You all know Elf on a Shelf, that mischievous prankster prowling homes to report back to Santa whether you’ve been naughty or…well, let’s stop there. 

While this red-clad spy makes rounds in Bend, we’ve got spinoffs more suited to Central Oregon’s unique character. This holiday season, we present to you…

Everything is better outside, like outdoor yoga at Mt. Bachelor.

Flow in the Snow

Nearly anything worth doing in Bend is better outside. 

(Here’s where I’ll wreck this fresh air fantasy with a Leave No Trace reminder that Wag Bags are an important tool for pooping outdoors. Shall we continue?)

The “better outside” rule holds especially true with yoga, whether you’re attending Bend Yoga Festival or enjoying an outdoor yoga hike with R’oming Yoga. But how about when snow flies? Believe it or not, it’s a thing. 

The fine folks at Mt. Bachelor often host yoga events when bluebird skies make it possible to practice outdoors. Is it chilly? Maybe a bit. But the payoff is a unique yoga experience you won’t soon forget. Keep an eye on their calendar for future dates.

It’s also fun to flop down your mat at any Sno-Park near Bend. Make sure you’re far removed from tracks set aside for snowshoers, skiers, sledders, and snowmobiles, and I don’t advise flowing through your vinyasa in a parking lot where cars might crush you. Kinda kills the zen, yanno?

But if Bend’s crisp winter air calls you to twist yourself into a pretzel, rest assured you can heed that call outdoors.

The road to the top of Pilot Butte is closed to cars each winter—making this the perfect urban hike right in the middle of town.

Look cute on the Butte

Want to know my favorite thing about Pilot Butte in wintertime? No freakin’ cars!

Which means I can choose to hike up the dirt path and down the paved road or vice versa to shake up my routine.

And from the top? Views of the snow-capped Cascades are quite literally jaw-dropping (no joke, I sometimes drool) from atop this 500-foot cinder cone in the center of town.

For Bend visitors, I always recommend a trek up this dormant volcano early in one’s trip as a means of orienting oneself to the city’s layout. It’s also an epic spot for a Bend selfie with your choice of backgrounds from a 360-degree array of options.

While I’m never a fan of doin’ it for the ‘gram, this is one spot where your instagram pic can really shine. #smile #volcanohike #feltcutemightdeletelater #Idontunderstandhashtags 

Shiver by the river

In Bend’s warmer months, the Deschutes River chugs through town with her merry cargo of happy rafters and families bobbing in bright inner tubes.

And while that’s a jovial picture, there’s something charmingly peaceful about the pace of winter on Bend’s picturesque river. 

On a cool December’s eve, nothing says “walkin’ in a winter wonderland” like a stroll by the Deschutes with a warm mug of cocoa or a peppermint latte from your favorite Bend coffee shop. Bundle up in mittens and scarves to watch holiday lights sparkling on the surface. If it’s icy outside, a pair of microspikes can help keep you safe.

Then stroll straight to the stores in Bend’s Old Mill District or Downtown Bend for some last-minute holiday gift shopping.

Blogger Tawna and her husband seek shelter from the wind in the pine forest around Meissner Sno-Park.

Duck breeze in the trees

This one’s a stretch and I almost didn’t include it. But here’s a story:

A few years back when the spouse and I splurged on upgraded snowshoes, we drove up to Meissner Sno-Park with a windstorm flinging fistfuls of snow from all directions. We knew odds weren’t good we’d have nice enough weather to test out our new gear, but figured we’d stomp around the parking lot—a plan that seemed doomed when a gust nearly ripped the car door from my hand. 

We nearly turned around. Instead, we strapped on our snowshoes, soldiered a few hundred feet to the trees, and were instantly rewarded by the calmest, most tranquil forest scene ever witnessed outside a Disney flick. Seriously, it was almost eerie.

But that peaceful interlude amid the holiday chaos is a memory I’ve cherished for years. It’s also a reminder that when Bend’s winds blow, it doesn’t mean you need to skip outdoor play (though please, for the love of all things holy, stay home if road conditions seem unsafe or you’re not adept at winter driving).

Bottom line, Bend’s dense forests make an excellent spot to escape a windy day!

Be sure to pack your WAG Bag—the loo is bound to be buried deep in the snow pack this time of year.

Pick up litter in the sh**ter

Just making sure you’re paying attention. 

Um, please don’t do this. Even Leave No Trace has its limits.

Swing by the Bend Visitor Center for your Leave No Trace sticker sheet.

Embrace Leave No Trace

But hey, since you’ve read this far, now’s a nice time to share that I got a peek at the official, legally-binding document Santa Claus uses to determine who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. Ready for it?

Everyone who followed Leave No Trace principles in the past year while recreating outdoors officially made the nice list. Congratulations!

And if you didn’t? Um, please see the task above this one. That’s your penance. 

Happy holidays, friends! Watch out for those sneaky elf spies.