Snowshoeing Bend Oregon is a magical and engaging winter activity in Central Oregon. There are lots of different snowshoe trails near Bend, each with its own charm.
In this article, we’ll step through everything you need to know about snowshoeing near Bend Oregon, including trail options, Bend snowshoe rental, and more!
So, grab your winter layers, and let’s jump right into one of the best winter activities in the high desert: snowshoeing Bend Oregon!
Snowshoeing Bend Oregon – Overview
It’s that time of year! Winter in Bend Oregon brings snow. With that snow comes a ton of winter fun and of course, excellent snowshoeing.
Snowshoeing near Bend Oregon is as rewarding as it is accessible. There are 11 sno-parks near Bend that have snowshoeing opportunities, though some have designated (marked and maintained) snowshoe trails and others do not.
There are options for every skill level. From the first-time snowshoer to the overnight backcountry snow-camper, there are plenty of options for places to snowshoe near Bend.
Whether you’re taking the kids out to snowshoe and sled, bringing the dog along, or just cruising solo, there are lots of Bend snowshoe trails you can access and enjoy.
We’ll cover the best places to snowshoe near Bend, and also provide the information you need to plan your adventure.
Where to Snowshoe Near Bend
There are three places to snowshoe in Central Oregon:
- Sno-parks near Bend
- Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort
- Everywhere else
Some sno-parks have large networks of dedicated snowshoe trails. Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort has several different snowshoe loops where you can rent and do free tours on the weekends. Of course, when it snows closer to town, you can snowshoe wherever!
Where are the Best Snowshoe Trails Near Bend?
In our opinion, the best snowshoe trails near Bend are at Virginia Meissner, Swampy Lakes, and Edison Sno Park. These areas have the largest designated snowshoe trail networks near Bend.
Snowshoeing Bend Oregon – Sno Parks
There are 11 sno-parks within 35 miles of Bend and each one provides different opportunities for snowshoeing. There are about 100 sno-parks in Oregon that help people enjoy a variety of winter activities each year.
Some of these sno-parks have designated (marked and maintained) snowshoe trails, while others may have ungroomed Nordic (cross-country ski) ski trails. Ungroomed ski trails can also be used for snowshoeing, but please be respectful of established ski trails and follow good snowshoeing etiquette.
This table highlights the must-know information about each snowshoeing at Bend sno-parks.
| Sno Park | Miles From Bend | Designated Snowshoe Trails (Marked) | Dogs Permitted (Nov 1 – May 1) | Warming Shelter(s) |
| Virginia Meissner | 14 | Yes | No | Yes |
| Wanoga | 14 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swampy Lakes | 16 | Yes | No | Yes |
| Skyliner | 11 | No | Yes | No |
| Vista Butte | 18 | Yes | No | No |
| Kapka | 18 | Yes | No | No |
| Edison Butte | 22 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dutchman | 21 | Yes | No | No |
| Three Creek | 33 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Six Mile | 30 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Ten Mile | 33 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Map of Sno Parks Bend Oregon
Use the interactive map below to view the snow parks near Bend Oregon. You can also expand the map to view in a new window.
Snowshoe Trails Bend Oregon – Bend Sno-Parks
In this section we’ll go through each sno-park near Bend in detail, highlighting the snowshoeing opportunities for each one.
Virginia Meissner Sno Park
Virginia Meissner Sno Park has a large network of snowshoe trails with several warming shelters just 14 miles from Bend. The trails are primarily forested but also open up to great views at both warming shelters.
Speaking of, we recommend choosing one of the two warming shelters and heading in that direction. We love that you can make a loop of going to the Meissner Shelter.
There are no dogs allowed and no snowmobiling (which means more peace and quiet). That said, the accessibility and large trail networks (ski and snowshoe) means Virginia Meissner is one of the most popular sno-park near Bend.
The small-ish parking lots fill up quickly on nice weekends. Also, the traffic on Century Drive going to Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort traffic can be bad on weekends.
If you can’t get a spot, check out Swampy Lakes Sno Park just up the road, or one of other sno-parks near Bend.
Learn more about Virginia Meissner Sno Park.
Swampy Lakes Sno Park
Swampy Lakes Sno Park has a large network of designated snowshoe trails, in addition to two warming shelters. Swampy Lakes is located just 16 miles from Bend (right up the road from Meissner).
You can take one of two main loops, one going to Swampy Shelter and the other going towards Nordeen shelter. You can even connect in with the trails at Meissner.
Like Virginia Meissner, dogs are not allowed at Swampy Lake Sno Park. Also like Meissner, the parking lot can get crowded, though not quite as bad due to the slightly further distance from Bend and larger parking lot.
Again, the traffic on Century Drive going to Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort traffic can be bad on weekends. This also applies to Edison Butte Sno Park and other sno-parks along Century Drive.
Learn more about Swampy Lakes Sno Park.
Edison Butte Sno Park
Edison Butte Sno Park has a large network of dedicated snowshoe trails 22 miles from Bend. There are two warming shelters where you can snowshoe.
Dogs are allowed at Edison Butte Sno Park, which is a plus for canines and their owners. If you want to snowshoe with your dog, this is the place to go.
Furthermore, Edison Butte is often less crowded than Virginia Meissner and Swampy. However, it is the closest sno-park to Sunriver. One potential downside is that there are snowmobile trails, which can be noisy.
Learn more about Edison Butte Sno Park.
Other Sno-Parks Near Bend
There are also snowshoeing opportunities at other sno-parks near Bend including: Vista Butte Sno Park, Dutchman Sno Park, Six Mile Sno Park, Ten Mile Sno Park, and Skyliner Sno Park. Learn more in our full guide to sno-parks near Bend.
However, there are sometimes no designated snowshoe trails at these parks. Rather, you can follow the Nordic ski trails, or blaze your own path.
If you choose to follow Nordic ski trails, try not to mess up the tracks if they are established. Those tracks make it easy for skiers to glide along the trails.
Snowshoeing Bend Oregon – Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort is a premier ski destination in Oregon and beyond. It is the largest downhill ski resort near Bend, and also has excellent Nordic ski trails and snowshoe trails.
We recommend checking out their tours on weekends. You can learn about ecology and geology of Central Oregon from a volunteer ranger. Plus, it’s free!
For a strenuous snowshoe, cross the road to Tumalo Mountain, where you can get a great view of Mt. Bachelor and the surrounding mountains if you are willing to brave the 2-mile steep trek up the hill.
Snowshoeing Etiquette – Respect the Nordic Ski Trails
Skiers and snowshoers both find great value in these Central Oregon sno-parks. Snowshoers should respect the desires of cross-country skiers for quality ski trails.
There are two types of cross-country skiing (also called Nordic):
- Classic skiing: the skis point forward and can follow established tracks or ungroomed terrain
- Skate skiing: the skis point forward and out and must follow smooth, groomed terrain
Snowshoers should do their best to not mess up established classic-ski tracks or groomed skate ski trails. This makes it harder for skiers to enjoy. Snowshoes should be particularly attentive when the snow is soft, but when the snow is iced over, it is less important.
That said, snowshoers should follow (on the side) ungroomed Nordic ski trails, if there are classic ski tracks established. However, if there are no tracks established on ungroomed ski trails, snowshoers can use the trail itself.
How to Buy a Sno Park Permit
You must have a parking permit to park at Sno-Parks between November 1st and April 30th. These permits fund the removal of snow from the parking lots. You can buy the permit for three different intervals. Prices are as of October 2023.
- 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.
More sno-park permit information:
- You can move a Sno-Park permit from one vehicle to another.
- You can use California and Idaho Sno-Park permits in Oregon.
- You can use Oregon Sno-Park permits in California and Idaho.
- You may get a fine for parking in a Sno-Park without a permit.
Learn more about sno-park permits at: Oregon.gov
Bend Snowshoe Rental Options
For those without their own equipment, renting snowshoes (and other winter gear) is a breeze. Check out the following places to rent snowshoes in Bend Oregon:
- 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.
Trail Maintenance and Volunteer Support
Maintaining the Central Oregon cross country ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile trails is a collaborative effort between volunteer groups, clubs, and the US Forest Service.
Volunteer organizations are responsible for grooming and maintaining trails and stocking the warming shelter with firewood and maintaining the shelters. The USFS grooms the parking lots.
Each sno-park near Bend has an organization that maintains the trails/shelters at that sno-park. The table below shows this correspondence, as well links to their website where you can donate.
If you find value in these Central Oregon snow parks, please consider supporting the effort of these volunteer groups.
| Sno Park | Nordic Ski Trail, Snowshoe Trail, and Shelter Maintenance |
| Virginia Meissner | Meissner Nordic Ski Club |
| Wanoga | Dogpac |
| Swampy Lakes | Central Oregon Nordic Club |
| Skyliner | NA |
| Vista Butte | Central Oregon Nordic Club |
| Kapka | NA |
| Edison Butte | Central Oregon Nordic Club |
| Dutchman Flat | Central Oregon Nordic Club |
| Three Creek | Central Oregon Nordic Club |
| Six Mile | Central Oregon Nordic Club |
| Ten Mile | Central Oregon Nordic Club |
Weather Forecasts and Other Resources
Use the table below to see the most up to date NOAA weather forecast for the corresponding sno-park. You can also find some road cameras and road conditions on TripCheck.
| Sno Park | NOAA Weather Forecast |
| Virginia Meissner | LINK |
| Wanoga | LINK |
| Swampy Lakes | LINK |
| Skyliner | LINK |
| Vista Butte | LINK |
| Kapka | LINK |
| Edison Butte | LINK |
| Dutchman Flat | LINK |
| Three Creek | LINK |
| Six Mile | LINK |
| Ten Mile | LINK |
Snowshoe Tours Bend Oregon
Wanderlust Tours hosts a variety of tours year round. Their winter tours include daytime and nighttime snowshoeing options. We’ve never done one of these tours ourselves, but we’ve heard lots of good things about them!
Conclusion
Hopefully you found this information helpful when planning your snowshoeing Bend Oregon adventure! We love these Bend snowshoe trails and hope you will too. Just be sure to respect these natural areas and help preserve them for future enjoyment.
If you’re interested, check out our full guide to cross-country skiing near Bend, and learn more about the sno-parks. We also have tons more information about winter in Bend, and more articles about Central Oregon.
