Skull Hollow Campground at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

Skull Hollow Campground at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

Address: Terrebonne, OR 97760, United States

Phone number: 541-548-7501

Acreage: 651.68

Day-use: Fee

Annual Pass: 24 month pass $5, $30, $50

GPS Coordinates: N 44 21.952 W 121 08.233

Information Center: Crooked River National Grassland, 274 SW 4th Street, Madras, OR

Rock Smith State Park is a unique place with unbelievable landscape visited by hundreds of thousands people annually. It is the real Paradise for the climbers offering f couple of thousands of routs for climbing with various levels of difficulty. The only thing this wonderful park is missing is a regular campground, as there is only a walk-in campground intended for tents only.

That is why, if you are willing to combine a camping trip with the exploration of a remarkable Smith Rock State Park, Skull Hollow Campground is a perfect place for this.

Located only approximately 8 miles in north-eastern direction from the state park, Skull Hollow Campground is one of the beloved places for the park’s climbers to stay. That is why it is often overcrowded on weekends.

This simple, even primitive, campground has 28 camp sites, each one equipped with a wooden picnic table, and a fire ring (with a grill). You may enjoy a peaceful evening at the campfire at the Skull Hollow Campground, but remember that there is no firewood there, so you should bring your own or you may buy it from the host of the campground.
There is neither drinking water, hook-ups nor dumping facilities at the territory of the campground. Among the amenities the campground can offer you are only two vault toilets.

Camping for a quarter of a mile outside the Skull Hollow Campground is forbidden and the staying at the campground is limited to fourteen days.

Rock Smith State Park is not the only attraction you may enjoy while staying at Skull Hollow Campground. Among the activities and places of interest available near the campground the following should be mentioned:

– Views of Grey Butte,
– Skull Hollow Trailhead,
– Grey Butte Trailhead,
– Cole Loop Trail #854,
– Horseback riding,
– Mountain biking and
– Hunting

Skull Hollow Campground is an amazing place which will stick in your memory by its incredible smell of the sagebrush and remarkable views. Be also prepared for coyotes interrupting your sleep during the nighttime with their howls, and watch your steps while hiking around the campground, as there is also quite a possibility to meet a snake there.

The payment for a campsite is $5 per day and $3 for every additional vehicle. But if you have any of the following passes, you may get a 50% discount:

– Interagency Senior,
– Interagency Access,
– Golden Age,
– Golden Access

Reservations are not provided for Skull Hollow Campground as it operates on “First Come – First Served” basis, and it is open from the beginning of March and till the middle of November.

Photo: Roman Khomlyak

Photo Editing: Juliana Voitsikhovska

Information: Svetlana Baranova

Pictures taken: 09/1/16

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