Mount Bachelor

About Mount Bachelor

Since Mt. Bachelor sits in the gorgeous Deschutes National Forest of the Cascade Range and is just 20 miles from the lively, little city of Bend, you’re guaranteed a laundry list of outdoor activities, art galleries, beer tours, shopping, dining and other off-mountain things to do in Mt. Bachelor.

Bend, Oregon is renowned as a microbrew beer destination, and unofficially referred to as “Beer Town USA” so get ready to have a couple. The Bend Ale Trail will take beer enthusiasts on a tour of Bend’s 11 breweries, including internationally known and loved Deschutes Brewery. Participants can nab a brewery passport from one of the breweries or the Bend Visitor Center and collect stamps along the trail.

Before you head to Bend or Sunriver after a day on Mt. Bachelor’s slopes take a couple laps on the Snowblast Tubing Park—between Mountain Gateway and Red Lift. You’ll squeal with join down the park’s 800-foot tubing lanes. If you’ve been dying to experience an exhilarating dog sled ride, then Mt. Bachelor is the place to do it. Oregon Trail of Dreams provides an exceptional experience, as one of the owners is a professional Iditarod musher. Oregon Trail of Dreams immerses guests in the beauty of the Central Oregon winter, and provides incredible views of the famed Three Sisters mountains, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor. If you’re looking for something a little more active a snowshoe adventure with Wanterlust Tours is a must. Naturalist guides provide visitors with an ecological tour of the Deschutes National Forest. Tours are matched to level of fitness and familiarity with the sport, so you’re guaranteed an optimal experience.

How to get to Mount Bachelor

Getting to Mt. Bachelor is convenient, with the resort located just 22 miles west of Bend, Oregon. Visitors can fly into Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), which is about a 30-minute drive from Bend. From Bend, guests can take the free Mt. Bachelor shuttle service, offering easy access to the resort without the hassle of parking. With the town of Bend and its many inns, hotels, boutiques, shops and restaurants a short 22 miles away, a Mt. Bachelor ski vacation meets a wide variety of lodging and budget preferences.

Getting around

To get around Mt. Bachelor, visitors can utilize various transportation options provided by the resort. The Mt. Bachelor shuttle service offers convenient access from Bend, Oregon, to the resort, eliminating the need for parking. Additionally, ample parking is available at the resort's base areas with clear directions and policies to ensure a smooth experience for all guests.

Skiing in Mount Bachelor

As you drive up to the resort, you’ll notice how the volcano formed natural halfpipe-like gullies which extend from the summit and wind down into tree level. Designated trails have been cut to match the terrain’s natural flow. You won’t find anything like Mt. Bachelor’s playful trails. Blessed with an annual snowfall of 387 inches, a Mt. Bachelor powder day is unforgettable.

Beginner Skiing in Mt. Bachelor

Beginner skiers and snowboarders, don’t less this dormant volcano fool you. You can ski and ride at this jutting monstrosity and enjoy its unique terrain and epic Cascade Range views just like intermediates and experts. In fact you can ski 15 percent of the resort, and ski on green runs well above treeline. First time skiers will want to start from the Sunshine Lodge base area village, specifically on the Carrousel lift, since it’s free every Saturday and Sunday for beginners.

The Rainbow Chair or Sunrise Express chairlift is a great place for novice skiers or snowboarders to start their Mt. Bachelor ski vacation, as there are nearly entirely green runs in this area. Once you feel ready you’ll want to take on the Mt. Bachelor beginner terrain out of the West Village area. From the top of Sunrise you can ski down West Village Getback to the Pine Marten Express. At the top of the lift take in the views and nab a picture, then head down Summit Crossover, which you can take back down to West Village or Sunrise, it’s your choice.

The Sunshine Accelerator is also a great shorter green run to lap out of the West Village base area that offers prime views from the chairlift of the small Sunshine Terrain Park.

Expert Skiing in Mt. Bachelor:

With 55 percent of the resort’s 3,683 acres designed as advanced to expert, challenge-seekers will find that the Mt. Bachelor expert skiing is massive. The majority of Mt. Bachelor’s above treeline volcano terrain is reserved for experts. This high alpine playground features some of the most unique and playful skiing and snowboarding in the U.S.; lava flow created natural half pipes 360-degrees around Mt. Bachelor.

To get to the goods and the best view, make your way to the highest chairlift in the Pacific Northwest, the Summit Express, which whisks skiers and snowboarders to Mt. Bachelors 9,000-plus foot summit. Enjoy the full circle views and scope your line. For a warm up, advanced and expert skiers will want to head down the West side of the mountain. The Cirque is ideal for extreme- seekers and West Ridge will appease those looking for fast and steep terrain. Or you can head Northwest down the mountain and ski more than 3,300 vertical feet to the Outback or Northwest Express. Skier’s in search of backcountry-esque terrain will love exploring Mt. Bachelor’s double black diamond backside. This area is a powder heaven, and you’ll often find snow conditions that drastically differ from those on the frontside and vise-versa.

From the summit, you have your pick of runs from the wide-open Serengeti Plains or Upper Plains to Deadwood Canyon, which last for 3,000 feet. Once at the ski boundary you can take the East or West Catchline traverse back to the lifts. The West Catchline is probably the best option, since it’s namely downhill and provides quicker access back to the Summit Express.

If it’s windy or storming and a trek to the summit just isn’t in the cards, don’t worry. In fact rejoice because you have over 1,200 protected acres in the Westwide. This area is accessed by Outback and Northwest Express and is the go-to on a powder day.

Mt. Bachelor, in partnership with Backcountry Access (BCA), hosts a FREE Beacon Training Park near the base of the Red Chair adjacent to the West Village parking lot. Mt. Bachelor welcomes everyone to come practice beacon skills in a safe, educational and fun environment. If you dont have a Beacon, you can purchase or demo a beacon at Bachelor Ski & Sport... which is conveniently located next to the Beacon Park at West Village.

Backcountry Access Beacon Park

The Backcountry Access Beacon Park is a training system created to make it easier for recreationists and pros to practice with their transceivers. It features 4-10 permanently buried transmitters wired to a central control panel. To change the scenario, just flick the on/off switches on the control panel. Instead of digging holes and reburying beacons all day, you spend your valuable time actually practicing with your transceiver.

Family vacations in Mount Bachelor

Between its varied terrain, the breathtaking high alpine mountain resort, close proximity to the town of Bend, Oregon, kid-friendly snowsports school and lift ticket deals, a Mt. Bachelor family ski vacation will please everyone from first-timers to seasoned families. The Sunshine parking lot also allows for parking within 300 yards to the resort, making it easier to schlep the whole family’s equipment. The beauty of a Mt. Bachelor family ski trip is that Bend restaurants are varied and quite affordable. Families can pick from steakhouses, contemporary American, classic American, Thai, Latin or restaurants serving up an eclectic mix of seasonal, local produce and meats.

Mt. Bachelor family lodging is mainly found in Bend, Oregon, which is a mere 20 minute drive from the resort. Everyone will love the spectacular drive through Deschutes National Forest to and from Mt. Bachelor and Bend. Having all the restaurant, activity and lodging options in Bend at their fingertips is also a major plus for those on a Mt. Bachelor family ski vacation.