Well, I think we’re all happy the ice melted. As for the snow, that’s a little more personal.

Rising temperatures and rain have diminished snowpack at low-elevation sno-parks but, according to this week’s Deschutes National Forest conditions report, all sno-parks in the national forest still have adequate snow coverage for winter recreation.

Cross-country skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers should head to higher elevations for the best possible conditions. Mountain bikers and hikers looking for dry trails should venture north and/or east. The dry soil of the Redmond area and High Desert will soak up and drain the recent snowmelt the quickest.

Trail users should expect soggy trails this weekend and be mindful whether they are bringing more harm than good to their desired trail system.

Forecasts predict highs in the mid-40s Friday and into the 50s during the weekend in town, with chances of light rain Friday and Saturday. Temperatures will rise even more Sunday and into next week, with highs in the mid-50s and lows in the 40s. Don’t expect snow or ice in town anytime soon.

Below are some recommended spots for recreation this weekend. Make sure to pick up a permit before heading out to a sno-park.

New snow replenishes diminished base

Mt. Bachelor

Six inches of snow fell over Mt. Bachelor ski area over a 24-hour period Thursday morning. The mid-mountain snow forecast predicts another 4 inches Friday and 3 inches Saturday. After losing snow over the week, the refresh will bring the mountain’s snowpack to around 90 inches, well over its base this time last week. Winds on the mountain should range from 10 to 25 mph, while temperatures hover around or just above freezing.

Being the last week of National Safety Month, staff asks terrain park users to follow the Park SMART guide: Start small, Make a plan, Always look, Respect and Take it easy.

The Woodward terrain park has multiple features available this week, including Otter Rock, Progression Park III, Short Sands, Pacific City, Cannon Beach, The Point and Performance Venue. Other areas do not have features but remain open for skiing and riding.

Hoodoo Ski Area

Hoodoo Ski Area received more than an inch of new snow Thursday morning and was expected to receive a mixture of rain and snow through the weekend. According to its snow report, staff expects warm temperatures, meaning heavy and wet snow on the mountain.

Now at 48 inches, the ski area lost more than 10 inches of its base during the week. Staff predicted a couple of more inches of snow to fall Thursday before the rain comes Friday and Saturday.

Willamette Pass Resort

Willamette Pass Resort had received 3 inches of new snow as of Thursday morning. The new snow raised the mountain’s snow depth to 43 inches after a nearly 20-inch loss last week due to warm temperatures and rain. Staff expected rain and snow showers Friday and Saturday on the mountain. Early season conditions still exist. Staff encouraged people to ski and ride with care, stay on groomed trails and respect trail closures.

Lifts Peak 2 and The Eagle Peak Accelerator are now open for the season, making five of the ski area’s six lifts open. All 30 of its trails were open Thursday.

Dutchman sno-park has the greatest snowpack

Whether you’re looking to cross-country ski, snowshoe or snowmobile, Dutchman Sno-Park might be the spot to go this weekend. The sno-park — just across Century Drive from Mt. Bachelor ski area — is at 6,250 feet and has maintained most of its snow over the past week. It’s base at the beginning of the week hovered between 4.5 and 6 feet.

Expect fair conditions over the weekend as temperatures rise into the mid-30s during the warmest hours of the day. A couple of inches of fresh snow to fall Friday and Saturday could soften the nightly frozen over snowpack.

Be aware that this is a popular destination for winter recreation on weekends. The parking lot is small, so prepare to adjust plans and head over to nearby Vista Butte or Swampy sno-parks. Both offer access to Dutchman trails. Unfortunately, no dogs are allowed in the area through April.

Anglers, take a drive up to Maupin

With roads clear after last week’s ice storm, fishermen should head up to Maupin for trout and steelhead.

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website, anglers have reported good trout and steelhead fishing on the Deschutes River near Maupin. Maupin is about an hour and 45 minutes north on Highway 97 and 197.

Looking to stay closer to home? Check out the department of fish and wildlife’s website for more fishing reports. If they haven’t already, anglers should renew their fishing license for the year and review the 2024 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.

Check out the Radlands

Located just northeast of Redmond, the Radlands trail system offers more than 8 miles of rolling singletrack in a fairly open Juniper forest. The trails are similar to Maston in that they are relatively flat with some technical obstacles. The expert-level Duck ‘n Cover trail requires plenty of skill.

At low elevation and with rocky soil, these trails make for a good winter riding option. And they should drain well following the recent snowmelt.

Radlands is also one of the few area trail systems that allows e-bikes. If you’re looking for an easy cruise and great views of the Cascades and nearby Smith Rock, these are primo.

For a full list of conditions updated regularly, visit bendbulletin.com/explore/conditions.

Fire danger is listed as Moderate in the Ochoco National Forests, the Crooked River Grasslands. The Deschutes National Forests and Willamette National Forests fire danger is low.

Industrial Fire Precaution Level has been lowered to 1 as of Sep. 20 in the Deschutes, Ochoco and the Crooked River Grasslands and the Willamette National Forests.

Deschutes River access at Columbia Park is closed due to safety concerns and to prevent further riverbank erosion, as of July 22, 2020. 

Reopening of this access point is dependent on the outcome of the McKay, Miller’s, and Columbia River Access Project. To learn more, visit the project page.