Smith Rock State Park facility updates coming 2025-26

Didn't see any info here about upcoming updates to Smith, so I wanted to share said info and start some community discussion on the master plan that includes changes to the restrooms, parking, bridges and welcome center at Smith. I've included a news article and copy of the master plan below, figure 11 in the master plan shows the proposed changes. There's also a public information meeting tomorrow on Zoom at 4pm. Seems the funding is coming from state GO Bond funds and the welcome center recently received a $1.6 million federal grant. 

https://ktvz.com/news/outdoors/2024/10/18/welcome-center-other-improvements-coming-to-smith-rock-state-park-public-invited-to-info-session-next-week/ 

https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Documents/PRP-PLA-Smith-Rock-Master-%20Plan.pdf

https://ktvz.com/news/outdoors/2024/10/18/welcome-center-other-improvements-coming-to-smith-rock-state-park-public-invited-to-info-session-next-week/

https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Documents/PRP-PLA-Smith-Rock-Master-%20Plan.pdf

Happy to see more bathrooms.

Mixed feelings about additional bridges.

Paving the overflow parking area is definitely not an improvement. Our parks need less pavement not more.

Josh Janes wrote:

Happy to see more bathrooms.

Mixed feelings about additional bridges.

Paving the overflow parking area is definitely not an improvement. Our parks need less pavement not more.

Agreed. I like the idea of those bridges for myself but it means more people are going to wander farther from the main areas.

Also better signage would be a good thing to hopefully cut down on all the game trails that people follow

Jason wrote:

Agreed. I like the idea of those bridges for myself but it means more people are going to wander farther from the main areas.

Also better signage would be a good thing to hopefully cut down on all the game trails that people follow

+1 to more signage, specifically marking walk offs for some of the multi-pitch climbs. However, my guess is that's not the population they are targeting here.

E MuuD wrote:

+1 to more signage, specifically marking walk offs for some of the multi-pitch climbs. However, my guess is that's not the population they are targeting here.

Yeah I doubt they have walk-off signage in mind but since they are worried about not disturbing the ecosystem I hope they will put a few signs around some of the approaches. In some areas they go to the trouble of putting "closed" signs but only once the erosion gets out of control

Regarding additional bridges, it looks like there are 2 being considered: one in front of Phoenix Buttress and one a bit NW of Northern Point.

I see the case for the one in front of Phoenix Buttress (there's already an informal horse crossing there) and appreciate that it would shorten the approach for climbers heading to the main area, the backside, Phoenix Buttress/Llama Wall, etc, but I can't see the benefit of the northern bridge. At present the trail leading to it isn't a popular one (is the idea to make that trail more popular to spread out the crowds?) and this bridge would take you to a spot that anyone can already get to via the current bridge + the Wolf Tree Trail.

What benefit(s) of that bridge in the north am I missing?

Khoi wrote:

Regarding additional bridges, it looks like there are 2 being considered: one in front of Phoenix Buttress and one a bit NW of Northern Point.

I see the case for the one in front of Phoenix Buttress (there's already an informal horse crossing there) and appreciate that it would shorten the approach for climbers heading to the main area, the backside, Phoenix Buttress/Llama Wall, etc, but I can't see the benefit of the northern bridge. At present the trail leading to it isn't a popular one (is the idea to make that trail more popular to spread out the crowds?) and this bridge would take you to a spot that anyone can already get to via the current bridge + the Wolf Tree Trail.

What benefit(s) of that bridge in the north am I missing?

Easier/quicker to get to the Monument and the Marsupials??  People often to the rock hop to get to those places, maybe they're concerned about that?  During the construction of the current bridge I think most people either crossed by Phoenix or used the Northern Point rock hop.

The way I read the master plan is that while climbers are obviously a huge part of the equation, it’s not all about us. I think a major goal of the two new bridges is to disperse the massive amount of traffic that the Misery Ridge trail receives from hikers AND have a safer way for climbers to cross. I thought the one was going to be closer to Southern Tip (river is generally narrower and shallower) as they are going to have the bridge be the terminus of the Canyon Trail and close the remainder that wanders up to Wilcox.