As a vacation destination, Bend, Oregon is open all year round. But winter is always a special time of the year for visitors. There’s a lot of fun Bend winter activities to enjoy in this paradise. Blessed with record snowfall every year, the area enjoys some of the best powder snow in the country, something that all winter sports enthusiasts crave and seek. So if you’re wondering what you’re going to do in Bend this winter, buckle up, because this is one thrilling ride that will stick in your memory for years to come.
Nordic Skiing
The top of the list of every visitor is reserved for Nordic Bend skiing. This ancient practice goes back thousands of years, when people in Northern Europe used it to travel around. It is an exhilarating experience that puts you face to face with Mother Nature in its raw and sublime state. Similar to summer hiking, Nordic skiing sees you traversing trails covered with untouched snow. Make sure to stick to the trails and travel in groups.
Alpine Bend Skiing
Bend is nestled nicely at the base of Mt. Bachelor, which provides some of the best skiing trails you can come across in the lower 48. So if winter is your season and skiing is your sport, Mt. Bachelor should be on your bucket list. Here you will have 360 degrees of accessible terrains, dry powder snow, and breathtaking views you won’t get anywhere else.
Dog Sled Rides
With so much easy terrain covered with the best snow the skies have to offer, this is your opportunity to get on a sled ride where dogs do all the work. Take part in one of the many tours offered by the local businesses and get a dream ride unlike any other. Many of these dogs have competed in the Iditarod, so you’ll be riding with champions.
Tubing
When you’ve had your fill of skiing and made your journey with the athletic dogs, you may want to give tubing a try. Instead of sleds, you use rubber to carry you down the slopes. The ride is long and full of screams of joy and excitement, so it’s easy to see why this sport is getting more and more popular with the visitors and locals alike.
Bend, Oregon, is the place to be this winter. With amazing dry powder snow and some of the best terrain in the country, winter has never been more fun. Call us today to find out more about Bend winter activities and to book your vacation rental.
Mt. Bachelor has been blessed with amazing conditions this winter. We enjoyed a big powder day at the end of January. The web site reported eight inches, but I can testify to at least a foot. By the end of the storm, we had over 30 inches of new snow!
One of the great things about Mt. Bachelor is the length of time the powder can last. We skied un-tracked snow the entire day, and pretty much the next five days. This past week has been high pressure, with the best groomers and off piste you will find in the West.
Bend Vacation Rentals is offering great lift ticket discounts, as well as our Kids Under 12 Ski Free program, even over holidays. I have noticed that other ski areas are offering many great discounts this year, and it allows families to enjoy outdoor sports during a long winter. Bend is such a great place to visit, not only because of all that Mt. Bachelor offers, but also because Bend is more than a ski resort. Snowshoe, sled, Nordic ski or just take a walk along the Deschutes River. This week, the snow sports industry will gather at Mt. Bachelor to demo the new 2013-14 equipment, and it looks like there will be great snow and weather for the event!