Almost a year ago, exactly, we took a walk with Smith Rock State Park Manager Matt Davey at the location of the proposed and approved Visitor Center project to replace the currently donated yurt Welcome Center with a new 2,400-square-foot facility. The Visitor Center, along with improvements to and an extension of the Rim Rock Trail to the north end of the park, was one of the projects approved to receive funds from bond sales. Additionally, Oregon Parks and Recreation was recently awarded a Land and Water Conservation Grant to help fund construction. Now it’s all on hold.

Yes, we have confirmation that starting July 1, 2025, (some) electric-assisted bikes will be allowed on all trails at Smith Rock State Park where bikes are currently sharing the trail with hikers. The “but” portion is about making this work the best way possible for ALL. That includes respecting the rules on the types of e-bikes that qualify, as well as respecting those with whom you share the trail. And above all, respect for the fragile ecosystem that already sees up to a million visitors per year. More on this later in the article. While education remains the primary focus for rule enforcement at Oregon State Parks, enforcement rangers do have the authority to issue citations, which carry fines starting at $100 for significant or repeated violations of park rules.  

You probably thought the Bald Eagle was already our national bird if you were like us. That's not the case. The Great Seal of the United States was created in 1782 when our victory over Great Britain was imminent. Even that took an act of Congress to happen. Well, it took another one to make Baldy our national bird and signed into law on December 23, 2024. Here at Smith Rock, we’ve always held them in high esteem, fawning over their mating and nesting rituals for over a decade since they chose a favorite spot where we watch them nourish their young each year until they fledge.

We took a walk this month with Smith Rock State Park Manager Matt Davey at the location of the upcoming Visitor Center project to replace the currently donated yurt Welcome Center with a 2400-square-foot facility. Matt helped provide context to the bullet points of the Oregon Parks & Rec press release, including the proposed location, structural considerations, timeline, and more in our video. The Visitor Center was one of the projects approved to receive funds from bond sales. In addition, Oregon Parks and Recreation was recently awarded a Land and Water Conservation Grant to help fund construction. Now the process begins.

Dr. Cassandra (Cassie) Fallscheer followed her passion for math into the stars. While studying high-energy particle physics in college, she was awestruck after attending a talk on astronomy. It was then that she was drawn to the beauty and mystery of the cosmos and her small place in the vastness of the universe. She hasn’t stopped looking up since. Lucky for us, her passion included sharing a closer view with the rest of us. Her non-profit, The Asterisk Observatory, partnered with a local landowner “to allow people to appreciate and learn about the dark skies of Oregon” from the rim of the Lower Gorge near Smith Rock State Park.

Springing forward for Daylight Savings Time is often associated with “Hatch Time,” at least for the Bald Eagles Smith Rock State Park. At the time of this post, we only know of their two eggs, as shown in the header image taken on February 29 by Terry W. Smith of “Images On The Outside.” The Golden Eagles are much harder to know about, as their nests are huge and deep on the walls of the Monument Area, so we don’t have a headcount on the number they are expecting yet. Thank you to each of the photographers who brave the elements to bring us such magnificent images!