Everything You Need to Know About Mt. Hood Skiing Areas

There are so many Mt. Hood skiing areas, it can be difficult to plan a trip. How are you supposed to know which is best for downhill or cross-country skiing, and which has the best food?

I didn’t at first, so I thought I’d share a breakdown of the Mt. Hood ski areas and everything you need to know to ensure you have a successful Mt. Hood skiing trip!

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Everything You Need to Know About Mt. Hood Skiing Areas

Get ready for the ultimate trip visiting the Mt. Hood ski areas!

Where is Mt. Hood?

Mt. Hood is in the northeastern part of Oregon. It’s part of the Mount Hood National Forest, which is 20 miles east of Portland and home to more than a million acres of forest.

Mt. Hood volcano is located in the national forest and it’s the area where all the downhill and cross-country skiing in Mt. Hood is congregated.

To get to the ski areas you’ll drive about 4 to 4.5 hour drive from Seattle, 1.5 hour from Portland, or 45 minute from Hood River, Oregon. Many people tack on visiting Mt. Hood ski areas while they’re visiting Columbia River Gorge.

When’s the best time to go to Mt. Hood for skiing?

Mt. Hood has activities year round, but if you’re looking for downhill or cross-country skiing, the best time to go is between January and March when there’s more likely to be snow at all elevations. However, some of the Mt. Hood ski resorts are at a high enough elevation that you can even find some snow in the summer!

What town is closest to the Mt. Hood Ski Resorts?

Government Camp is the only community within 5 miles of the Mt. Hood skiing areas. Thus it’s become the de-facto mountain town with restaurants, bars, and shops (one restaurant in particular that’s on my list is Charlie’s Mountain View because I heard it has a killer prime rib sandwich).

Note that this area isn’t as large as the villages you’d expect at other resorts…it’s not like Whistler Blackcomb where there are a ton of places to eat in Whistler Village!

However, it’s one of the only places besides Rhododendron that has a cluster of businesses, so if you’re looking for places to stay near Mt. Hood I recommend looking for hotels or rentals in Government Camp or Rhododendron.

How many Mt. Hood ski areas are there?

When people say they’re “going to Mt. Hood to ski”, it sounds like they’re going to one resort. However, there are actually four Mt. Hood ski areas within 15-20 minutes of each other where you can go downhill and cross-country skiing, plus snowshoeing, tubing, and snow catting. Here’s a breakdown of your options.

Mt. Hood Meadows Resort

Mt. Hood Meadows is likely the resort you’re thinking of when you think of Mt. Hood skiing. It’s the largest resort with 2,150 skiable acres, 87 trails for all ski levels, and a large lodge.

For downhill skiing, full day tickets here can be the most expensive out of all the resorts. Tickets are dynamically priced depending on the day between $74 – $149 per adult. Seniors and kids have lower prices depending on their age, with the cheapest being $12 for kids under 6.

This is my favorite of the Mt. Hood ski resorts for downhill skiing. I’m a solidly mediocre snowboarder, so what I like is 1) a lot of blue or mild black options on groomed trails, 2) breathtaking views, and 3) modern high speed quads (no t-bars or old-school “catapult” lifts throwing you down a steep drop!).

Pro tip: The ramp to the parking lot closes when full, which can happen quickly on weekends and even weekdays. Consider getting here early to beat crowds!

Dining at meadows

Meadows has killer lunch options. There are 11 places to choose from at the main lodge, on the mountain, or at their new Sahale lodge.

Alpenstube in the main lodge was my favorite meal of all the ski resorts. It had beautifully-plated and creative spins on comfort food, such as the elk burger with pork belly and pastrami pictured below.

But my absolute favorite dish from our whole trip was the waffle fries. They were smothered in a bourbon bacon cheese sauce and included scallions and tomatoes. We ordered the small and were honestly disappointed in ourselves because they were so good and we coveted the large. If you can only get one dish, make sure this is it!

cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at meadows

Meadows Nordic Center is the part of Mt. Hood Meadows Resort you visit when you want to do cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. It has 15 kms of trails for all levels.

The nordic center is pretty bare bones: it’s a relatively small cabin with a front desk, some tables and snacks, equipment rentals, and a single-person bathroom. but what Meadows Nordic Center lacks in facilities it makes up for in trail options. It rivals the cross-country skiing in Washington with options for all skill levels and pretty scenery.

I’m a beginner so I stayed on the green trails. We did the Meadows Trail which requires some small hills to get to, but once you’re there it opens up into a beautiful expanse with views of people downhill skiing at the Meadows Resort.

The more advanced skiers in my family went on the Sahale Trail that brings you to a small waterfall. They reported back that the trail is mostly uphill on the way there, but then a fun downhill descent on the way back.

Meadows Nordic Center guided tours and lessons

My dad actually went off by himself to do a cross-country ski lesson and said that no one fell and everyone was going down mini hills by the end. He’s not that confident of a skier but loved the lesson and said I should recommend it on my blog. 😂

Meadows Nordic Center snowshoeing

There are separate snowshoeing trails at Meadows Nordic Center, so if your family wants to do different winter activities but still stick together, keep this in mind.

Just like for cross-country skiing, Meadows Nordic Center also offers lessons and guided snowshoeing tours. The tours leaving from the nordic center include ones to Umbrella Falls, or you can choose to do the Vista Tour at the Meadows Resort where you take the Vista lift up to the summit, hike down, then have dinner at the lodge.

Mt. Hood Skibowl

Skibowl has 69 runs and is about 20 minutes west of Mt. Hood Meadows in Government Camp right off Highway 26. Lovingly called “steep and cheap” by locals, this resort is best for advanced skiers because of it’s mostly black diamond trails. I haven’t been to Skibowl yet, but I also heard it can be icy, which is better suited for advanced riders.

Locals also frequent this spot because it’s one of the more affordable, large Mt. Hood skiing spots at about $46 – $86 per adult. There’s a sign visible from the highway claiming that it’s the largest night skiing resort in the US, so if you’re open to skiing lit runs at night you can get tickets for much cheaper.

Because of the way Skibowl is positioned, it gets cold. This is why there’s a Czech warming hut in the middle of the mountain that I read is really popular for taking pilsner and goulash break.

Dining at skibowl

There aren’t many onsite food options at Skibowl. Your only option besides the warming hut is the food truck located at the main entrance of Skibowl west. It’s open six days a week and serves light snacks and beverages.

Your best bet for food is visiting Skyway Bar & Grill 15 minutes away from Skibowl. It was recommended to us by the women who ran the Meadows Nordic Center and as soon as we got there, we were met with a line and huge crowd. Seeing the epic outdoor area, my guess is that this place is even harder to get into in the summer.

The building is large and was once a fine dining establishment. You see hints of its past through the gorgeous mosaic of stain-glassed panels in the main room. But Skyway added its own flair by filling the space with curios that would put some of the antique shops I’ve visited to shame.

Skyway is known for its BBQ but, to be honest, I wasn’t the biggest fan. But what I was a fan of was their sides and appetizers. We had a fried cardoon and ricotta plate that was friggin’ amazing. I’ve never had cardoons, which are similar to artichokes, and they were perfectly fried and seasoned.

This Mt. Hood restaurant is also known for their mac and cheese. It’s both crispy and creamy and comes in a small or large portion. They also have a mix-ins section where you can basically put anything you could dream up into your order. All in all, I approve of this place for dining if you’re near Skibowl!

Snow tubing at Skibowl

While Skibowl doesn’t have cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, it does have tubing. It claims it’s the only resort with a conveyor belt to take you to the top of the hill so you can avoid hiking. Tickets are about $30-$35 per person for timed sessions that last 1.5 hours and you don’t need to bring any sled equipment.

Know that riders need to be at least 3 years old and 36″ tall to ride the tubes. You also need to reserve tickets online in advance.

Pro tip: Want to tube after a day on the slopes? Skibowl also offers nighttime cosmic tubing.

Timberline Lodge

Have you ever seen the horror movie The Shining? Yeah, Timberline Lodge is the exterior they filmed for the hotel where Jack Nicholson famously shoved his face through a door he axed saying, “Here’s Johnny!”.

Don’t worry, there’s no creepy twins in this historic hotel (the interior of the hotel from the movie was filmed elsewhere, phew). While The Shining put this spot on people’s radar, it’s history is actually much more impressive.

It was built in the late 1930s thanks to help from president FDR as part of his Works Progress Administration initiative, which was under his New Deal plan aimed at combatting the Great Depression by creating jobs for public projects.

You can stay at this luxury resort and get ski in, ski out access, the only accommodation in Mt. Hood that offers this. The mountain has 41 trails, 75% of which are suited for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders.

However, Timberline also caters to advanced skiers with their popular terrain park. And because Timberline is the “big mountain” with the highest elevation of all the Mt. Hood ski areas at 6,000 feet, it’s usually snowing there when it’s raining at the other resorts (meaning more “pow”).

It’s elevation also allows the mountain to stay open in summer, which is a popular destination for advanced skiers and snowboarders in the off season. In fact, it’s the only year-round ski resort in North America!

Fun fact:

I actually went skiing here the summer of 2008 when I interned at a snowboard company. We went with all their professional snowboarders and, let me tell you, it was one of the most horrifying experiences of my life trying to keep up with pro snowboarders. This is likely why I “got lost” and spent the rest of the day snowboarding by myself. 😂

As far as price, Timberline is also more expensive at about $114 per adult for all day lift tickets. However, unlike Meadows, Timberline offers free lift tickets to kids under 6, so if you have tinies in town this is a more affordable option.

What about Summit Ski Area?

Summit Ski Area used to be the sister resort to Timberline. They kept it separate up until 2021 when they merged the two resorts into one. Now Summit Ski Area is just part of Timberline and was renamed Timberline Summit Pass. Merging them made Timberline the Mt. Hood ski area with the largest vertical ski terrain in the United States.

This tiny Mt. Hood ski area is best for beginners. There are only 8 runs and all of them are blue or green. They also aren’t very long, which is good for people learning how to keep stamina on a trail. While there are plans to offer lift service from Timberline to Summit Pass, you need to drive up there or take a shuttle currently.

Dining at timberline

Timberline has six different dining options, but only 5 of them are accessible via the mountain while you’re skiing: Cascade Dining Room, Ram’s Head, Wy’East Cafe, Y Bar, and Phlonx Point Cabin warming hut. The sixth option is Mt. Hood Brewing, but it’s closer to Government Camp and requires a drive.

I haven’t had a chance to eat on Timberline yet, but I heard Phlonx Point Cabin has the best food. I did go to the Blue Ox Bar back in the day, but it’s closed until further notice.

Snow tubing at Timberline

Tubing is available at Timberline Summit Pass. Tickets can be purchased at the Summit Pass Lodge for about $27, which you access to tubing equipment and the hill. Like Skibowl, riders need to be 36″ tall and can’t wear ski boots. Tubes also can only hold one person. While there aren’t any tandem tubes, you can tether single tubes together.

Snow cat tours at Timberline

Yes, you heard that right. You can go on a Snow Cat, that large machine downhill ski resorts use to groom trails at night. Timberline offers packages that let you either ski after getting off the Snow Cat or take a leisurely tour up and back down the mountain.

Cooper Spur Mountain Resort

The last of the Mt. Hood ski areas is Cooper Spur. It’s a small resort with cabins, a restaurant, 4-miles of cross-country skiing, and a small mountain area with a few runs for downhill skiing and snowboarding.

The downhill skiing is best for families and beginners because it’s a lot smaller (10 runs), less crowded, and more affordable than the other ski resort (about $49 per adult, with kids under 7 and seniors over 70 free).

Dan and I went by ourselves and didn’t stay long because it was a bit too small for us, but we kept saying that we wished we’d brought my nieces who haven’t yet mastered downhill skiing. If you have kids or are just starting out, this is definitely a place worth checking out.

Dining at Cooper Spur

Cooper Spur has a restaurant called Crooked Tree near the cross-country ski and snowshoe rental building.

I love the cozy cabin vibes in the main dining space and the intimate tavern feel in the bar area. We got a yummy bacon and jalapeño mac and cheese that got me wondering why I haven’t had this combo before.

But my favorite dish was their chicken Caesar salad. I was expecting your humble salad, but this came out as a wedge served with roast, skin-on chicken pieces. I was blown away by the creativity and would get this again for sure.

cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at cooper spur

While its smaller than Meadows Nordic Center, there are a bit more facilities at the Cooper Spur cross-country skiing area thanks to the Crooked Tree restaurant and lodge.

Cooper Spur is also a bit cheaper at $10 – $15 per person for trail access and about $20 per person for equipment.

Since most of my family is made up of novice cross-country skiers, we preferred the terrain at Cooper Spur for no-track cross-country skiing. While bigger, Meadows was more wooded and so the snow got icier in the shade than Cooper Spur.

So if the weather conditions don’t allow for tracks, you may want to consider which terrain for Mt. Hood cross-country skiing would be best for your group’s abilities.

Snowshoeing at Cooper Spur

There are also snowshoeing trails and rentals at Cooper Spur. My dad rented snowshoes and was able to walk along the trails that the rest of us who were on cross-country skiing. He loved this and said, “Snowshoeing is my new passion.” HA!

Bottom line: Which Mt. Hood ski area should you visit?

My personal favorite is Meadows because it suites my intermediate snowboarding skills best with enough options to make sure I don’t get bored. Plus it as the best food.

However, from what I’ve gathered from research and my own experience, this is what I’d recommend based on what you’re looking for:

• If you have kids: Cooper Spur or Timberline Summit Pass
• If you’re advanced and/or want to avoid tourists: Skibowl
• If you’re intermediate and like the lodge life: Meadows or Timberline
• If you like terrain parks: Meadows or Timberline
• If you want cross-country skiing: Meadows Nordic Center or Cooper Spur
• If you want snowshoeing: Meadows Nordic Center if you don’t care about being on separate trails from cross-country skiers, Cooper Spur if you do
• If you want tubing: Skibowl or Timberline Summit Pass. You can also go to White River West Sno-Park, which is another tubing area that’s not at a resort but more in a park with gentler hills.
• If you want snow catting: Timberline
• If you care about food: Meadows, Timberline, or Cooper Spur

Hopefully this helps you determine which Mt. Hood skiing area is best for you!

Mt. Hood Ski Map

To give you a sense of where all these Mt. Hood skiing area are in relation to each other, here’s a Mt. Hood ski map.

Areas to Explore Near Mt. Hood

Hopefully this guide gave you everything you need to know about Mt. Hood skiing. If you’re at a loss for how to plan your itinerary, let me do it for you and plan your dream trip!

If you’re looking for other areas nearby to explore, why not:

• Use This Itinerary for Seeing Columbia River Gorge
• Spend 3 Days in Portland
• Eat at Fun Restaurants in Portland
• Visit the Best Willamette Valley Wineries
• Eat Your Way Through Willamette Valley
• Stay at the Best Boutique Hotels in Eugene
• Check Out 5th Street Public Market in Eugene

I’ll be updating this guide as I visit Mt. Hood in the future, so PIN THIS GUIDE FOR LATER!

Disclaimer: Mt. Hood Meadows Resort gifted me downhill ski passes to Meadows and Cooper Spur, cross-country skiing equipment and passes to Meadows Nordic Center and Cooper Spur, and meals at Alpenstube and Crooked Tree. As always, only things I truly enjoyed made it into this guide. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Emerald Palate going!