Once the roads into the high Cascades have been closed for the winter, there are more limited hiking opportunities for Central Oregonians. However, one favorite hike is close to La Pine state park and on the road to Newberry Crater. This is the Peter Skene Ogden trail which follows Paulina Creek all the way to Paulina Lake. Hikers can take the trail as far as they wish, although during winters with heavy snow, it can be challenging and snow shoes would be recommended.
November 2, 2024 was scheduled to be cloudy, but dry. The lower elevations of Peter Skene Ogden Trail had patchy snow, but it was easy walking.
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Two and a quarter miles into the hike, the second large, "twin" waterfall is passed and then the hike steepens until the bridge is reached which crosses over Paulina Creek. Past the bridge the snow deepened and hikers without snowshoes had to post hole in soft snow to get any further.
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The path also steepens past the bridge and there was more accumulated snow. Central Oregon typically doesn't get a lot of snow early November, but 2024 was different with the snow depth on Peter Skene Ogden Trail over a foot at Paulina Falls. With more snow falling and the trees covered in a snow blanket, it was truly a winter wonderland with no other hikers seen. The entire hike up and back was just under twelve miles and over 1500 feet of elevation gain.
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