Paulina Lake Lodge To enjoy the 333,000-acre snowmobile playland, stay here overnight in one of the 14 snug cabins (heated with wood stoves!) or just make the lodge your stopping place for a warm meal in the cozy restaurant. For an extra layer of adventure, the lodge is snowbound inside the Newberry Crater National Monument. You can drive as far as 10 Mile Sno Park, which is three miles from the lodge. A snowcat can take you into the lodge for a fee. You can use your own machines, or you can rent sleds from an outfit near the Sno Park and head in to the lodge or straight onto some of the 150 miles of groomed snowmobile trails that surround Paulina Lake.Don't like groomed? There's plenty of wild, untouched snow out there, including up to the top of Paulina Peak, where, if the weather's good, you'll be rewarded with a 100-mile- radius view. Rates for machines run from $135 an hour, or $205 a day with a cabin rental.
Learn more here: paulinalakelodge
Elk Lake Resort Get yourself up to Dutchman Flats, unleash your beasts or rent yourself a sled and head down the 11 miles to reach Elk Lake Resort, where cabins and warm meals await you. You can also rent machines from the resort. They'll pick you up at Dutchman Flats in one of their specially modified snow vehicles including Suburbans and trucks on snow tracks (!). Spend the weekend cruising the many, many acres of fresh powder around the resort. Or, rent snowshoes from the resort and head out for a little less two-stroke in the wilderness sort of feel. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday for lunch, and all day on the weekends.Make reservations here: elklakeresort.net
Take a Tour If you're new to snowmobiling, we recommend taking a two-or four-hour day trip with a local outfitter like Central Oregon Adventures. Guides leave from Wanoga Sno Park and will take you all over the Cascade Lakes. If you are more experienced, they'll rent you sleds and drop them in a variety of locations for you.Learn more here: coadvenutres.com
Load Up on Snacks Even if you plan to warm up in the restaurant of a backcountry lodge, you'll want to have plenty of snacks in your pack. They're a good excuse to shut down your machines and enjoy some quiet solitude. We recommend stopping by local shops like Nature's, Devore's or Newport Market to stock up on bulk foods, cheeses or even items from the deli case like curried chicken salad.Get snacks here: Devore's 541-389-6588; Nature's General Store 541-382-6732; Newport Avenue Market 541-382-3940
Get the Gear You probably have most of the main winter gear you need to stay warm while blasting through snow at 50 miles an hour, but there are a few items you definitely need to stay toasty out there. We recommend grabbing a buff (or two). They're like a cross between a face mask and a stretchy scarf, perfect for keeping your cheeks warm. Don't skimp on the mittens. Some sleds offer heated hand grips, but you'll want big giant mitten shells to stay warm regardless.
Get 'em here: Mountain Supply 541 388-0688
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