Smith Rock State Park

Thirty million years ago, a caldera collapsed here, filling with ash and debris that hardened into rhyolite tuff. The Crooked River did the rest, cutting through the layers to expose the sheer cliffs that now draw climbers from around the world. Smith Rock is generally considered the birthplace of modern American sport climbing — in 1983, Alan Watts began applying sport climbing ethics that pushed the discipline to new levels. The park also contains the first U.S. climb rated 5.14. The Monkey Face spire is the landmark most visitors come to see; serious climbers come to test themselves on it.