Mt. Bachelor Has Special Start to Summer

Mount Bachelor kicked off its summer operations Friday under bright blue skies, and with a rare treat as well — skiing and snowboarding through the Fourth.

A popular tourist attraction every summer, too, the Pine Marten Lodge is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day through Labor Day.

Visitors can take the lift up to go hiking or grab lunch at Scappolo’s Bistro or Pinnacles Caf. The lodge also offers sunset dinners from 5 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Organizers said one of the secret perks of a summer trip up the hill is the education waiting at the top. Interpretive tours are offered every day by the Deschutes National Forest.

“What we try to do is get them involved about the geology and history of Central Oregon,” said Larry Berrin, conservation director of education for the forest. .

Tours run every day for a half-hour, beginning at 11:30 and 1:30 p.m. The best part? They’re free.

“There’s no better vantage point than up there,” Berrin said. “Just being up here, it’s like a textbook to volcanic history of Central Oregon. It’s pretty cool.”

The lift ride up costs adults $16 during the day and $13 for the sunset dinners..