My Travel Journal

Locals love to go snowshoeing on a winter’s day at Swampy Lakes due to the fact that the park accesses many trails of widely varying difficulty. We suggest Nordeen Loop, a 4.5 mile hike.

Pack a lunch and spend the day hiking Central Oregon’s Cascades to a warming hut named in honor of Emil Nordeen, the rugged Swede who moved to Bend in 1920 and became one of the Northwest’s Nordic pioneers. He co-founded Bend’s first ski club and was twice victorious in the arduous 42-mile Klamath ski race to Crater Lake.

The Nordeen Loop is accessible from Swampy Lakes Sno-Park via a half-mile uphill hike along the Tangent Loop. Signs of winter wildlife abound as the tracks of deer and snowshoe hares crisscross the trail. A quarter-mile later, at the split in the Nordeen Loop trail, follow the north loop to the left and descend gradually two miles to the shelter, which sits on a bluff with views to the south and east, including Newberry Crater and the city of Bend.

The shelter is stocked with wood for a fire, and is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing on the south loop, which leads through a secluded forest 2.4 miles back to the trailhead.

Getting there: From Bend, travel west 16 miles along Century Drive to Swampy Lakes Sno-Park (permit required). For more information call Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District, 541.383.4000. Note: Be sure to read our winter travel guide before heading out!

Where:

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