Free snowshoe tours are being offered by nonprofit Discover Your Forest.

The Deschutes National Forest, Mt. Bachelor ski area and Discover Your Forest are teaming up to offer family-friendly snowshoeing adventures starting this month.

The Snowshoe with a Ranger interpretive program is a 1-mile snowshoe hike along Egan Cone (typically called just: “The Cone”) at Mt. Bachelor. Forest Service volunteer rangers will guide participants along trails and provide information on Central Oregon geology, hydrology and winter ecology.

The snowshoe events are available daily from Dec. 23 to Jan. 5 (except Dec. 25 and Jan 1). Hikes are also available Mar. 24-30. These dates coincide with school breaks.

The hikes can also be made the first and third weekends of January, February and March.The hikes begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and last 60 to 90 minutes.

Children 8 and older are welcome. Pets are not allowed on the hikes. No experience is required and snowshoes are provided. Dress for cold weather, including waterproof jacket, snow pants, snow boots, winter hat and gloves. Prior registration is recommended. The program is free although donations to Discover Your Forest, a non-profit, are welcome.

Participants should meet at the U.S. Forest Service snowshoe hut at the West Village at Mt. Bachelor. Check-in begins 10 to 15 minutes before the hike starting time.

Skiers and boarders on the slopes of Mt. Bachelor may also encounter volunteer Forest Service rangers on the Pine Marten lift and some blue runs. These rangers share information about the Cascade volcanoes, biology and hydrology for while on the slopes and the lifts. These programs operate during the first and third weekends January through March.

For more information about the programs contact Laken Bose at 541-383-5557 or laken.bose@discovernw.org.