TL;DR
Mt Hood Meadows will close April 12 following a season that didn't start until December 23 - the resort's latest opening in three decades. Insufficient snow coverage has forced the early closure, with pond skim and Pride events cancelled.
Oregon Resort Ends Season Three Weeks Early After Record-Late December Opening
Mt Hood Meadows has announced an April 12 closing date, capping off a season defined by inadequate snowfall from start to finish. The Oregon resort didn't open until December 23 - its latest opening day in 30 years - and is now shutting down earlier than typical April closures as deteriorating coverage makes daily operations unsustainable.
The resort's announcement frames the closure as a straightforward snow management issue rather than an operational choice. Grooming crews have been working extended shifts to maintain skiable terrain, but spring conditions are accelerating base degradation faster than they can manage it.
How This Season Compares
The December 23 opening pushed past the resort's previous late-start record of December 22, 2014. That's notable in a region where ski resorts typically aim for mid-November operations when conditions permit. Even when Meadows did open in late December, it was with limited terrain, reduced lift access, and shortened hours - hardly the operational tempo a resort wants during peak holiday visitation.
Typical closing dates at Meadows run through late April, with stronger seasons extending into early May. Last season followed that pattern. This year is tracking three weeks behind that schedule.
What's Cancelled, What's Still Happening
The resort's traditional pond skim and Pride celebrations have been scrapped due to insufficient snow. These events require specific terrain features that simply don't exist in the current base depths. The Banked Slalom and Mazot Fest are still scheduled to proceed, which tells you something about where coverage remains adequate versus where it doesn't.Meadows left the door open to extending operations past April 12 if a significant storm cycle materialises, though the resort acknowledged this is unlikely. That's the kind of qualifier you include for completeness rather than genuine expectation - late-season storm cycles substantial enough to add weeks of operation don't tend to arrive on demand.
