Mt. Bachelor to cut ribbon next week on resort’s first easy hiking, downhill biking mixed-use trail, Evergreen
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Mt. Bachelor, a ski and snowboard resort seeking to further grow its summertime "off-season" activities, announced Thursday that is set to open its first mixed-use trail, Evergreen, designed for a "mellow experience" of easy two-way hiking and downhill biking.
Here's their full announcement:
Mt. Bachelor Opens New Mixed-Use Trail For Hikers, Downhill Bikers
On Thursday, August 1 at 11:30 a.m., outdoor recreationists can celebrate the grand opening of Mt. Bachelor’s first mixed-use trail, Evergreen, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, swag giveaways, free drink tokens, and guided hikes and interpretive naturalist chats at the top of the trail, located near Pine Marten Lodge.
Evergreen is the newest attraction to the resort’s slate of summer activities and marks the first designated easy hiking and downhill bike trail, spanning just under 4.5 miles from the West Village base area to Pine Marten Lodge. The project began in 2022 and was made possible through Visit Bend’s Sustainability Fund and in partnership with local nonprofit, Discover Your Forest.
“The new Evergreen hiking & biking trail at Mt. Bachelor provides an experience rivaling nearby peaks without needing a Wilderness permit,” said Jeff Knapp, Visit Bend’s CEO. “With ample parking and plenty of resort services and amenities, this project is a great example of what’s possible when public and private groups unite to improve our community. Visit Bend is honored to have had the opportunity to leverage room tax dollars to invest in these new trails, in collaboration with Discover Your Forest and Mt. Bachelor, which will be open to the public and free of charge.”
Visit Bend, Discover Your Forest and Mt. Bachelor have been long-term partners in providing high-quality, year-round recreation and access for locals and visitors alike. The construction and completion of Evergreen exemplifies the joint efforts to enhance access to the outdoors for users of all skill levels and abilities.
"Discover Your Forest and Mt. Bachelor have collaborated for over two decades to enhance outdoor recreation experiences in the Deschutes National Forest,” said Karen Walsh, Executive Director of Discover Your Forest. “We are thrilled to see this project come to fruition, as it highlights our continued dedication to creating, stewarding, and restoring the Central Oregon landscapes vital to our community and a sustainable future."
With an average grade of 5% and measuring approximately 4-6 feet in width, this trail promises sweeping views of surrounding mountains and lakes without the necessity of navigating off-camber terrain, large rocks, stairs, or steep pitches. Evergreen allows two-way traffic for hikers and downhill traffic for bikers.
“This trail is a great option for young families, sightseers and casual mountain bikers,” said Dustin Smith, Mt. Bachelor’s Director of Mountain Operations. “It was intentionally built to offer an introduction to Mt. Bachelor trails, and a mellow experience for all ability levels.”
Additionally, Evergreen will help relieve growing pressure on local wilderness areas along the Cascade Lakes Highway and provide an alternative to trails where permit systems have been implemented. As Central Oregon’s population and visitation continue to grow, Mt. Bachelor is committed to stewarding critical, desirable and stable outdoor recreation options for the community.
Hikers may choose to hike up and down Evergreen for free, or purchase a Scenic Chairlift ticket or pass to ride the lift up and hike down, for a more mellow experience. Outplay 365 Passholders and 2024/25 Season Passholders can enjoy unlimited scenic chairlift rides as part of their passholder perks. Uphill bike travel is not permitted at Mt. Bachelor. A valid Bike Park ticket or pass is required to ride a bike down Evergreen.
Mt. Bachelor offers seven hiking trails with no permit required for access. For more information about Mt. Bachelor’s summer offerings, hours of operation, amenities, and trail maps, visit www.mtbachelor.com.
About Mt. Bachelor: Mt. Bachelor is the premier ski area in the Pacific Northwest, offering 4,323 acres of lift-accessible terrain with 360-degree descents from its 9,065’ volcanic peak. The mountain resort is served by three carpets and 12 lifts, seven of which feature high-speed quads and one new high-speed 6-pack lift. Mt. Bachelor also features 15 Woodward Mountain Parks, 56 km of groomed cross-country trails, snowshoeing, and sled dog rides. Summer attractions include downhill mountain biking, ZipTour ziplining, and whitewater rafting with Sun Country Tours. Mt. Bachelor is part of POWDR, a family-owned and operated Adventure Lifestyle Company©. For more information visit www.mtbachelor.com.
