In summer, the Cascades invite you to relax in a grassy meadow by a rushing stream. In winter, they're a frozen fortress whose secrets can be unlocked with a pair of skis or snowshoes. To the north, the Deschutes River, a world-class trout fishery, cuts its way through deep canyons as it flows to the Columbia River from its birthplace in the mountains. To the south, a nearly unbroken blanket of pines unfolds to the horizon. Central Oregon weather is as near to perfect as anyone can reasonably expect.
Humidity levels are low.
Average January temperatures range from a high of 44 degrees to a low of 19. Average high and low July temperatures run from 86 to 41 degrees. Average annual snowfall in Deschutes County, which takes in much of the east side of the Central Oregon Cascades, is about 34 inches. This is Big Country, and there's plenty to explore. And those are just the better-known places.