First Time Riding in Oregon - Sunriver/Bend

[NWSledhead]

Hey guys,

I will be heading from Camas, Washington and staying in Sunriver for the weekend and was wondering where you would recommend riding for the first time in this area. I was planning on riding with a friend from Bend, but he canceled on me, so it looks like the wife and I. I had heard that we may be able to ride directly out of Sunriver…does this sound legit? If so, what are the trails to look for and is there enough snow to do this?

It appears that the snowpack is fairly unstable at this time so I would prefer to ride in an area where I could stay in the trees and open meadows..Not too big into highmarking all day, anyhow.

Also, being that I am from Washington, do I need to have an Oregon license on the sleds or an Oregon SnowPark Permit, or are the Washington licenses and permit that I have reciprocal with Oregon?

I greatly appreciate any help or tips that you may have.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[volcano buster]

As long as your permits are current, you should be good to go.

I don't think you can ride right from Sun River, they are pretty uptight with their ordinances. If conditions were going to be better, you could trailer to Paulina (east of LaPine), Wanoga (towards Bachelor), or even trailer down and ride into Crater Lake.

Given the current conditions, I'm not sure who will be out grooming. Otherwise the snow is going to be tough going.

Some of us will be up at Santiam Pass (Ray Benson Snow park by Hoodoo) on Sunday if you want to stop there and ride on your way home. Our groomer should be out on Saturday getting things opened up.

 

[PRINCESS]

couple of years ago we contacted a snowmobile group in bend. We rode with them and then on our own one day. No snowmobiling from SunRiver, but there is a snow park not far on the way to Mt Bachelor.
There is also a great place called Elk Lake resort that you can ride to with beer & burgers. Great, easy day ride.
Enjoy

 

[stonecold]

riding in central oregon

mt bachelor is closed today for the first time in 20 years, that is how stormy it is up there. I would go on mt bachelors web page to get a feel for this storm in progress. That being said I would recommend wanoga sno park on century drive on the way to the mt from bend. It is lower and has more open areas to play in close to the sno park. 2 sledders from prineville had to be rescued yesterday from up by moon mt as they were exhausted from being stuck. Road crews usually do the sno parks last and even wanoga might not be plowed but it would be your best bet as it is lower. good luck!

 

[adamsrider]

Heading out tomorrow to ride bachelor pm if u want

 

[adamsrider]

Ya pretty bad up around moon mtn.

 

[t stone]

We went up yesterday and parked at Vista Butte. We broke trail almost up to moon mountain. Killer snow. DEEEEP. Were going back up sunday. Its about time we have snow.

Stone

 

[skiierdude_99]

http://www.centraloregonsnowbusters.com/
Try this link out, may help you get some good information prior to showing up. It also has the trail map that is available at the snow parks.