Looking for things to do in Bend, Oregon for your cold-weather getaway? You have found it here. Bend, Oregon is a winter paradise with a myriad options for all sorts of Bend winter activities that make the most of the white stuff. Enjoy all that Bend has to offer by stopping by the Visit Bend website at www.VisitBend.com.
“Think Snow” isn’t just a slogan. It’s a greeting offered to perfect strangers as well as friends at the grocery store as early as October. In fact, most of the time, the only months that don’t have snow days are June, July, August and September, and with climate change, even that could change. We locals relish the promise of “powder days,” and watch the weather intently to take advantage of them. Even better, we pass that knowledge along to you, so you can enjoy a “powder day” or “bluebird day” just like we do.
And, Bend Vacation Rentals is the exclusive vacation rental partner of Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, allowing us to offer discounts, like our Kids 12 and Under Ski Free. We’ll even have your lift tickets ready for you at your vacation rental so you can hit the snow as soon as you arrive at Mt. Bachelor!
Mt. Bachelor
The Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort is the crown jewel of winter fun in Central Oregon, and features downhill skiing for all levels, as well as nordic skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and even sled dog rides. Mt Bachelor is not a town, but a designated ski area, and doesn’t have lodging. However, we have many beautiful vacation homes convenient to this incredibly diverse ski resort. The resort is just 22 miles from downtown Bend, and many of our rentals are located between the two, making it easy to enjoy both the mountain and historic downtown during your stay here.
Mt. Bachelor has more than 3,700 acres of lift-accessible terrain, including Bachelor Parks, an area with man-made features including a half-pipe for snowboarders and free skiers. Plus, there is a wide variety of slopes, for all types of experience levels, from easy “bunny slopes” to the more difficult diamond and double black diamond slopes for very experienced skiers. Mt. Bachelor is very family-friendly and offers daily programs just for kids as well as childcare services.
Cross Country and Nordic Skiing
Love Nordic Skiing? You’ve come to the right place! You know there’ll be great Nordic skiing conditions wherever the U.S. Ski Team regularly has spring training! And XC Oregon, maybe the best cross-country ski team in the northwest, calls Bend home for the same reason.
There are many great options for cross country skiing, including the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center, which grooms 56 kilometers of trail every night. Mt. Bachelor has one of the longest Nordic seasons in North America, and usually grooms well into June.
Or head to the less crowded Hoodoo Ski Area, just 44 miles west of Bend. With two separate trail systems for Nordic skiing, and over 800 acres of terrain, Hoodoo is the original ski spot in the area. With both deep powder and groomed runs for Nordic skiing lovers, Hoodoo also has night skiing and a tubing park.
Our community trails at the popular Virginia Meissner SnoPark are maintained and groomed by a volunteer organization, and feature more than 40 kilometers of trails groomed for both skate and classic. Meissner SnoPark is off of Century Drive on the way to Mt. Bachelor, and is very convenient to town.
And just past Virginia Meissner is the groomed trail at Wanoga Sno-Park. There’s even a separate snowshoe trail for those stompers out there, and a dog-friendly zone too! Vista Butte Sno-Park offers access to 6 miles of ski trails and access to the Swampy and Dutchman Trail Systems which lead to Swampy Lakes Sno-Park and Dutchman Sno-Park. You can find both Nordic ski trails and snowshoe trails at Vista Butte, along with a separate, marked snowmobile trial.
Additionally, there are almost limitless miles of un-groomed trails perfect for back country skiing. You can take a guided cross country tour, or pack up and head out on your own into the forested wilderness of the Deschutes National Forest.
Snow Shoeing
Love hiking? Snow shoes give you incredible access to our winter wonderland at any time of day. Check out Wanderlust Tours for guided snow shoeing, including their Moonlight & Starlight tour, as well as the Bonfire on the Snow tour, which includes dessert and hot beverages around a campfire. There are plenty of snow-parks located around Bend too. We’ve already mentioned the Wanoga Sno-Park’s snowshoe trail, and Virginia Meissner and Swampy Lakes Sno-Park, but give Edison Butte Sno-Park a try too.
Sledding and Tubing
Want to tube? Head to Hoodoo Ski Area for one of the largest tubing parks this side of the Mississippi, or Mt. Bachelor’s Tubing Park with its 800-foot ride and six lanes of tubing fun. And Wanoga Snow Play Area is less crowded than Hoodoo and really is the perfect family winter playground! The resort offers trails and areas for Nordic Skiing, fat bikers, sledding, tubing and snowmobiling. Plus, it’s dog friendly!