Sponsored by Mt. Bachelor
Mt. Bachelor, a dormant stratovolcano on the eastern flanks of Oregon’s Central Cascades, simply isn’t your average mountain. Boasting 3,365 feet of vertical and an incredible 4,323 acres of lift-accessed ski terrain, Mt. Bachelor is the seventh largest ski resort in North America. It makes for a ski experience you can’t just have anywhere. Continue reading as we share what makes Mt. Bachelor one of the best, most unique ski resorts in North America.
Get To Know Mt. Bachelor
Mt. Bachelor is located in Deschutes National Forest, just 20 miles west of one of America’s best mountain towns, Bend. The fact that there isn’t a nearby international airport or interstate means that there aren’t the crowds and traffic bottlenecks of other popular ski destinations. Yet it’s still easy to get to. Mt. Bachelor is located just 180 miles south of Portland (150 miles east of Eugene), while just 40 miles away is Redmond Municipal Airport, which has 12 direct flights a day from key markets like Denver, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and San Francisco.
Mt. Bachelor is known for its light, dry snow, and on average receives an impressive 410″ of snow, which is supplemented by snowmaking. It’s well on its way to that following a January that saw more than 120” of snow. Mt. Bachelor’s base elevation of 6,500’, coupled with its snowfall, allows for one of the longest ski seasons in North America, typically beginning in November and continuing through Memorial Day Weekend. Bonus: Mt. Bachelor is on the Ikon Pass. Pass holders receive 5 days on the Ikon Base Pass and 7 days on the full Ikon Pass.
Skiing And Riding At Mt. Bachelor
The skiing and riding experience at Mt. Bachelor is unrivaled. Guests can enjoy 360 degrees of skiing off the summit, while those who like to earn their turns can hike to the adjoining cinder cone and ski or ride down. It’s the perfect way to celebrate a powder day. Intermediate skiers can take the Cloudchaser lift up to the east side of Mt. Bachelor for long, rolling groomers and fun, flowy tree skiing and riding. More advanced skiers can take the Northwest chair, where there’s untouched off-piste terrain, fun gladed terrain, and some of the longest groomed trails.
Other highlights include the Woodward Mountain Parks, a network of terrain park zones across the mountain for everyone from progressing beginners to athletes, and the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center, featuring 56 km of groomed trails, 10 km of snowshoe trails, and the longest groomed Nordic season in the nation.
While the ski season is winding down by late March and early April at most ski areas, it’s in full force at Mt. Bachelor, where the lifts continue spinning through late May. If you’re lucky, you may even enjoy an April or May powder day. What’s more, Mt. Bachelor’s location in the Pacific Northwest means longer days during the longer ski season. Skiers and riders can shred all day before hitting any number of trails for a sunset hike or bike. Spring also brings with it great music and mountain lifestyle events to Mt. Bachelor, including Subaru WinterFest and RendezVan.
Après-Ski
One of North America’s longest ski seasons makes for one of North America’s best après-ski scenes. After a day of ripping through powder, skiers and riders can cap it off by skiing right up to Mt. Bachelor’s Sun Bar, which we named one of the best ski resort patios. The slopeside indoor-outdoor bar at the southwest corner of Sunrise Lodge boasts a sprawling patio, with a great selection of beer, wine, and co*cktails, overlooking the Woodward Learning Zone. Over at West Village Lodge, the Clearing Rock Bar, aka The Rock, enjoys a perfect view of the mountain from the lodge deck, and has more than 15 rotating taps.
Pine Marten Lodge, located at 7,800 feet, is not to be missed for some of the best views at Mt. Bachelor. Guests can grab lunch and drinks from Spark’s Cafe and Pinnacles Cafe before getting in some more laps.
After the sun goes down, après-ski heads to the nearby town of Bend, where most travelers stay during their ski trip. The Bend area is dotted with more than 30 breweries. Belly up to the bar of Bend’s oldest brewery, Deschutes, enjoy the lawn, food trucks, and craft brews of Crux Fermentation Project, or take in the waterfront views from Bend Brewing Company. Those who prefer craft co*cktails will be impressed by the offerings in Bend, with standouts like San Simón, The Flamingo Room, and Velvet. Bend is also home to an amazing selection of restaurants.
After a great start to the ski season, it’s never been a better time to plan a Mt. Bachelor ski trip. Start planning your trip at mtbachelor.com.
