09/15/2026
Hiking Oregon's history part 4️⃣0️⃣: Smith Rock carries one of those Oregon stories where deep geologic time, Indigenous presence, and modern recreation all braid together: the towering cliffs and spires we see today are the eroded remnants of the Crooked River Caldera, a volcanic system active around 30 million years ago, long before the canyon carved its way through the landscape. Indigenous peoples used this area for thousands of years, traveling, hunting, and gathering along the river long before climbers ever showed up with ropes and chalk bags. Then in the 1980s, Smith Rock took on a whole new identity when climbers like Alan Watts began establishing the first sport‑climbing routes in the United States, turning the park into a global destination and reshaping American climbing culture. And just like the way Rigdon Lakes ties back to Steve Rigdon, his careful records, and his connection to the Bristow family, Smith Rock reminds us how every landmark carries layers—ancient eruptions, generations of Native use, and the more recent stories of people who helped define what the place means today.
