You can cross-country ski at just about every Sno-Park across Central Oregon—but few are linked so closely to the activity as Virginia Meissner Sno-Park. That connection starts with the name: The Sno-Park, which sits a short drive from Bend along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, is named for Virginia Meissner—a cross-country ski instructor and author who wrote often about skiing in the Cascade Range.
In recent years, Wanoga Snow Play Area Sno-Park has become a favorite among families looking to enjoy a winter wonderland in Central Oregon. For starters: Wanoga is dog-friendly—which means the entire family gets in on the fun. Even more than that, though, the possibilities for outdoor recreation at Wanoga are limited only by the amount of daylight you’ll get to enjoy. Some of the fun activities you’ll enjoy include snowmobiling (Wanoga offers access to nearly 180 miles of groomed trails), snowshoeing (two mostly flat loops are well maintained), cross-country skiing, fat biking, and tubing and sledding on a hill next to the large parking area. When you’re done for the day, get cozy in the warming hut near Wanoga’s parking area. Note that the park sits just 20 minutes southwest of Bend; that close proximity, along with a wide range of family-friendly offerings, means that the park can get quite busy on winter weekends. Try showing up by 9 a.m., consider a midweek trip, or avoid the park on school holidays for more solitude.”
Less than 30 minutes from Bend, Kapka Sno-Park sits along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and is most popular among snowmobilers looking to explore a far-reaching, well-marked network of trails that extend as far south as La Pine and Sunriver—and as far north as the Upper Three Creeks Sno-Park. Within the Sno-Park, the fun starts with a quick ascent up Kapka Butte and quickly heads deep into a forest of pine. Mount Bachelor rises above it all, framed perfectly by the surrounding forest. Kapka’s high elevation helps it open earlier and remain open later in winter than many nearby Sno-Parks. The park caters to snowmobile users with a large parking area that provides plenty of room for trailers. An information board with helpful maps can be found in the parking area, as well. Nordic skiers, meanwhile, can head north from the parking area, cross the highway at Vista Butte Sno-Park, and explore a variety of paths in that area—including one that ascends to the summit of the Sno-Park’s namesake hillside.”
