Smith Rock Bivouac Area
Campground
Campground · 1.1 mi from the trail
Oregon · Rock climbing · Terrebonne · Near Sisters
The Philosopher's Stone
- 12 routes
- 5.11a – 5.12c
- Sport
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
The Philosopher's Stone is a climbing area on Bureau of Land Management land in Oregon's Prineville Deschutes Field Office, about 10 miles from the town of Prineville. It sits among several other climbing areas, including (a) Dreamland, (b) Dog Wall and Southside, all within about a tenth of a mile. The area is a cluster of sport routes, with 12 in total. They run from about 5.11a to 5.12c on the YDS scale, and the hardest is The Philosophers Stone, a 5.12c. The routes are all bolted, and the area is best suited to climbers who want a day of sport climbing on a single crag. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Redmond show May highs around 69°F and September highs around 79°F, with July and August peaking near 88°F. The Homestead Trail and Canyon Trail are both about 0.8 miles away for a walk. Skull Hollow campground is about 3.5 miles off, and Haystack Lake is about 8.5 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Terrebone Depot Food & Drink
Restaurant
On your way back · 3 miIf it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in SistersBest time to go · May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best time to visit The Philosopher's Stone
Best months: May–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
44° / 25°
9 wet
Feb
48° / 25°
7 wet
Mar
55° / 28°
8 wet
Apr
60° / 31°
8 wet
May
69° / 38°
8 wet
Jun
77° / 43°
5 wet
Jul
88° / 48°
3 wet
Aug
87° / 47°
3 wet
Sep
79° / 41°
4 wet
Oct
65° / 33°
6 wet
Nov
51° / 28°
8 wet
Dec
42° / 23°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Redmond Roberts Fld, OR, 7.9 mi away at 3,043 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Routes (12)
The Stem CellFA: Alec B and Alan Collins5.11aFaction of TractionFA: John Collins5.11bMr. Know it AllFA: FFA John Collins, bolted and prepped by John and Alan Collins5.11bBitter EndingsFA: FFA. John Collins and Alan Collins, Bolted and prepped by Alan Collins5.11cFountain of YouthFA: FFA John Collins Bolted and prepped Alan Collins5.11cArt-of-FactFA: Alan Collins5.11dPlaceboFA: FA, Bolted, and Prepped by John Collins and Alan Collins5.11dFiction of FrictionFA: Alan Collins5.12bImmortal TechniqueFA: FFA, Bolted and Prepped Alan Collins5.12bThe AlchemistFA: Alan Collins5.12bThe Law of EquivalenceFA: Alan Collins5.12bThe Philosophers StoneFA: Alan Collins5.12c
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