By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

Talk about a lasting first impression.

My introduction to Smith Rock in Oregon came when I was a young child.

I remember standing next to a gnarled tree I found out was a juniper, looking across a river at a towering rock wall.

My next encounter was on a drizzly day late last September.

The Crooked River wound its way through the canyon below and the rock wall was one of many stretching out in either direction.

I even found a large juniper to stand next to.

It was love all over again.

Each person's experience at Smith Rock State Park will vary, depending on how much time they have and how much effort they want to -- and can -- put into it.

The quickest and easiest way to visit is simply to park in a lot and enjoy a picnic area that comes with shade, restrooms, water and views.

You can also walk or run a short distance down a path to an overlook.

My favorite spot comes under this category.

The overlook is marked off by a picket fence and boasts a juniper with views down at the river and across and up at the rocks.

From here you can see what other adventures can await you.

The further you go the more lookouts and different views and angles you come to.

You can look down by the Crooked River and see that a more adventurous hike can take you right next to and along it in either direction.

There is even a pedestrian bridge to take you across and along the other side of the river at the base of the rock walls.

Biçycles are also permitted on the riverside trails and on any segments designated for horse back riding.

Or you can journey up among the rocks to the top on the other side on the Misery Ridge Trail.

For the most courageous and strong there is the further adventure of climbing the walls.

On a nice summer's day the rocks are speckled with climbers of varying abilities. They can take advantage of close to 2,000 routes.

Slacklines are available between rocks as well.

Smith Rock State Park is located near the Central Oregon cities of Redmond and Terrebonne north of Bend.

Turn east off of Highway 97 onto Smith Rock Way in Terrebonne. Turn left on Lambert Road (NE 1st St.), which curves right to become NE Wilcox Ave. Turn left on NE Crooked River Drive and look for the park to your left.

Aiding your search is the fact you can see the tops of the rocks jutting up out of an apparent hole in mostly flat farm lands from miles away.

The rocks are composed of welded tuff, or compressed volcanic ash that filled the ancient and gigantic Crooked River Caldera after it erupted and collapsed in on itself.

The flat lands formed when a basalt flow oozed in later from a source some 50 miles away -- the Newberry Volcano.

The Crooked River did the rest of the work, cutting out the canyon in front of the rocks.

A day use permit for the 652 acre state park is $5 and good from dawn to dusk. Tent only camping is available and is first come, first served.

The park is open year round -- except for now when closed because of virus. Oregon state parks were shut down March 23 but hopefully will reopen May 8.

Call SmithRock.com at 800-551-6949, visit the website or call the park at 541-548-7501 for more information.