Winter Activities on Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Oregon are endless. For many Bend locals, skiing or snowboarding Mt. Bachelor is their raison d’etre. Come find out why it is also consistently rated as one of the Northwest’s biggest and best ski resort destinations by trade magazines and visitors alike.
A dormant volcano that was first formed between 11,000 and 15,000 years ago, Mt. Bachelor is a truly giant that reaches high into the Oregon sky. With activities as diverse as dog sledding, Nordic skiing and tubing, there is a winter adventure waiting for the whole family.
The dry climate of Central Oregon assures that the 370 inches of annual snowfall on Mt. Bachelor is light and fluffy, perfect for carving flawless S turns or learning to ski or snowboard. The resort offers 3,683 acres of terrain, 3,365 feet of vertical drop and 71 runs ranging from double black diamonds to easy green runs for first-timers. With one of the fastest lift systems in the west and the comforts of six day lodges with casual dinning and retail, it’s no wonder Conde Nast Travel has named Bachelor one of the top 50 Ski Resorts in North America for 12 years in a row, and MSN.com ranked it in the top 10.
But Bachelor is not just for skiers. The resort offers beginner and intermediate snowboard parks with tables, step ups and step downs, along with more challenging rails, ride-on boxes and mini tabletops. Mt. Bachelor’s Olympic sized Superpipe was the home to the Chevy Truck US Snowboard Grand Prix and 2006 Olympic Qualifier. According to TransWorld Snowboarding magazine readers, Mt. Bachelor is #4 in North America for snowboarding and was mentioned as "a place that suits all ages, levels, and styles of riders and riding."
If it is your first time skiing or riding, have no fear. The mountain is fully serviced with enthusiastic PSIA/AASI certified instructors to get you cutting fresh tracks in no time. Versatile options for childcare, lessons and lunch for the kids are also available.
For those looking for other alternatives for wintertime fun, try a two-hour session on the Snowblast Tubing Park featuring an 800-foot ride of your life. Or for those wanting to mush out into the wilderness, book a trip with Trail of Dreams dog sled tours where you will ride under snow-laden trees on winding forest paths, and even learn a bit about caring for the sled dogs. For the more ecologically minded, try the interpretive tour lead by a U.S. Forest Service Naturalist who will guide you though the ecology and geology of the land around Mt. Bachelor.
Whether you are a black diamond hot shot, or it is your first time seeing snow, Mt. Bachelor is the pinnacle of Central Oregon’s winter wonderland, and a perfect place to take the whole family.
For more information on lift ticket pricing and hours of operation, you can visit the official website for Mt. Bachelor at www.mtbachelor.com.