Smith Rock State Park, Oregon, United States May 16, 2026

Smith Rock State Park, Oregon, United States

What do you call a place where the rocks do the climbing, and humans try to keep up? Welcome to Smith Rock State Park in Oregon, United States, where cliffs rise fast and excuses fall faster. It sits inside the 41-kilometre-long Crooked River Caldera, shaped by multiple volcanic eruptions. Its welded tuff cliffs are made from compressed volcanic ash that cooled under pressure. The Crooked River carved the canyon, while formations like the Spire rise over 200 metres.

© Alex Ratson/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Serene waters on a trembling earth
A place where Buddha attained enlightenment
May 16, 2024International Day of Light
May 16, 2025Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan

More Desktop Wallpapers:

When just a pinch of salt won’t do
Sep 3, 2024Crystal Lake in the Enchantments, Washington, United States
Staying in the loop
Dad on duty
A large forest with 6,000 of years of history
May 25, 2026Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Dec 30, 2024Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Apr 4, 2024Red lechwe, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Amber waves of grain
Aug 23, 2024Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Thailand
Mar 2, 2024Modica, Sicily, Italy
How can we help at-risk animals?
Nov 17, 2023Copper Falls State Park, Wisconsin, USA
Jun 30, 2025Asteroid Day
Angry bird, doting dad
Jun 29, 2024Tour de France 2024
Apr 22, 2026Earth Day
Is anybody home?
We’ve identified these ‘flying objects’
May 17, 2024Endangered Species Day
A salty situation
Where are these spectacular peaks?
Apr 16, 2026Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Jun 7, 2026Ruins of Dunseverick Castle, Northern Ireland
Apr 8, 2026Seattle, Washington, United States
Dec 13, 2025Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Aug 4, 2026International Owl Awareness Day
Dec 1, 2025Antarctica Day
Apr 25, 2025World Penguin Day
Rebels of the owl world