Smith Rocks Trip- nearby hikes, water?

Hey! Headed to Smith Rocks next week for a climbing trip. I’ve been once before but I’m looking for some recommendations on cool hikes, hot springs, (non polluted) watering holes for SUP or swimming, that are nearby! My Subaru is tricked out so we will be hammock and/or car camping :)

Thanks!

Not trying to police anyone but if you haven't read this I would recommend it, I believe it is still in-force so you might be limited in terms of hiking and where you can even go.
https://smithrock.com/news-all/partial-reopening-smith-rock-state-park-thursday-may-14th

I’m aware of the restrictions. I am looking for places to go outside of Smith Rocks for the activities listed above.
Thanks!

Steelhead falls for cliff jumping, lounging in some spots. About 20min away

Y'know, there is this pandemic thing, and traveling is really not advised. Smith Rock was specifically opened for locals only, the state governor called it out as a place where people were irresponsibly recreating, and the High Desert Climber Alliance has asked climbers to stay local.

When it's appropriate though, there is lots of fun hiking around the Crooked River Grassland, especially the southern and eastern sections of the Cole Loop. As mentioned, Steelhead Fall is great for camping, swimming, cliff-jumping, and hiking... it's further from Smith than Skull Hollow and nearby dispersed camping but it's generally less crowded. Avoid the Crooked River itself like the plague.

Side note- totally blew my mind how polluted the crooked river is! My friend is in Oregon and we were chatting about it. Are there any plans or set initiatives to attempt to clean it up? 

Niki Mcdaniel wrote: Side note- totally blew my mind how polluted the crooked river is! My friend is in Oregon and we were chatting about it. Are there any plans or set initiatives to attempt to clean it up? 

Not when timber and ag are the biggest industries in the state. Run-off is one of the main culprits, but central OR is prime cattle land. There is some forward progress in the timber industry however.

Nate,

I’m also open to recommendations on other areas that do not have the restrictions of locals only, if you’d like to give them. If not that’s cool as well. The longer the approach the better.

I'll offer this alternative, also shown on MP (link below).Gets shade after 3 PM, and is about 5,000 up and much cooler than smith. You can spend a full day there doing routes up to 5 pitches or single pitches. There are sport routes but also mixed and pure trad. The Cougar Buttress might be the best 5-9 multi in Oregon (whatever that's worth) and the best most obvious route there. Below the crag is Tumalo Creek, with Tumalo Falls (crowded! germs!) a few miles upstream. Bend residents get there water from it, it's pretty clean. It will be cold, like all other clean water within 100 miles. Also the bouldering at Meadow Camp and the depot are great, and there are like 10 other areas nearby.

https://www.mountainproject.com/area/114523884/cougar-buttress

Also, Sparks and Elk Lake just past Mt. Bachelor are great for any water activities, and with mountain views. Great for a rest day. Or...climb nearby South Sister and bag the peak?

Bigelow hot springs is a nice evening soak about 1:15 or so from Smith. 

Thanks everyone! Utah is flooded right now and like I said, we are as self contained as possible. We are aiming for Smith Rocks during the weekday and we climb early around 6 am to avoid crowds. We have no issue not climbing if there is no room to space out.
Thanks for all the recommendations and we will hit them up!
Safe climbing !

J P wrote:

Not when timber and ag are the biggest industries in the state. Run-off is one of the main culprits, but central OR is prime cattle land. There is some forward progress in the timber industry however.

Didn't know about crooked river so had to look it up-- I love how gagged the ag industry has people about the pollution of that water. Like they have noooo idea what caused this pollution, not the slightest clue. Lmao sure.

"The executive director of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, Jerome Rosa, said he can't say whether questionable grazing practices are contributing to the pollution in the Crooked River."

"It is difficult to pinpoint the exact sources of the pollution in the Crooked..."