Portland winter vacation
Portland Oregon is a great winter vacation spot.
Portland is located in the Pacific Northwest, about 2 hours from Seattle and about 5 hours from Portland. It’s known for its beautiful scenery and mild climate, which makes it an ideal place to visit during the coldest months of the year.
If you’re planning on visiting Portland this winter, there are plenty of things to do that will keep you entertained while still taking advantage of the beautiful weather. You can go skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows or Timberline Ski Area; hiking along one of the many trails; or simply walking around downtown Portland and checking out some landmarks like Pioneer Courthouse Square or Powell’s Books.
You can also visit Oregon Zoo or Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI). You can even check out one of the many wineries nearby! No matter what you do, though, make sure you have an amazing time in Portland this winter!
Portland winter vacation
1. Mount Hood
Mount Hood, the tallest mountain in Oregon, has a significant outdoor appeal all yearlong. While hiking and camping reign supreme in the summer months, Mount Hood is a mecca for snow sports come winter.
Mount Hood has five ski resorts utilizing its elevation. One of the largest ski resorts, Mount Hood Meadows, has 11 chairlifts and over 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. Another one of the popular resorts on the mountain, Mt. Hood Skibowl, also features big terrain and over 30 runs illuminated for night skiing.
Another popular ski resort on Mount Hood is Timberline Lodge and Ski Area. This historic recreation area is the only resort in America to offer skiing twelve months of the year. Alongside a year-round snowfield, this ski destination on Mount Hood is also home to the historic Timberline Lodge. This eye-catching 1938 lodge offers an ideal place to cozy up as the snow collects outside.
It’s not all downhill pursuits that make Mount Hood a popular winter destination. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available from several sno-parks surrounding the mountain. Trillium Sno-Park is one such popular destination where groomed trails lead to a shimmering view of Trillium Lake. Other groomed trails around the mountain lead to backcountry cabins, frozen waterfalls, and stunning viewpoints.
2. Oregon Coast
The winter may be the “off” season for the Oregon Coast, but that’s more of a reason to visit for many. Alongside reduced rates on hotels and resorts, the Oregon Coast presents a wild side in winter that’s fun to enjoy. Shoreline storms and seasonal whale watching are just a few of the coastal spectacles seen throughout the winter season.
On the northwest corner of the coast, the seaside city of Astoria borders both the ocean and the Columbia River. This hot spot of cultural history and entertainment is a bit more mellow in the winter. However, several Astoria attractions like museums, restaurants, and a historic riverfront still provide inspiration on a rainy day.
Farther south and 90 minutes from Portland, the cities of Cannon Beach and Seaside also provide great winter destinations. These summer hot spots cool off during the winter and offer better hotel and resort rates. The lack of crowds also lends easier access to indoor downtown Seaside attractions, like the Seaside Aquarium.
Towards the central coast, Depoe Bay is also a popular winter locale for all sizes of mammals. Known as the Whale Watching Capital of the Oregon Coast, this cozy coastal city abuts an excellent vantage point overlooking the ocean. Over 25,000 gray whales pass by Depoe Bay from mid-December to mid-January. An official Whale Watch Week in late December celebrates this great migration.
Farther south, other cities like Coos Bay, Florence, and Brookings each offer a unique slice of coastal getaway. And anywhere along the coast offers winter visitors a laid-back place to avoid snow and crowds of people. Try to snag a room with an ocean view for the best way to watch winter storms roll in.
While not every day encourages exploring outdoors on the coast, winter’s calm days offer a quiet beach hiking experience.
3. Bend
A Bend winter provides the best of both worlds. Located in Oregon’s High Desert, and near the eastern flanks of the Cascade Mountains, Bend makes it possible to snowboard and rock climb on the same Bend winter weekend. This duality of sunny weather and nearby snow adds to Bend’s growing popularity as one of Oregon’s best cities.
Skiers and snowboarders in Bend get their fix at the nearby Mt. Bachelor or Hoodoo Ski Area at Santiam Pass. Other snow sports near the city include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and dogsledding. Even more winter Bend adventures include ice-skating, tubing, and fat biking.
When it comes time to bask in the sun, Smith Rock State Park is 30 miles northeast of Bend. This high-desert landscape caters to rock climbing, with nearly 2,000 designated traditional and sport routes. Camping and hiking are also prevalent throughout the winter. The Misery Ridge Trail is a misnomer at the park and is one of Oregon’s best hiking trails.
It’s not just nature that attracts visitors to Bend throughout the winter. The community also comes alive this time of year. Downtown celebrations occur as always in Bend during winter. And the city’s food scene pairs well with a tasty hot beverage of choice. For educational winter pursuits, Bend’s High Desert Museum is worth a visit no matter the time of year.
4. Crater Lake National Park
The caldera of Crater Lake in southern Oregon is stunning in winter. The contrast of the snow-frosted banks and vivid blue water is simply unforgettable. And winter provides an excellent time to visit Crater Lake with fewer crowds to share the postcard image.
The park receives an average of 40 feet of snow each season. The south and west entrances to the park are open year-round and are plowed throughout the winter as needed. The north entrance of the park and much of Rim Drive remain unplowed and inaccessible to vehicles throughout winter.
The unplowed Rim Drive provides a unique experience for those willing to travel by foot atop the snow. The unplowed road remains open for cross-country skis or snowshoes to tour the rim. Winter travelers on Rim Drive can make an easy out-and-back day trip or pack the cold-weather camping gear for an overnight excursion.
Official Site: https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
5. Portland
The creative culture of Portland doesn’t go dormant in the winter. On the contrary, the city’s pulse thrives in the rainy forecast and short days of the season. Portland’s many cultures blossom come winter. These cultures include, but are not limited to, a vegan culinary scene, a cozy coffee shop scene, and a live music scene.
For bibliophiles and casual book readers, Powell’s City of Books, touted as the largest new and used bookstore in the world, is a must-visit winter destination. It’s an experience just perusing the many titles inside. This famous bookstore is just one of many top attractions in Portland to visit throughout the year.
The Portland Winter Light Festival occurs in February and offers illuminated attractions near the end of the season. This annual event showcases scores of lighted art installations and live street performances. The weekend-long event is family friendly and free to enjoy.
Portland’s plentiful natural spaces are also fun to visit in winter. While nothing is in bloom at the International Test Garden, the surrounding Washington Park still has plenty of natural appeal, with places like the Portland Japanese Garden. When exploring Portland outside in winter, bring along a rain jacket, a warm layer, and shoes that can handle the occasional puddle.
6. Mt. Bachelor
On the eastern flanks of Oregon’s Central Cascade Mountains, Mt. Bachelor provides one of the best ski and snowboard experiences in the state. A dozen chairlifts at the resort provide access to over 4,000 acres of varied terrain. The resort also offers full-service amenities like slope side lessons, lodges, and dining.
What also makes Mt. Bachelor popular is its short commute to Bend. Residents and visitors of this thriving high-desert city can reach the slopes of Mt. Bachelor in less than a 30-mile drive.
Mt. Bachelor isn’t the only notable ski resort in Oregon. Nearby and to the north, Hoodoo Ski Area provides a more local feel on Santiam Pass. Farther south in the state, Mt. Ashland features winter slopes close to Medford. Up north, near Portland, Mount Hood has five distinct snow areas to explore all winter long.
7. Medford & Ashland
Medford and Ashland are two cultural capitals of Southern Oregon. These neighboring cities offer plenty in the way of seasonal entertainment on their downtown streets. But a real appeal to either town is their close access to stunning outdoor winter landscapes.
Medford and Ashland are both gateway communities to Crater Lake National Park to the north. The 90-minute drive up to Crater Lake from either city makes for a perfect day trip to the national park. And in-town comforts like resorts and lodges in Medford or Ashland offer a nice place to stay warm at night.
Another significant winter destination, Mt. Ashland Ski Area, is less than an hour’s drive to the south. This mecca for downhill pursuits features over 40 runs and a free mountain shuttle from Ashland.
Alongside nearby outdoor attractions, both cities also have quaint downtown districts filled with restaurants and shopping. Other in-town interests in the winter include museums, theaters, and the Ashland Carnegie Public Library.
8. Wallowa Mountains
For a more rugged winter adventure, the Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon provide quite the panorama. These inspiring peaks have received the nickname the “Alps of Oregon” for a reason. And come winter, these high mountains inspire the sound of music with outstanding beauty.
The Wallowa Mountains primarily comprise the Eagle Cap Wilderness within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. For those equipped with proper gear and experience, backcountry skiing in the Wallowas provides an unforgettable experience. Places like the Wallowa Alpine Huts add to that extraordinary feeling.
Other winter adventures in the Wallowas include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Both the Clear Creek and Catherine Summit Sno-Parks are popular places for all three activities. Hundreds of groomed and ungroomed trails branch throughout this wintry forest.
9. Columbia River Gorge
Approximately two million people visit the Columbia River Gorge in northern Oregon each year. Only a fraction of these visits occurs in the winter. And the wonderful waterfalls, outstanding vistas, and historic roadways in the gorge don’t disappear this time of year. For those willing to brave colder temperatures, the Columbia River Gorge offers an exciting winter retreat.
Waterfalls are the main point of focus for many trips to the gorge. That’s because this water-rich region is home to the densest concentration of Oregon’s best waterfalls. Most falls, like the iconic Multnomah Falls, run throughout the winter months. Still, the landscape in winter is often surrounded by a pristine snowy white reminiscent of a fairy-tale setting.
A great basecamp in the area is Hood River on the east side of the gorge. Alongside ample coffee shops, restaurants, and boutique storefronts to stay warm, the town is also a gateway to the nearby Mount Hood.
10. Hot Springs in Oregon
Cold weather complements the best hot springs in Oregon. Steam rises across the state, and some of the most popular pools host crowds of people throughout the spring, summer, and fall. These popular soaking spots offer seclusion amid snowbanks come winter.
The lack of winter crowds at natural hot springs in Oregon is thanks to the often challenging means of visiting. Popular hot springs like Umpqua and Bagby Hot Springs are deep in Oregon’s national forests. Unplowed roads and a lack of cell reception make these hot springs inadvisable to visit after significant snow events.
And like Paulina Lake Hot Springs in the Newberry Volcanic Monument, users must travel overland by cross-country ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile to reach the hot water. For those looking for a natural hot spring in Oregon this winter, be sure to check local conditions before making the drive.
An alternative to natural hot springs, Oregon also has a few notable commercial hot springs facilities. Seventy miles from Bend, on the McKenzie River, Belknap Hot Springs is one such facility with a large pool and overnight lodging options. And 80 miles to the north, Breitenbush Hot Springs is a resort and conference center that’s also enticing during winter.
Both resorts offer a hot springs experience without the hike. However, both resorts are also within snow-prone forests, where the weather can impact driving conditions. Contact the hot springs’ authorities before visiting to discuss the best driving options.
