Our experience with Smith Rock Trail Rides was amazing. Brian was kind, fun, and attentive--an…read moreabsolutely amazing person to have lead these trail rides. He gave us great directions on how to ride and lead our horse, and stopped many times to take photos of our group. The views were GORGEOUS. Butterflies everywhere. They also have an adorable little puppy that made our time there extra sweet. I will definitely be coming back! Thank you!

This is an absolute must-do if you're thinking about visiting Smith Rock. My husband and I have…read morehiked Smith Rock before, but being able to see it on horseback is just a whole different experience. The trail itself gets you up close to the rock formations of Smith Rock. Let me tell you, the scenery, the canyons, and the gorge that you get to see are spectacular. I really like how this company only does one ride a day and keep the groups small, we had only 5 ppl in our group. It kept things less hectic and I felt safer knowing our guide was able to keep an eye on all of us. Our guide Brian was super helpful and knowledgeable. He made sure you were comfortable on your horse and was very thorough with his instructions on the basics in order to enjoy your ride. He also gets extra points for taking great photos! We got to ride Slim & Sunny. Both horses were really sweet and easy to ride. You could tell Brian and his wife Melanie take great care of their horses. They know them pretty well and match each rider to their horse. No matter your experience level, I think anyone will have a good time and smith rock trial rides makes sure of that :)

3.9 miles, 932 ft elevation gain, 1 hr 38 minutes to complete…read more We started the hike around noon which is probably the least advisable time to complete it. Aside from that the weather was fairly mild and the skies were blue! The trails and grounds are well maintained by the staff. The bathrooms available are also very well kept. The hike itself is supposedly easiest if done clockwise. I decided to go counterclockwise to get the hardest part out of the way. Several stops were made along the way to the top. The entire trek was gorgeous and while you're catching your breath you can look out over the river. There's lots of wildlife down at the river level you can watch as you trek by. It's also neat to see rock climbers up above you. A fun little surprise!

Misery Ridge Trail (in my opinion) is the epicenter/main attraction hike while visiting Smith Rock…read moreState Park. If you complete this hike, you'll comprehend what makes Smith Rock so stunningly beautiful, especially for being nearby an under the radar town like Terrebonne, Oregon. Misery Ridge is a difficult 3.7-mile round trip loop gaining almost 2000 feet in elevation. And, if you begin the hike located just past the entrance area, there'll be a warning sign stating..."steep, rough trail", but that should not deter you whatsoever. When I was here, everyone was hiking this pathway without hesitation. Starting out past the trailhead, you'll confront the hardest part to it all, the stairway incline going up the mountainside. Within the first few moments, the ascent is pretty vertical that if you turn and look back down below, you realize how high you've climbed. But think, if you get past this part...the rest of the way will be pretty easy, especially arriving at the summit/plateau portion of the hike. Then, it's flat ground where you can sit down and relax at any point in time (maybe even have a picnic) and overall, just enjoy the gorgeous scenery from high above. So while walking along the plateau area...you'll have plenty of moments for picture taking. I'd describe the vast Oregon landscape as primarily flat level with small towns and green grass surroundings set in the distance. And it's sort of interesting that this part of Oregon is not mountainous at all, but when you arrive here in Smith Rock SP...the rugged terrain makes for a rock climbers' paradise! Towards the latter part of the hike, you'll confront the well-known "Monkey Face", a 350-foot rock spire standing high and mighty that's the primary focal point of the park. The views are so rewarding, like out of a postcard scene. And if you look closely, it's truly unbelievable...you'll notice rock climbers dangling off the cliffs of Monkey Face. It's thrilling to look at, you think..."how do these people hang on without a fear of heights"??? Just past Monkey Face, the trail winds down with a series of switchbacks from the plateau and back towards the base. During these switchbacks, I'd advise to be cautious when descending as there are no handrails to grab onto and the downslope can be unsteady if you're not wearing sturdy hiking shoes. Finally returning to the bottom...the trail is easy for the remainder of the way. You'll walk among a pretty nature setting while passing beside a pristine lake with the jagged peaks hovering above you. This Misery Ridge Trail will take a few hours to half a day to complete depending on how much time you afford yourself at the summit plateau. Once finished, if you're still interested in hiking more, I'd recommend the Wolf Tree Trail. In the end, Misery Ridge Trail is a fantastic hike to embark upon. Smith Rock State Park opens at 7am and for those early birds, you can venture out here first thing in the morning and get in some great hiking exercise for beginning your day.

The owners are so kind and the welfare of the horses are their first priority. It's a welcoming,…read moreand inclusive barn.

They can't be bothered to return phone calls or emails. I get it if you're busy, but this is no way…read moreto run a business. Don't waste your time with this place.

Located in Smith Rock State Park, this contains a couple super-classic lines:…read more Chouinard's Crack: yes, THAT Chouinard! Test-piece 5.9 trad crack. Super Slab: a sporty, sexy, multi-pitch trad climb. Pitch 2 is contrived and terrible though. Moscow: a un-sexy, blue-collar, no-bolted-anchors, 5.6 trad climb. Crux is an off-width at the top (bring a #4 or you'll be sorry!). I've probably climbed Moscow more times than any other trad route. Most people prefer Super Slab though, you've been warned!

Very nice lake, RV camping…read more 6 miles out of town, in the high desert of Central Oregon.

Oregon Eclipse Gathering was held at Big Summit Prairie, which is located in Ochoco. The prairie is…read morehuge - it held 7 stages of music, as well as spaces for talks, classes, vendors and food stands. The lake takes up a significant space as well and it's quite the hike to walk around it. We camped for 7 days in mid-August. We were lucky and assigned a camping space with minimal shrubs and rocks. As a result, we slept fine with just double-layered tarp under our tent and a sleeping pad inside. Be prepared. With high elevations, it gets very windy. A few neighboring canopies were picked up by the wind and at least one in our area was destroyed. Be sure to bring something to weigh it down. The wind will also cause dust to pick up significantly. I wore a dust mask for most of my time here and others had on bandanas. If you'll be up at random hours like we were, it's important to know that the temperature change is drastic. The temperature started to warm up quickly around 7 am and drop quickly around 6 pm. During the day, we wore bathing suits, lathered on sunscreen, stayed under our shade structures and hydrated well. At night, we would be in beanies, layers of fleece and wool socks. I would also suggest proper footwear, as there are small dried shrubs, rocks and gravel everywhere. I wouldn't recommend bringing any shoes with zippers, as the dust gets stuck in it and it gets difficult to zip up. Though we didn't experience it, there are supposed to be ticks in the area. In any case, I'd recommend bringing bug spray, as there are mosquitos - each member of our party was bitten at least once. I can't rough it this hard, so camping here isn't for me. But if you're up for a challenge against rapidly changing temperatures, dusty air and rocks all over the ground, this is all you!

Hats off to the board and volunteers of this organization. This is the best range for serious…read moreshooters in the region and has the most activity on the schedule of any of the ranges I visit. They have the most capable ranges and plenary of room for any type of shooting enthusiast and many sanctioned groups and competitions for any interest. If I was to pick the only item I am not completely satisfied with, it would be they located far away from where I live, but seriously it is the best range for long guns and pistols that I am aware of for actual shooting and well worth the drive for me. Look them up on the internet!

Written from the perspective of someone who isn't used to handling guns regularly: Went here as…read morepart of a party of 7 to shoot clay pigeons. It was pretty cool! Once there, they do a quick appraisal of your familiarity with guns, have you sign a waiver in case you've got the Dick Cheney gene, and then take you out via golf cart to what equates roughly to a golf course. There were something like 13 stations with pigeon-throwers set up to fire at fixed trajectories, and at your discretion, via remote control. The staff are great, and the guides are helpful, and may stick around for the first hole or two (if it's obvious that you don't know what the hell you're doing) and check in on you later on down the line, which is courteous. At the outset, you're given whatever gear you may need, such as safety glasses, earplugs, shell pouches, etc. Just put your (purchased) ammo and rented gun(s) on the golf cart and proceed at your own pace, ticking the scorecard as you go. Once you're past the phase of snapping dozens of photos of each other holding a gun because everything else about your lives completely emasculates you, it's really pretty fun to test your skill and watch a clay pigeon get completely obliterated by a well (or luckily) aimed shot. Just be advised, if you don't shoot regularly, beware of anything you may need to do later that requires the full use of whichever shoulder you place the stock against. You will likely be pretty sore.

Tam-a-lau seems like a bucket list hike, at least in terms of those in Central Oregon. It's not…read moreterribly difficult but is well worth the effort nonetheless. The trail runs from near lake level in Cove Palisades State Park to the top of the 'Peninsula', as it's called. The Peninsula is that bit of land jutting north into Lake Billy Chinook between the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers (minus The Island, which is a whole 'nother experience if you are fortunate enough to get a chance to go there). Tam-a-lau Trail is about seven miles in length, which comprises 1.7 miles hiking from the trailhead parking lot and then ascending the steep canyon wall, about 3.6 miles of relatively flat hiking on top of the Peninsula, and then 1.7 down. The trailhead is two locations, really. One starts at the big parking lot just past the boat launch on the Deschutes River and has you walk a bit to the other trailhead. That one is at the Deschutes Campground and is the beginning of your ascent up the slope. Unless you're staying in the campground, I recommend the further trailhead - the half mile or so extra is a nice trail. Footing is OK throughout, although the ascent has some steep bits that you'll want to be careful with. Once you're at the top, it's a piece of cake. The top reminds me of the Oregon Badlands, except for the really nice lake views. Once you get to the top, you'll be at a junction. Left takes you to the tip of the peninsula by way of the Deschutes River side, while right takes you overland to the Crooked River side and thence to the tip. Either way, your goal is the peninsula tip. Some folks seem to think the overland section is boring but not me. If for some reason you want a shorter hike, go left and then backtrack the way you came. Tam-a-lau is about views of Lake Billy Chinook, the canyon lava walls and, if the weather is good, the distant views of the Cascades. It's also a good bit of exercise. During the summer, it will be hot. There's not a lot of shade - this isn't a ponderosa forest hike. Take plenty of water. Being in a state park, you'll either need an annual/biannual pass or pay $5 to park. Note that you can access the upper part of the Tam-a-lau (the flat part on the Peninsula) from roads to the south. You don't have to enter the state park from that way. In fact, much of the Tam-a-lau is not actually within the state park boundaries but rather on BLM land.

Very nice views from the top of trails definitely will be back used to go camping there al the time…read morewhen I was a kid now going back as a adult

One of the closest climbing areas to the bridge and, by proxy, your car…read more The most notably lines here are: 5-gallon buckets: if you have a friend that climbed at Smith one time...this is likely what they climbed. It's a fun 5.8 sport route. It is extremely crowded. Zebra-Zion: a 5.10a trad multi-pitch linkup. Probably the most fun route at Smith that I've second'd. I don't have the balls for 5.10a trad :-/