Group Adventures Near Bend, Oregon
Octane Adventures runs group tours across all 4 seasons and three locations in Central Oregon.
On the ATV side, we put up to 18 vehicles on the trail at once, seating four to five passengers each, which means a single departure can comfortably move 80 people. On the snowmobile side, we run up to 30 machines per wave. For groups larger than either of those numbers, we run consecutive waves and have handled groups well into the hundreds that way.
Summer ATV tours depart from our McKenzie Pass trailhead outside Sisters. Year-round, the Millican Plateau trail system near Powell Butte is where we run the Hidden Canyon tour. Winter snowmobile tours operate at Newberry National Volcanic Monument, 20 minutes from Sunriver. Whatever the activity and whatever the season, we can put your group in brand new Polaris machines and take them somewhere worth talking about.
We work with corporate teams on offsites and retreats, families putting together reunion days, bachelor and bachelorette groups, wedding parties, and anyone else who has more than a handful of people and wants a real outdoor activity together.
Limited Availability. Reservations Required.
Who Books Group Tours With Us
There is no one type of group that calls us. Here is who we hear from most often.
Corporate Teams & Company Retreats
HR managers and office administrators book us when they want their team to do something together that nobody has done before. It is not a ropes course or a brewery tour. Every person drives their own vehicle through the Cascade Mountains or the Newberry Caldera, and the conversation that happens at the trailhead after the tour is very different from anything that happens in a conference room. Groups range from small teams of eight to large company offsites with 25 or more vehicles.
Pairs well with: Sunriver Resort and Brasada Ranch both have meeting facilities and lodging on or near our locations, making it straightforward to build a full offsite day that combines a morning session with an afternoon on the trails.
Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
Bend is one of the top bachelorette destinations in the Pacific Northwest for a reason. There is no shortage of wine and brewery tours. What there is a shortage of is something the whole group can actually talk about on the flight home. Our tours accommodate bachelor and bachelorette groups of any size. You drive your own machine, your guide sets the route, and at no point does anyone have to pretend they are having fun. They actually are.
If your group is experienced and wants to push the pace, ask about a private tour when you call. We can run your group without the standard beginner-friendly pacing and put together a route that matches your group’s energy.
Family Reunions
We accommodate multi-generation family groups well. Our Polaris Xpedition seats five in an enclosed, climate-controlled cab, which is how you get grandparents, parents, and kids into the same vehicle in actual comfort. Younger kids ride as passengers once they can sit upright and wear a seatbelt, typically around 48 inches tall. Drivers need to be 21 or older.
Groups of 30 vehicles are manageable on both the ATV and snowmobile sides. Call us early if you are planning a reunion, summer weekends fill several weeks out.
Wedding Parties
We get calls from wedding planners and couples who want to do something with the full wedding party in the days around the ceremony. An ATV tour the morning of the rehearsal dinner, or a snowmobile day for the winter wedding crowd staying at Sunriver. The logistics are straightforward: we handle the vehicles and the guide, you handle getting everyone to the trailhead on time.
Summer Group Adventures: ATV Tours from McKenzie Pass
(May through October)
Summer group tours depart from our McKenzie Pass trailhead on National Forest Development Road 1510, five miles west of Sisters and 30 minutes from Bend. Every group member drives their own brand new Polaris RZR XP1000 or Polaris Xpedition. Your guide leads in a separate vehicle at the front.
No prior ATV experience is required. Automatic transmission, power steering, Polaris Ride Command GPS built in. Helmets and goggles provided. Orientation before departure gets every first-timer comfortable before the first mile.
High Cascades Scenic Tour | 2 Hours
The 2-hour tour covers the Belknap Crater lava wall terrain, Cascade Mountain range viewpoints, a small volcanic black sand formation, and the volcanic backcountry that makes this trail system unlike anything else in Oregon. It is the right choice for mixed-experience groups or anyone who wants a concentrated, guide-led experience without committing to a full half day.
What is included:
- Brand new Polaris RZR XP1000 (4-seater) or Polaris Xpedition (5-seat, enclosed cab)
- Polaris Ride Command GPS pre-loaded with trail map
- Helmets and goggles for every rider
- Full vehicle orientation before departure
- Professional guide leading the route
Black Sands ATV Tour | 4 Hours
The 4-hour tour covers everything on the High Cascades route and keeps going. The Meadow Lakes basin has more than eight alpine lakes in a single valley that you cannot reach any other way. The volcanic black sand formations on this route are the largest accessible by our trail system and the visual contrast between jet black sand, ponderosa pine, and the Cascade peaks is the image most guests take home. For groups that have a full half day and want the complete picture, this is the tour.
Hidden Canyon Tour | 2,3, or 4 Hours
The Hidden Canyon tour operates at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte, approximately 30 minutes from Bend. It runs March through November, which makes it the most seasonally flexible of the three locations. The route covers old-growth juniper forest on the Millican Plateau before climbing to a panoramic overlook of the Crooked River canyon with Cascade Mountain views across the horizon.
For corporate groups staying at Brasada Ranch, this is the natural pairing. The resort has meeting facilities, lodging, and the trailhead is a few minutes from the resort.
Winter Group Adventures:
Snowmobile Tours at Newberry Caldera
(December through April)
Winter group tours operate from our base across from Ten Mile Sno-Park on Paulina-East Lake Road, 40 minutes from Bend and 20 minutes from Sunriver. We run up to 30 snowmobiles at once with a 6-machine-per-guide ratio for standard tours, and can increase guide staffing for larger groups. Gear rental is available if your group does not have snow gear.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument is not the same as riding snowmobile trails near Mount Bachelor. The terrain here is an active volcanic caldera with Paulina and East Lakes inside it, the Big Obsidian Flow on the rim, and views that do not look like anything on a normal Oregon winter day. For a corporate group or a large party looking for a winter activity that nobody has done before, this is it.
2HR | Scenic Newberry National Volcanic Monument
The 2-hour tour runs at 9am, 12pm, and 3pm seven days a week. It covers the most scenic terrain in the caldera and works well for groups that want a contained, high-impact winter activity without taking the full day. Most first-time riders feel comfortable within the first ten minutes. Your guide covers everything before departure.
4HR | Scenic Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Operates 7-days a week – On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the 4-hour tour includes a stop at Paulina Lake Lodge inside the caldera. The lodge is rustic and sits directly on the lake with the caldera walls surrounding it. Food and drinks are available there, billed separately. For groups that want to make a full event of the day, this is the better choice. Large groups of 8 or more snowmobiles can arrange lodge access on other days by contacting us in advance
2.5HR | Sunset Dinner Snowmobile Tour
Available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The tour times to golden hour on the caldera and finishes at Paulina Lake Lodge for dinner. It runs approximately 2 to 2.5 hours (including Dinner) and is the most popular booking for couples, smaller groups, and anyone who wants something more unusual than a standard daytime tour. Lodge transactions are separate from the tour price.
Private Tours: Your Group, Your Pace
Standard guided tours run at a moderate, beginner-friendly pace because that is what works best for most groups. If your group is made up of experienced riders who want to push harder and move faster, a private tour is the right format. Your group gets exclusive access with a guide and no pace restrictions. Contact us at 541-204-4044 to arrange a private tour and we will work out the details based on your group size and experience level.
Private tours are also available for groups that want to customize the route, extend the duration, or combine locations across a full day. We have run everything from half-day corporate events at a single location to full-day custom programs that hit more than one trail system. If you have something specific in mind, call us.
How Group Bookings Work
What to Expect on the Day
Arrive at your confirmed departure time. Your vehicles will be fueled, inspected, and ready. Everyone completes a waiver, selects their insurance option, and goes through a group orientation covering vehicle operation and the trail overview. The orientation runs about 30 minutes. From there your guide leads the group out. For snowmobile tours, arrive 60 minutes before your departure time to allow for gear fitting.
Gratuity
An 18 percent gratuity is automatically added for groups with more than 8 people and for tours on Holidays. Otherwise, gratuity is not included in the price and is at your discretion. Our guides work hard and appreciate it.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made more than 72 hours before the tour date receive a full refund minus a non-refundable 10 percent booking fee. Within 72 hours, you can reschedule, take an in-store credit, or receive 50 percent of the trip payment back. Cancellations within 24 hours or no-shows receive no refund. Cancellations after 5pm the day prior are treated as no-shows.
Sensible Weather Insurance is available at booking. It allows cancellation for a full refund on the day of the activity if conditions are not what you hoped for.
ATV Tour FAQ
How many vehicles can you accommodate for a group tour?
- Up to 30 vehicles on both the ATV and snowmobile sides. Standard guided tours run with up to 6 vehicles per guide. For larger groups, we add guides to maintain that ratio. Call us at 541-204-4044 for groups over 8 vehicles so we can confirm availability and staffing
Do people need prior ATV or snowmobile experience?
No. The majority of our guests have never driven a side-by-side or a snowmobile before. ATV vehicles have automatic transmission and power steering. Snowmobiles are covered in a full pre-departure orientation. Groups with a mix of experience levels are very common and our guides pace accordingly
Can our group choose its own route or duration?
Standard tours run on set routes for each duration. If your group wants a customized route, extended duration, or exclusive access at a pace that suits experienced riders, a private tour is the right option. Contact us directly to arrange it.
What locations are available for group tours?
McKenzie Pass trailhead outside Sisters for summer ATV tours, May through October. Ten Mile Sno-Park at Newberry National Volcanic Monument for winter snowmobile tours, December through April. Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte for year-round ATV tours, March through November.
What should guests wear for a winter snowmobile group tour?
Snow pants, an insulated snow jacket, waterproof gloves, and snow boots. We provide helmets and goggles for every rider at no charge, including full-face helmets for guests who wear glasses. Complete gear sets are available to rent if members of your group do not have snow gear of their own.
Can you accommodate a mixed group with some experienced riders and some beginners?
Yes. Mixed groups are common. Standard tours run at a pace that works for beginners, which means experienced riders are comfortable but not pushing hard. If you want to split the group, with beginners on a standard tour and experienced riders on a private tour, that is something we can coordinate. Call us to work out the specifics.
How far in advance should we book a group tour?
For groups of 8 or fewer, book as early as you can. Summer weekends fill four to six weeks out. For groups larger than 8, call us at 541-204-4044 as soon as you have a date in mind. We need to confirm vehicle availability and guide staffing for larger groups, and we cannot always accommodate last-minute requests at scale.
Is gratuity included in the group rate?
An 18 percent gratuity is automatically applied for groups with more than 8 people and on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Outside of those situations, gratuity is not included and is entirely at your discretion.