Those outdoor enthusiasts in Central Oregon who were dreaming of a white Christmas definitely got their wish. On Dec. 26, it was widely reported that Mt. Bachelor had the deepest snowpack in the country. If downhill runs and chilly chairlift rides are not your style, the mountain does offer something at a different speed that’ll still get your heart pumping: a romp through the alpine pine forest.
The nonprofit Discover Your Forest and the Deschutes National Forest have partnered this winter to offer guided snowshoe expeditions with local rangers. This January through late March, you can join a Forest Service ranger for a 90-minute snowshoe tour along the Egan Cone at Mt. Bachelor.
During the interpretive snowshoe hike, the ranger will discuss the geology of Central Oregon, the hydrology of the Deschutes National Forest’s watershed and the region’s biology, including what animals and plants are found throughout the area. The hike is a mile and a half with the group moving at a moderate pace.
This is a volunteer-based program and the tours are free, but $10 donations are accepted on behalf of Discover Your Forest. Snowshoes are also provided free of charge, or you are also welcome to wear your own if you have a pair. No prior experience is required, but all hikers must be at least 8 years old (this includes no infants in packs), and dogs are not allowed. Be sure to dress appropriately for the day’s weather, including proper snow boots and warm winter clothing. Layers are great, especially if you start working up a sweat!
Tours are offered at both 10am and 1pm (check in 10 to 15 minutes before your start time), and advance registration is highly recommended as tour size is limited and based on a first-come, first-served basis.
The tours start at Mt. Bachelor’s West Village Base area — find the USFS snowshoe hut located across the plaza from Mt. Bachelor Mountain Gateway. If a 90-minute trek isn’t enough, you can also check out the resort’s Nordic Center and purchase a single-day snowshoe trail pass, which’ll allow you to access more than 15 km of single-track, snowshoe-specific trails within the on-site Nordic trail network.
Snowshoe with a Ranger
Jan. 2-5 and 18-19; Feb. 1-2 and 15-16; March 1-2, 15-16 and 24-30
Tours start each day at 10am and 1pm (check in 10-15 minutes early)
Mt. Bachelor’s West Village Base Area
13000 SW Century Dr., Bend
discoveryourforest.org/product/snowshoe-with-a-ranger
Free, with a requested donation of $10 per person
This article appears in The Source Weekly January 2, 2025.
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