It was a bluebird day when six friends and I gathered at the far edge of Dutchman Flat, near Mount Bachelor. There hadn’t been much fresh snow, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. Whatever the conditions, we were giddy with anticipation for the adventures ahead.
If it were summer, we’d be on the shoulder of the Cascade Lakes Highway, watching cars whiz past toward a multitude of lakes, trails and summits. But with its gate closed for winter, the unplowed road has transformed into a snow-lover’s playground.
A Trip to Elk Lake Resort in Winter 2026
This year, thanks to Elk Lake Resort’s new emphasis on trail grooming, the area is more accessible than ever for cross-country skiers. With its new state-of-the-art PistenBully 400 snowcat, the resort is consistently grooming the 11-mile, mostly downhill stretch from Dutchman Flat to the lake, plus a 7-mile loop around it.
When the snowcat churned up to us, leaving perfect corduroy in its wake, we loaded overnight bags into the cab, which also has room for guests to ride inside. We stepped into our skate skis and set out to traverse one of the most scenic landscapes in Central Oregon. We paused near Sparks Lake to take in the panorama of peaks from South Sister and Broken Top to Mount Bachelor. We glided past hillsides of black volcanic boulders topped with snow and through forests of pine and fir.
It wasn’t all downhill—the few rolling ascents were enough to make us appreciate arriving at the lodge. We cozied up to a woodstove and gave the lodge pups, Ace and Tex, scratches behind their ears. It was time to enjoy a well-deserved beverage, just as folks have done at Elk Lake for more than a century.
A Bend Landmark, Reinvigorated
Since the Wilcoxen family built the first Elk Lake lodge in 1921, Bend locals have flocked to the resort’s shores. The resort has survived wildfires and droughts, added all-season cabins and amenities, and has changed ownership several times. In 2025, a group of Bend families purchased Elk Lake Resort with the shared vision of updating the facilities while preserving its history and rustic spirit.
“Our goal is to restore this iconic resort and elevate the experience, with a focus on responsible stewardship of the lake,” said Ken Natoli, co-owner and assistant general manager.
That meant upgrading infrastructure, blending new fixtures to match old logs and historical decor, and overhauling the kitchen. The new food and drinks menu incorporates locally sourced products, and keeps old favorites like elk chili and burgers. The renovation held surprises, too, like uncovering an original stone fireplace in the back of a storage room. Now cleaned and restored, that fireplace serves as a touchstone to the past and a focal point in the lodge.
Unlike other local areas, Elk Lake’s groomed trails are open to snowmobilers, as well as snowshoers, fat-tire bikers and dog-sledders. Trail etiquette encourages everyone to stay aware of other users and slow down as needed. Preserving the grooming is part of trail etiquette too, especially as more skiers join the mix.
“In past years, no one thought the Nordic ski community would support this lodge, so grooming trails was not a priority. We’re betting they will. So far we’ve seen a lot of enthusiasm,” said Natoli. And with a full calendar of events, including ski-in, shuttle-out moonlight dinners, Elk Lake is now on a must-do ski touring list.
Expanding the Map of Local Groomed Trails
Steve Roti, president of Meissner Nordic Ski Club, and Tina Pavelic, a Nordic ski instructor, have seen growing enthusiasm for adding skiable miles, beyond the trails at Meissner Sno-Park and Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center. All three areas post grooming updates on Nordic Pulse, an app specific to ski trail conditions. With more local options online, skiers can compare conditions and make the most of their time on the trails.
As Roti noted, the High Cascades often have a prime quality and quantity of snow. “Because Elk Lake sits in the center of the Cascades, the area holds more snow than on the east slope—far more than at Meissner, even though the elevation of Elk Lake is lower than at Meissner,” he said.
For Pavelic, skiing into Elk Lake brings a different perspective. “It’s more like a European ski experience, skiing point-to-point through a spectacular landscape, ending at a warm lodge with food, and the option to shuttle back. Also, these trails are perfect when training for long-distance races,” she said.
Skiers can expect the same wide, rolling trail conditions on the 7-mile loop around the lake. Ski in a clockwise direction, and the wide, open trail ascends gently before unfolding through dappled shade, which can get icy. Ski counter-clockwise for punchier hills and easier descents. Either way, watch for the sign to Hosmer Lake, about midway on the loop. It’s worth the walk along the short ungroomed spur to check out the lake and the view of Mount Bachelor.
Adding 18 miles of groomed trails puts Bend on a par with renowned Nordic ski areas like Galena, Idaho, and Winthrop, Washington, according to Roti.
“We’ve now exceeded 100 kilometers of groomed trail with varying steepness and difficulty. That’s the standard for top-tier destinations, but this one is close to home.”
What Else to Do at Elk Lake Resort in the Winter
Skiing is not the only way to break a sweat at Elk Lake. Behind the lodge, close to the frozen lake, sits a barrel-shaped, wood-fired sauna. More than an antidote to post-ski chills, spending time in the intense, steamy heat relaxes sore muscles, lowers stress and promotes deep sleep.
During our weekend at Elk Lake Resort, my group of friends reserved the sauna for a late afternoon session, after a ski around the lake loop. The sauna benches were big enough to hold the seven of us, and we ladled water over the hot rocks for a rush of steam. Through the sauna’s window, we watched the lake’s ice glow lavender in the twilight. But what really caught our attention was the hole cut into the ice, just a short walk away.
Twenty minutes into our sauna session, the cold plunges began. Dashing across the ice, taking a deep breath, we jumped into the waist-deep icy water, dunking as deep and as long as we could stand it. Skin tingling, spirits lifted, we’d return to the sauna for more heat. The sauna session left us both invigorated and calm, warmed from the inside out, connected to this lake in a new way.
The next morning, we walked out beyond the cold plunge hole to the middle of the lake, where the ice was thick and free of snow. A soft booming sound echoed from below the surface, a tuneful moan like whales singing. One friend recognized it as the sound of the ice itself, expanding and changing.
Back at Dutchman Flat, we glanced down the trail we came from. A ribbon of corduroy gleamed in the sun, offering an invitation to return to Elk Lake and the deep connection to nature, now more accessible year-round.
More About Elk Lake Resort
