What's in the February 2025 Bend Premier Newsletter?

• 2025 Bend Home Sales Have Started With a Bang
• Rich Chocolate Mousse
• Transforming Your Home Into the Ultimate Hangout Spot for the Big Game
• Lower Chush Falls in Winter is Stunning
• Time in the Market Beats Trying to Time the Market

What's in the January 2025 Bend Premier Newsletter?

• More Inventory and Moderate Price Increase the Norm in 2024
• Creamy Mushroom Pasta
• Cozy Ideas to Transform Your Living Room This Winter
• Hike Smith Rock for a Winter Challenge
• Get Ready to Sell a Home in 2025

The Burma Road, Summit Trail, Misery Ridge Loop Can be Challenging

For those looking to undergo a challenging Central Oregon hike when the Cascades are covered with snow, Smith Rock State Park can provide many options. Typically very busy in the summer when rock climbing is at its peak and the weather warm, winter hikes in Smith Rock can be rewarding with fewer crowds and different perspectives of the rocks. Before sections of the park are shut off in the spring due to falcon nesting, hikers can explore little known social trails and see portions of the park rarely visited. However, for those who wish to exert themselves, hiking along the Wolf Creek trail until connecting with Burma Road, climbing it and then hiking the north side of the park along the Summit Trail, then up Mesa Verde until connecting with Misery Ridge and climbing the backside past Monkey Face to the summit until returning down to Crooked River and then up the canyon to the parking lot can be a fulfilling winter hike of over six miles and close to 1800 feet of elevation gain. During the winter, sometimes weather conditions can create icy patches, so microspikes and trekking poles can be helpful. But if the weather cooperates, the Burma Road, Misery Ridge Loop can be a wonderful challenge.

Hike to Paulina Falls in the Winter for a Unique Experience

Once the roads into the high Cascades have been closed for the winter, there are more limited hiking opportunities for Central Oregonians. However, one favorite hike is close to La Pine state park and on the road to Newberry Crater. This is the Peter Skene Ogden trail which follows Paulina Creek all the way to Paulina Lake. Hikers can take the trail as far as they wish, although during winters with heavy snow, it can be challenging and snow shoes would be recommended.

November 2, 2024 was scheduled to be cloudy, but dry. The lower elevations of Peter Skene Ogden Trail had patchy snow, but it was easy walking.

Two and a quarter miles into the hike, the second large, "twin" waterfall is passed and then the hike steepens until the bridge is reached which crosses over Paulina Creek. Past the bridge the snow deepened and hikers without snowshoes had to post hole in soft snow to get any further. 

The path also steepens past the bridge and there was more accumulated snow. Central Oregon typically doesn't get a lot of snow early November, but 2024 was different with the snow depth on Peter Skene Ogden Trail over a foot at Paulina Falls. With more snow falling and the trees covered in a snow blanket, it was truly a winter wonderland with no other hikers seen. The entire hike up and back was just under twelve miles and over 1500 feet of elevation gain.

What's in the November 2024 Bend Premier Newsletter?

• Bend Home Prices Up in October
• Green Bean Casserole
• November Home Fixes Not to Forget
• Hiking Tam McArthur Rim to No Name Lake in the Fall is an Experience
• Why Buying Now is Worth It