Mount Bachelor Hike Oregon
Want to experience the slopes without the snowboard or skis? Check out the Mount Bachelor hike in Central Oregon! This mountain near Bend, Oregon is a great place for a hike! You can enjoy various viewpoints as you make your way to the summit!
About Mt Bachelor
Mount Bachelor is a dormant volcano located just south of the area of Tumalo Falls in Bend, Oregon. Standing at 9,068 feet, this is one of the few dozen 9ers+ that are easy to check off. If you go in the winter, you can get to the top with little effort (just ride the lift!).
Mount Bachelor is most popular for its colder weather activities. People from near and far come to the mountain to ski or snowboard in the winter. The skiing is comparable to some of the best Idaho ski resorts. However, many people don’t know that it hosts several outdoor activities outside the ski season.
From the late spring through early fall, one can find themselves hiking or mountain biking the slopes of Mount Bachelor. If mountain biking is your thing, go to their website to learn more about how to ride their course. On our hike, we walked parts of the biking trail.
We did a sunset hike, so, we didn’t have to worry about (too many) bikes!
Before you Go
Before you head out to hike to the mountain summit, it’s best to be prepared for the hike. Below are some ways that you can prepare.
- Check the weather conditions before starting your hike. You don’t want to have to turn around due to cold temperatures or snow! Weather can be very unpredictable and extreme at the top of mountains.
- Bring layers. As we made our way up the mountain, the temperature significantly dropped. This is especially important if you’re starting your hike during daylight and finishing in the dark.
- Make sure you bring plenty of food and water for your hike. You’ll be exerting a lot of energy as you make your way to the summit. Make sure you have everything you need to properly fuel your body! Having a hydration pack is a great idea so you can sip as you hike.
Trailhead and About the Mount Bachelor Hike
To access the trailhead, you will want to park in the parking lot next to the West Village Lodge. Mt Bachelor has pretty good signage up. This is helpful if you don’t have AllTrails or if your service is terrible.
The Mount Bachelor Trail is approximately 6.5 miles in and out. The AllTrails rating is hard; but, this is mostly due to the quick elevation gain. Over the course of the hike, you will have an elevation gain of of approximately 2,742 feet.
If you are a sea level hiker, this elevation gain and the altitude may get the best of you. I know it certainly got the best of my sister! She made it about 8,800 feet before calling it quits. She realized on this hike that West Coast mountains are different from East Coast mountains.
The Hike
To start the hike, you will walk up to the West Village Lodge. The trail starts just after this building. You will notice signage that states which way to go for bikes and which way to go for hiking. For the way up, you will want to bear left and follow the hiking signs.
Note, this is the only trailhead accessible for Mount Bachelor at the moment with the ongoing fires in the area. The other trails are accessible from the other part of the mountain that was being used as a staging area for fire equipment.
The first one to two miles is easy. It goes along a service road for equipment used to maintain the ski resort. You will only see 600-700 feet of elevation gain in the first two miles as you make your way through the wooded base of of the mountain.
The third mile is where the challenge begins because you will quickly gain elevation at approximately 1000 feet per mile. This is where the trees thin out and you work your way up parallel to the ski lift.
During this part of the hike, my sister needed to take frequent breaks for hydration, food, and a breather. Be careful on the last 1.5 miles of ascent. There is a lot of loose lava the higher up you go.
As you climb higher, be ready to see some snow! Being on the north and east side of Mt. Bachelor, you will catch some residual snow in the shadows.
As a ‘snow baby’, I always love to see some snow in the summertime! It reminds me of when I snowboarded part of Mount Washington on the 4th of July!
The Summit
When you reach the top of the ski lift, you’re just about at the summit. The ski lift sits at 9000 feet. From there, it’s a short walk to the true summit. The true summit is only another 68 feet up.
At the true summit, you get a stunning 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains. The 360 degree views from the top make it a great place to watch the sun rise or the sun set. When we went, we did a sunset hike.
Why Hike Mount Bachelor
The hike to the summit is well worth the time and effort. There are various spots to get stunning views of the surrounding mountains and landscape as you make your way up the mountain.
When you reach the true summit, you’ll be rewarded with 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. It’s definitely a must-hike!
FAQs
On average, it takes about 4.75 hours. It depends on your pace and whether you’re stopping frequently or not.
No. We were able to just go, park, and do the hike. This is nice because there’s no extra planning when it comes to making sure you can access the trail.
At the summit, it’s 9,068 feet in elevation. So if you manage to hike to the summit, give yourself a pat on the back!
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