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February, 2025

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Oregon Trip Advice

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RRhighrider
Posts: 2143 - Karma: 1,158
In about a month I am taking a trip from Central California to Oregon. I have a truck camper and plan on staying in it with my wife and dog for the duration of the trip. We have Powder Alliance passes and plan to ski Mt hood Ski Bowl and Timberline. Then visit Portland and Cannon Beach before returning home.
-Is it worth spending time in Bend? I am debating staying in Bend or just driving to Indian Head Casino before arriving at Mt Hood Ski Bowl.
-Has anyone stayed overnight in snoparks? If so, which would you recommend near Timberline.
-Is it worth skiing Mt Ashland on our way back? We will have to buy tickets
-Any other advice, the plan is very flexible, and we are both planning on taking a week plus one day off work.

The plan
-Leave after work on Friday and make it as close to Redding as possible.
-Saturday drive to Bend or Indian Head Casino.
-Sunday and Monday ski Mt Hood Ski Bowl staying in the parking lot.
-Have a rest day and stay at Mt Hood RV resort.
-Wednesday and Thursday Ski Timberline stay in snopark.
-Thursday night Portland staying at Columbia River RV.
-Friday night Cannon Beach RV Resort
-Saturday stop at Tillamook Cheese Factory and maybe visit a friend in Corvallis
7 years ago
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,892
Bend and central Oregon are great, bachelor is a great mountain, but if you already have passes for hood I'd see why you'd drive up there to ski. If you want to ski somewhere on the way back for cheap, Willamette pass is a great underrated small mountain with 50 degree tree runs
7 years ago
2 0
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OregonDead
Posts: 7005 - Karma: 25,750
Bend is probably not worth it unless you are going to ski Bachelor.
Bachelor is sweet though but Bend is nothing special except that it is close to cool volcanic terrain (mountains lakes rivers caves etc.)
Corvallis is a cool little town with some smaller breweries and good food etc. If you just want to hang out you might find a better vibe there.
Mt. Hood is more expensive for groceries etc. the higher up you go. Hoodland Thriftway in Welches is the last stop for regular grocery prices. Sandy has lots of stores with everything.
Tuesday night is ladies night at Skibowl so if conditions are good you could just rest Tuesday morning and have an inexpensive night ski session Tuesday night. Skibowl has the best night skiing.
Thrifty Thursday at Hoodoo on the Santiam pass. A very cool cinder cone with super sick terrain. Worth checking out if it happens to be a good ski day.
Cannon beach area is really nice check out Ecola state park and also hug point and Oswald West State park for good beaches in addition to Haystack rock.
7 years ago
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mtbakerpow
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 927
Bend/hood river/crater lake all worth while areas.lost lake campground is pretty cool lil spot.so much along the coast to see!
7 years ago
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mtbakerpow
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 927
Also terrebonne(smith Rock)
7 years ago
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Zypher
Posts: 2337 - Karma: 2,268
If you like small town vibes and beer, Bend is a go to place. Deschutes, 10 Barrel (might be closed for renovations rn), worthy, brewing, the lot, bend brewing co and more are located in town as breweries and pubs. Also there’s a bunch of shops downtown and in the Old Mill district if you wanted to walk around and have downtime. IMO, worth a check out on your way to govy camp or on your way back from portlandia
7 years ago
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TinyTigers
Posts: 484 - Karma: 213
Although you've got the powder alliance pass, Bachelor is definitely worth skiing, much better than Hood. Meadows good skiing too, but I know neither of those line up in your pass.. I'm just not a fan of Timberline unless it's in the spring or summer. Ski Bowl is sick as fuck tho. Also, crater lake is really cool and would be on your way!
7 years ago
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RousedWits
Posts: 387 - Karma: 894
For Ski bowl, watch the forecast for rain... I hear they call it "toilet bowl" because it rains often...

In government camp the "huckleberry inn" has given many people I know food poisoning... But they do have good milkshakes.
7 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7005 - Karma: 25,750
Waterfalls. I kinda take it for granted so I forgot to mention it. It's the reason why the Cascades got their name. When it's rainy at Mt. Hood I like to take my picnic into a cave behind a waterfall. Falls in the gorge are the most famous because of how close they are super close to the highway but I don't think many trails are open because of the big wildfire last summer and the resulting instability. There are tons of more remote falls that are super cool if you search them out. Just do your research on road conditions etc. to make sure the gates are open and your vehicle can handle it. Silver Falls State Park is the best collection of falls on one trail. The place probably would have been a national park if politics had played out a little different. The canyon trail has 3 different waterfalls that have those cool caves where you can walk behind the waterfall.
7 years ago
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RRhighrider
Posts: 2143 - Karma: 1,158
We ended up buying a house and remodeling in 2018 so 3 years later we are actually going to ski Oregon. Our itinerary is leave Friday 3/5, arrive at Mt Hood Ski Bowl and afternoon/night ski Sunday. Monday and Tuesday ski Timberline and Ski Bowl. Wednesday go see Multnomah Falls. Thursday Ski Hoodoo before going down the 101 to see the Coast. Any tips or insight to these areas is much appreciated If anyone wants to ski some laps with a couple mid 30s skiers who don't ski much park anymore let me know.
4 years ago
5 0
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RRhighrider
Posts: 2143 - Karma: 1,158
Ending up going to Silver Falls State Park after Mt Hood and it was one of the best parts of the trip
OregonDeadWaterfalls. I kinda take it for granted so I forgot to mention it. It's the reason why the Cascades got their name. When it's rainy at Mt. Hood I like to take my picnic into a cave behind a waterfall. Falls in the gorge are the most famous because of how close they are super close to the highway but I don't think many trails are open because of the big wildfire last summer and the resulting instability. There are tons of more remote falls that are super cool if you search them out. Just do your research on road conditions etc. to make sure the gates are open and your vehicle can handle it. Silver Falls State Park is the best collection of falls on one trail. The place probably would have been a national park if politics had played out a little different. The canyon trail has 3 different waterfalls that have those cool caves where you can walk behind the waterfall.
4 years ago
1 0
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elcheapo
Posts: 3449 - Karma: 13,982
Always wanted to meander around in the wallala mountains some summer
4 years ago
2 0
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