: The Village at Sunriver

Cozy Winter Retreats in the High Desert

Kimberly Bowker, Guest Author
December 14, 2016 (Updated January 12, 2017)

When the snow begins to fall and blankets of white cover Central Oregon, avenues to new experience emerge. Outdoor enthusiasts witness untouched terrain, families delight in building snowmen and bookworms encounter new worlds near a blazing fire, just to name a few. It’s a pretty magical time in the high desert. So this winter, why not explore these classic Oregon retreats and discover what makes the season so special.


Paulina Lake Lodge

Photo by Greg Burke

At 6,300 feet in Newberry Crater, the Paulina Lake Lodge attracts new and return visitors to its winter wonderland. Cabins with kitchens and wood stoves allow comfortable and rustic winter escapes. Snowmobilers tour more than 150 miles of groomed trails, while cross-country skiers and snowshoers carve routes that circumnavigate the lake and lead to landmarks such as a hot springs, the sometimes-frozen Paulina Falls and Paulina Peak, with a view that stretches 100 miles on a clear day. “It’s peaceful,” co-owner Karen Brown says. “It’s got beautiful scenic areas to go see and travel to. You can leave from your cabin and go anywhere.” After you explore the prehistoric geology in an area named after a Northern Paiute leader, Chief Paulina, enjoy a meal at the restaurant, which is open Friday to Sunday.

SEASON
Mid-December through mid-March
NEAREST CITY
20 miles southeast of Sunriver
RATES
Cabins $158-$290; sleep 2-10 people
ACCESSIBILITY
Park at 10 Mile Sno-Park with a Sno-Park permit and ski, snowshoe, or take a Sno-Cat ride at an additional cost for the remaining 3 miles

Sunriver Resort

Photo courtesy of Sunriver Resort

Central Oregon is home to a fleet of destination resorts that offer outdoor and indoor experiences. Sunriver Resort organizes a host of holiday activities during its Traditions celebration mid-November through December. Families and children can enjoy holiday fun such as creating winter keepsakes at Santa’s workshop, embarking on sleigh rides, being tucked in by an elf, building gingerbread houses and having brunch with Santa. Adults can also take time for themselves at Sage Springs Spa, while the kids play at Fort Funnigan. An ice skating rink is close by at The Village at Sunriver, where outdoor equipment can be rented. Or venture 20 miles toward Mt. Bachelor for skiing, sled dog rides, snowshoeing and tubing.

SEASON
Continuous
NEAREST CITY
Sunriver
RATES
Standard room, suites and vacation homes start from $134-$300
ACCESSIBILITY
Parking on site

The Suttle Lodge

Hoodoo Ski Area by Austin Shepard

Fronting the 253-acre Suttle Lake, The Suttle Lodge is at once contemporary and nostalgic, a haven for urbanites wintering in the Deschutes National Forest. “The cool thing about it is that you feel like you are removed from everything, but it is right off the highway and very easy to get to,” says Lila Martin, spokesperson for the lodge. Guests relax in an unplugged atmosphere with no TVs in the lodge rooms or cabins, which range from rustic to deluxe decor and serve as a base for winter activities. The lodge rents snowshoes for guests to venture around the lake, and you can drive less than 10 miles to nearby Hoodoo Ski Area for downhill, Nordic, snowbiking and night skiing activities. Take an excursion to the Old West town of Sisters, or out to the Metolius River and historic Camp Sherman Store. Return home to rest by the lodge fireplace and listen to vintage vinyl records while enjoying a craft cocktail.

SEASON
Continuous
NEAREST CITY
Ten miles north of Sisters
RATES
Lodge rooms, rustic cabins, and lakeside cabins range in prices starting from $63-$200; sleep 2-8
ACCESSIBILITY
Parking on site

Elk Lake Resort

Photo by Buddy Mays

First built in 1929, Elk Lake Resort offers stunning views of Mt. Bachelor as visitors delve into intimate winter outings. Rent snowshoes and snowmobiles from the resort, or bring Nordic skis to enjoy miles of groomed trails while spotting animal tracks in the snow. After working up a thirst in the outdoors, gather at the lodge restaurant for local brews and comfort food, open Thursday to Sunday and every day during holidays. A game area in the back of the lodge provides hours of entertainment for the whole family, and readers will find bliss browsing the shelves of the communal library. Plus, don’t forget the Sno-Cat ride, as drivers share stories and answer questions. “When you get on that Sno-Cat and you come eleven miles in on a pristine winter day, you are truly in the backcountry,” co-owner Wendy Prieve says. “That is half the experience.”

SEASON
Nov. 18-early April
NEAREST CITY
About 22 miles west of Bend on Cascade Lakes Highway
RATES
$58-$459 for five styles of cabins that sleep 4–10; some two-night minimums
ACCESSIBILITY
Park at Dutchman Flat Sno-Park with a Sno-Park permit, and take an 11-mile Sno-Cat ride at an additional cost
 

Oregon State Park Cabins and Yurts

Tumalo Falls by Nate Wyeth / bendoregonstock.com

Avid explorers can enjoy Oregon State Parks, such as LaPine and Tumalo, in the High Desert. Rent a cabin at La Pine State Park and enjoy the quiet solitude, or try your hand sleeping in a heated yurt at Tumalo State Park. Explore the area on snowshoes or cross-country skis when there is snow, and head up to Mt. Bachelor for more options. While wandering the banks of the Deschutes River, which runs through both parks, gaze into the trees and pause in the crisp stillness of a Central Oregon winter’s day.

SEASON
Continuous
NEAREST CITIES
La Pine State Park is 10 miles northwest of La Pine; Tumalo is 7 miles north of Bend
RATES
La Pine cabins range from $44-$87; Tumalo yurts are $44; both sleep up to 5; limited pet-friendly option available for an additional $10 fee
ACCESSIBILITY
Parking on site