash
Maps
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Misery Ridge
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Misery Ridge
Guidebooks
- Day Hiking: Bend & Central Oregon by Brittany Manwill
- Hiking Oregon's Geology by Ellen Morris Bishop
- Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson & Zach Urness
- Best Hikes with Children: Western & Central Oregon by Bonnie Henderson
- 100 Hikes: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
- Trips & Trails: Oregon by William L. Sullivan
- Extraordinary Oregon! by Matt Reeder
- Beer Hiking: Pacific Northwest by Rachel Wood & Brandon Fralie
- Best Easy Day Hikes: Bend & Central Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
- Best Hikes Near Bend by Lizann Dunegan
- Hiking Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
- Hike America: Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
- Central Oregon: Walks, Hikes & Strolls for Mature Folks by Marsha Johnson
- Oregon Hiking by Matt Wastradowski
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Craig Hill & Matt Wastradowski
- Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- Day Hikes in Central Oregon by Jan Siegrist
- Hiking Central Oregon & Beyond by Virginia Meissner
- 100 Oregon Hiking Trails by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 50 Hikes in Oregon by David L. Anderson
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
- Trail Running: Bend and Central Oregon by Lucas Alberg
- Oregon State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide by Jan Bannan
Links
- Smith Rock State Park (Oregon State Parks)
- Misery Ridge (Smith Rock.com)
- Misery Ridge Loop (Hiking Project)
- Misery Ridge Trail (Local Adventurer)
- Hiking a Ridge Called Misery in Oregon (A Dangerous Business)
- How to Hike the Misery Ridge Trail at Smith Rock (Embrace Someplace)
- Misery Ridge Trail in Smith Rock State Park (Just Go Travel Studios)
- Smith Rock State Park - Misery Ridge Hike (The Planet D)
- Hiking the Misery Ridge Loop (The Wanderlust Kitchen)
- Hiking the Misery Ridge Loop (Socalhiker)
- Misery Ridge Loop (Modern Hiker)
- A Guide to Smith Rock State Park’s Hikes, Misery Ridge Trail & More (Oregon Is for Adventure)
- "Misery Ridge Loop is the best way to hike Smith Rock" (Oregon Live)
- Your Smith Rock State Park Guide (Smith Rock.com)
- Smith Rock (Travel Oregon)
- Smith Rock State Park (Wikipedia)
- “Smith Rock State Park –great geology at the edge of Oregon’s largest caldera” (geologictimepics)
- Smith Rock (Northwest Wildflowers)
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)
- romann