AREAS CLOSED TO DOGS
Dogs are prohibited in congested winter recreation areas and trails north of Cascade lakes Highway including Dutchman Flat, Todd Lake, Big Meadow, Tumalo Mt, Swampy lakes, Miessner and Vista Butte. With a permit, controlled working dogs in harness are allowed on groomed snowmobile trails only. Trails which may be used include all snowmobile trails (orange diamonds) north of Cascade lakes Highway from just south and east of Todd lake to the snowmobile underpass just east of Vista Butte snopark. Free permits may be obtained from the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District office.
Dog drivers must keep dogs under physical control at all times. While on trails, dogs must be in harness and attached to a sled or a skijorer. Avoid collisions and conflicts with other users of the area. Remove dog waste from snopark areas.
AREAS OPEN TO DOGS
The area and trails south of Cascade lakes Highway (except for Mt.Bachelor Ski Resort slopes and trails). This includes Edison and Wanoga snoparks and trail systems. Also, Skyliner snopark and trail system are open to dogs. Permits are not required in these open areas but dogs should be either physically restrained or under verbal control at all times.
For further information please call the Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District at (541) 383-5300.
CENTRAL OREGON TRAILS
With the hope of keeping things fun and fresh for your dogs and yourselves, the following is a summary of a some of the areas available for training and recreational skijoring close to home. With the exception of Dutchman Flat where specific dog regulations apply, the remainder of areas described in this listing do not restrict dogs. See Dutchman Flat listing for details.
Volunteers from the Snowmobile Clubs groom all major snowmobile roads once or twice each week depending on conditions. Heavily used trails are given priority and are groomed more frequently.
There is some good information regarding trails and regulations on the Internet at the Deschutes National Forest site under “winter recreation” and many of the maps listed below can be printed from there. The following maps correspond with this summary.
- Moon Countrv & Sisters Sno-Go-Fers Snowmobile Club Man (hereafter called “Moon Country Map”) Available at local snowmobile businesses and USFS offices
- Winter Ski Trail Guide A packet of nordic trails maps that includes Dutchman, Edison, Skyliner, and Newberry Crater. Available at USFS offices in Bend and Sisters.
- Three Creek Lake Nordic Trails Available from Sisters Ranger Station
- Sisters District Nordic Ski & Snowmobile Trails Covers Three Creek Lake, McKenzie Pass, Ray Benson, and Corbett. Not highly detailed. Available from Sisters Ranger Station.
- Santiam Pass Trail Map Groomed Trails (Oregon State Snowmobile Association, 1-888-567-7669) Covers Ray Benson and Corbett; includes trail names and #5 Available from Sisters Ranger Station.
- Newberry National Volcanic Monument Available at local snowmobile businesses or USFS offices
- Walt Haring Sno-Park Trail map Available from Chemult Ranger Station
RAY BENSON SNO-PARK | HWY 20: HOODOO TURN-OFF | ELEV. 4800′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile roads, skier tracked nordic trails |
Maps: | Sisters District map, Santiam map |
Suggested Trails: | Choose your distance; available snowmobile roads are 3.5 mi., 6 mi., 9 mi. and 12 miles in length |
Comments: | Terrain includes gentle ups and downs. Be alert for occasional loose dogs and sled teams. |
CORBETT SNO-PARK | Hwy 20: WEST OF SISTERS | ELEV. 4600′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile road and trails, skier tracked nordic trails |
Maps: | Sisters District map, Santiam map |
Suggested Trails: | Main road out is groomed and connects with lower Ray Benson. This road splits off to lesser groomed roads with access to more rolling terrain. |
Comments: | Generally quieter than Ray Benson with more skiers and less snowmobiles. |
MCKENZIE PASS AREA | HIGHWAY 242: JCT. @ WEST END OF SISTERS | ELEV. 4000′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile roads, skier tracked nordic trails |
Maps: | Moon Country map, Sisters District map |
Suggested Trails: | Not highly recommended |
Comments: | Grooming is less consistent than other areas. May lack snow, especially on exposed curves. Because of wind and snow drift, surface tends to be slanted or banked. This can make for difficult terrain. Offers great views. Junctions with the Cross District Trail which connects with Santiam Recreation Area (11.8 mi.), Three Creek Area (1 8.9 mi.) and finally, Dutchman Flat area. |
UPPER THREE CREEK LAKE SNO-PARK | USFS 16 FROM SISTERS | ELEV. 5000′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile road, skier tracked nordic trails |
Maps: | Three Creek Lake Nordic Trails, Moon Country map, Sisters District map, Santiam map |
Suggested Trails: | Main road goes 5 miles up a moderate grade. Accesses Cross District Trail (17 mi. one-way to Dutchman Flat) For experienced nordic skiers, single-track trails of varying length connect with portions of groomed snowmobile roads and can make for an interesting and more challenging outing. Be sure to take your sno-park map if you decide to try this! |
Comments: | This area is nice because it receives relatively light use. Main road terrain is all uphill going out and all downhill coming back. Ski trails are intermediate to advanced and because of light use, trail finding can be challenging. |
SKYLINER SNO-PARK | TUMALO FALLS RD FROM GALVESTON ST/BEND | ELEV. 4700′ |
Trail Types: | City of Bend snow-cat-packed road and skier tracked nordic trails |
Maps: | “Skyliner Sno-Park Area NORDIC SKI TRAILS” (USFS) |
Suggested Trails: | Fun to skate Tumalo Falls Road to the picnic area and back. Approximately 5 miles round trip. Gentle terrain. |
Comments: | Grooming is rough packed but can be skated. Good “on-by” practice area. There are often lots of dogs around, many off leash. Because of lower elevation, snow cover can be too thin at times. |
DUTCHMAN FLAT SNO-PARK | CENTURY DRIVE (USFS 46) | ELEV. 6250′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile roads |
Dog Regs.: | Controlled working dogs in harness permitted on snowmobile roads only. Dogs not permitted on nordic trails. |
Map: | Moon Country map, “Dutchman Flat Area NORDIC SKI TRAILS” (USFS) |
Suggested Trails: | Century Drive to Todd Lake Jct (Approx. 5 mi.- Intermediate) Trails 5 to 8 (Moon Country map) To Ball Butte and back (Approx. 7 mi. — Advanced) Trails 7 to 8 to S (Moon Country map) Around Tumalo Mountain (Approx. 10 mi.– Advanced) Trail 5 to 6 to 7 (Moon Country map) |
Comments: | More reliable snow because of elevation. Nice views of the Sisters. Tie-ups for 6 dogs available at Dutchman Sno-Park. Sno-Park can be very congested on weekends and holidays and parking is limited. Popular for snowmobiles, use caution especially on blind turns. |
WANOGA SNO-PARK | CENTURY DRIVE (USFS 46) | ELEV. 4800′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile roads and trails |
Maps: | Moon Country map |
Suggested Trails: | Trail 5 out and back (gentle terrain, mostly flat) Trail 3 to 2 makes a short loop back to Wanoga Sno-Park (mostly up, then mostly down) Trail 4 to 25 to 5 makes a 5-mile loop (gently terrain) |
Comments: | Closest area to Bend for running dogs. Snowmobile rental operation in parking area. Heavy snowmobile use. Best avoided on busy weekends and holidays. Use caution! |
LOWER EDISON SNO-PARK | USFS 45 | ELEV. 4500′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile road, skier tracked nordic trails |
Maps: | Moon Country map, “Edison Area NORDIC SKI TRAILS” ((3SFS) |
Suggested Trails: | Main road (Trail 2 on Moon Country map) is groomed and the terrain is gentle. This distance is as long as you would like (see Moon Country map). Pondo Loop (3.5 mi.– Intermediate) or Easy Tie (0.9 mi.– Easy) nordic trails are options for single-track skijoring. See the USFS Edison Area Nordic Ski Trails map. |
Comments: | Lower Edison is not as heavily used as other sno-parks. Good practice area. Occasional loose dogs. Parking is in a pullout along the highway be careful). Lock your car as some break-ins did occur this year. Upper Edison trails not conducive to skijoring (steep, twisty and narrow). Lots of loose dogs at Upper Edison. |
10-MILE SNO-PARK | NEWBERRY NATL. VOLCANIC MONUMENT | ELEV. 5200′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile roads and trails, skier tracked nordic trails |
Maps: | Newberry National Volcanic Monument map, “Newberry Crater Area NORDIC SKI TRAILS” |
Suggested Trails: | Main road from 10-Mile Sno-Park (Trail #1, Newberry Mnmt. Map) is well groomed and wide. Three miles one-way to Paulina Lake. |
Comments: | Snowmobile rental operation at parking area. Better avoided on busy weekends and holidays. Snowmobile club recommends sticking to wider snowmobile roads for safety. |
WALT HARING SNO-PARK | S. HWY 97: CHEMULT | ELEV. 4750-5200′ |
Trail Types: | Machine groomed snowmobile roads and trails |
Maps: | Walt Haring Sno-Park Trails |
Suggested Trails: | Any and all |
Comments: | A favorite training area for folks in La Pine and south of Bend. Grooming and trails conducive to running dogs and skate skiing. |