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Hoodoo's summit reaches 5,702 feet, dropping 1,033 vertical feet to a base at 4,669 feet across 36 runs spread over 806 acres near Santiam Pass in the central Oregon Cascades. Terrain splits 42 per cent intermediate, 31 per cent advanced, 19 per cent beginner and 8 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 323 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation. Twelve lifts, including four quad chairs and three triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside five surface lifts.
Hoodoo sits on a volcanic cinder cone, Hoodoo Butte, within the Willamette National Forest, giving it a distinctly central Oregon character relative to the state's larger Mount Hood resorts. Its comparatively affordable pricing and lack of major crowds have made it a value-focused alternative for skiers travelling from Bend and the surrounding central Oregon communities. The resort's substantial snowfall total, exceeding 320 inches annually, supports reliable conditions through a long winter season.
The ski area was built in 1938 by a group funded by Ed Thurston of Bend, who had originally hoped to develop nearby Three Fingered Jack but could not secure funding for the necessary access road. Following the Second World War, the resort expanded with lodging and chairlifts, including a three-story main lodge built in the late 1940s from surplus wartime structures. In the 1960s, the ski area was purchased by Hoodoo Ski Bowl Developers, Inc., which went on to build the Manzanita chairlift.
In 1999, real estate developer Chuck Shepard of Eugene, through his company Umbrella Properties, acquired Hoodoo Ski Area. Since then, the resort has added the Hodag chairlift, a 60,000-square-foot lodge and the Autobahn Tubing Park, and has replaced its older green and red double chairlifts with quad chairs. Adult daily tickets run from 65 to 75 US dollars, with a season pass at 499 dollars.
Total Runs
36
Total Area
806 ac
326.2 ha
Hoodoo runs twelve lifts: four quad chairs, three triple chairs and five surface lifts, serving 36 runs across 806 acres near Santiam Pass. The five surface lifts, a notably high count relative to the resort's overall scale, reflect Hoodoo's strong beginner and learning-area focus alongside its more advanced terrain.
The lift network has been substantially modernised since owner Chuck Shepard's 1999 purchase of the ski area, with older green and red double chairlifts replaced by quad chairs and the addition of the Hodag chairlift expanding capacity. This investment followed decades of more gradual development dating to the original Hoodoo Ski Bowl Developers ownership era in the 1960s, when the Manzanita chair was built.
The four quad chairs and three triple chairs provide the primary uphill capacity across the mountain's intermediate and advanced terrain, while the five surface lifts support beginner areas and the resort's Autobahn Tubing Park. There is no gondola or high-speed six-pack chair, consistent with Hoodoo's value-focused, central Oregon scale.
Since the 1999 ownership change, continued investment has focused on modernising lift infrastructure and expanding lodge facilities to a 60,000-square-foot main building. Specific further planned lift upgrades beyond the current twelve-lift network are not confirmed in available resort information. Hoodoo's Indy Pass affiliation brings additional visiting skiers to a lift network built for steady, affordable central Oregon skiing.
Total Lifts
12
Lift Types
3
The 2025-26 season at Hoodoo ran from 6 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly sixteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 323 inches, among the higher totals in the Oregon Cascades. This substantial snowfall supports reliable conditions throughout the season without heavy reliance on snowmaking. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season storm activity.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Hoodoo's varied terrain. The resort's value-oriented pricing and central Oregon location draw a strong local following from Bend, Sisters and the surrounding communities, with weekday visits in particular remaining notably quiet compared with the region's larger resorts.
As an Indy Pass resort, Hoodoo draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass in addition to its core central Oregon base. The Autobahn Tubing Park provides a non-ski option for family visitors throughout the season. Weekly Thursday Special ticket pricing reflects the resort's ongoing effort to draw midweek visitation. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's approachable terrain mix.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Chuck Shepard's 1999 purchase, continued investment in lifts and facilities has supported the resort's identity as a modernised yet still affordable central Oregon option. Hoodoo's substantial snowfall total and volcanic cinder cone setting on Hoodoo Butte remain distinguishing features through the season.
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
12/6/2025
Closing Day
3/29/2026
Days Open
114
Hoodoo sits on Hoodoo Butte near the summit of Santiam Pass on US Route 20, within the Willamette National Forest in the central Oregon Cascades, with a base elevation of 4,669 feet and a summit at 5,702 feet across a 1,033-foot vertical drop over 806 acres. This puts the resort roughly midway between the Willamette Valley and central Oregon's high desert.
The town of Sisters, known for its outdoor recreation and mountain-town character, lies within a reasonable drive of the resort, while Bend, central Oregon's largest city, provides more extensive lodging and dining options a further drive away. The Willamette National Forest surrounds the resort, offering additional recreation beyond skiing throughout the year.
US Route 20 runs directly past Hoodoo at the summit of Santiam Pass, providing straightforward access from both the Willamette Valley to the west and central Oregon to the east. Winter driving conditions on Santiam Pass can include snow and ice during storms, and travellers should carry chains during winter weather advisories. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Redmond Municipal Airport, serving the Bend and central Oregon area, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, roughly an hour's drive from the resort. This gives Hoodoo reasonable accessibility for visitors flying into central Oregon, though most skiers drive from Bend, Sisters or the Willamette Valley rather than flying in specifically for the resort.
