Elevation: 9,065’
Vertical Drop: 3,365’
Skiable Acres: 3,683’
Lifts: 12 chairlifts, including 7 high-speed quads
Regions: Central Oregon
City: Bend
Hwy 20 | Sisters, OR | 541.822.3799
Terrain: 5,703-foot top elevation, 1,035-foot vertical drop
Lifts: Six chairlifts: 3 quads, 1 triple, 1 double, 1 surface
City: Sisters
This tree has long been identified with Henry H. Wheeler for whom Wheeler County is named. From 1864 through 1868, Wheeler drove the first stagecoach service past this site on The Dalles - Canyon City Wagon Road.
At a base elevation of 6,300 feet, Mt. Bachelor, located just outside of Bend in Central Oregon, offers a 3,365 vertical foot drop, 3,683 skiable acres, 71 runs and averages 370 inches of its famous dry snow each year. It has a beginner program and several fun runs for those just starting out as well as lots of really fun activities like tubing and snowshoeing.
Oregon's second tallest mountain rises like a wall from the lake-dotted wildflower meadows of Jefferson Park. The view of Mount Jefferson is so impressive and the meadows are so delightful to explore that the area is crowded in summer - so why not wait to go until September?
The Metolius, most magical of all Oregon rivers, emerges fully grown at 50,000 gallons a minute from the arid base of Black Butte. Sample the river's wizardry with this easy hike along a section of the oasis-like riverbank. The trail passes sudden springs, reveals colorful bird life and leads to a wonderfully visitable fish hatchery.
Smith Rock juts from the Central Oregon lava plains like an orange-sailed ship in the desert. Oregon's most popular rock-climbing area, this state park challenges mountaineers with 3 miles of rhyolite cliffs and Monkey Face, a 350-foot-tall natural sculpture.
Plunked in the midst of the Central Oregon plateau, Black Butte looks like a misplaced mountain. A steep but view-packed trail climbs 1.9 miles to the panoramic summit, gaining 1,600 feet of elevation. The last portion of this route is difficult enough that it is not generally recommended for hikers with children.
An easy loop visits Canyon Creek's lower meadow, full of wildflowers. For even better views, energetic hikers can continue to an upper meadow and a viewpoint beneath Three Fingered Jack's summit pinnacles.