Oregon Winter Sports

Oregon winters offer all kind of outdoor recreation. From downhill skiing, to storm watching on the coast, Oregon offers a wide variety of winter time outdoor activities.

Some links for your winter enjoyment:

The Oregon Avalanche Information Page is a must for any backcountry winter enthusiast

The Oregon State Police Road Reports will let you know if you can make it to your winter destination

To get to your destination safely, a great site for Oregon Weather

Downhill skiing

Oregon has fantastic downhill skiing available almost all year round. Timberline Ski area and Mt Bachelor Ski area are open most of the year. The other ski areas are usually open from sometime in November until April or May. Use these sites for ski area information and for Oregon ski reports.

Try this site for more Oregon ski area info

Look here for Oregon Nordic skiing info

Hoodoo ski area and surrounding activities

Try the Oregon Ski Page

Crosscountry Skiing

Oregon has miles and miles of Crosscountry skiing. Most of the ski areas have Nordic trails excessable from there parking lots. Almost anywhere in the cascade mountains or the mountains of north east Oregon a person can get into some fine Crosscountry skiing. Nordic skiing has really boomed in Oregon, and the popularity is showing in the mountains in the winter. The passes through the cascades have Sno-Parks that make access easy into the snowy high country. Always be aware of avalanche danger and weather and dress appropriately. Some areas around Mt Hood probably offer the best Crosscountry skiing in the state, but don't be afraid to try other places as well.

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Snowmobiling

Start up that snowmobile and head for the mountains! Just about anywhere east of the cascade mountains you can find outstanding snowmobiling. The Sno-Parks and unplowed roads of the cascades offer miles of riding into some very remote high country areas. Tons of snow falls up here so watch for avalanche danger and weather. The Santiam Pass area and the areas around Mt Hood offer some great snow activities as do most areas around ski areas. The eastern high desert area offers open areas that usually get enough snow to play in. The mountains of eastern Oregon again offer miles of roads to explore.

As a side note: Please do not harass the wintering wildlife you may come across. Winter is a time of survival for these animals and they do not need to be foolishly chased around. Watch and enjoy, but leave them alone.

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Ice Fishing

Now here is an interesting winter pass time only for the adventurous. Who in there right mind would sit out on the ice in below freezing temperatures for hours just to catch fish? Lots of people thats who. Most lakes and reservoirs in eastern and central Oregon freeze during the winter months and create great ice fishing for trout, perch and other species. To name a few of the favorites, Chickahominy Reservoir, Unity Reservoir, Philips Reservoir,and Mann Lake to name a few. Always check ice conditions with the local sporting goods stores and ODF&W offices. Four inches of ice is about minimal for a 200 lb man to fish on. Always check the ice when you head out with an ice bar or "spud" by ramming it into the ice ahead of you. Dress in very warm clothing and head out for a day of great fishing. The fishing techniques very from lake to lake and type of fish so check with the local experts at sporting goods stores for the lowdown.

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Storm Watching

Some people wouldn't think of storm watching as an outdoor sport, but I do! Head to any of the coastal headlands when you hear the weatherman talk of high winds above 40 mph and you will see nature at its powerfull finest. Head to Cape Lookout, Cascade Head, Cape Foulweather, Cape Perpetua, Heceta Head, Cape Blanco, or any other vantage point and watch the ocean in its brutal fury. Storm watching can be, and is dangerous if you don't watch out. DO NOT get too close to the waves on the beach; sneaker waves carrying driftwood logs could come smashing down on you. It is best to stay away from the water and watch from a high vantage point. Another place to watch the powerfull waves of the Pacific Ocean is from the parking areas along Highway 101 in the town of Depoe Bay. Here the waves will often cross the highway, but you will only be hit with the spray. The winds in a bad storm can reach over 100 mph on the Oregon coast so safety should be a top priority. Travel as little as possible by getting a motel in one of the many coastal towns. Stay in your car if you are having trouble standing in the wind; you don't want to find yourself tumbling over a cliff or into the ocean surf. If you don't think storm watching can be exciting, just give it a try and see just how thrilling it can be!

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Wildlife Watching.

Now here is a winter sport that everyone in the family can enjoy. Observing migrating waterfowl or wintering big game can be fun and educational and you can do a lot of it in Oregon. With many Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Areas around the state, a person with binoculars and a field guide can spend all day watching the many birds and wildlife that call Oregon home in the winter. If big game is your call, drive to either Jewell or Dean Creek elk viewing areas. Hundreds of elk call these meadows home all year, but the viewing seems to be best in the winter and early spring. When traveling, watch alfalfa fields just after sun rise in the morning along many highways, especially in the coastal mountains Elk are frequent visitors to farmers fields along most highways in the winter.

For the person looking for waterfowl and other migrating birds, just about any water hole in Oregon will offer you opportunities. Sauvies Island, Baskett Slough, E.E. Wilson, and Fern Ridge are a few of the wildlife areas you will want to look at seriously. Thousands of ducks, geese, and swans make their way through the Willamette Valley each winter. Redtail Hawks are also common along the roadsides this time of year. On the east side of Oregon, Klamath Lake and Malheur Lake offer great waterfowl watching.

For the more adventurous, take a whale watching cruise out on the Pacific Ocean. Gray Whales migrate along the Oregon coast and are one of natures most amazing animals.

There are many more areas to view wildlife in Oregon during the winter. A little exploring will reveal your own private observation area.

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