Snowshoeing Across the Thick Snow Up To Vista Butte! | Mount Bachelor | 4K Winter Central Oregon

This was a Day-Hike Out & Back Snowshoe in Central Oregon, Deschutes National Forest near Mount Bachelor, starting at Sunrise at Vista Butte Sno-Park and ascending 700 feet (from 5900 FT to 6600+ FT) to the Summit of Vista Butte yielding us incredible views across the way of Mount Bachelor! There was no grooved trail formed in the snow, depth was 3 FT to 5 FT, deploying snowshoes and trekking poles was absolutely necessary as I “broke trail” (created a trail) for the entirety of the 700+ FT hiking ascension.

Weather was frigid, particularly with wind chill on the Summit, temperature was 20F with wind chill down to around 11F with occasional minor snow flurries. After the gorgeous surreal salmon sunrise, the sky had some temporary streaks of blue in the morning but the grey ominous clouds dominated the sky in the late morning and early afternoon. This was hiked on 12/21/2021, and there were of course NO Mosquitoes.

As far as road conditions, it's highway to the Vista Butte Sno-Park parking which is essentially just parking on the shoulder of Cascade Scenic Byway and is in great condition, there is no turn off for a separate parking lot! In my opinion, the road most definitely DOES NOT require 4-Wheel Drive, however do watch for road conditions as far as snow/ice and plan accordingly, and do so at your own risk!