• Explore Oregon
• Experiences
• Seasonal Offerings
• Travel Tools

10 Best Bets for Cross Country Skiing in Oregon

February 13, 2008

Wonderous views, crisp cool snow, and an excellent workout- what more could you ask for? Cross country skiing is a great activity for children and adults, and a fun way for friends and families to bond.

Oregon has a variety of cross country routes to offer, including Crater Lake, Dutchman Flat, Trillium Lake, Paulina Lake, the Eastside of Mount Hood, Anthony Lakes, Diamond Lake, Spout Springs, Hoodoo/Santiam Pass and McCully Basin.

Check out what Terry Richard (of the Oregonian) has to say about visiting each of these areas. And check out more of his travel blogs by visiting Oregonlive.com.

February is an excellent time to hit the slopes. So get out there and enjoy the beautiful Oregon scenery!

For more information on skiing in Oregon, please visit our Ski Oregon page.

The Opportunity of Dreams

February 7, 2008

Photos and blog by Stephen Landau of Substance

Oregon is a strange, wonderful place. One minute, you're sitting and enjoying coffee in one of the greatest cities on earth, Portland, Oregon. Less than 90 minutes later, you're sitting and enjoying the view while riding up Cascade Express at Mt. Hood Meadows. This story is about those minutes. And like all stories, it started once upon a time.

Once upon a time, I looked east and saw the snowy peak of Mt. Hood. And I realized I wasn't spending enough time there. What a shame, living in the shadow of the mountain, that we could never find the time to make the trip. So I decided to become the co-founder of a company which allowed me to say, "Let's take the day off and go snowboarding." Like I said, Oregon is a strange and wonderful place, the kind of place that enables dreamers to start a company based around the culture that sometimes it's better to be on the slopes than in the office.

Continue reading "The Opportunity of Dreams"

Skiing in a Winter Wonderland (that’s colder than cold!!) at Willamette Pass

January 29, 2008

Photos and blog by Andrea Hartman

Like the typical genius I am, I waited till the coldest day in North America to go skiing up at my beloved Willamette Pass. They were predicting temperatures in the teens, and snow on the Valley floor, but no, it’s MLK day and Andrea was going skiing!

My pal, and superior skiing buddy, Sara and I were up before the sun, and on the road by first light on our quest to make it to Willamette Pass before the first chairs started running. We drove on packed ice for the last leg of the trip, but it was nothing that slower speeds and four-wheel drive couldn’t handle.

Continue reading "Skiing in a Winter Wonderland (that’s colder than cold!!) at Willamette Pass"

Learn to Ski or Snowboard this January

January 17, 2008

If you're looking for a great way to spend the last few weeks of January, why not learn to ski or snowboard? Many of Oregon's ski areas are currently offering special packages to help you do just that. Visit www.skioregon.org for details such as what to wear, how to rent equipment and find an instructor.

Some of these special packages include lift tickets, rental equipment, and a 1 hour group lesson. Don't miss out on this great opportunity. It's time to hit the slopes!

Oregon's Snow Resorts Have Lots of Powder to Shred

January 9, 2008

Photo by Stuart Tomlinson/The Oregonian

Here in Oregon, we're expecting great snow! So grab your ski or snowboard and some mittens, and get ready to hit the slopes!

If you haven't already read today's Oregonian, Mt. Ashland Ski Area "received 3 feet of fresh powder in a 24-hour period this weekend, which is a lot even by the standards of a place that picks up about 285 inches of cumulative snowfall each season." Please click here to read the full article about these excellent snow conditions.

The snow is abundant, so get out there and take advantage. Take your friends, or even the whole family. And have a blast exploring Oregon's snowy mountains!

Please visit our Ski Oregon site for current conditions, and be sure to download our Winter Driving Guide for safe travels.

Oregon's Snowpack Grows...More is Coming!

December 21, 2007

If you haven't hit the slopes this season yet, this might be the perfect week to start! Today's Oregonian has an interesting story about how Oregon's snowpack has doubled just over the past week. It's estimated that "16 inches of snow fell" on Mount Hood "between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m Thursday." Mt. Bachelor also saw 18 inches fall from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday.

Read the full story here; don't forget, for the latest conditions in Oregon ski areas, check out the Ski Oregon conditions page.

Sharing the Season & Snow with New Friends at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area

December 11, 2007

By Marcus Hibdon

“I’m glad I don’t have to learn how to do this again,” I thought at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8 while catching Tania Cacique Alvarez of Reforma Newspaper in Mexico City, as she gained a little too much speed during her first time on skis at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area.

As the media relations manager for Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, I’m lucky enough to spend a great deal of my time exploring the area and showing it off to others, especially journalists researching articles. That was the case Saturday as I toured with a group of five Mexican journalists and their hosts.

Continue reading "Sharing the Season & Snow with New Friends at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area"

Get Ready To Play in the Snow!

November 28, 2007

Our snowy mountains offer a huge range of skiing and snowboarding options, from extensive terrain parks, high-tech lifts and luxury lodges to rugged log cabins that double as warming huts. We’ve also got cat skiing at Mt. Bailey, the largest night ski area at Mt. Hood Skibowl and the longest ski season in North America at Timberline Ski Area. Not to mention Timberline's latest addition, Clear Creek Basin, which will open this winter. Are you ready to dust off your board?

Don't miss out on an opportunity to check out this season's fresh powder! The following ski resorts are now open:

Mt. Bachelor

Mt. Hood Meadows

Mt. Hood Ski Bowl

Timberline

Ski Anthony Lakes (Opens December 1st)

Check out our new Ski Oregon site for weather conditions, trails and sno-parks, great deals and more!

What's New At Oregon's Ski Resorts This Season?

October 24, 2007

Oregon's '07-08 ski season is here, and our mountain resorts are anticipating another epic year. Beyond incredible conditions, skiers and boarders have many reasons to be excited, including new snowcats, a new lift and so much more...

Facility Improvements at Mt. Hood Meadows Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort has had a very busy summer of capital improvement projects. Projects ranging from a new ski patrol headquarters building to remodeled rest room facilities will improve the overall guest and employee experience at the resort.

New Patrol Headquarters Building
Located near the upper terminal of the Blue Chair at the top of South Canyon, this two-story, 1,240 square foot structure will house the new Mount Hood Meadows (MHM) Patrol Headquarters. Patrol dispatch and a larger professional patrol staff will call this attractive and functional new facility home. This will be MHM’s first LEED’s ("Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" green building rating system) certified building and will be a real milestone in our continuing environmental sustainability efforts.

Continue reading "What's New At Oregon's Ski Resorts This Season?"

28th Annual Portland Ski and Snowboard Show Coming This November!

Ski season is just around the corner, and we are very excited to gear up for the occasion! Join us at the 28th Annual Portland Ski and Snowboard Show this November, for lift tickets, exciting entertainment and much more!

The 28th Annual Portland Ski and Snowboard Show is November 2, 3 and 4, 2007 at the
Portland Expo Center. This year's line-up includes Ski Reps with the latest gear, the Northwest's Largest Ski Swap, exciting entertainment, vacation ski resorts and all of Portland's best major winter sports retailers with endless opportunities to save up to 70% on ski and snowboard gear! Everyone who attends will receive a 2 for 1 lift ticket to all of the following ski areas: Mt. Hood Skibowl, Mt. Ashland, Mt. Hood Meadows, Mission Ridge, Timberline, Whistler/Blackcomb and Hoodoo. Features include Honda Tower of Power Aerial Show, New School Freeride Show, Giant Rail Jam, Widmer Brothers Boardrider Saloon, and Ski Oregon Freeride Theater. Show times are Friday 1pm - 10pm, Saturday 10am - 10pm and Sunday 10am - 6pm. Visit www.portlandskifever.com for more information.

Last Chance for Hoodoo Anycards and Season Pass Discounts
The Portland Ski Show will be your last chance to purchase Hoodoo Anycards at a discount. The Anycards ($165) are good for 5 lift tickets, on any day, for any time and for anyone. What a great gift for the whole family! They are completely transferable. This is also the last chance to purchase your season passes at their fall sale price! Hoodoo expects to open their 70th season on November 23, 2007.

Learning to Snowboard at Timberline Lodge

July 16, 2007

(Video: Rick Wilmes, Timberline Snowboard/Ski School Instructor on the program)

“We’re going to learn how to snowboard this season,” I exclaimed to my wife Jessica as Oregon was buried by a mountain of fresh powder in the season’s first major snowstorm late last fall. Work and other schedules hindered this goal, however, until just a few weeks ago. But thanks to Oregon’s famous late-season snow and North America’s longest ski season at Timberline Lodge—host of last week’s 4th Annual Burton Abominable Snow Jam that brought world-class riders to Oregon—we finally learned to ride this season.

We hit the road on a beautiful late-spring Friday and headed north, towards the majestic peak of Mt. Hood. As we drove through the picturesque village of Government Camp on our way up Highway 26, I couldn’t help but notice the fact that there were no visible signs of winter around us; the flowers were in full bloom, the sun was shining brightly and birds were chirping away without a care in the world. But as we turned left onto Timberline Highway and made our way up to the lodge, my mind was reassured by the imposing sight of the white-cloaked crest of Oregon’s highest mountain.

Continue reading "Learning to Snowboard at Timberline Lodge"

Nordic Skiing and the Team Oregon in the International Snow Sculpting Contest

February 22, 2007

I have only Nordic (Cross Country) skied a handful of times, but each time brings more fun and enjoyment than the last. From learning new techniques to learning to navigate every turn and twist is an added joy to my life.

It’s not like you get a chair to sit down on and ride up a hill, so you can just glide and enjoy the downhill rush. It does involve work…well, it is as much work as you put into it. And there is a rush, a huge rush, especially if you have never tried.

Continue reading "Nordic Skiing and the Team Oregon in the International Snow Sculpting Contest"

3 ski areas | 3 days | 888 miles (from Portland, OR)

January 24, 2007

That is correct – 888 miles for 3 ski areas in Northeast Oregon. The trip started in Portland. The first stop was Friday night skiing / riding at Spout Springs, then Saturday morning at Ski Anthony Lakes, then over to Ferguson Ridge in the Wallowa Mountains Sunday, and back to Portland, OR Sunday night.

The open spaces of Northeast Oregon can be a hindrance and a thing of beauty, all at the same time. Right now, I must give thanks for the drives that lead from small town to small town, on endless stretches of concrete. Without those roads, I would have missed a lot of places that I have been, and I would not have been able to take the trip I took this past weekend.

I headed east on I-84, from Portland to La Grande, a mere 256 mile stretch that transported me from the west side of Oregon to the east side. It is very possible that the east side of Oregon is unchartered territory for a few of you. If this is true, you should plan a trip right now. Check out the Eastern Oregon Visitor’s Center website.

Continue reading "3 ski areas | 3 days | 888 miles (from Portland, OR)"

Snowshoeing in Big Springs Sno Park

January 12, 2007

On January 6th, 2007, it was a winter wonderland in the Santiam Pass Winter Recreation Area (about 2 hours east of Salem, Oregon). Huge Ponderosa Pines covered in thick, white velvet at Big Springs Sno Park stretched past Detroit Lake on route 22. A Sno Park Pass is required. Definitely bring chains as they are required and necessary (we had to put on our cables). The parking lots were minimally filled and we began by blazing our own snowshoeing trails. There was hardly any showshoeing or cross-country skiing traffic in these areas compared to Mirror Lake near Government Camp outside of Portland. In fact, we barely passed anyone while making our way through the forest. At certain parts, the snow came up to my waist.

Continue reading "Snowshoeing in Big Springs Sno Park"

Meadows Opening Day 2006

December 11, 2006

Saturday December 9, 2006: Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area
Snow Quality: 10, because there was fresh snow on Opening Day!!!

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area is located on the SE side of Mt. Hood; from Government Camp, go east on 26 / north on Hwy 35 for 10 miles; 35 miles on Hwy 35, from I-84 (Exit 64) in Hood River, OR. (Pssssst...did you know we're giving away ski weekend to Meadows this month?!)

Opening Day at a ski area is something special. The lodge is bustling with smiles and energy. Everyone is eager to get loaded on a lift and start sliding and gliding down the mountain. Season Pass holders get to realize their fall investment and can start their expectations of what is to come. Employees realize their roles and how fun everything is going to be, including meeting new people and getting to enjoy the excitement and energy flowing throughout the entire ski area.

Continue reading "Meadows Opening Day 2006"

The Speedsters Hit the Uncrowded Slopes of Willamette Pass

December 6, 2006

Our friends (aka "powderhead speedsters") Sally and Jeannine who work at VisitLaneCounty hit Willamette Pass Resort on opening day last week. Here is what they had to say...

MIRTHQUAKE ALERT….
What induces giggles, guffaws, and sidesplitting surrender to being in the moment??? The answer: the first day of the ski season at Willamette Pass – back on the hill with the sun shining, speedy snow, no crowds, and ample comradery.

Continue reading "The Speedsters Hit the Uncrowded Slopes of Willamette Pass"

Powder and Sunshine at Ski Anthony Lakes

December 5, 2006

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 1, 2 & 3, 2006
Snow Quality: 8 (1-10, 10 being perfect)

Ski Anthony Lakes is located 19 miles west of North Powder, Oregon; in the Elkhorn Mountain Range of the Blue Mountains in NE Oregon.

I got out of Portland about 2 pm on Friday, December 1. I was very excited about this trip, as this past week the Pacific Northwest received some great snow, falling in the low 20’s and teens across the state. The snow blanketed the scenery in low elevations, which would make the 300 mile drive out east much easier. Ice crystals hung on the walls to my right as I drove east on I-84, and all I could think about were the fresh turns waiting for me at Ski Anthony Lakes in NE Oregon!

Continue reading "Powder and Sunshine at Ski Anthony Lakes"

The quest for powder on Skibowl

November 30, 2006

November 27, not even December yet, and there are 6 foot snow packs at a couple of the Oregon ski areas. A great start to 2006-07!

The drive up to Mt. Hood was one of the coldest and snowiest I have experienced in quite a long time, with snow sticking as low as Sandy. My friend and I knew we were in for a real treat! We pulled into the Mt. Hood Skibowl parking lot around 4 pm.

Skibowl reported 10” today (Monday) with temps in low 20’s. Saturday’s report was very similar (a bit warmer, 30 deg.) and Sunday’s report showed 6” of new snow with low temps…that’s 26” of snow in 3 days, with the last two days’ temps in the low 20’s…this is what Oregon winters are all bout!!

Continue reading "The quest for powder on Skibowl"

What's new this year at Oregon's ski resorts?

November 29, 2006

Oregon's '06-07 ski season is here, and our 10 mountain resorts are celebrating what is to be an epic year. Beyond incredible conditions, skiers and boarders have many reasons to be excited, including a new high-speed quad, a two-resort pass and so much more...

We're ringing in the ski season with a whole lot of new, exciting additions and improvements at Oregon's mountain resorts. Here, a sampling...

Continue reading "What's new this year at Oregon's ski resorts?"

Girls Go Bend Weekend at Mt. Bachelor Village

November 28, 2006

I recently had the opportunity to spend an amazing weekend at Mt. Bachelor Village in Bend, Oregon. This particular trip was a result of a promotional package, called "Girls Go Bend". The details of this package were outstanding: accommodations for four women in a gorgeous condo overlooking the Deschutes River, spa treatments, a snowshoeing trip, and dinner at Merenda Restaurant

Continue reading "Girls Go Bend Weekend at Mt. Bachelor Village"

Snowed-In? We’ve got some ideas!

BRRRRRRR! In case you haven’t looked outside lately, the temperature is rapidly dropping and the falling snow has cloaked Oregon's evergreen forests, prairies, high desert and...ahem…yes, even the beach...with an abundant dusting of powder!

This winter wonderland is the perfect destination for an action packed "snow day". So bundle up those kids from head to toe, pack up the picnic basket, and head outside…here are a few ideas that will surely cure your “cabin fever”

What you will need: A pile of well packed snow (courtesy of Mother Nature), warm dry clothes, warm dry boots, regular snow shovel (to cut large shapes), smaller beach shovel (for detail work), spoon (for fine details), spray bottle of water (optional).

What to do: You're never too old to relive your childhood and play in the snow! Use the next snowfall as an excuse to get creative with your kids. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Continue reading "Snowed-In? We’ve got some ideas!"

The Gift of Snow and the Exaltation of Trees

It’s a dark 6:00am and it’s raining. I’m walking Shaman, my Collie, who’s picking up routine scents like a morning roll call. We come across the old Noble Fir on our path – it’s literally in the path of the sidewalk, which by mason’s design has been respectfully curved around its massive trunk. This tree is more than 150 years old, as old as Oregon itself. Shaman stops abrupt, a sesquicentennial of squirrel tracks and critter squats punctuating the scent. The rain on his back is now a smattering of snow flakes and I whistle him back to our walk.

The morning’s drive to Forest Grove, West of Portland, is awash in white. Raised a Midwestern urbanite, I like to think I know snow. I’ve driven through blizzards and shoveled once, twice, three times in a day. As a kid, I remember holing up in blanket caves during chilly power outages, making snow angels and castles out of four-foot drifts, and praying for snow days with plotting abandon. The temporality of snow was my prairie child’s wish, and my city girl’s chore.

Continue reading "The Gift of Snow and the Exaltation of Trees"

Inside Scoop: Snow is on the way!

November 9, 2006

Even though I’ve been sliding down mountains since I was three years old, I still turn into a kid every time my season pass arrives in the mail.

Each year I anxiously await the first big snowfall of the season. It’s this time of year I find myself day-dreaming about the epic days I’ve had, and the great experiences the mountains have given me. From the silent serenity in the aftermath of a big snow storm to the memories laughing with friends and family on warm spring day, the mountains have always provided me with something to look forward to.

This season is no exception. I recently caught up with Jerry Krieg, Director of Marketing for Ski Oregon, to ask him what we can expect for the upcoming season. Read what Jerry has to say about this year's Oregon ski season.

Continue reading "Inside Scoop: Snow is on the way!"