16 Ways to Spend Winter in Oregon

Winter in Oregon is an underrated time to visit. If you come to Oregon in the summertime, you’ll find that everywhere will be much busier. For good reason, Oregon summers are beautiful don’t get me wrong there. But winter in Oregon is beautiful!

The Oregon Coast has less people, the Volcanoes are incredible to ski on, and waterfalls are flowing with abundant water. Perhaps its the local in me finding the good in a wet, long winter, but as you see below, it is stunning!

I’ve lived in Oregon for over 11 years and know the best places to visit, and the best ways to spend winter in Oregon. On this blog post I will have something for everybody, even if snowshoeing into the backcountry isn’t for you!

In the summertime, houses on the Oregon coast are going to be the expensive to rent. As a local, I love visiting in the winter time as vacation rentals are more readily available. Even better, prices are lower! Not only that, the Willamette Valley is blanketed with rain and fog November-March. Often times the Oregon coast can be the best place to escape and find sunshine.

Snowshoeing is a great way to get some exercise and submerse yourself into the sunshine and snow capped Douglas Fir trees. Plus, its a great activity for all ages. Rent snowshoes at a local gear shop such as Bergs in Eugene or Pine Mountain Sports in Bend Oregon. A great way to look for snowshoe trails is to head to All Trails and search where you will be, and hit the winter hike tab. My favorite areas are: Sisters, Willamette National Forest, and Mount Hood.

Bend Oregon is the ultimate winter destination to visit. Not only is the fresh mountain sunshine air so lovely, the views are epic! Mount Bachelor has incredible snowboarding and skiing, Smith Rock is has world class rock-climbing, and the restaurant and bar scene is incredible. Want to enjoy the desert side of Bend? Take the scenic drive to the Painted Hills, one of the seven wonders of Oregon. Really, opportunities to eat, explore, and unwind are endless in Bend.

Winter in Oregon always means cross country skiing for locals. The Willamette Valley is full of world class backcountry nordic trails. If your looking for groomed nordic tracks, head to HooDoo Ski Resort, Willamette Pass, Virginia Meissner Sno-Park, and Mount Bachelor. If you want to backcountry nordic ski, head to Todd Lake in Bend, Potato Hill, Ray-Benson Sno Park Loop, Crater Lake, or Trillium Lake.

Clear Lake in Oregon is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the wintertime. Especially on a sunny day, the turquoise blue water is bright and beautiful next to the snow. Plus, in the winter you can hike or snowshoe around the lake depending on snow levels. Typically January-March is the best time to experience snow here.

Oregon is full of snowboarding resorts to experience. Head to Mount Bachelor and hit the slopes on your trip to Bend. Head to smaller, no frills resorts such as Hoodoo or Willamette Pass. If your in Portland, head to Mount Hood and experience Ski Bowl, or Timberline Lodge or Mt. Hood Meadows both iconic with gorgeous views!

Pro-tip: if your visiting during the week buy your lift tickets in advance to save money and sometimes score tickets for as low as $19!

Portland is the largest city in Oregon to visit and a great place to fly into. Explore the food scene, which is highly rated among the Pacific Northwest. Explore local parks such as Mount Tabor, Laurelhurst, Washington Park, and the Japanese gardens. Take public transportation and submerse yourself into the charming neighborhoods of the east side of Portland.

It is rare that Silver Falls State Park experiences snow in the wintertime. But on the rare occasion that it does, I advise you avoid the park because of snow and ice making the roads more dangerous and the trails quite slippery. Winter at Silver Falls is excellent because of all the rainfall we get making them even more beautiful! Plus, it is a great day trip from Portland.

My personal favorite, rent a cabin in the woods and escape for a weekend. I’ve got lists to choose from: Dog friendly rental cabins in Oregon, romantic cabins in the Pacific Northwest, and more to choose from on my blog! I advise booking the more popular cabins close to Bend and Mount Hood a couple months in advance, especially for weekend stays. I use booking sites like VRBO and Airbnb.

Pro-tip: look for the cabins listing on social media first, they may have direct booking links with less fees!

In the foothills of the Willamette Valley, most of the trails won’t have snow, making them accessible year round. Exploring waterfalls or Oregon coast trails below 3000 feet are a great way to get outside and move your body in the cold months. Don’t forget to pack your favorite Merrell hiking boots for the trail as proper footwear is important to keep your feet dry and comfortable.

Wineries in Oregon are open year round! Cozy up with a glass of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and a cheese board inside a warm winery. Enjoy the mountain views and relax with family and friends, or take a wine tour! Either way, your bound to have a memorable experience and go home with delicious wine.

In mid-December to mid-January there is whale watching available on the Oregon coast as the Humpback whales are making their way south. While you can watch them yourself (by luck) in places like Depoe Bay, the best way to up your chances is by taking a boat to see them. Be sure to dress warm and wear layers!

Visit Lincoln City and Depoe Bay to experience King Tides safely. King Tides happen three times throughout the winter time: Novmeber 15-17, December 13-15, and January 11-13. These days can vary slightly year over year so be sure to plan ahead if your traveling specifically to see them. Proceed with caution and stay away from rock faces during this time!

Winter is the best time to visit Oregon Hot Springs. Take a hike in the wet rainforest, and warm your bones in a hot bath in the outdoors, yes please!! Be mindful of changing conditions at hot springs such as Bagby and Umpqua, where they can get snowfall making travel impassible or dangerous. Be sure to drink plenty of water and be mindful to soakers by sharing space politely and limit soaking times if others are waiting.

Treehouses are abundant in Oregon due to the Treehouse Master being based out of Southern Oregon at the infamous Out ‘n’ About Treesort. Since its inception, his design has been used by many different builders around Oregon. Staying in a treehouse is a great way to get into the trees (literally!) with the entire family. Some of my favorites include: Treehouse Paradise, and Heartland Treehouse.

If your in the Portland area, that is a wonderful place to take off on a scenic plane ride with Envi Tours. See Oregon from the sky, fly over Mount Hood, Portland at night, or go even further and see the Cascade Mountains up close! Prices can range from $60 a person to $140 a person! Pro-tip: Go during golden hour and sunset!