Drowning out the presence of others in the park, the rushing river water splashes over giant boulders as it continues to carve a trough in this mile stretch of towering basalt columns known as The Gorge.


From the rimrock on the east side of the Student Wall, to the range of crack and sport climbs on the Lower and Upper Gorge, climbers have been coming to this area since the 50s.

Staying on the west side of the river, just up the gorge from the Northern Point are the west columns of the Lower Gorge. This concentration of quality climbs, every six feet for 300 yards,  lies just below private property high on the rim above. The approach to all west column routes starts with a drive past the Welcome Center to a cul-de-sac of the Turnaround fee station and portable toilets. Park there. The last house on the right just before the turnaround belongs to Oregon State Parks. Follow the driveway and continue to the rim.

west side of the Lower Gorge at Smith Rock State Park

west side of the Lower Gorge at Smith Rock State Park

climbers at the base of the west side of the Lower Gorge at Smith Rock State Park

climbers at the base of the west side of the Lower Gorge at Smith Rock State Park

climberscrookedriverbouldercrossinglowergorge

Look for a third-class stack of columns that leads into the canyon as you hike upstream. Take care on the descent. While easy, you should pay attention to the exposure. Once at the river, you can hop over boulders when the river is low to get to the east side.

Whether you get there by crossing the river or going the long way around on the Wolf Tree Trail, the Student Wall offers some of the best of the rimrock in the area. It's located just opposite and south in the gorge from the Northern Point.

Recorded first ascents from the early days are pretty sketchy, even though it was popular in its day and for a couple decades that followed due to the nearby climbers camp and parking lot, now defunct.

Sport climbing took off there in the 90s, with bolts allowing for top-roping off the rim. Now a well-marked trail leading off the Burma Road Trail just after it connects to the Wolf Tree Trail gets you there. Take a right after the bridge as it winds along the river for about a mile.

the Student Wall in the Gorge at Smith Rock State Park

the Student Wall in the Gorge at Smith Rock State Park

climber on the Reproductive Wall of the Student Wall in The Gorge of Smith Rock State Park

climber on the Reproductive Wall of the Student Wall in The Gorge of Smith Rock State Park

Keep heading up the canyon on the same side of river as the Student Wall you come to the east columns of the Lower Gorge. While it may not have as many lines as its rival columns on the west side, being away from private land has its privileges.  They extend through the rimrock to the top of the cliff. Rounding the 90 degree tip of the east side bend of the river brings you to the challenging columns of the Upper Gorge, offering some of the best advanced climbing at Smith.

A concentrated section of hard routes with a combination of tough stem and technical faces all in a single pitch are commonplace. A half mile walk along the canal on an auxiliary road off of the Burma Road Trail above gets you there.

To help with your exploration of The Gorge, we've scoped some selects in each of the main areas above: (All are rated 3-star in Alan Watts' Guidebook, with * noting a 4-star)

Student Wall


Reproductive Wall


5.7:

  • School's Out  trad, 1 pitch
     

5.9:

  • Passing Grade  mixed to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.10:

  • Flight Song 5.10a  trad, gear to 2 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.11:

  • Puppet Master 5.11a  TR, 1 pitch

  • Gridlocked 5.11b  sport, 6 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *Drilling Zona 5.11c  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Embryonic 5.11d  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Sorority Girl 5.12b  trad, gear to 2 inches, 1 pitch

Kindergarten Cliff


Textbooks


5.7:

  • Heart Throb  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.8:

  • Deep Sleep  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.9:

  • Big Man on Campus  trad, gear to 1 inch, 1 pitch

  • The Virgin Slayer  trad, gear to 3.5 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.10:

  • Global Motion 5.10b  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch

  • Labyrinth 5.10b  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch

  • Little Bo Peep 5.10c  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Silly Boy 5.10c  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Theseus 5.10c  trad, gear to 2 inches, 1 pitch

Lower Gorge West Columns


Cox Rocks (aka Parched Cat Cliff)


5.9:

  • The Lonesome Crowded West  trad, gear to 1 inch, 1 pitch

  • Patent Leather Pump  trad, 1 pitch, 65'
     

5.10:

  • Oriface 5.10b  mixed to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Edgewise 5.10d  sport, 6 bolts, 1 pitch

Wildfire Wall


5.10:

  • Gruff 5.10a  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch

  • Badfinger 5.10b  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Cornercopia 5.10b  mixed to 1.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • *Cruel Sister 5.10b  trad, gear to 3.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Rim Job 5.10b  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch

  • *Wildfire 5.10b  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • *White Trash finish 5.10d  sport, 5 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.11:

  • *Cry of the Poor 5.11atrad, gear to 2 inches, 1 pitch

  • On the Road 5.11a  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Out of Darkness 5.11a  mixed to 2 inches, 1 pitch

  • Pure Palm 5.11asport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Crack-a-no-go 5.11b  trad, gear to 3.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Crime Wave 5.11b  trad, gear to 1.5 inch, 1 pitch

  • Lion of Judah 5.11d  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Just Say Yes 5.12a  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Split Decision 5.12a  trad, gear to 1 inch, 1 pitch

  • Try to Be Hip 5.12a  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *White Trash 5.12asport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • The Caning 5.12b  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Edge of the Road 5.12c TR, 1 pitch

  • Resuscitation 5.12c  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

Catwalk Columns


5.10:

  • Quasar 5.10a  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • *Blood Clot 5.10b  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch

  • *Last Chance 5.10c  trad, gear to 2 inches, 1 pitch

  • Prometheus 5.10c  trad, gear up to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.11:

  • Ground Zero 5.11a  trad, gear up to 1.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Crossroads 5.11b  mixed to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Night Shift 5.11b  trad, gear up to 2 inches, 1 pitch

  • *The Pearl 5.11b  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Mid-Life Celebration 5.11c  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Northern Lights 5.11d  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Nuclear 5.11d  mixed to 2 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Full Court Press 5.12asport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *Child Abuse 5.12b  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

Star Wall


5.10:

  • Last Days 5.10a  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Mantra 5.10a  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch

  • Left Wing 5.10c  mixed to 1 inch, 1 pitch

  • *Morning Star 5.10c  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Daytime Drama 5.12a  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Cry of the Gerbil 5.12b  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

Jungleland


5.7:

  • Big Chimney Xtrad, gear to 2 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.10:

  • Bush Doctor 5.10a  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • *Masquerade 5.12b Rtrad, gear to 1 inch, 1 pitch

Lower Gorge East Columns


So Low Wall


5.8:

  • Pipsqueak  trad, gear up to 3 inches, 1 pitch

Windfall Wall


5.8:

  • Jeepers Creepers X  trad, gear up to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.10:

  • Fool's Pleasure 5.10a  trad, gear up to 4 inches, 1 pitch

  • Baby Walks 5.10a R  trad, gear up to 3.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Llama Momma 5.10b  trad, gear up to 4 inches, 1 pitch

  • Margo's Madness 5.10b  trad, gear up to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.11:

  • Hard Attack 5.11a  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Mister Reach 5.11b  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Windfall 5.11b  trad, gear up to 1 inch, 1 pitch

  • *The Sheepgate 5.11c  mixed to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Wave of Mutilation 5.12a  sport, 5 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Zealot 5.12atrad, gear up to 1 inch, 1 pitch

Hand Job Wall


5.10:

  • Hand Job 5.10btrad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Original Sin 5.10c  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

Arrington Columns


5.10:

  • Brother's Child 5.10c  trad, gear to 2.5 inches
     

5.11:

  • Master Looney 5.11a  trad, mixed to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

Shakespeare Cliff


5.8:

  • Ophelia  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.9:

  • Midsummer Night's Scream  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch

  • Othello  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.10:

  • Puck 5.10a  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • As You Like It 5.10b  trad, gear to 2.5 inches, 1 pitch

  • Lust Labours Cost 5.10b  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch

  • Much Ado About Nothing 5.10d  trad, gear to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.11:

  • Yost in Space 5.11a  TR, 1 pitch

  • Measure for Madness 5.11d  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

Upper Gorge


The Ivory Coast


5.11:

  • *Punk Primitive 5.11b  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Wardance 5.12a  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • New Breed Leader 5.12b  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Orphan's Cruel 5.12b  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Slack Mackerel 5.12b  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *Chillin' in the Penzo 5.12c  sport, 11 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Peach Nails 5.12c  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Streaming Café Flirts 5.12c  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *The Urge 5.12d  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.13:

  • *Controlled Hysteria 5.13a  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Cuban Slide 5.13b  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *Big Tuna 5.13c  sport, 11 bolts, 1 pitch

Red Columns


5.12:

  • Persuasion 5.12a  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Brazilian Skies 5.12b  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Screams and Whispers 5.12b  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Shark-Infested Waters 5.12b  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *Atlas Shrugged 5.12c  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Red Lily Q 5.12c  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Slay the Dragon 5.12c  sport, 6 bolts, 1 pitch

Upstream Routes


Playing in Traffic Area


5.10:

  • Just Do It 5.10a  trad, gear up to 3 inches, 1 pitch
     

5.11:

  • Starkist 5.11a  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Formula One 5.11c  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Six Hits of Sunshine 5.11c  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Talladega 5.11c  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Octane 96 5.12b  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *Playing in Traffic 5.12b  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Black Orpheus 5.12c  sport, 11 bolts, 1 pitch

The Vatican Wall


5.11:

  • Hail Mary 5.11d  trad, gear to 1 inch, 1 pitch

Middle Earth


5.10:

  • E-Type Shag 5.10a  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Naxis 5.10b  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • E-Type in Drag 5.10d  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.11:

  • *E-Type Jag 5.11asport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Natural Art 5.11c  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Get That Feeling 5.11d  sport, 5 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Tears for Tonya (aka Shut Up and Skate) 5.11d  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • The Fifth Dimension 5.11d  TR, 1 pitch

  • Tomb of Love 5.11d  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Gapers on a Tangent 5.12a  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Unique Monique 5.12a  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Up Country 5.12a  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Blame It On Rio 5.12b  sport, 8 bolts (optional 3-inch cam), 1 pitch

  • Groove Cat 5.12c  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *Conflicted Goddess 5.12dsport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.13:

  • *Feminazis 5.13a  sport, 10 bolts, 1 pitch

  • *Peruvian Skies 5.13a  sport, 9 bolts, 1 pitch

  • The Seventh Deadly Sin 5.13a  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Hot Lava 5.13b  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

The Crowded House


5.11:

  • Huck Fin 5.11d  sport, 6 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Hieroglyphics 5.11d  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch
     

5.12:

  • Celibate Wives 5.12a  sport, 7 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Integrated Imaging 5.12a  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

  • Mojomatic 5.12b  sport, 8 bolts, 1 pitch

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