Pro tips on the best snowshoeing this season Some outdoor winter staples look decidedly different this year, and others were just canceled. Not so for self-guided snowshoeing. It s pretty easy to socially distance on snowshoe trails, and they re often less crowded than skiing trails. To help everyone make the most of the trails this year, we reached out to local snowshoer and Snowshoe Trail Coordinator for the Central Oregon Nordic Club, Bob Timmer, to get tips for newbies and seasoned snowshoe enthusiasts alike. Timmer has seen a lot of what Central Oregon snowshoeing has to offer. Since the CONC has a volunteer service agreement with the Forest Service, he s coordinated snowshoe trail maintenance at trails including Edison Butte Sno-Park and the sno-parks off Century Drive since 2013.
This weekend will be a little warmer, so take advantage by heading out to areas east of Bend.
While snow typically doesnât fall as regularly or as deep as it does in the Cascades, it can be quite chilly on the exposed, arid desert landscapes especially if the wind picks up. But with the varied rock formations, sagebrush plateaus and stunning panoramas, itâs worth the cold and the drive out to these wonderfully desolate corners of Central Oregon.
But if you still want to hit the slopes, the sno-park conditions are also listed.
For a full list of conditions updated regularly, please visit centraloregonexplore.com
Hoodoo: Open; 30.1-inch base, Hodag lift closed, all other lifts operating
Mt. Bachelor: Open; 38-inch base
Deschutes National Forest
Dutchman Sno-Park: Open; 24- to 36-inches; good conditions, limited parking and no overnight camping; 40-foot max length limit for vehicle/trailer combination; expect heavy use
Edison Butte Sno-Park: Open; 8- to 16-inches; good conditions; area roads closed to highway vehicles through March 31, 2021
Kapka Butte Sno-Park: Open; 18- to 30-inches; good conditions; area roads closed to highway vehicles through March 31, 2021
Meissner Sno-Park: Open; 10- to 18-inches; area roads closed through April 1, 2021; no dogs; lodge currently closed
Skyliner Sno-Park: Open; unknown snow depth, access road closed for the season, road is now a ski/snowshoe trail