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Monkey Face Loop via Misery Ridge Trail and River Trail

Monkey Face Loop via Misery Ridge Trail and River Trail(edit)

based on 330 tracks & routes | |

DIFFICULT

#1 hike out of 13 in Smith Rock State Park |

DIFFICULT

4.7 mi

Distance

1 hrs 41 min

Time

747 ft

Elev Gain

Overview

This is a difficult loop trail to Monkey Face in Smith Rock State Park.

This trail goes by Fairy Tale Tower, Spiderman Buttress, Asterisk Pass, Smith Rock Group, Smith Rock, and Shiprock.

Sights to See

Rate this Hike

★★★★★

ccgoehle 9 months, 1 week ago

Very muddy on 2/20/25 a few days after snow. Slippery on the backside going down to the river. Great views from the top and on the riverside! It is less than 1000 feet elevation gain, not 4600 feet as posted.

★ ★ ★ ★

LongHarness3443 4 years, 3 months ago

The start of this hike is all up hill, lots of stairs and your thighs will feel it the next day. But it is worth it! Watch your step on the way down, don’t walk on the gravel or you will slip. The view is breathtaking the entire time.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Becky 5 years, 1 month ago

Hiked the loop clockwise on a bluebird day. Saw several birds of prey and both a bald eagle and golden eagle nest. Accent is steep, but the switchbacks make it manageable. Once at the top, don’t stop at the bench. Keep going and have your snack on the rocks right next to Monkey Face. The descent is steeper with many human-made stairs. Beautiful hike with unbeatable views of the cascade range.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

HardCoast3230 5 years, 3 months ago

Beautiful views, and easy trail. Misery Ridge could be renamed Slight Discomfort Ridge, it wasn’t that bad. I would recommend that you MUST do this hike. As and Oregonian I feel that it was the best view of this area of the state that I’ve ever seen.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

MistyCypress1401 6 years, 3 months ago

This was not such a difficult hike the third time around. So we did another loop a much longer one, which due to heat made it tough to go up the Burma trail so we took a lot of time to cool of on top sparse tree shade. We came down Summit to River trail to finish the big loop. We had a wonderful time watching the sunset from Rim Rock trail to finish the day.

★ ★ ★ ★

ZestSequoia5110 7 years ago

Great day hike, kid friendly. Our 5 and 7 year old did fine and enjoyed it. Keep them on a short leash up top! Also, if you’re kids are into geocaching this is a fun spot for it.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Jim Cox 5 months ago

★ ★

Kate L 8 months, 2 weeks ago

★ ★ ★

CheeryClimb2243 1 year, 5 months ago

★

TrueTimber1395 1 year, 6 months ago

★ ★

GleamStone3451 1 year, 10 months ago

★

helga.lavanda 2 years, 1 month ago

★

FreshSkis9728 2 years, 5 months ago

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Pdailey24 4 years ago

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

CalmTent6295 4 years, 2 months ago

★ ★ ★

EasyHPack2298 4 years, 8 months ago

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

WarmWatch4267 4 years, 8 months ago

★ ★

WildHike4088 4 years, 9 months ago

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

DurableStar7988 5 years, 3 months ago

★

QuietEGels9754 6 years, 1 month ago

★ ★ ★ ★

ChillyBrook6446 6 years, 2 months ago

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kati Cooke 6 years, 6 months ago

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Public Tracks

Sangye Ince-Johannsen 10 years, 3 months ago

Smith Rock Trail, Redmond, Oregon

This hike goes around Smith Rock, climbing a little bit and then going around the famous monkey face rock formation. It then becomes a pleasant walk next to the Crooked River. Very nice.

Sangye Ince-Johannsen 11 years, 11 months ago

Smith Rock Trail, Redmond, Oregon

This hike goes around Smith Rock, climbing a little bit and then going around the famous monkey face rock formation. It then becomes a pleasant walk next to the Crooked River. Very nice.