April 06, 2008

Smith Rock



Both images from Visit Bend

Smith Rock State Park covers 650 acres in Oregon's high desert...less than 10 miles away from where we live. I consider it eye candy. A hike along the Crooked River, with these rock walls along side.... breathtaking. The air here is crisp, and clean. And smells of juniper. Home.

Interested in rock climbing? There are 1500 climb routes here...some of which are the best in the world. See here for more information.

Just to give you a little glimpse of how different the weather can be...yesterday we left Central Oregon for the Willamette Valley. We had sunny, blue skies here, and then the mountain pass:


I'll spare you pictures of the valley....gray skies, 50 degrees and raining. It was good to get back to the desert!

11 comments:

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

I doubt rock climbing is for me, but I would certainly love to bring my camera.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!
I have to come out to Oregon one of these days. I hear such a great buzz about the Portland area.

Rosebud Collection said...

Wow, what pictures..have to admit, I don't climb, lucky I make it up the stairs at night..

Hey Harriet said...

So how many of the climb routes have you done so far? With a name like High Desert Diva I'm guessin' at least 1000 climbs! Post the pics! & no cheating! Setting up a little dirt mound in your back yard & standing on top will not fool me. But give it a go...it may :D

High Desert Diva said...

yeah...right. I barely hike. Rock climbing is not for this Diva.

Captain Skulduggery Dug said...

Wow! I'll have to send Jon and my Nephew Vaughan along. They are both keen climbers.

Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn said...

ok..ready for a trip to Oregon!

Grizzly Mountain Arts said...

Gorgeous photos! Can you believe, we've lived in central Oregon for four years now and still haven't been to Smith Rock! I think it is about 15 miles from our house. You'll have to take a drive south out of Prineville and along the Crooked River down to the reservoir.

Mrs.French said...

Oregon weather is completley bipolar in the Spring.

Unknown said...

FANTASTIC pictures, and here i am still wishing to see snow...it was 39.5 degree yesterday! so beautiful :)

CSD Faux Finishing said...

The snowy road photos look so much like where Matt used to live in upstate NY (Morrisville/Syracuse) BUT the gorgeous desert rock & hiking trails were nowhere to be found there. So beautiful!