Visiting Bend in Winter is probably one of our favorite cold weather getaways to indulge in. I KNOW you’ve probably heard about all Bend has to offer in the warmer months, but I cannot express enough how magical Bend can be in the wintertime! As snow covers the picturesque landscapes of Central Oregon, Bend transforms into a winter wonderland offering tons of outdoor adventures, cozy escapes, and vibrant festivities. From adrenaline-pumping skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of Mt. Bachelor to nice strolls through the charming downtown street, Bend offers something for everyone during the colder months.
We love visiting Bend in Winter and want you to love it too! So, we’re sharing all of our tips and favorite activities to do in Bend in the winter time!
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How to Get to Bend, Oregon
Bend is located in Central Oregon, in the high desert region on the Eastern side of the Cascade mountains. There are multiple ways to get to Bend and whether you plan to fly or drive a personal vehicle the travel is all pretty simple!
Flying:
Redmond Municipal Airport
Redmond Municipal Airport is a convenient 20 min drive from downtown Bend. If you plan to explore Bend without renting a car then this would be the best option to get there. The Redmond Airport has easy access Taxi & Shuttle services that you can use to get to your downtown stay.
Portland International Airport
Flying into Portland is nice because it is a larger airport and tends to have cheaper flight options. It is about a 3.5 hr drive from Bend and if you are planning on renting a car to explore Bend then this would be a great option for you to save a little bit of money! Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend a day or two exploring Portland before or after you trip.
Driving:
If you decide to drive your personal vehicle to Bend in Winter, you should make sure that your car is prepared for Winter Road conditions. There are many things you can do to maximize Winter driving preparedness BUT, at a minimum you should carry tire chains that fit your tires and know how to put them on.
Where to Stay in Bend
I would HIGHLY suggest staying in our around downtown Bend for your Winter Vacation! Winter in Bend is technically considered their “low” season and therefore the cute boutique and even budget hotels are almost half of the price that they are in the Summer. Winter provides a great opportunity to stay right amid all the action and explore Bend on foot!
Hotel Recommendations:
Campfire Hotel
This is the CUTEST hotel with the best campy vibes! It is our typical go-to hotel when we visit Bend in Winter because it has an outdoor heated pool, a hot tub, and a massive campfire that puts out TONS of heat!
Oxford Hotel
The Oxford is a self-proclaimed “eco-chic” boutique hotel in downtown Bend, and we could not agree more with that sentiment! It is located smack dab in the center of town and is the perfect base for exploring the many local shops and restaurants.
Riverhouse Hotel
Riverhouse sits right on the banks of the Deschutes River making the perfect place to stay for a more relaxing “home base”! It has all the amenities of a staycation- an on-sight restaurant and spa- while also being just 2 miles from the center of downtown!
Outdoor Activities to do in Bend in Winter
If you love the outdoors, I can guarantee you’ll love Bend in Winter! There are SO many outdoorsy activities to do for all ability types! Whether you are a looking for a new adventure challenge- like snowmobiling- or just wanting to stick to what you know- like hiking- Bend is the place to do it!
Mt. Bachelor
Mt. Bachelor is kind of the mecca for outdoor winter fun in Bend. They have a huge variety of fun things to do, and everything is located on or near Mt. Bachelor itself.
Here are just a few of the amazing winter activities the mountain offers:
Downhill Ski
Mt Bachelor is a SUPER unique ski resort because it is situated right on top of a dormant volcano. It is one of the only resorts in the world where you can ski 360 degrees off the summit, right from the resort’s “summit” chair lift!
Beginner skier/snowboarder? No problem!
Mt Bachelor is one of the BEST places to learn to ski or board. They have tons of beginner terrain, and the ski instructors are super kind, patient and VERY knowledgeable. Mt. Bachelor is renowned for their beginner programs as well as their women’s specific clinics!
Dogsledding
UMMMMM this is a scene out of my dreams! Dog sledding is one of the most magical wintery experiences you can have, and Bend is the BEST place to do it! Mt. Bachelor works with the small local company Oregon Trail of Dreams to offer a 1hr OR a 4hr dogsledding tour of the gorgeous surrounding area. BONUS! You can also help participate in the dogs “after sled” care like feeding & watering and get ALL the doggie love you could ask for!
Snowshoeing
Mt. Bachelor offers FREE SNOWSHOE TOURS with a ranger where you can learn about Winter ecology and geology of the area while snow shoeing through a stunning Winter Wonderland! These free snowshoeing tours are offered on weekends from December through March and reservations are highly recommended to secure your spot!
If you already own snowshoes and are looking to hit the trail without a tour, you can get a single day snowshoe trail pass from Mt. Bachelor’s Nordic Center and have access to over 15km of single-track snowshoe only trails!
OR if you’re looking for a snowshoeing trip that is a little more adventurous, Wanderlust Tours offers a moonlit snowshoeing tour where you can explore the mountains under the stars! SO FREAKING COOL!
Hiking in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness
One of the best parts about visiting Bend in Winter is that you can also ESCAPE winter and go hiking in the high desert. The Oregon Badlands Wilderness is an area filled with gorgeous desert hiking trails and stunning Juniper Forests. The Oregon Badlands are home to some of Oregon’s oldest trees and offers incredible views of the Cascade mountains!
Hike Recommendations:
Flatiron Rock Trail
Ancient Juniper Loop
Adler Springs Trail
Steelhead Falls
***Don’t forget to bring all of the important day hiking essentials when going on your hike!
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is an amazing way to cover a lot of ground, quickly and see some things you would never be able to get to on foot! PLUS, it’s literally so much fun cruising through a wintery wonderland on a snowmobile! We use Octane Adventures because they curate each ride to user ability, weather, and snow conditions (and they have heated grips on all of their snowmobiles which is AMAZING when it’s cold out).
Explore Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock State Park is another one of Bend’s magic Winter spots. With Winter being the park’s “off-season”, there are WAY less crowds for all your hiking and climbing adventures.
Hike Recommendations:
Rim Rock Trail
Canyon Trail (The Chute)
Misery Ridge Loop
River Trail
North Point Loop Trail
***Don’t forget to bring all of the important day hiking essentials when going on your hike!
Fat Biking
Did you know you can go mountain biking in winter?! A fat bike is an offroad bike built to accommodate massive tires. These oversized tires are specifically designed to navigate through challenging terrains such as snow, sand, mud, and loose gravel with greater stability and traction than traditional mountain bike tires. Fat Biking is a super fun & unique activity to try when visiting Bend in Winter! You can rent with Cog Wild for an epic ride & tour!
Non-Outdoors Activities to do in Bend
Not only does Bend have a PLETHORA of outdoor activities to indulge in, it also has plenty to do when the sun goes down and you want to escape the cold Winter weather!
Bend Ale Trail
Bend is known WORLDWIDE for its vibrant craft beer scene! The small town has over 30 breweries spread out over 7 territories around Bend. The different territories all together represent the Bend Ale Trail! The Ale Trail is a super cool beer tasting experience in Bend and is essentially a self-guided tour that takes you to various breweries and brewpubs in and around Bend, allowing you to sample a wide variety of locally brewed beers.
You can even pick up an Ale Trail Passport from the Visit Bend Visitor Center and get stamps at each brewery you visit. Once you complete an entire territory, you get to collect a prize at the visitor center. It’s a super fun activity to do ANY time of year!
Get a Massage at The NOW Massage
Okay hear me out… It’s been a long week FULL of adventure and your body is FEELING IT! Why not end your amazing winter getaway with a trip to The Now Massage for a full body rejuvenation?! It is the BEST way to unwind and re-charge before you head home! I suggest the full body Swedish + Herbal Heat Therapy!
Eat Your Way Through Downtown Bend
CALLING ALL FOODIES! Bend is a food lovers paradise! But there IS one big problem with Bend’s food scene… there are WAY too many incredible options to choose from!! We could spend weeks eating somewhere new for every meal and still not run out of incredible places to choose from.
Here are some of our favorite spots!
Breakfast:
Mckays Cottage
The Lemon Tree
The Victorian
Lunch:
Brother John’s (Westside location is better)
Nancy P’s Café
Dinner:
Wild Rose
Spork
Bend Brewing
Zydeco
Shop at Old Mill District
Home to many shops and plentiful artwork, the Mill is a nice area to spend an afternoon browsing and walking around. It is also home to one of the COOLEST REI’s we’ve ever been in! The REI lives in the mill’s old powerhouse!! It’s super unique and worth a visit if you love outdoor gear as much as we do! A huge bonus to shopping in Bend?! There’s no sales tax!
Visit the World’s Last Blockbuster
If you want to experience a nostalgic whiplash, then you HAVE to give the world’s last fully functioning blockbuster a visit! The Bend Blockbuster offers more than just movie rentals. It hosts events, sells merchandise, and provides a unique opportunity for you to enjoy the Blockbuster brand in person (and maybe for the last time ever).
Unwind in McMenamins Soaking Pool
McMenamins soaking pool is located on the grounds of the Old Catholic Schoolhouse- Old St. Francis. The grounds have been transformed into a cool hotel campus that includes a brewery, a pub, a movie theater, hotel rooms, AND a gorgeous soaking pool. For $10/hr you can unwind from your day of adventuring and enjoy a good soak! Otherwise, just walking around the hotel grounds is super interesting and worth a visit!
Know Before You Go
Answering all of the FAQ for visiting Bend in Winter!
What is the weather like in Bend during winter?
Bend experiences cold temperatures in winter, with average highs ranging from the 30s to 40s Fahrenheit (around 0 to 5 degrees Celsius) and occasional snowfall. It’s essential to dress warmly and be prepared for varying weather conditions.
Is it necessary to have a four-wheel-drive vehicle in Bend during winter?
A four-wheel-drive vehicle can be beneficial for navigating snowy or icy roads, but it’s not a necessity for your visit to Bend. Major roads in Bend are typically well-maintained during winter. BUT it is important for you to check road conditions as there are always outlier conditions.
What should I pack for a trip to Bend in winter?
These are some of the basics that you’ll need when traveling to Bend in Winter, but depending on the specific activities you are planning on doing you will need to add or adjust accordingly!
Base Layers: Merino Wool Base layers are ESSENTIAL in trying to stay warm in Winter. Check out our go-to women’s and men’s base layers.
Outer Layers: It is SO important that you have warm insulating layers as well as outer waterproof layers when traveling to Bend in Winter. The weather can change rapidly from sunny to snowy to even rainy so it’s best to come prepared for anything!
Snow Boots: Snow boots are a game changer when keeping your feet warm & dry!! We love the bog style in women’s and men’s!
Gloves: A liner AND a mitten/glove are necessary for any winter conditions.
Sun/Wind Protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip balm for protection against sun exposure and windburn are crucial, especially for all of your outdoor activities.
Can I see wildlife in Bend during winter?
Central Oregon’s high desert is home to various wildlife species that can be found year-round, including deer, elk, birds, and occasionally coyotes and other mammals!
Are there any hot springs near Bend that are accessible in winter?
There are several hot springs in the greater Bend area! The closest one to town is Paulina Lake Hot Springs, but Umpqua Hot Springs and Terwilliger Hot Springs are really nice too, just a bit of a drive from Bend.
Can I go camping near Bend in winter?
There are camping options available near Bend in winter, including developed campgrounds and dispersed camping areas. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, although some amenities may be limited during the winter months. Be sure to bring appropriate cold-weather gear and check for any seasonal campground closures or restrictions! Also check out these 10 winter camping tips to keep you warm for the season!
LEAVE NO TRACE!
The city of Bend, Oregon has dedicated so much time and effort to encourage responsible tourism and outdoor recreation through educating people on the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. Please take a few moments to read and understand the 7 principles before you go so we can all do our part in protecting our forests, deserts, rivers, streams, mountains, and wildlife from human impact!
