All Locations > Oregon > Central Oregon > Smith Rock

Mendenhall Ridge Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map This is our best guess at this area's location.
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Routes in (tt) Mendenhall Ridge

	Poplar, South Chimney, The T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
	Sapling, Tilted Slab, The T 5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a X

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GPS:	44.3657, -121.143 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	5,089 total · 21/month
Shared By:	Monomaniac on Nov 29, 2006
Admins:	Kevin Piarulli, Nate Ball Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: 2023 Seasonal Raptor Nesting Closures Details

JULY 5 UPDATE FROM PARK MANAGEMENT:

ALL SEASONAL CLIMBING CLOSURES FOR CLIMBING AND SLACKLINING WILL BE LIFTED ON FRIDAY, JULY 7TH THIS WEEK.
THANKS, EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP IN OBSERVING RESTRICTIONS DURING THE NESTING SEASON!

There are many seasonal raptor closures with varying dates and specific boundaries. These generally effect The Monument, Kiss of the Lepers, Picnic Lunch Wall and/or Smith Rock group, and possibly elsewhere. These usually run from February to the beginning of August, but each closure is usually shorter than this, and is dependent on the birds' behavior. Check this site for details: smithrock.com/seasonal-clos…

Access Issue: Private Property Details

You will need to cross a few barbed-wire fences and perhaps some private property to get to these routes. However, the odds of seeing property owners in this remote corner of Oregon are pretty slim. Keep a low profile, travel fast, and you should be ok.

Description

This obscure area is the most remote crag at Smith. It's at least a 90-minute walk from the main area, and I guarantee you will not see any other climbers. This area only features two known routes, but one of them, the Poplar, is a must-do.

Getting There

The quickest, most legal approach seems to be to head over Asterix pass from the main area, follow the river trail past the Monkey, then up on to the plateau above the rimrock after passing the Kiss of the Lepers cliffs. From here, head NE to the exit of the Canal tunnel, then follow the canal to the next tunnel (under Gunsight rock). Presumably if you're walking all this way you intend to climb a few of the routes on Indian Ridge, so start scrambling up Indian at this point, to Gunsight rock first, then on to Squaw Rock. Continue up the ridge to its intersection with Mendenhall Ridge, then follow the Ridge down to the Poplar.

It's possible to approach along the river bank (from the Monkey) directly to the base of Mendenhall Ridge, but if you do you will definitely be on private property, and will encounter a few "No Trespassing" signs. The above-described approach is almost entirely on BLM or state land, does not force you to ignore any signs, and will give you the benefit of 'plausible deniability' if necessary.