Misery Ridge & River Trail Loop (Smith Rock)
Nearby trail · 15 min

Misery Ridge & River Trail Loop (Smith Rock)

The classic Smith Rock loop: 3.6 miles of steep ridge climb, panoramic summit views, and an easy river walk back. 4.9★ from 9,000+ reviews — the most popular hike in central Oregon.

Distance
3.6 mi
Elevation
1,100 ft gain
Difficulty
Hard
Season
Year-round (icy patches Dec–Feb)
Bring
🐕
⚠ Before you go
Steep Exposed Ridge Loose Gravel Full Sun Falls Have Happened — Stay On Trail.
Steep switchback climb up the ridge (the "misery" part — gain 1,000+ ft in under a mile), then ridge views over Monkey Face spire, then a knee-friendly descent and flat river walk back. The signature Smith Rock experience. Park early; the lot fills by 8 AM on weekends.
Trailhead

Where to start.

$5/day at Smith Rock State Park. Arrive before 8 AM weekends.

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Reference on AllTrails →

Stay at the trailhead.

Crooked River Ranch RV Park is 15 minutes from Smith Rock and directly on the Crooked River canyon rim.

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