Join us
Learn about your public lands by joining a Forest Service ranger on an interpretive program. Year round opportunities are available on either the slopes of Mt. Bachelor or in Newberry Caldera. Learn more and register for a program below.
Snowshoe with a Ranger
Mt. Bachelor is OPEN for the 2025/2026 season starting December 23!
Learn about the geology, biology, and hydrology of Deschutes National Forest while snowshoeing along the Egan Cone during an interpretive snowshoe hike with a Forest Service ranger. Snowshoe tours offered every other weekend of each month and during school breaks; except for Christmas and New Year's Day. Tours start at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and last 90 minutes. Snowshoes are provided free of charge. No prior experience is needed. Participants must be eight years or older and should dress appropriately for cold weather.
Junior Snow Ranger
Discover Your Northwest and Mt. Bachelor invite families to explore the wonders of the forest and learn about the importance of winter, all while earning a Junior Snow Ranger badge. Families can enjoy this free event hosted at Mt. Bachelor, Sunrise Base Area, and learn together.
The Junior Snow Ranger events are scheduled for January 24, 2026; February 21; and March 14, 2026, from 10 am to 12 pm. Interested families can join forest rangers at the yurt at the bottom of Early Riser chairlift. Outdoor activities include learning how to stay safe in winter, identifying wildlife tracks, understanding the subnivean layer, and exploring snow’s remarkable journey through snowshoeing. If conditions allow, families may also have the chance to examine fresh snowflakes, complete a forest scavenger hunt, and participate in fun, hands-on outdoor learning. The program aims to inspire youth to develop a lifelong connection with the winter environment and become stewards of the land. It is designed as a family-oriented program, and adults are encouraged to join their kids. Families are welcome to drop in or stay for the entire program.
Interpretive Rangers at Mt. Bachelor
Summer: July 5th - September 1st 2025
Winter: December 20th 2025 - March 29th 2026
Enhance your ski, snowboard, or mountain bike day by interacting with a ranger! Roving interpretive rangers can be found riding the Pine Marten lift in winter & at Pine Marten Lodge during the summer. Ask a ranger about the history of Mt. Bachelor volcano or the diverse plants and animals who call Deschutes National Forest home. Participants must have their own lift ticket. No registration required; roving program.
Junior Fire Ranger Festival
More Information Coming in 2026!
Youth ages 6-12 can become a Deschutes National Forest Jr Ranger! Join Discover Your Northwest and Deschutes National Forest Fire Prevention for our first annual Jr Fire Ranger Festival! Learn about the responsibilities of a ranger, Leave No Trace principles, fire ecology, biology and meet Smokey Bear! Jr Ranger Programs are offered in the summer and winter. Dates and times may vary.
Lava River Cave Tours
More information for 2026 will come in 2026.
Explore Oregon's longest lava tube during a guided interpretive hike. Explore Lava River Cave with a ranger to learn about how the cave was formed and who calls it home. Tours are two hours and are available Tuesday - Thursday at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Participants must be eight years or older and should dress appropriately for cold weather. Close toed shoes and a flashlight are required. Flashlights are available for a $7 rental fee.
Summer Programs at Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Learn about the explosive history of Newberry National Volcanic Monument during daily patio talks at Lava Lands Visitor Center. Interpretive rangers share Central Oregon's volcanic past during thirty minute patio talks; daily at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. No registration required.
More Information
Donations are suggested to support Discover Your Northwest in providing educational programs and volunteer support to the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grassland.
Tour size is limited to first-come, first-served without a reservation
Pets not allowed
Group Tours
Group tours for schools, youth, or other organizations may be scheduled.
Available on weekdays
