Winter near Sunriver means ice skating and sleigh rides in the village, sledding and snowshoeing on the Sno-Parks along Century Drive, and Mt. Bachelor, about 30 minutes from the house. Mt. Bachelor's winter season usually runs from mid-November or early December into late May, weather permitting, and the resort posts each year's opening date at mtbachelor.com. The retreat sleeps up to 30 across 11 bedrooms.
Updated October 2026 · First published June 2026
Winter in Sunriver and Bend at a glance: what is open when
Most winter attractions near Sunriver open between Thanksgiving and December and close in spring. The table gives each one with the source for its dates. Dates move with the snow, so check each operator before you book a trip around one.
| What | Where | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Bachelor | Mt. Bachelor, about 30 minutes from the house | Usually mid-November or early December into late May; the resort posts each year's opening date | mtbachelor.com |
| Ice skating | The Village at Sunriver | Typically late November to early April | Visit Central Oregon |
| Ice skating | The Pavilion, Bend | Mid-October to April | Visit Central Oregon |
| Sleigh rides | Sunriver | Generally mid-December to early February | Visit Central Oregon |
| Sledding | Wanoga Snow Play Area, about 15 miles west of Bend | Sno-Park permit required | Visit Bend and TripCheck |
| Snowshoe trails | Meissner Sno-Park, about 14 miles west of Bend | Dedicated snowshoe trails to two warming huts | Visit Central Oregon and Meissner Nordic |
| Winter Nights | High Desert Museum | Thursday evenings in December; check the museum's calendar | Visit Central Oregon |
The sections below cover where each of these happens. Fall in Sunriver, summer in Sunriver and mountain biking near Sunriver cover the rest of the year.
Sunriver winter activities in the village: ice skating, sleigh rides and the Nature Center
The Village at Sunriver has a covered ice rink that is typically open from late November to early April. The Village at Sunriver guide covers the shops and restaurants around it. Bend has the Pavilion, covered but open-air, with fire pits, and Seventh Mountain Resort near Bend is the region's oldest outdoor rink.
Horse-drawn sleigh rides are generally offered from mid-December to early February. Each ride holds up to four adults and two small children and runs through snow-covered meadows. Book one to two months ahead for holidays and long weekends such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day.
Indoors, the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory is in central Sunriver, and the Spa at Sunriver Resort offers massages and skincare. The High Desert Museum guide has the museum, and SHARC covers the heated aquatic center. Sunriver with kids lists the family options.
Sledding and snow play near Sunriver: Wanoga and sledding at the house
Wanoga Snow Play Area is a sledding hill on the way to Mt. Bachelor, and it needs a Sno-Park permit. It has a warming shelter, a vault toilet and parking, and dogs are allowed, leashed in the parking lot. Wanoga is about 15 miles west of Bend on Century Drive.
Guests sled at the house if there is snow, or at the snow parks near Mt. Bachelor, so sledding at the house depends on snow. Plan ahead for sleds, because stock can run low in peak winter; REI, Powder House and ACE Hardware carry sleds, tubes and saucers. Hollinshead Park is one of Bend's sledding areas.
A Sno-Park permit is required from November 1 to April 30. The Mt. Bachelor ski trip page has the current prices and where to buy one.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing near Sunriver and Bend
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are both an easy day from Sunriver, on Sno-Parks along Century Drive and at the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center. Meissner Sno-Park has dedicated snowshoe trails leading to two warming huts, and Dutchman Flat has several miles of snowshoe trails through meadows, about 20 minutes southwest of Bend. Wanoga is groomed for cross-country skiing four times a week and is dog-friendly.
From Sunriver, Meissner is about 22 road miles and 38 minutes, and Wanoga about 22 miles and 36 minutes; add a few minutes from the house. Meissner is about 14 miles west of Bend, Wanoga about 15, Swampy Lakes 16 and Dutchman Flat 21. Edison Butte is 4 miles south of Century Drive on Forest Road 45 (Sunriver Road). Meissner has nearly 50 kilometers of trails, groomed daily from December through March by the nonprofit Meissner Nordic Ski Club, with six warming huts and two snowshoe loops of up to 2.75 miles each. Arrive by 9 a.m. on snowy weekends, and dogs are not permitted there in winter, so confirm the current rule before you bring one. Mt. Bachelor sells cross-country trail access and runs ranger-led snowshoe hikes, and Wanderlust Tours in Bend offers guided snowshoe trips.
Fat biking is riding wide-tired bikes through snowy backcountry. Wanoga has two groomed fat-bike loops, a 3-mile inner loop and a 6-mile outer loop.
Mt. Bachelor from Sunriver: about 30 minutes to the slopes
Mt. Bachelor is about 30 minutes from the house. Mt. Bachelor's winter season usually runs from mid-November or early December into late May, weather permitting, and the resort posts each year's opening date at mtbachelor.com.
The mountain has downhill skiing for all abilities on over 4,000 acres, and a Nordic Center with pay-to-play cross-country skiing. Daily lift tickets are tiered by date, and mtbachelor.com posts the current window rates. The Mt. Bachelor ski trip lodging page covers staying at the house for a ski trip.
Winter weather and roads around Sunriver
Sunriver sits at about 4,170 feet and gets nearly 50 inches of snow a year, and nights often drop below freezing. Visit Central Oregon points travelers to the National Weather Service for forecasts and to ODOT's TripCheck for closures and webcams. Check both each morning of a snow trip.
Parking for up to 15 vehicles is on site, with room for vans and trailers. The roads are plowed. As on any Central Oregon winter trip, check a snow report and TripCheck for current conditions before you drive.
Staying warm at the Sunriver house: fireplaces, hot tub and fire pit rules
The two large living areas, one upstairs and one down, have vaulted ceilings and stone fireplaces. The covered hot tub sits on the deck and looks out through the pines toward the water. The Cottage has a wood-burning stove with firewood just outside and operating instructions by the mantle, plus a mini-split that heats and cools.
The fire pit by the river is seasonal. There are no fires June through September, and May and October are weather dependent. Candles and open flames are not allowed, the property is non-smoking, and shoes come off inside.
The mudroom has a built-in bench, coat hooks, and cushions beside a glass door to the outside. The game room has a pool table, ping pong and an arcade cabinet. The kitchen has a Breville espresso machine and a Vitamix, and a 12-foot dining table seats the group.
Where to stay for a winter trip near Sunriver and Mt. Bachelor
Stay at Deschutes Riverfront Retreat: one riverfront property near Sunriver with 11 bedrooms across two buildings for up to 30, ten minutes from the resort and about 30 from Bend. The live calendar is on Book Now, and the rules that matter for a group are on house rules.
What winter guests said
“We spent a magical weekend at this peaceful retreat. The house was well-stocked, with so many activities to keep everyone busy. It was perfect for our family gathering!”
“We had a wonderful stay with extended family at Scott's place -- the house is beautiful, so well furnished and renovated, it isvery zen with high ceilings and comfortable furniture/beds. Plenty of room for large meals and games around the long dining table. We absolutely love the cabin next-door, which has several lovely rooms with large single bed rooms, with a larger bed room on the main floor, and a beautiful sitting room with windows to take in the nature and watch the river float by. In the main house, we felt so relaxed in the common area with an open kitchen/living room -- it felt spacious and great for cooking and serving food. It's a really great place for family or friend gatherings, and Scott was really helpful -- when we were looking for dry wood after a rain for a fire in the pit, he offered to reimburse us for splitters. As annual renters of large houses for family gatherings, we all agreed this place was the best. Very relaxing and private.”
Sources checked for this guide (15)
- Oregon DMV, Sno-Park permits (dates and fees)
- Visit Central Oregon, Meissner Sno-Park (trails, grooming, huts, snowshoe loops, dogs)
- Rome2rio, Sunriver to Meissner Sno-Park
- Rome2rio, Sunriver to Wanoga Snow Play Area
- Visit Central Oregon: Top things to do in Sunriver in the winter (sleigh rides, Village ice rink, Nature Center, spa, High Desert Museum Winter Nights, elevation and snowfall, booking window)
- Visit Central Oregon: Winter activities (Village at Sunriver rink season, Pavilion, Seventh Mountain, snowshoe and cross-country Sno-Parks, Wanoga grooming)
- Visit Central Oregon: Winter season page (fat biking, ice skating, Sno-Parks)
- Visit Central Oregon, Ice skating rinks in Bend and Sunriver (Seventh Mountain, Sunriver, Pavilion)
- Mt. Bachelor: Winter lift tickets
- Visit Bend: Sledding in Bend (Wanoga permit, dogs, warming shelter, Hollinshead Park, sled stores)
- Visit Bend: Easy winter fun with little kids in Bend (Mt. Bachelor, Nordic Center, Wanoga, Meissner, Swampy Lakes, Pavilion)
- Visit Bend: Mountain biking in Bend (Wanoga fat-bike loops)
- TripCheck: Central Oregon Sno-Parks (Wanoga, Swampy Lakes, Dutchman Flat, Edison Butte on Forest Road 45)
- Mt. Bachelor: winter opening day
- Meissner Nordic: community trails and Sno-Park location