Meissner Shelter Loop
Hike details:
Mileage: 3 mile loop w/ 310 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 1 hour 18 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: High on weekends, low on weekdays
Highest elevation: 5,433 ft. Lowest elevation: 5,180 ft.
General location: 13 miles southwest of Bend - Deschutes National Forest
Suggested seasons: Winter
(Best time to go is January & early February for best snow conditions).
Permits required: Sno-park pass is required from November 1 - April 30
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: Snowshoes, cross-country skis. DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED HERE!
Possible dangers: N/A
Approximate hike time: 1 hour 18 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: High on weekends, low on weekdays
Highest elevation: 5,433 ft. Lowest elevation: 5,180 ft.
General location: 13 miles southwest of Bend - Deschutes National Forest
Suggested seasons: Winter
(Best time to go is January & early February for best snow conditions).
Permits required: Sno-park pass is required from November 1 - April 30
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: Snowshoes, cross-country skis. DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED HERE!
Possible dangers: N/A
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Description: Virginia Meissner sno-park is the closest sno-park to Bend and it has miles and miles of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. The beauty of this particular sno-park is that it has designated groomed cross-country ski tracks and separate trails for snowshoers. This causes less friction between the two outdoors sports. A reminder, there are also no dogs allowed at Virginia Meissner.
If you are here to snowshoe, there are a bunch of awesome loops and out and back trails you can go on. There is a large map of all the trails posted by the parking area, or you can download the PDF onto your phone before heading out. Virginia Meissner sno-park is close enough to Bend that it does have about 2-3 bars of phone service (depending on the weather). One of the longest is the loop that passes by the Meissner shelter. This loop begins a little bit behind the main warming hut at the parking area. You will see a blue diamond with a yellow snowshoer on it, which signifies that you are on a designated snowshoe trail. There are a few variations of this loop you can take, the shortest one being 1.5 miles, and the longest one - which is described in this write-up - is 3 miles. If you are an avid hiker but new to snowshoeing, keep in mind that even if you regularly hike 7-10 miles, your snowshoeing mileage should be cut in half. Snowshoeing is very different than hiking and much more difficult, exhausting and slower than hiking. |
(Click the map to get the PDF)
There are also difficulty markers near the start of each trail. Most of the trails at the sno-park are pretty easy, but there are some difficult ones, like the trail to Nordeen shelter. This 3-mile loop is very easy and takes you through beautiful forest of lodgepole pine trees, some of which are covered in bright green lichen. It is usually very quiet in the forest, especially when the snow is falling. There are quiet a few trail junctions along the way, but everything is well signed, so just continue following the sign to Meissner shelter.
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About 1.5 miles into your snowshoe trek, you will see some openings through the trees to your right. If it is good weather there is a view over towards the Tumalo Falls area. This snowscape and the hills beyond, would make a great place to take some snowy pictures without blocking the trail. The trail will trend uphill for another 0.4 miles and then you will arrive at Meissner shelter. This enclosed log shelter has a wood stove inside, and kids frequently build snow caved outside in the snowdrifts that fall from the roof. If you are here on a blue bird day, you can catch views of Broken Top from here. Because the shelter sits on a little bit of an open hillside, it can get really windy and cold up here sometimes!
(Meissner shelter at the end of February 2021)
After taking a little break at the shelter and enjoying the view, it is an easy and pretty straight 1.1 mile trek back to the trailhead. The trail undulates a bit and ultimately comes to a rise as you see the parking area again. Here you can decide if you've had enough for the day, or if you want to do another short trail. If you do, trekking up to the Nordeen shelter is also a neat 1.2 miles round trip trail to check out, although it is rated as a difficult snowshoe trail because of how steep it is.
Whether you are just here for a half day snowshoe, or you are here with the kids to enjoy some snow cave building, or you want to get in all the miles by checking out various routes and trails, Virginia Meissner snow-park has a lot to offer for folks of all experience levels. If you are going on a weekend day, get there early, as this snow-park fills up fast! Weekdays are better, and if you're there in the early morning, there are frequently no other snowshoers there.
Pro tip: Be careful when you're putting your gear into your car at the snow-park parking area. The grey jay birds are very curious and they try to scavenge any bit of food they can. They will even fly into your car, picking crumbs from your floor board if they get the chance to. So don't leave any food out for them to grab, and keep your car doors closed if you can.
Whether you are just here for a half day snowshoe, or you are here with the kids to enjoy some snow cave building, or you want to get in all the miles by checking out various routes and trails, Virginia Meissner snow-park has a lot to offer for folks of all experience levels. If you are going on a weekend day, get there early, as this snow-park fills up fast! Weekdays are better, and if you're there in the early morning, there are frequently no other snowshoers there.
Pro tip: Be careful when you're putting your gear into your car at the snow-park parking area. The grey jay birds are very curious and they try to scavenge any bit of food they can. They will even fly into your car, picking crumbs from your floor board if they get the chance to. So don't leave any food out for them to grab, and keep your car doors closed if you can.
(The view from Meissner shelter)
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Directions:
From Bend
- Drive SW Century Dr. (which then becomes the Cascade Lakes Highway) for a total of 13 miles, then turn right at a sign for Virginia Meissner Sno-Park. (Total of 13 miles)
- Total of 142 miles via Bend.
- Total of 145 miles via Bend.
- Total of 189 miles via Bend.
- Total of 178 miles via Sunriver and NF-45.
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: The trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.