Outside
Posted inOutside

Bonfire on the Snow: A Magical New Year’s Eve Adventure

Ring in 2025 in the Cascade Mountains with a snowshoe tour, starlit skies and a champagne toast by the fire
Avatar photo by Savannah Mendoza

Celebrate the arrival of 2025 with Wanderlust Tours’ Bonfire on the Snow, an unforgettable New Year’s Eve adventure in the Cascade Mountains. Designed for avid adventurers and those seeking an outdoorsy New Year’s Eve experience, the snowshoe excursion will wind through a serene, snow-covered forest under a starlit sky. The journey will lead to a […]

Posted inOutside

Suet Smarts: Helping Birds Without Hurting Them

What bird lovers should know about safe suet feeding
by Elise Wolf

Picture this: A chickadee lands on your carefully crafted pinecone feeder, coated with peanut butter or suet and seeds. You’re feeling good about helping local wildlife. But wait! As your neighborhood bird rehabilitator, let me share a secret that could save birds’ lives — and it’s all about the hidden dangers of fats. You know […]

Posted inOutside

Dirksen Derby Rally Race Returns to Mt. Bachelor For Year 17

Snowboarders and sit-skiers gear up for a weekend of thrilling races, camaraderie and community spirit
Avatar photo by Savannah Mendoza

Lovers of snow and speed get ready: The Dirksen Derby rally race is carving its way back to Mt. Bachelor this winter for its 17th year, promising thrills, camaraderie and high-speed action. The celebrated event unites snowboarders and sit-ski enthusiasts of all ages and abilities for a weekend of exciting races and community spirit. Participants […]

Posted inOutside

A Truly Adaptable Fish

Lahontan cutthroat trout are a paragon of adaptation and legacy of the Pleistocene
by Scott Bowler

Cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii ssp., is the most widespread species of the Salmonidae family in western North America. Populations occur from southern Alaska to northern California, on both sides of the Continental Divide and throughout the Great Basin — an area close to 210,000 square miles and one of the driest, yet most diverse, landscapes […]

Posted inOutside

Sunriver Resort Shines Bright with Holiday Light Show and Festive Traditions

Experience holiday magic with Sunriver Resort’s nightly light show until Jan. 1
Avatar photo by Savannah Mendoza

For over 50 years, Sunriver Resort has been a go-to destination for holiday magic in Central Oregon. Each winter, the resort transforms into a sparkling wonderland offering families and friends the chance to create lasting memories through its signature Traditions experiences. A highlight of the Traditions lineup is the Holiday Light Show, running nightly from […]

Posted inOutside

Christmas Bird Counts in a Town Near You

This year represents the 125th annual count of feathered friends
by Damian Fagan

The year is 1900. Frank Chapman (1864-1945), the editor of “Bird-Lore” (the predecessor to today’s “Audubon” magazine), has championed an alternative, fading holiday event called the Christmas Bird Count to counter the annual slaughter of wildlife known as the Christmas Side Hunt. Though the times were different back then, teams of hunters in towns primarily […]

Posted inOutside

Holiday Lights Paddle Parade: Bend’s Floating Winter Wonderland

Twinkling lights, festive decorations and community spirit shine on the Deschutes River during the beloved holiday tradition
Avatar photo by Savannah Mendoza

Combining Bend’s love for the outdoors with the holiday spirit, the Tumalo Creek Holiday Lights Paddle Parade is back for another magical year. This beloved tradition invites the community to celebrate the season as brightly lit canoes, kayaks and paddleboards glide along the Deschutes River. The parade takes place on Friday, Dec. 13 from 4-7pm. […]

Posted inOutside

Oregon Expands Incentives for Defensible Space Projects

$250 payments aim to encourage more defensible space projects in vulnerable communities
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

Following a record-breaking fire season in Oregon, the State Fire Marshal is extending its incentive program, helping homeowners pay for defensible space projects in more communities in Oregon. Through the program, home and property owners in qualifying vulnerable communities may be eligible to receive a $250 payment following a defensible space assessment by OSFM or […]

Posted inOutside

What We Can Learn from the Mountains

An essay on the lessons of resilience and change in the Central Oregon Cascade Range
by Kimberly Bowker

Growing up in Central Oregon, I always saw the mountains. They were there when I learned how to ride a bike, when I went to prom, when I experienced life and death in their shadows. Yet I don’t know a lot about these peaks other than touching the rocks on outdoor excursions and saying good […]

Posted inOutside

Holiday Magic at Seventh Mountain’s Festive Bazaar

A weekend of local shopping, ice skating and holiday cheer at Seventh Mountain Resort
Avatar photo by Savannah Mendoza

Whether you’re shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts or ice skating with loved ones, Seventh Mountain Resort invites you to its third annual Holiday Bazaar — a weekend of holiday shopping, seasonal sips and cozy winter fun. Nestled in the scenic Deschutes National Forest on the way to Mt. Bachelor, the resort transforms into a winter wonderland […]

Verify your email

We'll send a verification code to .

Sign up for newsletters

Get the best of The Source - Bend, Oregon directly in your email inbox.

Sending to:

Gift this article