Riley Ranch Nature Reserve is a destination in all four seasons, just as the Bend park district hoped for when it opened the 182-acre park in 2018.

We may have been teased by springlike conditions this week, but this weekend, things start to cool down a bit.

This is a great time to check out trails and parks in and around Bend. Trips to some of the city’s outdoor spots are great for days when the weather can change quickly or if you simply need a few minutes outside. Plus, if you get hungry, you’re never too far from a food cart or local restaurant.

For a full list of conditions updated regularly, please visit centraloregonexplore.com

Hiking and Day Use Sites

NOTE: There is substantial snow in area sno-parks, and all summer trails have snow on them. While the Forest Service doesn’t close these trails during the winter, summer trails are only accessible by snowshoeing, cross country skiing or snowmobiling due to accumulated snowpack. And remember, many of these trails are along seasonally closed highways that are unplowed and cannot be accessed by car or foot. Know the current conditions and you and your cars abilities before heading out on any adventure.

See forest websites for more details and restrictions.

Deschutes National Forest

• Aspen Day Use: Open
• Benham East Trailhead: Open
• Benham West Trailhead: Open
• Bessie Butte Trail: Open
• Besson Day Use: Open
• Big Eddy Day Use: Open
• Boyd Cave Day Use Area: Open
• Dillon Day Use: Open; snow
• Dutchman Trailhead: Open; snow
• Edison Trailhead: Open; snow
• Horse Butte Trailhead: Open; snow; light deadfall above Swamp Wells
• Lava Butte Interpretation Viewpoint: Open; snow
• Lava Cast Forest Trailhead: Open; snow; NW Forest Pass required
• Lava Island Day Use: Open; snow mud and ice
• Lava Lake Day Use: Open; snow mud and ice
• Lava Lands: Open; snow mud and ice; visitor center closed for season, trails open; patchy snow and pine needles may exist on surface; heavy use on weekends
• Lava River Cave — Show Cave: closed for season
• Meadow Picnic: Open
• Meissner Trailhead: Open
• Metolius-Windigo: Open; snow
• Phil’s Trailhead: Open; trail closures include Voodoo Trail from the northern junction with Ben’s south to the junction with Phil’s Trail; Ben’s Trail from the junction with Forest Road 4610 to the junction with FR 4601-300 and Pine Drops/Whoops; Storm King open between Phil’s Trail and FR 4615 but remains closed between FR 4615 south to the junction with COD; some snow
• Rimrock Trailhead: Open
• Sun Lava Trailhead: Open; patchy snow; heavy use on weekends
• Swampy Lakes Trail: Open
• Tumalo Falls Trailhead: Open; Road to Tumalo Falls closed for the season; snow and likely blowdown on Swampy Lakes Trail and upper portions of Bridge Creek
• Tumalo Mountain: Open; snow

Bend Park & Recreation Trails

• Alpine Trail: Open
• Big Sky Park: Open
• Cascade Highlands Trail: Open
• Central Oregon Historic Canal Trail: Open
• Coyner Trail: Open
• Deschutes River Trail — Awbrey Reach: Open
• Deschutes River Trail — Old Mill Reach: Open
• Deschutes River Trail — Pioneer Reach: Open
• Deschutes River Trail — River Run Reach: Open
• Deschutes River Trail — South Canyon Reach: Open
• Discovery Trail: Open
• Haul Road Trail: Open
• Larkspur Trail: Open
• Outback Trail: Open
• Pine Nursery Park Trail: Open
• Riley Ranch Nature Reserve Trails: Open
• Rockridge Park Trail: Open
• Sawyer Park Trails: Open
• Shevlin Park Trails: Open
• Stone Creek Park Trail: Open
• West Bend Trail: Open

Bureau of Land Management

• Badlands Rock Trail: Open
• Dry River Canyon Trail: Open
• Derrick Cave: Open
• Flatiron Rock Trail: Open
• Huntington Wagon Road: Open
• Oregon Badlands Wilderness Tumulus Trail: Open
• Tumalo Reservoir: Open

Oregon State Parks

• Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint: Open; road closed for winter
• Tumalo State Park: Open

Ski areas and sno-parks

Updated 10 a.m. March 23

• Hoodoo: Open; 83.1-inch base
• Mt. Bachelor: Open; 106-inch base
• Willamette Pass: Open; 70-inch base

Updated 10 a.m. March 23

Deschutes National Forest

• Crescent Lake Sno-park: Open; 24-48 inches; good conditions
• Crescent Junction: Open; 24-48 inches; good conditions
• Dutchman Sno-park: Open; 100-120 inches; good conditions; limited parking/no overnight camping; 40-foot max length limit for vehicle/trailer combination; expect heavy use all the time; no dogs
• Edison Butte Sno-park: Open; 42-54 inches; good conditions with hardpack snow; area roads closed to highway vehicles Dec. 1-March 31
• Kapka Butte Sno-park: Open; 54-84 inches; good conditions; area side roads closed to highway vehicles Dec. 1-March 31
• Meissner Sno-park: Open; 30-42 inches; good conditions; area roads closed through April 1; no dogs
• Skyliner Sno-park: Open; gate/road to Tumalo Falls is closed for the season; road is ski/snowshoe trail
• Swampy Sno-park: Open; 54-72 inches; good conditions; no dogs; area roads closed to highway vehicles through March 31
• Vista Butte Sno-park: Open; 48-84 inches; good conditions; no dogs
• Wanoga Snow Play: Open; 48-60 inches; good conditions with hard snowpack; expect heavy use all the time; area roads closed to Highway vehicles Dec. 1-March 31; pack home broken sleds and all trash
• Wanoga Snowmobile: Open; 42-60 inches; good conditions; area roads closed to highway vehicles through March 31
• Newberry (Six Mile Sno-park): Open; 6-12 inches; fair conditions due to low snow
• Newberry (10 Mile Sno-park): Open; 39-60 inches; good conditions but thin coverage; Road 21 beyond 10 Mile closed to vehicles for winter season
• Three Creek Sno-park (Lower): Open; 6-12 inches; fair conditions due to low snow
• Three Creek Sno-park (Upper): Open; 24-36 inches; good conditions
• Walt Haring Sno-park: Open; 24-36 inches; good conditions

Camping

Deschutes National Forest

• China Hat Campground: Open; no campfires

Cycling

Fatbike & Winter Trails

• Tumalo Creek: Rideable snow
• Horse Butte: Muddy
• Wanoga Outer Loop, Wanoga 3 PSI, Maston: Riding well
• Deschutes River Trail: Ice
• Ben’s, MTB, Kent’s Trail: Variable

East of Bend trails

• Holy Loop: Rideable snow
• Horse Ridge Area: Variable
• Parkway, Escape from Moscow, Has No Horse, Sand Canyon, Swamp Wells: Muddy
• Dry River Canyon: Closed
• All other trails riding well

Phil’s Trail Complex

• Some trails are closed weekdays until 3 p.m. Friday
• Storm King open between Phil’s Trail and FR 4615 but remains closed between FR 4615 south to the junction with COD
• Ben’s Trail closed from the junction with Forest Road 4610 to the junction with FR 4601-300 and Pine Drops/Whoops
• Voodoo Trail closed from the northern junction with Ben’s south to the junction with Phil’s Trail
• Kent’s, K.G.B., Ticket to Ride-South, Expressway, Kent’s: Ice

Ben’s, Ticket to Ride-North, M.T.B., Marvins Garden: Muddy

• All other trails under deep snow

Wanoga Trail Complex

• Tyler’s Traverse Trail between the junction with Larsen and the junction with FR 4130: closed
• Duodenum between the junction with Tyler’s and the junction with Royal Flush: closed
• Deschutes River Trail: Ice
• All other trails under deep snow

North of Skyliner trails

• Northfork: Rideable snow
• Shevlin: Variable
• All other trails under deep snow

Swampy Lakes trails

• Tumalo Creek: Rideable snow
• All other trails in deep snow

Mt. Bachelor

• Bachy West XC: Deep snow
• All other trails closed

Fishing

Updated at 10 a.m. March 23

• Middle Deschutes (Benham Falls to Lake Billy Chinook): 3,710 cfs; brown trout, rainbow trout; no recent report; artificial flies and lures only, no limit on brown trout
• Upper Deschutes at Benham Falls: 446 cfs; rainbow trout, brown trout; anglers report good rainbow and brown trout fishing below Wickiup Dam
• Tumalo Creek: 1.52 cfs; rainbow trout

Fire danger is currently listed as Moderate in the Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River Grasslands. It is listed as low in the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests.

Industrial Fire Precaution Level has been lowered to 0 as of Nov. 1 in the Deschutes, Ochoco and the Crooked River Grasslands. It is still at a level 1 in the Willamette National Forests.

As of July 22, 2020 Deschutes River access is closed due to safety concerns and to prevent further erosion to the riverbank. The access point will be closed until further notice. For more information visit bendparksandrec.org

• The Monument Area will be closed to climbing beginning January 18th, 2022.

• The Canyon Trail near the Bald Eagle nest is restricted to travel in groups of 4 or less, and noise needs to be kept to a minimum.

• Peregrine and Prairie Falcon climbing closures will go into effect at a later date.

• A park-wide ban on drones is in effect for remainder of nesting season.