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.
Open Season
November-April, depending on snowpack
Dog Friendly and/or Leash Rules
Dogs are permitted—and must be leashed in the parking area and around the sledding/tubing hill.
Best time to visit
Jan.-Feb.
Don’t Miss
This is the only designated Sno-Park with a hill designated for tubing and sledding—a genuine treat for kids of all ages.
Fees or Pass Needed
A Sno-Park Parking Permit is required April-Nov.; a daily Sno-Park permit costs $4, a three-day permit costs $9, and a season-long pass costs $25.
Restrictions
Snowmobiles are not permitted around the sledding and tubing hill—which is not designed for snowboarding or skiing. Also note that vehicles in the parking area cannot exceed 24 feet in length.
Activities
Snowshoeing
Nordic Skiing
Sledding
Parking
A parking area is available for vehicles up to 24 feet long; trailers are not permitted in the parking area.
Directions
From Bend, the 14-mile drive to Wanoga Snow Play Area Sno-Park takes about 20 minutes via SW Century Drive, which becomes the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.
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