Celebrating more than a century of forest management, the Deschutes National Forest runs along Central Oregon’s Cascades-from the Mount Thielsen Wilderness at its southern tip to the Mount Jefferson Wilderness the northern point. The Deschutes National Forest encompasses nearly 1.6 million acres, offering year-around recreation opportunities.

During the winter months, a wide-range of snow sports are possible across the forest. You can choose from skiing and snowboarding at world-class Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort or snowshoeing and Nordic skiing at one of our various sno-parks. Or perhaps you’d prefer to head out to Crescent Lake or Dutchman’s Flat on the back of a snowmobile. You can do all of these things and more when the Deschutes National Forest is blanketed in snow!

Whether you prefer to explore on an ATV, spin through the trees on a mountain bike, take a leisurely ride horseback or hike to the top of the highest peaks, summer in the Deschutes National Forest has something for you. The Deschutes River, and others, offer endless opportunities for whitewater boating, while a large collection of lakes play host to canoes, paddle boards, kayaks and motorized water sports. And don’t forget the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, boasting more than 54,000 acres of lakes, lava flows, and spectacular geologic features. No trip to Newberry Volcanic National Monument is complete without a trip to the top of Lava Butte, a cinder cone home to an operating fire lookout at its peak.