Bend, OR

Credit Visit Bend

Remember snow days as a kid? You’re breathless over blankets of fresh powder as your heart pounds with joy at the news – school’s canceled!

You spend the day building snow forts, launching snowballs, and sledding down the steepest hill to fill your memory bank to the brim.

Ready to embrace the pure joy of playing in a world of sparkling snow as a carefree kid?

Bend, Oregon, makes the perfect winter escape from adulthood as you burrow into a snow cave filled with boundless winter nostalgia. Find winter fun right in town and in the nearby majestic snow-capped Cascade Mountains. We’ve got everything from sledding hills to ice skating to acres of downhill terrain at Mt. Bachelor.

Cap it all off with warm, whipped cream-topped drinks around a crackling fire.

Grab your mittens, toboggan, and thermos full of hot cocoa, and let’s frolic and play the Bend way!

Wanderlust Moonlight Snowhsoe Tour Credit Visit Bend Wanoga Sledding

Credit Visit Bend

Sledding is undeniably one of the most giggleworthy winter activities. When the snow gathers, every hill becomes your playground. When it snows in town, head to Drake Park, Hollinshead Park, or Al Moody Park and try your chance at beating Clark Griswold’s new amateur recreational saucer sled land speed record. As snow falls in the upper elevations, Wanoga Sno-Park is a must for tubing and sledding. A short drive from town, Wanoga is not only the gateway to great snowshoeing and dog-friendly ski trails but also an expansive sledding area with a huge warming hut at the base.

If winter nostalgia wraps you in an urge to hit the slopes, leave ample time for devouring a piping hot bowl of chili and swapping brag-worthy ski stories with friends at the lodge.

Credit Visit Bend

Mt. Bachelor is the Pacific Northwest’s destination winter wonderland and purveyor of epic days on the mountain. A hefty average snowfall, one of the longest winter operating seasons in the U.S., and oodles of bluebird days stack up to some serious, whimsical winter fun.

Skiers and snowboarders will relish more than 4,000 acres of terrain. For the never-have-I-ever newbie, book lessons through the “Ski or Ride in 5” program. IKON passholders get seven days of full access at Mt. Bachelor, enough to experience the whole mountain.

Is strapping sticks to your feet and hurtling down a mountain not your speed? Enjoy snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, or an expedition on the wild – and furry – side with a dog-sled ride. When you’re done, refuel and quench your thirst at one of several bars and restaurants across the mountain.

While most of the snow resides in the mountains, the youngat-heart devotion to winter runs deep in Bend. Plenty of crisp days, occasional bouts of snow, and scores of recreation make the season magical. Glide and twirl on ice skates at The Pavilion. Take your latte to go and enjoy a dazzling winter walk along the Deschutes River at Drake Park. Head downtown or to the Old Mill District and shop for handmade gifts and souvenirs. If snow’s falling, grab some snowshoes for a hike through Shevlin Park and build a holly, jolly figure made of snow. Beer lovers will want to explore the territories of the Bend Ale Trail, where craft beer is served up with fire pits and cozy tasting rooms.

Bend’s the perfect place to rediscover your inner kid. Join us this winter to recreate childhood memories or build new ones with your own family. Let Bend transport you to a sparkling world full of joy, magic, and mountains of fun.

Tumalo Mountain

Credit Visit Bend

TOP WINTER ADVENTURES

Written by Megan Hill

CENTRAL OREGON

Winter in Central Oregon means spectacular snow-capped peaks, bluebird days, and a less frenetic pace. Tables are just a bit easier to find at the region’s best restaurants and brewpubs. The adventures change, too. The paddleboards, river rafts, and golf clubs are replaced by skis, snowboards, snowshoes, tubes, and sleds.

The weather may change with the seasons, but Central Oregon remains a perfect getaway for those who seek adventure. Whether interested in speeding downhill at one of North America’s largest ski and snowboard resorts, exploring the Deschutes National Forest on snowshoes or skis, immersing yourself in craft beer and the region’s culinary scene, or nestling up to a warm fire with a glass of Oregon Pinot or Central Oregon brew.

Bend is the region’s urban and cultural hub, with the highest concentration of restaurants, breweries, and cultural activities. But from the idyllic setting of Sunriver, less than 30 minutes from the lifts of world-class Mt. Bachelor, or the quaint Old West town of Sisters, less than 30 minutes from the Hoodoo Ski Area, to Redmond’s burgeoning-yet-low-key urban center, there is a perfect spot for everyone. That goes for those on a ski trip with friends or family, or those looking for a weekend of relaxation and rejuvenation.

CENTRAL OREGON

SOME OF THE BEST WINTER ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IN CENTRAL OREGON:

SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING:

Snowy season in the higher elevations of Central Oregon typically runs between Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. As one of the largest resorts in North America in terms of skiable terrain, Mt. Bachelor grabs a lot of the headlines. But Hoodoo Ski Area, about 20 miles west of Sisters, has been a local’s favorite for nearly a century, and still offers a downhome experience.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AND SNOWSHOEING:

Bend, Sisters, and Sunriver offer quick, easy access to some of the best cross-country skiing and snowshoeing areas in the Northwest. The Cascades are dotted with sno-parks, including the popular Meissner, Edison, Swampy Lakes, or Wanoga sno-parks. Or head to Mt. Bachelor and Hoodoo Ski Area, both of which have cross-country ski trail systems. For a truly unique and memorable experience, book a guided tour with an experienced guide such as Wanderlust Tours.

SNOWMOBILING:

Central Oregon is home to a vast sledding network near Mt. Bachelor, which can be accessed via multiple sno-parks. Maintained by Moon Country Snowbusters, this network is home to more than 250 miles of regularly groomed snowmobile trails, backcountry bowls, and out-and-back destination day trips. In addition, Three Creeks Sno-Park near Sisters and 6-Mile and 10-mile sno-parks in the Newberry Crater National Monument offer hundreds of miles more of breathtaking trails to explore.

MT. BACHELOR SLED DOG RIDES:

Take a ride behind a real dog sled team. Stay snug and warm in the sled while the team led by professional mushers take you on an exciting adventure along snowy tree-lined trails near the slopes of Mt. Bachelor. The sled dogs offer rides beginning in December and well into April.

ICE SKATING:

The Pavilion in Bend is the only NHL-sized ice rink in Central Oregon and offers recreational skating from November through April. Redmond’s Outdoor ice skating rink, The Village at Sunriver, and Seventh Mountain Resort are also popular places during the winter months to lace the skates up.

TUBING AND SLEDDING:

Kids of all ages love sledding and tubing around Central Oregon. Two of the most popular spots include the kid-friendly Autobahn Tubing Park at Hoodoo Ski Area. Wanoga Snow Play Area Sno-Park deserves a special nod for its sledding opportunities, too. Its open hillside offers easy sledding, and the warming hut provides a cozy respite from winter’s chill.

EVENTS:

The fun never really stops in Central Oregon, and events always dot the calendar. Oregon WinterFest (Feb. 17-19) is a three-day celebration at Redmond’s Deschutes County Fairgrounds, with a light exhibit, food, libations, Wonderland Marketplace, fun run and more. Celebrate outdoor inclusivity at Winter PrideFest 2023 (March 1-5), which offers a full weekend of fun and inspiring winter events. Other annual traditions include The Sunriver Holiday Light Show (beginning in November), Central Oregon Winter Beer Festival (March 2023), and many more.

INDOOR FUN:

If you want to avoid the chill altogether, Central Oregon has plenty of indoor fun to offer, too. Hotspots over the summer, such as the award-winning High Desert Museum, Sunriver Nature Center and Oregon Observatory, and The Museum at Warm Springs, are open to visitors all winter long. You can catch a movie in a truly fun and unusual setting at the Old St. Francis Theater - McMenamins or a show at Tower Theatre, both in downtown Bend. Or have some family fun at Walt Reilly’s in Bend.