Within the Deschutes National Forest near Bend, Oregon, many designated snowshoe trails exist for winter enthusiasts. The marked trails provide great opportunities to get out and explore different areas of the forest. There are several sno-parks located along the Cascades Lake Highway which leads from Bend, Oregon to the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort.
Meissner Sno-Park
The snowshoe trail from the Meissner Sno-Park to the new Meissner Shelter is a 3.5 mile long loop. One of the easier snowshoe trails along the Cascade Lakes Highway, this is a favorite trail for a full moon snowshoe.
Swampy Sno-Park
Several trails radiate out from the Swampy Sno-Park which is about two miles above the Meissner Sno-Park. The 4 mile long Porcupine Loop traverses over Telemark Butte to the Swampy Lakes Shelter, a rustic three-sided shelter, and skirts around the snow-covered Swampy Lakes. An extra 3 mile loop can be added onto this trail by following the Swede Ridge Loop ski trail out to the Swede Ridge Shelter and returning to the main Porcupine Loop trail.
The Nordeen Loop, named in honor of ski pioneer Emil Nordeen, is a 5.25 mile long trail that leads to the Nordeen Shelter. The trail follows open meadows, and goes through both young and old growth forests. The newly rebuilt shelter sits on a promentory above the Meissner Sno-Park.
Edison Sno-Park
Named in honor of Thomas Edison, snowshoe trails at this area have an electricial theme. The AC/DC trail is for alternating current and direct current, not the heavy metal rock band. The 5.4 mile long Tesla trail loops out to the AC/DC shelter, another rustic shelter from which there are great views of Mt. Bachelor. Named in honor of Nikola Tesla, the inventor of the Tesla coil and the transmission of alternating current, this trail also connects to the Edison Shelter.
Another loop called the Snowshoe Long Loop leads to the Edison Shelter from a different direction. This trail climbs over an ancient lava flow and past old-growth ponderosa pines to the rustic Edison Shelter.
Vista Butte Sno-Park
A wintery ascent up Vista Butte rewards the snowshoer with incredible views of Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sisters and the distant skyline of Newberry Volcano. The 4.5 mile long trail gains 700 feet in elevation and provides endless views and a great workout.
Dutchman Flat Sno-Park
Located near the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, the Dutchman Flat Sno-Park is a multiple use trailhead for nordic skiers, snowmobiliers and snowshoers. Following the Common Corridor along the closed Cascade Lakes Highway from this sno-park, snowshoers turn off of the corridor onto the dedicated snowshoe trail to Todd Lake. A 6.5 mile loop trail leads through old-growth mountain hemlock forests, crosses large meadows and reaches the frozen shoreline of Todd Lake before returning back to the Common Corridor.
Sno-Park Permits
Parking at these and other sno-parks in central Oregon requires a sno-park permit. There are daily, 3-day or annual options for the permits which must be purchased in advance before traveling up into the mountains. Available at many sporting good stores, resorts or other retail outlets, these permits help cover some of the costs of snowplowing and maintaining the winter parking areas in the mountains.
From the different sno-parks along the Cascade Lakes Highway snowshoers have great access into some wild and wintery country.
Damian Fagan - I am a freelance writer and photographer living in the Pacific Northwest, although I lived in Utah for over 20 years. I've written ...
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