Sledding Bend: A Rider's Guide to Central Oregon
Bend sits on the dry side of the Oregon Cascades, 20 minutes from some of the best-groomed snowmobile country in the West. You get Cascade snow at the sno-parks and sunshine in town, and you can ride in the morning and sit on a brewery patio by mid-afternoon. Central Oregon holds nearly 600 miles of groomed routes, with 280 of them in the country around Century Drive and the Cascade Lakes Highway.
Wanoga Sno-Park
Wanoga is the closest place to Bend to launch a sled, about 14 miles west of town off Century Drive. It connects to more than 180 miles of groomed trails that reach as far as Crescent Lake and Santiam Pass. The lot has plenty of pull-through parking for trailers and RVs, plus a warming hut. Families come for the sledding hill, so expect a crowd on weekends and give the kids room when you unload.
Dutchman Flat
Dutchman sits across the road from Mt. Bachelor at the base of Tumalo Mountain, about 21 miles from Bend. At 6,400 feet it usually has snow when the lower parks don't. From here you can ride groomed trails to Todd Lake and Tumalo Mountain or open it up on Dutchman Flat itself. Local riders chase powder toward Moon Mountain, about five miles out, and the zone shows up in plenty of Central Oregon sled films.
The lot is small and shared with skiers, snowshoers and dog teams, and it fills early. If it's full, drive back down to Kapka Butte Sno-Park and unload there instead of risking a ticket. The trails along here skirt the Three Sisters Wilderness, which is closed to sleds, so know where the boundary runs before you drop into anything.
Kapka Butte and Edison Butte
Kapka Butte offers big pull-through parking and connects to the same trail network as Dutchman. Edison Butte, a few miles south of the Sunriver cutoff, gives you access to about 150 miles of trails and makes a good escape when Wanoga and Dutchman are packed. The local club, Moon Country Snowbusters, grooms around 250 miles of trails out of Wanoga, Vista Butte, Edison, Kapka and Dutchman, and posts conditions reports through the season.
Elk Lake and Newberry
For a classic Central Oregon ride, run out to Elk Lake Resort for lunch or dinner. It sits 11 miles from Dutchman, and in winter you can only reach it by sled, snowcat or skis. From Wanoga the round trip runs about 50 miles. South of Bend, Newberry National Volcanic Monument adds over 100 miles of trails around Newberry Crater, staged out of Ten Mile Sno-Park.
After the ride
Local dealers. Cascade Motorsports in Bend counts itself among the Pacific Northwest's volume leaders for Polaris snowmobiles, with RMKs on the floor through the season. Pro Caliber Motorsports in Bend stocks Ski-Doo sleds, new and used.
Rentals and tours. Want to bring a friend who doesn't own a sled? Elevation Adventure Rentals out of Sunriver and Bend rents late-model Ski-Doos by the day or season. Central Oregon Adventures runs guided trips from Wanoga for first-timers, and Octane Adventures guides tours out of Ten Mile Sno-Park at Newberry.
The Bend Ale Trail. Bend runs on craft beer. The Bend Ale Trail groups more than 30 breweries and tasting rooms into seven territories. Start downtown at Deschutes Brewery, founded in 1988, which kicked off the whole scene with Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Bend Brewing Company sits right on the river. Crux Fermentation Project has a big courtyard with firepits where you can thaw out after a cold day.
A soak downtown. McMenamins Old St. Francis School turned a 1936 Catholic schoolhouse into a hotel with pubs, a movie theatre, and a tiled saltwater soaking pool. Book a room and you're a short walk from half the Ale Trail. Your legs will thank you after a day of sidehilling.
Where to stay. Bend has everything from motels on the north end to resort condos near the Old Mill District. Sunriver puts you closer to Edison and Newberry, and its lodges and rentals handle trucks and trailers well. RV crews can stage at Wanoga or Kapka, which both have room for big rigs.
Permits
Every sno-park around Bend requires an Oregon Sno-Park permit from November 1 through April 30. You can buy a day, three-day or season permit. Keep it on your dash, because enforcement is active at the busy lots.
Snowpack and safety
Central Oregon's groomed network keeps most riders on moderate terrain, but the open slopes around Tumalo Mountain, Broken Top and Moon Mountain can slide. Read the Central Oregon Avalanche Center forecast before you leave town. Ride with a partner, carry a transceiver, shovel and probe, and expose one rider at a time on steep slopes. Cascade weather turns fast, so pack for a night out even on a day trip.
Carrying your gear
Dutchman Flat is a sled-ski zone, and a day that mixes riding and skiing means hauling skis or a board through the trees. A tunnel rack like the Port Tack Racks Patrol Rack keeps your gear secure behind you and leaves your hands and back free for riding.
FAQ
Do I need a permit to ride near Bend?
Yes. You need an Oregon Sno-Park permit to park at any sno-park from November 1 through April 30.
Which sno-park should a first-timer use?
Wanoga. It's closest to town, has the biggest lot and the most groomed trail, and the warming hut makes a good base.
Where can I ride when the low parks are thin?
Dutchman Flat, at 6,400 feet, usually holds snow when Wanoga and the lower lots run thin.
Can I ride into the wilderness areas?
No. The Three Sisters Wilderness and other designated wilderness areas are closed to snowmobiles. Carry the Forest Service trail map and learn the boundaries.
Can I ride to lunch?
Yes. Elk Lake Resort, 11 miles from Dutchman, is a winter favourite you can only reach by sled, snowcat or skis.