Mt. Bachelor ski trip lodging for a large group, about 30 minutes from the mountain near Sunriver

Why Sunriver suits a Mt. Bachelor ski crew

Sunriver puts a large ski group about 30 minutes from Mt. Bachelor and about 30 minutes from Bend. Mt. Bachelor is the largest ski resort in Oregon by area. It has 4,323 skiable acres, 3,365 feet of vertical drop, 12 lifts, and 101 runs. The resort calls itself the 7th largest ski resort in North America.

The estate is one private property that sleeps up to 30, instead of four separate condos stitched together. Everyone stays on site, so there is no caravan between condos at 6 AM. Sunriver Resort and SHARC are about ten minutes away for anyone taking a day off the mountain. See large group rentals near Sunriver for how groups of 12 to 30 use the place.

When to plan a trip around the Mt. Bachelor ski season

Mt. Bachelor's 2026-27 winter season is scheduled to open on December 4, 2026. The resort's season typically runs well into May; the 2024-25 season closed on May 26. The 2025-26 season was the exception. It was planned to open November 28 and run through Memorial Day. Instead it opened December 23 and closed early on April 19.

Snow weekends at the house book up early, so set the dates and book the house before the lift tickets. The Sunriver and Bend winter guide covers the rest of the season.

How to drive from the house to Mt. Bachelor

The drive from the house to Mt. Bachelor takes about 30 minutes. From Sunriver, Forest Road 45 (River Summit Drive) runs to the Cascade Lakes Highway. Then follow Century Drive to the West Village base area at the end of the road, half a mile past the Sunrise exit. Deschutes County road crews clear Road 45, but heavy snow closed it to all traffic on December 26, 2024. In winter, the Cascade Lakes Highway beyond the resort is closed, so traffic is directed straight into the West Village parking lot.

Check TripCheck for road conditions before leaving the house each morning. For the route from the airport or the valley, see getting to Sunriver.

How to handle winter roads to Mt. Bachelor and parking for 15 vehicles

Carry chains or traction tires in every car on the trip. Where Oregon's road signs say to carry chains, you must have chains or traction tires in or on your vehicle. On most cars and SUVs that are not towing, traction tires may be used in place of chains. In severe conditions, ODOT can declare a conditional closure, which means chains are required on all vehicles regardless of tires. Studded tires are legal in Oregon from November 1 through March 31.

There is parking for up to 15 vehicles on site, with room for vans and trailers. Chief Paulina Drive is a shared dirt road with families and pets along it, so drive slowly. The house sits at the end of a dead-end private road. There are 80 acres of trees on one side and protected river habitat across the water.

Where to buy Oregon Sno-Park permits and what they cost

A Sno-Park permit is required to park at designated Sno-Parks, Wanoga and Meissner included, from November 1 through April 30. A daily permit is $4, a three-day permit is $9, and an annual permit is $25. Permit agents at resorts, sporting goods stores, and other retail outlets sell all three types, and they may add a service fee. Annual permits are also sold online through DMV2U, which emails a printable interim permit good for 14 days.

Display the permit in the windshield. Parking in a Sno-Park without one may bring a $30 fine. A permit can be moved from one vehicle to another.

Where to cross-country ski and sled at the Sno-Parks west of Bend

Virginia Meissner Sno-Park is the cross-country stop for the group, 12 to 14 miles west of Bend on Century Drive. It is the first Sno-Park on the Cascade Lakes Highway, with 47 kilometers of trails groomed for skate and classic skiing. Meissner Nordic volunteers groom the trails, and the grooming is funded entirely by donations. The warming hut is the gathering place.

Wanoga Sno-Park, 15.5 miles west of Bend on Century Drive, is the place for sledding and tubing. Its snow play area is intended as a sledding hill and is not designed for snowboarding, skiing, or building jumps. Not every Sno-Park allows dogs, and Wanoga is one that does. Dogs must be on leash in the Sno-Park and on the hill.

Edison Butte Sno-Park is 4 miles south of Century Drive on Forest Road 45. Its big paved lot has room for large groups, RVs, and trailers, and it has Nordic ski and snowshoe trails. Dogs are prohibited on the north side of the Cascade Lakes Highway from November 1 through May 1. If the dog is coming, read the pet-friendly Sunriver rental page first.

Where to rent ski and snowboard gear in Bend

Rent gear in Bend on the way up, or at the mountain. Powder House Bend at 311 SW Century Drive rents alpine, snowboard, Nordic, skate, and snowshoe gear and has an online rental form. It is open 9 AM to 6 PM every day and has been in business since 1976. The Source Weekly's 2021 Best Of listing put the alpine rental fleet at more than 100 demo skis. Snowboards, cross-country skis, and snowshoes come in adult and youth sizes.

Mt. Bachelor rents gear all season from the Mountain Gateway Ticket Office and Rental Center at West Village. For a crew of 20 or more, fitting gear in town the day before means no rental line on the first morning.

How the hot tub, fireplaces, and game room fill the time after Mt. Bachelor

The covered outdoor hot tub on the deck is the first stop after the mountain. It looks out through the pines toward the water. Inside, two large living areas with vaulted ceilings and stone fireplaces give the group room to spread out. One room can hold the card game and the other the film. A 65-inch TV runs on DISH, and 200 Mbps WiFi covers the house.

The game room has a pool table, ping pong, an arcade cabinet, and an Xbox. The fire pit by the river is seasonal. There are no fires June through September, and May and October depend on weather and county fire rules. The Cottage has a wood-burning stove with firewood just outside and operating instructions by the mantle.

Where the ski gear goes

A mudroom with a built-in bench and coat hooks sits beside a glass door to the outside. Shed boots and shells there. Shoes come off inside the house. The game room has gear racks along one wall and wall-mounted drying racks.

Where up to 30 people sleep across 11 bedrooms

The full estate sleeps up to 30 guests, with a maximum of 24 adults, across 11 bedrooms and 6 baths. The six-bedroom Lodge is the main residence. It has five baths, sleeps up to 18, and can be booked on its own. The five-bedroom Cottage comes only with the whole estate and adds a separate living space steps from the Lodge.

A futon and a small twin sofa bed sit by the pool table. There are also 2 pack-n-plays and 6 cots, with no linens provided for these. The Primary Suite has a king bed and panoramic river views. More photos and the Lodge floor plans are on the whole estate, the Lodge, and the Cottage pages.

How the kitchen and the 12-foot table feed a ski crew

The well-equipped kitchen is built around a large butcher-block island with bar stools. It has a Vitamix, a KitchenAid mixer, a sous vide, and a Breville espresso machine. A 12-foot dining table with benches seats twelve, and additional chairs and folding tables are available.

Do the big grocery run in Bend, where Costco, Trader Joe's, Fred Meyer, Whole Foods, WinCo, and Newport Avenue Market are the options. The Sunriver Country Store, closer in, covers the essentials and last-minute items. For a night off, Sunriver Brewing Co. is the local brewery and pub, good for big tables and burgers. Blondie's Pizza is a Sunriver staple for an easy group dinner. Make reservations for larger groups. See where to eat near Sunriver for more.

How a sample ski weekend from the Sunriver house runs

Three nights works well for a ski group: arrive Friday, ski Saturday and Sunday, and leave Monday.

• Friday. On the way through Bend, stop at Powder House on Century Drive before 6 PM to fit the gear. Then pick up three days of food at Costco or Trader Joe's. Check in after 4 PM. Have pizza from Blondie's and a soak in the hot tub before quiet hours start at 9 PM.
• Saturday. Drive about 30 minutes to Mt. Bachelor and park at West Village. Come back by late afternoon for the hot tub. Then have a group dinner around the 12-foot table, with the folding tables for the overflow.
• Sunday. Split up. Downhill skiers return to the mountain. Cross-country skiers take Meissner, and the families take the sledding hill at Wanoga, with a Sno-Park permit in the windshield. Spend the evening in the game room.
• Monday. Check out before 11 AM.

For a longer stay with non-skiers in the group, the 3-day Sunriver plan for large groups fills the off days.

Which house rules matter most for a ski group

A few rules keep the house working for groups of 12 to 30. The full list is on the FAQ page.

• The renter must be 30 or older. A copy of a driver's license and a signed rental agreement are required after the booking is confirmed.
• Occupancy is enforced: up to 30 guests, maximum 24 adults. The home is on well and septic.
• Quiet hours run 9 PM to 8 AM. No amplified music: no DJs, no subwoofers, no professional music setups. Live music ensembles and small Bluetooth speakers are fine. If unsure, please ask.
• Shoes come off inside. The property is non-smoking, and there are no candles or open flames.
• Dogs, large dogs included, are welcome for a pet fee once approved on the reservation. Keep them off the furniture and beds, and do not leave them unattended in the home.
• Check-in is after 4 PM, and check-out is before 11 AM. Early check-in and late check-out cannot be guaranteed and depend on other reservations.

How to book direct, with the payment schedule, deposit, and cancellation policy

Booking direct on this site saves the service fees that Airbnb and VRBO charge. The live calendar on Book Now shows the current rate for your dates. Direct bookings are paid in up to three installments: 15% at booking, 45% due 180 days before check-in, and 40% due 30 days before check-in. The number of payments depends on how far ahead you book. Hospitable attempts to capture each payment automatically. A refundable damage deposit of 1,000 dollars is held on your card about a week before check-in and released after checkout.

If your booking is requested at least 30 days before check-in and you cancel within 24 hours after it is accepted, you get a 100% refund. If you cancel at least 365 days before check-in, you get a 100% refund. If you cancel at least 180 days before check-in (180 to 364 days), you get a 75% refund. If you cancel at least 60 days before check-in (60 to 179 days), you get a 50% refund. If you cancel at least 1 day before check-in (1 to 59 days), you get a 10% refund. If you cancel less than 1 day before check-in, or after check-in, there is no refund. The policy in effect when you book is the one that applies to your booking. This policy is for direct bookings; Airbnb, VRBO and other booking channels use their own policies. Snow weekends book up early and peak dates book far in advance, so reserve a holiday week as early as you can.

What winter groups said

“Beautiful property! Our group went for a ski trip so we appreciated the proximity to the mountain, and the houses amenities like the fire pit and hot tub. Kitchen was open and spacious, fully stocked with cooking gadgets making it easy to prepare meals for a big group! Plenty of comfortable sleeping spots, and very nice to have the additional quiet space of the cottage. Scott was proactive with communication and easy to work with! We would love to rent the property again in the summer to make use of the large outdoor space along the river— there’s even a frisbee golf course! Highly recommend this stay :)”

“This home and cottage beautifully accommodated our family over the Christmas season. It has plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for a large family gathering. We also appreciated the extra touches such as plenty of sleds and a frisbee golf course and an espresso machine we used to craft great coffees. Thank you!”

“My family and I could not recommend this place enough for a large gathering. From the prompt communication and activities galore, to having all the kitchen supplies you could need to cook for everyone, Scott and his family makes you feel right at home. Whether you are there for the winter snow, summer heat or anything in between there is a TON of indoor and outdoor activiti s you can partake in and not have to step off the property if you don't want to. He made us feel right at home, answered all questions promptly and even decorated the house for us for our Christmas gathering! Would recommend his place to anyone looking for a chill place to relax, explore and make memories for all to remember!”

Read all guest reviews

Frequently asked questions

Related

• Winter in Sunriver and Bend
• Large group rentals near Sunriver
• The whole estate: rooms, beds and floor plans
• Getting to Sunriver