Wintertime fun abounds in Central Oregon, whether you’re cruising down a groomed run, lacing on ice skates or just cozying up in a cabin or lodge to enjoy the views. Here’s how to plan adventures, food, drinks and accommodations that savor the joys of the snowy season — on and off the mountain.
Ski With Santa and Snowshoe With a Ranger on Mt. Bachelor
With 360 degrees of ski terrain off its 9,065-foot summit and reliable dry powder snow, Mt. Bachelor provides unlimited joy around the entire mountain. The resort has more than 100 groomed runs, plus off-piste bowls and glades. Mt. Bachelor’s 4-day pass can be used throughout the season and has no blackout dates, and lessons and rentals are offered on-mountain. Skip the lines with an upgrade to the Fast Tracks 4-Pack.
Mt. Bachelor keeps a robust events calendar, including Santa on the Slopes on Christmas Eve. Keep an eye out for Santa as he skis around the resort, stopping to hand out candy and take photos with families.
Continue your Mt. Bachelor adventure with a 90-minute snowshoeing tour led by a forest ranger — the event is free and snowshoes are provided, but reservations are required. Journey farther on 6 miles of single-track snowshoeing trails and nearly 35 miles of groomed classic- and skate-skiing trails within Mt. Bachelor’s Nordic Center. Or take in the mountain’s magical winter landscape from a dog sled guided by Oregon Trail of Dreams’ professional mushers.
Families can stay 20 miles from Mt. Bachelor at the amenity-packed Sunriver Resort, which offers shuttle transportation to the mountain plus a spa and fitness center, a kid-friendly indoor pool, horse-drawn sleigh rides and several restaurants and cafes within the resort serving locally sourced food. There’s even a food-cart pod near the resort: Century Commons Taps & Trucks, with craft beers, ciders and kombuchas on tap, plus seven food carts offering international fare.
If you’re traveling with your pup, consider booking at the dog-friendly LOGE near Bend. There’s regular live music, an onsite cafe, and a hot tub for soaking away a day on the mountain. Tetherow Resort balances outdoor adventure and luxury at its hotel and vacation rentals, with three on-site restaurants and a fitness center, a sauna and a hot tub. Tetherow’s American-style pub, The Row, dishes up crowd-pleasers like wings and fries, soups, salads, and burgers, plus a casual atmosphere and 12 beers on tap. Closer to town, Campfire Hotel provides a mountain-inspired lodging experience with gear storage, a year-round outdoor pool heated to 100 degrees and locally made Breedlove Guitars in every room ready for strumming around the community fire pit.
Night Skiing, Tubing, Bonfires and Music at Hoodoo
Along the Santiam Pass, 22 miles west of Sisters, Hoodoo Ski Area offers a low-key atmosphere with short lift lines, night skiing Wednesday through Saturday, and weekly bonfires and live music during Friday Night Lights. Take a break from the slopes and enjoy guaranteed belly laughs at the Autobahn Tubing Park. In addition to its discounted tickets on Thursdays and other ticket deals, Hoodoo is one of 230 independent ski areas in the Indy Pass program. You can even ring in the New Year here with music, fireworks and a full day of winter celebration at Winter Carnival.
Nestled among forested hills 9 miles from Hoodoo, The Suttle Lodge offers a mix of family-friendly and pet-friendly rooms stocked with locally roasted coffee and decorated in a Pacific Northwest style. Seven miles east, Black Butte Ranch includes 120 vacation homes, plus several restaurants, a general store, spa, Nordic ski and snowshoe rentals, and an array of kid-friendly activities at the indoor pool and Lakeside Activity Center game room. You can even snowshoe or cross-country ski on the network of bike trails.
Near downtown Sisters, FivePine Lodge offers luxury lodge rooms or cozy cabins. Check in, then head next door to Sisters Movie House and Cafe to catch a first-run flick. Hungry? Head to The Barn in Sisters and choose from four food carts or its own locally sourced cuisine. If the evening calls for a pint, grab a table at Three Creeks Brew Pub for delicious craft beer on tap and Black Butte nachos made with a house cheese sauce using their Knotty Blonde Ale.
For a one-of-a-kind dining experience, head to The Open Door in Sisters. This family-owned restaurant and art gallery has a comfortable setting and an evolving menu that includes seasonal dishes like pumpkin-curry soup and Northwest-inspired options like wild halibut with sun-dried tomato pesto.
Guided Tours and Comfort Food
Other wintertime activities in Central Oregon include guided moonlight-snowshoeing tours with Wanderlust Tours or self-guided snowshoeing at Tumalo Mountain and Upper Three Creek Sno-Park. Pack a thermos and snacks and plan a cross-country ski trip to a warming hut at Virginia Meissner, Swampy Lakes or Ray Benson sno-parks. Or lace on your skates and hit the outdoor rinks at the Seventh Mountain Resort or The Pavilion in Bend or the ice rink in the Village at Sunriver.
Post-adventure, warm up with a feast at Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge, a modern steakhouse in Bend. Its cowboy-inspired menu features locally sourced steak as well as lighter and vegetarian fare (don’t pass up the campfire cornbread). Be sure to check out the cocktails and mocktails — they’re as delicious as they are creative.
