Kapka Sno Park, also called Kapka Butte Sno Park, is one of 11 snow parks within 35 miles of Bend, Oregon.
Kapka Butte Sno Park is primarily a staging and launch area for snowmobiles, providing access to miles of marked trails both north and south of Cascade Lakes Highway.
In addition, there is also a tie trail that connects to the Nordic ski trails near Vista Butte.
Snowshoeing is also possible, but there are no marked trails, and the noise of snowmobiles is not peaceful.
Whatever your winter activity, this article will help you understand how to make the most of your time at Kapka Butte Sno Park.
Kapka Sno Park: Must Know Information
Before embarking on your winter adventure, here are some key details you need to know:
Location and Accessibility: Kapka Sno Park is easy to access from Bend. Just 18 miles away, and right off the main road to the mountain, the Sno Park is easy to reach in all but the worst of winter conditions.
Of course, you should have snow-worthy tires. The roads and parking lot can be icy and snowy.
Parking Permit: You must have a Sno-Park Parking Permit to park at Kapka Sno Park. In fact, the permit is required at most of the sno-parks near Bend.
You can buy it at local retail stores, or you can purchase the annual version online (more info below).
Dogs: Dogs are permitted at Kapka Butte Sno Park. In general, dogs are allowed at snow parks south of Century Drive during winter months.
Kapka Sno Park Trail Map – Snowmobiling
See a map of the snowmobile trails west of Bend here: USFS snowmobile trail map. It might take a bit to load. See the inset map near the bottom.
Winter Activities at Kapka Sno Park
Kapka Sno Park offers access to the following activities.
Snowmobiling: This is a popular launching spot to access over 180 miles of groomed snowmobile trails near Bend.
There is a large network of snowmobile trails in Central Oregon that are accessible from a variety of snow parks. See the USFS snowmobile trail map. It might take a bit to load.
Kapka Sno Park is a central launch point in which you can access a ton of different snowmobile loop options.
One of the more popular loop options is to head over to Kwolh Butte (there is a shelter there) and Sheridan Mountain (also has a shelter), then connect back to Kapka via trial 3 and 34.
Cross-Country Skiing: The Sno Park also has access to ungroomed cross-country skiing trails.
While not the most ideal spot for cross-country skiing, you can access the trails at Vista Butte Sno Park via a tie-in trail.
Consider one of the other sno-parks near Bend that are better for cross-country skiing.
Snowshoeing: While snowshoeing at Kapka Sno Park is possible, we do not recommend it because there are no marked trails.
Also, the noise from snowmobilers makes for a less peaceful experience than you likely have in mind.
That said, some people like doing a short off-trail snowshoe to the top of Kapka Butte, but the views at the top are limited.
Learn more about better places to snowshoe near Bend.
Overall, Kapka Sno Park is a great snowmobile launching area with access to miles of trails and plenty of parking.
Parking and Facilities at Kapka Sno Park
- Parking: The parking lot is large, but nice conditions during the weekend can draw large crowds. If the lot is full, here is a backup plan: check out one of the other snow parks near Bend.
Also be aware, the traffic to Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort can be really bad on weekends especially from 8:00 am to 9:30 am and 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
- Restrooms: Primitive restroom facilities are available and are typically well-maintained.
Grooming and Volunteer Support
Moon County Snowbusters, a local club, grooms the snowmobile trails at Kapka Sno Park. See up to date grooming reports on their Facebook.
The volunteers work hard to maintain a high level of quality for the snowmobile trails. You can check their Facebook for information on grooming and events.
How to Buy a Sno Park Permit
You must have a parking permit to park at Kapka Sno Park between November 1st and April 30th. You can buy the permit for three different intervals. Prices are as of October 2023; retailers may charge an additional fee.
- Annual Sno-Park Permit (November 1 – April 30) – $25
- 3-Day (consecutive) Sno-Park Permit – $9
- Daily Sno-Park Permit – $4
There are two ways to buy a sno-park permit in Bend. The first is from permit agents in retail stores. The retailers in Bend that sell the permit can be found at Oregon.gov.
The second way is to buy an annual permit online at DMV2U which includes a printable interim permit that you can use immediately.
Learn more about sno-park permits at: Oregon.gov
Weather Forecasts and Other Resources
Check the road cameras and current road conditions on TripCheck.
Up-to-date weather forecast for Kapka Sno Park: NOAA weather forecast
Renting Winter Equipment
Where to Rent Cross-country Skis and Snowshoes in Bend
For those without their own equipment, renting cross-country skis and snowshoes is a breeze. Check out the following places to rent gear in Bend:
- Powder House Ski & Snowboard: As one of the long-standing Bend local shops, Powder House is a go-to for winter gear rentals.
- Mountain Supply: Mountain Supply has been a fixture in the Bend ski and snowboard scene for over 40 years and offers a wide selection of winter gear rentals.
- Pine Mountain Sports: Another great option for renting winter gear in Bend.
Where to Rent Snowmobiles in Bend
You can rent snowmobiles in Bend from Cascade Lakes Adventures, Central Oregon Rentals, or Adrenaline Rentals.
Other Places to Snowshoe and Cross-Country Ski Near Bend
While Kapka Sno Park doesn’t have any nordic ski trails of its own, there are plenty of other options for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing near Bend.
Don’t pass up other snow parks near Bend. There are 11 sno-parks within 35 miles of Bend and most have cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Learn more in our full guide to sno-parks near Bend.
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort has an expansive network of nordic trails that range in difficulty. They also have a variety of snowshoe trails.
Hoodoo Ski Area also has a variety of Nordic trails. They groom during the weekends and charge a fee. However, when they don’t groom the trails are free.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kapka Sno Park in Central Oregon offers access to a variety of snowmobile trails.
Hopefully this guide helps you plan your visit! Learn more about Kapka Sno Park on the USFS webpage.
We also have a lot of other articles about Central Oregon. If you are in Bend in the winter, learn more fun things to do in Bend in the winter. Happy roaming!
