Mount Bachelor is the largest ski resort in the Pacific Northwest and the sixth-largest in the United States by vertical drop. Sitting on the eastern slope of a dormant shield volcano, it receives deep, dry powder from Pacific storms that cross the Cascades — a different snowpack from the wet snow that falls closer to the coast. The summit reaches 9,065 feet and the views on a clear day extend across Central Oregon's volcanic landscape.
The resort has 11 lifts and more than 100 runs, ranging from long, gentle green runs to challenging expert terrain on the upper mountain. The northwest face gets serious steeps and the Pine Marten Lodge, mid-mountain, is a good lunch stop with panoramic views. In summer, the Summit Express chairlift opens for sightseers and mountain bikers.
The 22-mile drive from downtown Bend up the Cascade Lakes Highway is beautiful and included in the experience. Shuttle buses run from several park-and-ride lots on weekends during ski season.