Smith Rock's Misery Ridge Trail
Hike Stats
Trail: Misery Ridge Trail
Distance: 2.2 miles RT or 3.6 mile loop
Elevation Gain: 1100 ft
Location: Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
Date Hiked: May 2023
Getting Here
The trailhead is located in Smith Rock State Park near Bend, Oregon. From the parking lot you do have to walk down a short but steep trail to get to the official start of the trail.
The Hike
To start this hike, I would recommend starting from the overflow parking lot and taking a walk along the Rim Rock Trail for some additional views before descending down either the Chute Trail or the Canyon Trail.
The Chute Trail is 0.1 mile straight down with no switchbacks while the Canyon Trail is 0.4 mile down but more gradual. At the bottom, you’ll cross a bridge over the river to meet the Misery Ridge Trailhead.
The Misery Ridge Trail is well named - it is steep steep steep all the way to the summit. It is a quad- and calf-burning ascent with an equally difficult descent down...at least for those of us whose knees are more than 30 years old. The climb has few switchbacks but the increasingly impressive views are a wonderful distraction.
Near the summit there are several areas to stop and enjoy views of the surrounding Cascade mountains while catching your breath. My favorite spot was overlooking the iconic Monkey Face rock spire. I happened to catch the sunset as the day’s rain clouds began to break, illuminating the entire valley with stunning beauty and reflecting gold on the ponds. It took my breath away even more than the climb.
At the very top of the climb there are wonderful overlooks of the park’s rock formations. It was a fairly busy area with several groups enjoying the sunset and even a couple taking wedding photos but it never felt overly crowded.
Not long after sunset I began to head down as the park technically closes at dark. If you do this hike for sunset I recommend coming back the way you came, however, if there is daylight I would recommend going down the Mesa Verde Trail and the River Trail as it is less steep and offers a lovely walk along the river. I probably should’ve taken my own advice and gone back the way I came but I for some reason decided to take the River Trail in the dark. It was nice from what I could tell haha!
Trail Tips
Smith Rock is located in the high desert of Oregon so while the weather may feel mild, keep in mind that the altitude and dry air will require good hydration so be sure to bring plenty of water.
The park gets busy on holidays and weekends so either arrive early in the morning or go late afternoon for sunset.
Rock climbing is popular here in addition to hiking.
Planning a trip to Smith Rock State Park? Pin this for later!
Comments