Mount Hood Meadows Skiing & Snowboarding
Resort Guide
Mount Hood Meadows Ski & Snowboard Resort is one of the three ski areas on Mount Hood. While Timberline Lodge may be the go-to area in the spring and summer, Mount Hood Meadows has the best variety of terrain that can be skied all year long. The base elevation of 4,523’ is high enough to keep the temperatures cool, and keep Mt. Hood Meadows ski conditions light. Only a 90 minute drive from Portland and skiers and snowboarders have 2,150 ski able acres at their disposal. Variety is the key at Mount Hood Meadows, with some great trees and glades to ski and snowboard, as well as lots of family and beginner friendly access. When the weather allows, there is an additional 1,700 acres of hike-to terrain with some seriously steep skiing and snowboarding. Like the rest of the Mount Hood ski areas, there are not many on-hill lodging, however, Hood River is only a 40 minute drive.
A total of eleven chairlifts provides skiers and snowboarders with a vast array of terrain, and 2,777’ of vertical drop. From the main base area, there are seven chair lifts that serve the lower mountain area. These lifts have something for skiers and snowboarders of every ability. The front bowls offer advanced skiers and snowboarders some sheltered tree riding with lots of little powder stashes to be explored. The Cascade chair serves mostly intermediate terrain with its wide open slopes making for some great skiing and views on a clear day. Mount Hood Meadows has night skiing and snowboarding on 140 skiable acres as well.
The Heather Canyon area is almost like another ski area all together. This ski area can be accessed from the main parking lot, or from the HRM parking lot, and Hood River Express quad chair. With vast advanced terrain, skiers and snowboarders must enter through the designated gates in Heather Canyon, Clark Canyon, and Private Reserve. These areas offer a full range of terrain from steep chutes, to cliffs and trees. Following big snowstorms, this is the spot for advanced skiers and snowboarders to find those deep powder turns.
The Buttercup chairlift out of the base area gives beginner skiers and snowboarders their own area to practice their skiing and snowboarding skills. As their confidence grows, most of the other frontside lifts have at least some beginner terrain, so there is plenty of mountain to explore. One feature that many locals take for granted is the grooming fleet - Mount Hood Meadows has some of the best grooming in the Pacific Northwest. This also means that the terrain parks are top-notch as well. In partnership with one of the top terrain park builders in the world, Snow Park Technologies, Mount Hood Meadows builds several different terrain parks and a halfpipe for every level of park skier and snowboarder.
Mount Hood Meadows is located on the southeast side of Mount Hood. It is about a 90 minute drive from Portland, and 45 minutes from Hood River. Eco-conscious Portland based skiers and snowboarders can leave the car behind and take a shared bus to the mountain, not only reducing their carbon footprint, but taking the stress out of skiing and snowboarding day trips. The Portland Park and Ride also offers bus and lift ticket packages. If home is where you park it, RV parking and camping is allowed in certain areas of the main lot.
Travel Resources:
Mount Hood Meadows Travel Overview
PDX Park and Ride Bus
Mount Hood Meadows is located on the southeast side of Mount Hood. It is about a 90 minute drive from Portland, and 45 minutes from Hood River. Eco-conscious Portland based skiers and snowboarders can leave the car behind and take a shared bus to the mountain, not only reducing their carbon footprint, but taking the stress out of skiing and snowboarding day trips. The Portland Park and Ride also offers bus and lift ticket packages. If home is where you park it, RV parking and camping is allowed in certain areas of the main lot.
Mount Hood Meadows Travel Overview
PDX Park and Ride Bus
There are many lodging options in Hood River, a 40 minute drive away, of which several offer “Stay and Play” ski packages that include lift tickets. Accommodations vary from cabins and lodges to traditional hotels. Skiers and snowboarders can also stay in the small towns of Government Camp, and Welches, which are about 30 minutes down the Mount Hood Highway, towards Portland.
Mount Hood Meadows Lodging OverviewMount Hood Meadows RV Parking
Our Favorite Snowboards For Meadows
Local Food Picks
Mount Hood Meadows has nine eating establishments to serve hungry skiers and snowboarders. These range from restaurants to grab a snack and hot cocoa, to full the full service Alpenstube restaurant. Each of these restaurants feature Northwest microbrews that Oregon is famous for. Off the mountain, there are many restaurants on the way back to Portland, and in Hood River. Wraptitude is a favorite of local skiers and snowboarders as well as visitors alike. Hood River has a large selections and breweries to choose from also. Check out Double Mountain Brewing for great beer and wood-fired pizza. On Mountain Dining
Wraptitude
Double Mountain Brewing
Our Favorite Skis For Meadows
Where to Find Lift Tickets to Mount Hood Meadows?
Mount Hood Meadows lift tickets can be purchased directly at the ski and snowboard area, or online. There are many ways to get discount lift tickets for Mount Hood Meadows including buying online, and reloading existing RFID tickets. Juniors and seniors receive discounted lift tickets as well. Midweek tickets and night skiing tickets are cheaper as well. Overall, tickets to Mount Hood Meadows lift tickets are not the cheapest, nor the most expensive in the state. Tickets in that state, however, certainly come in cheaper than the mega-resorts of Whistler and Colorado.Mount Hood Meadows Weather Information
A whopping 430”, that’s 35’ of snow fall on the slopes of Mount Hood Meadows in an average year. This brings skiers and snowboarders plenty of powder days throughout the year. It also means that conditions are often stormy and cloudy. Check out the Mount Hood Meadows ski report before heading to the mountain, and be prepared with good ski goggles and proper ski or snowboard outerwear. The higher terrain on the mountain is spectacular, for its skiing, snowboarding and epic views when conditions are clear and sunny.Mount Hood Meadows Conditions Report
NOAA Mount Hood Meadows Forecast
Mount Hood Meadows offers skiers and snowboarders a complete Oregon experience. Huge snowfalls on the advanced terrain makes for stellar powder riding in the Heather canyon and Private Reserve areas. Meanwhile, beginners skiers and snowboarders have a great area to learn and progress on the front side of the mountain. Paired with the lodging packages in Hood River, a trip to Mount Hood meadows is a great way to explore skiing and snowboarding in the pacific northwest.
