Snowbound magic.

Byline: Lewis Taylor The Register-Guard

It's somewhat rare that frozen water vapor actually reaches us here on the valley floor, such as this past week. And when it does, it's usually in the form of slush and doesn't stick around. That's a good thing for some, but for those of us who really love the snow, those crystalline flakes that mostly appear high above town in the Coburg Hills can be tough to look at.

Sure it's pretty, but it reminds us just how close we are to that magical place where the wet becomes white. And yet it's so far out of reach.

Or is it?

The solution to that winter craving, of course, is to head for the high ground. And while you could easily take a trip to the frosted hills near town, we prefer the complete snowbound experience. To us, that means mountains, frosted trees, snowdrifts as tall as Sasquatch and rustic cabins stocked with hot chocolate, well-worn paperback books and board games that have outlived their boxes.

Luckily for you, there are quite a few options.

So if you're one of those people who prefers the rain, stay right where you are. But if, like us, you wish you had more of the white stuff in your life, go ahead and make it happen. Somewhere, right now, there's an empty cabin with your name on it. You just have to know where to look.

Willamette Pass Inn & Chalets

Rustic is not the way to describe the newly constructed chalets at this resort at Crescent Lake. More like clean, solid wood construction with all the comforts of home. Prices range from $130 to $150 a night for the cabins, some of which are privately owned and managed by the innkeepers. There are currently five prefabricated vacation homes on the property. They sleep anywhere from two to six.

"People come for the snow and everything that there is up here," manager Diannne Hedgecock says.

Located nine miles from Willamette Pass Ski Area, the chalets are roughly equidistant from Odell and Crescent lakes and serve as a launching pad for everything from snowmobiling to cross-country skiing. Visitors also have been known to enjoy a little pool and nightlife at nearby Manley's Tavern.

All of the chalets are equipped with kitchens and barbecues, not to mention satellite TV for those who really don't want to get away from it all. And if you like it here a lot, Hedgecock says, you can even buy your own rental chalet. The resort plans to build and sell 17 additional cottages on the property in the coming years.

Clear Lake Resort

Easy to overlook, this small resort is run by the Santiam Fish & Game Association, an 80-year-old, nonprofit group devoted to promoting the "propagation, protection and conservation" of fish and wildlife in the area of Clear Lake. Rates for the resort's nine cabins range from $45 to $60 a night.

Although Clear Lake - fed by a spring that marks the headwaters of the McKenzie River - is a popular tourist destination in the summer, you might have the place to yourself during the winter. The lake does not freeze over and maintains a year-round temperature of 38 to 42 degrees, says Tamara Hamilton, the fish and game association's secretary.

"Winter is actually the best time to go," she says. "The snow's a little bit brighter to deal with than rain. The focus (here) is on peacefulness and quiet, being able to spend time with the family and being able to observe what nature has to offer."

Hamilton says it's not unusual to see bobcats, coyotes and other animals. If you're looking for lots of snow, she says, January is a fine time to go.

The cabins here truly are rustic. During the winter, they run on propane, and the modern cabins aren't even available. Popular activities include fishing on Clear Lake, sledding at nearby snowparks and skiing at Hoodoo, which is 12 miles away.

Crescent Lake Lodge & Resort

This full-service, pet-friendly lodge offers 18 cabins ranging in price from $70 to $205 a night. The cabins are rustic, knotty pine units with electric heat, and although they offer satellite TV (when it's not snowing), you won't find a hot tub on your deck and, "This is not Sunriver," owner Tom Forestelle cautions.

"It's a good family place," Forestelle says. "You're in the mountains, and you're on the lake. The kids enjoy it. We've got snowmen all over the beach right now. There's great snowmobiling. You can take off right from the cabin."

Snowmobiling is one of the more popular activities here - the resort rents machines starting at $95 for two hours - but there's also cross-country skiing and downhill skiing at nearby Willamette Pass.

Roughly the same size as Odell Lake, Crescent Lake has less fishing but more sandy beaches and less wind than its nearby counterpart, Forestelle says. The resort also has a lounge and restaurant, which serves all types of food.

Crescent Creek Cottages

Also known as "the little red cabins on the creek," Crescent Creek offers cozy, clean cottages that rent for $65 to $85 a night. There are five units, all of them different, all of them with a view of the creek.

"It's just the whole idea of being in the woods, the peacefulness of it all," says owner Kerry Ellington. "We have a lot of skiers and snowmobilers. It's just a little piece of paradise."

Located roughly eight miles from Willamette Pass Ski Area, the cottages bring in skiers, snowmobilers and family reunion groups. The small size is part of the appeal, says Ellington, who prides herself on offering friendly service.

And as for why the cabins are red, Ellington isn't quite sure.

"They've just been red for so many years, we keep it that way," she says.

Odell Lake Lodge

The most popular cabins here (cabins 10, 16 and 17) have lake views, but it all depends on what the guests are looking for, manager Joseph Irvin says.

"Most people come up here to go skiing or snowshoeing or to just sit by the fire," he says.

This "not so rustic" resort offers 12 cabins that range in price from $55 to $250 a night, some of them dating from the 1990s. There are no TVs or telephones and all of the units have kitchens. Even so, some guests choose to dine in the resort's restaurant, which serves down-home meals and pies.

The resort offers cross-country skiing on groomed trails "right out the cabin door" and provides nordic ski and snowshoe rentals.

"It's gorgeous," Irvin says. "I can see Odell creek running right outside my window. We were watching a bald eagle sitting outside the restaurant earlier today. You can see Maiden Peak, Willamette Pass. It's all white and the trees are all frosted."

Downhill skiing is also a big draw at Odell Lake Lodge, Irving says. Willamette Pass is just six miles away.

Shelter Cove Resort

The closest resort to Willamette Pass Ski Area, this 13-cabin complex is where many kids and flatlanders get their first chance to play in the snow, resort worker Jeri Sullivan says.

"People are really amazed how beautiful it is," she says. "They can't believe how much snow there is. A lot of kids come up here to play in the snow. I've seen them just jump out of their car and start playing without a coat. You've got to put a coat on."

Coat-less kids aren't the only ones who like it here. The resort appeals to cross-country skiers, snowshoers and lovebirds celebrating their anniversaries. Shelter Cove even played host to a snow wedding several years ago.

"The more it snows, the more calls we get," Sullivan says. "Generally, most of our weekends are full."

The cabins are heated with propane and electricity. Most people bring their own food to cook inside the units, which are outfitted with kitchens. Room rates range from $80 to $250 a night. The most popular unit is cabin A, a true log cabin that, Sullivan says, once stood alongside the nearby train tracks and may have served as a home for a railroad official.

Like all snow resorts, Shelter Cove has seen its fair share of snowmen over the years, but Sullivan says there also have been some other memorable creations. Recently, a group of campers slept in a giant igloo they built. There have been snow beavers, elephants and giraffes.

"I love it when it's beautiful and white and you have snow hanging off the trees," Sullivan says. "You're driving up Highway 58 and they've got the (road) sander going, but when you pull off here, you see nothing but pure white."

SNOW CABINS A 90-minute drive to find cozy cabins and places to play in the snow: Willamette Pass Inn & Chalets: Call [phone] or go to www.willamettepassinn.com Crescent Lake Lodge & Resort: [phone] or go to www.crescentlakeresort.com Clear Lake Resort: E-mail reservations only at: [e-mail] Crescent Creek Cottages: Call [phone] Odell Lake Lodge: Call [phone] or go to www.odelllakeresort.com Shelter Cove Resort: Call [phone] or go to www.sheltercoveresort.com