Burma Road to east of Grey Butte

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Solofemalehiker35
Posts: 62
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:14 pm

Burma Road to east of Grey Butte

Post by Solofemalehiker35 » June 18th, 2020, 2:19 am

Visited Smith Rock State Park Wednesday 6/17/2020. It was in the 70s I believe and sunny.
Bathrooms are open from 10am to 5pm, be aware there are only two stalls for the ladies restroom. There is a porta-john next to the middle lot, but it was pretty dang full when I used it in the am and wouldn't want to use it in the afternoon. There are three parking lots, but you have to get here pretty early to make it into the first two lots. I believe we arrived around 8am. The middle lot was a quarter full and the other two only had a few cars. We did a car to car hike. When we went to pick up the car from Smith Rock it was about 1pm and it looked like all the lots we're almost full.
Not much practice of social distancing here when it is crowded and hardly anyone is wearing a mask in dense crowds; like bathroom areas and such.
Handicap parking is available as well as 4+, 15min parking spaces. I know for sure you can fit large RVs in the lower lot and possibly the very first lot in the park. No overnight is allowed.
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This rock formation was probably my favorite at the top of Burma road.
We saw maybe 30+ people in the am when we arrived and on the trails and maybe a 100+ when we went back to grab the car.

The climbers bivy is closed probably due to Covid as well as misery ridge and another small trail we saw. Some small trails were closed towards Burma road due to eagle nesting.

The trails are in great conditions and the park is beautiful as usual, a must see space if you are in the area or contemplating a trip. Great for children and the paths are paved until the bridge for wheel chair accessibility.

$5/day
$30/year pass
$50/2 years pass
Make sure you purchase a pass. Although the information center is closed rangers are working and I'm sure they are checking cars for proof of parking purchase.

We hiked Burma road from the middle lot to east of Grey Butte as a car to car hike. 7.85 miles with 1658ft elevation gain.
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Burma road trail from afar. Impressive.
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I had a visitor on my pee break or I was visiting this one.
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The trail from the river to Burma road can be slick and steep in areas. I almost lost my balance on slick rock and went backwards.
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Beautiful ponderosa by the river.
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The river
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This mountain top is a great overlook of Smith Rock, you can even hear people down below on Burma Road. There is an easier trail that goes up, rather than this scramble looking trail that goes straight up.
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Upon down hiking to the river.
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A mile or two in the BLM land area consists of ridge hiking.
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Lots of critters out when the sun is out.
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Beautiful wildflowers in bloom right now.

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