Mt. Bachelor’s reputation for plentiful snowfall, a long ski season and gorgeous views is well deserved. This community ski slope started modestly in 1958 as the Bachelor Butte Ski Area, with two rope tows and a poma lift servicing just a handful of runs. Today, the resort boasts more than 4,300 acres of skiable terrain and more than 100 runs, making it among the largest resorts in the country. Beyond downhill skiing and snowboarding, the resort offers numerous winter activities, including snowshoeing, an impressive Nordic skiing center and even dogsledding experiences.
While Mt. Bachelor is a winter playground, the fun hardly stops there. Outdoor enthusiasts each summer trade in their skis and snowboards for mountain bikes or hiking shoes and return to the mountain for a new set of adventures. In the summer and fall, Mt. Bachelor offers downhill mountain biking, a bike park, a zipline, hiking, disc golf, yoga and sunset dinners. There’s truly an activity for everyone at Mt. Bachelor, located just 30 minutes from Bend or Sunriver.
Winter and Spring at Mt. Bachelor
The winter season at Mt. Bachelor kicks off around Thanksgiving and typically extends through Memorial Day. Grab lift tickets in advance online for the best deals and head for one of the mountain’s two base areas—West Village or Sunrise.
West Village Lodge is the primary base area, featuring a rental shop and retail store along with options for food and drink and access to lifts for skiers of all abilities. The Sunrise Base Area is the smaller of Mt. Bachelor’s two base areas, but was recently renovated and is a great option for families and beginners. Sunrise is the starting point for resort lessons and offers two magic carpets and lifts accessing beginner terrain. First-time skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of the Ski or Ride in 5 package, a five-session lesson package that includes equipment rentals and lift tickets for each day on the mountain, plus rewards and discounts after completing the program. The resort also offers private and group lessons for skiers of all ages and abilities.
With so much terrain, Mt. Bachelor takes time to fully explore. Ride up the newest lift on the mountain— the 1,448-vertical-foot high-speed quad, Cloudchaser—and take the Summit Lift for incredible 360-degree views and access to the entire mountain.
Beyond alpine skiing and snowboarding, the resort is home to the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center, with 56 kilometers of groomed trails for both skate skiing and classic skiing and a separate day lodge, located across the parking lot from the main lodge at the West Village Base Area.
For an all-abilities activity on the snow, the resort partners with the U.S. Forest Service to offer free, guided snowshoeing adventures from mid-December through March. These interpretive tours are a great way to explore the mountain and learn about the natural history of the area. The resort also partners with Oregon Trail of Dreams to offer sled dog rides, available daily from early December through late April.
Between snowy adventures, Mt. Bachelor offers options for fueling up with coffee, snacks, meals and libations. At West Village Lodge, enjoy lunch at the all-ages Cocoa’s Cafe & Corner Bar or grab drinks and an order of the “Nacho Mountain” at Clearing Rock Bar. Pinnacles Espresso is a quick stop for caffeine and snacks between runs, with multiple locations around the mountain, as is The Subie Shack, located outside at West Village Lodge. On the second floor of the Sunrise Lodge, grab lunch from the Sunrise Grill, or, for those 21 and older, have drinks at the Umbrella Bar outside the lodge and watch skiers and riders make their way down the mountain. In the Pine Marten Lodge at mid-mountain, enjoy traditional American and Mexican specialties at Spark’s Cafe. For quick bites, look for Egan’s Outpost, Dump City Dumplings and The Corndog Co. food carts.
Summer and Fall at Mt. Bachelor
When the snow melts, a new season of fun begins at Mt. Bachelor. Expect plentiful sunshine and temperatures a tad cooler than in Bend and Sunriver. Summer adventures at Mt. Bachelor include downhill mountain biking and ziplining, scenic chairlift rides, invigorating hikes, disc golf and yoga.
Mt. Bachelor Bike Park, established in the summer of 2013, continues to grow in popularity, with options for riders of all abilities. New riders can explore the skills area at West Village before progressing to the Little Pine beginner lift, lower mountain trails and, ultimately, top to bottom runs off PIne Marten, offering more than 1,300 feet of vertical drop per run. In addition to trails, riders can check out the base area jump park for some more adrenaline.
For a high-speed thrill with incredible views, experience the Zip Tour, a dual-line, three-stage tour that launches from 7,800 feet in elevation, above the treeline. Drop nearly 1,400 feet as part of the Pacific Northwest’s steepest, fastest and highest elevation zip adventure. Friends can ride side-by-side on the Zip Tour’s two lines, with riders choosing their own pace using a self-controlled braking system.
To explore the mountain on foot, try a picturesque hike on Mt. Bachelor’s trails. One option is to start at the West Village Base area, meandering uphill through the hemlock forest to the top of the Sunrise Lift, a 2-mile hike with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. From this point, it’s another 1.5 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation to the mountain summit on the Summit Connection. Another option is to take a scenic chairlift ride up Pine Marten (purchase your ticket at the ticket booth) up to the Pine Marten Lodge, traversing 1-mile east to the top of the Sunrise Lift, and then joining the Summit Connection route. On the way down, stop back at Pine Marten Lodge for snacks and drinks from Scapolo’s Bistro.
The summer and fall activities don’t end there. The top of the Pine Marten Lift is also the start of Mt. Bachelor’s Disc Golf Course, a PDGA listed course with eighteen holes across varied terrain. The course meanders back down the mountain, finishing back at West Village. On select evenings in the summer and early fall, meet at the Pine Marten Lodge deck to participate in Yoga with a View, a beginner-friendly yoga class led by a local instructor.
For a unique dining experience to cap off the mountain adventures, Mt. Bachelor offers sunset dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings in the summer through early September. Ride the chairlift to enjoy a culinary feast and take in the sunset at 7,800 feet. Soak up the views and plan your next adventure at Mt. Bachelor.
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