An Overview of Oregon Ski Resorts
There are 11 major Oregon ski resorts, each with their own unique mix of runs and slopes. The following is a list of the ski areas with a matching description:
- Mt Hood Meadows
- Hood Skibowl
- Cooper Spur
- Timberline Lodge
- Hoodoo
- Willamette Pass
- Bachelor
- Ashland
- Spout Springs
- Warner Canyon
- Anthony Lakes
Oregon Ski Resorts near Mount Hood
Some of the most popular ski resorts in Oregon are located around Mount Hood. Cooper Spur is to the northeast of the summit off of Route 35. On the southern slopes of Mount Hood are the Meadows and Timberline Lodge. Mt. Hood Skibowl is farther west, located along Route 26.
Mount Hood Meadows covers 2150 acres of skiable land with six high speed quad lifts and five standard double lifts. The double black diamond Superbowl skiing area has 1700 vertical feet that leads into the steep slopes of Clark Canyon.
Timberline Trails is the only ski resort in Oregon open for skiing 12 months a year. They have 3690 vertical feet of skiing located on the southern slopes of Mount Hood. A series of express quad lifts lead from the base to the peak of the ski area located at 8540 feet above sea level. If you are a fan of Stephen King, the Timberline Lodge was the setting for the Stanley Kubrick movie, The Shining.
Cooper Spur is a year round resort that features skiing in the winter. There are ten runs over 50 acres with one run designed for tubing. With only 350 vertical feet, this location is great for a weekend getaway for couples looking to accent their vacation with skiing.
The Skibowl is a fantastic family lodge with a dedicated ski area for kids and winter tubing. Weekend nights highlight the largest night time ski party in the country and Cosmic Tubing. A pull lift pulls you up the slope on your tube so you don’t have to climb. Add in black lights, 600,000 LED lights, laser shows and music, and you have a tubing party.
Mount Bachelor and Surrounding Area
Mount Bachelor is located in the middle of the state along the Cascades. Located about 80 miles East of Eugene and 150 miles southeast of Portland, Bachelor and the surrounding area provide some of the best family-friendly skiing in the state.
Hoodoo is at the top of Santiam Pass just north of Mount Bachelor. Hoodoo has a lot of open skiing from the groomed runs at the front to the deep powder at the back of the butte, there is something for every level of skier. There are over 800 acres of skiing with a drop of just over 1000 feet.
Willamette Pass is south of Mount Bachelor and has 29 runs. Willamette has the only high speed six pack in Oregon, making it a favorite destination for thrill seekers. From the top of Eagle Peak, skiers have the choice of zipping down the north face along some challenging runs or taking the easier trails on the southern face. There are also three dedicated half pipe and terrain runs and tubing at the base of the south face.
Mount Bachelor has trails on all of its faces, with something in it for everyone. New lifts are being installed and more than 500 new acres have recently opened. If you’re looking for undiscovered country in your skiing, Mount Bachelor is the resort for you. 88 runs with a 4 mile run over 3365 feet of vertical and 3683 skiable acres makes this park one you’ll be visiting for a long time.
Rocky Mountain Skiing
The Rockies brush through the northeast corner of Oregon and the mountains make for some excellent skiing. Spout Springs is located in the Blue Mountain region and has 250 acres for skiing. This is a family friendly place with well-groomed slopes and easy runs, perfect for the beginner.
Anthony Lakes is located northwest of Baker City and has 1100 acres of beautiful ski country open for exploration. The alpine skiing is beginner friendly with four runs, but the intermediate and expert runs shine at Anthony Lake. 900 vertical feet over a 1.5 mile run makes this mountain a joy to visit.
Southern Oregon Ski Resorts
Located along the California border is Mount Ashland. This resort features 220 acres for skiing with 23 runs and an open bowl. The vertical drop is just over 1150 feet. The mountain is more geared for the advanced skier with over half the runs categorized as advanced.
Just north of the Nevada/California/Oregon T-border is Warner Canyon. With 21 trails, the longest just over a mile and one triple chair lift, this resort is aimed at the weekend enthusiast with some experience under their belt. 11 of the trails are rated as advanced or expert, and the Lakeview area remains a local hotspot for weekend day trips.