My local favorite backcountry ski area this past winter and spring was along and between the Swampy Lakes Nordic ski trails. The Swampy Lakes Sno-Park/Trailhead is located at 5800 feet in elevation. It is just north of the Cascade Lakes Highway (Highway 46) about 16 miles west from Bend.
Living in Bend, I have a lot of options for local backcountry skiing. Several Sno-Parks are nearby with a network of Nordic ski trails leading out from each. At higher elevation Swampy Lakes typically offers better skiing conditions than those at the lower elevation Virginia Meissner trail system.
Yet Swampy Lakes is better protected in stormy weather than areas higher and nearer Mount Bachelor. During weekends and holidays the Mount Bachelor highway traffic can be very heavy. It is helpful to get out of highway traffic lower than higher towards the Bachelor Nordic Center.
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