Oregon, Usa · Indy
Mt Ashland
240 acres, 44 runs above Ashland. Community-owned nonprofit resort, Indy Pass access.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
13 Dec 2025
Closes
29 Mar 2026
Days open
106
Annual snow
22ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Mt Ashland's summit reaches 7,533 feet, dropping 1,152 vertical feet to a base at 6,381 feet across 44 runs spread over 240 acres above Ashland in southern Oregon. Terrain splits 41 per cent intermediate, 36 per cent advanced, 12 per cent beginner and 11 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 265 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation and is owned and operated by the nonprofit Mt. Ashland Association rather than a for-profit company.
Mt Ashland's nonprofit structure is the result of a community rescue effort in the early 1990s, making it one of relatively few community-owned ski areas in the country. The mountain's substantial snowfall, exceeding 260 inches annually, supports a genuinely advanced-weighted terrain mix relative to its modest 240-acre footprint. Its identity as a locally saved and locally run mountain remains central to how the Southern Oregon community relates to the resort.
Local backcountry ski enthusiasts were already using the mountain by the 1950s, and some of them built a lodge and a single lift in 1963, with Mt Ashland opening to the public on 11 January 1964. The ski area passed through several ownership structures over the following decades: the Mount Ashland Corporation ceased operations in 1970, prompting the Southern Oregon College Foundation to take over management after Jackson County financed the purchase of the ski area's assets, before Dick Hicks bought the area from the county in 1977 and incorporated it as Ski Ashland, Inc.
Seattle-based Harbor Properties purchased the ski area from Hicks in 1983, but in January 1992 the company shocked the region by announcing it would either sell the area for 1.7 million US dollars or dismantle its chairlifts and relocate them to Washington. Southern Oregon responded with a community campaign: local Rotary clubs raised 600,000 dollars and Oregon Lottery funds contributed a further 500,000 dollars to buy out the resort, with the City of Ashland holding the necessary US Forest Service permit until the newly formed nonprofit Mt. Ashland Association could take over operations. Adult daily tickets run from 75 to 89 US dollars, with a season pass at 649 dollars.
1,152ft
Vertical
44
Runs
240 acres
Skiable
22ft
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
44 runs across 240 acres skiable
Mt Ashland spreads 44 runs across 240 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 41%, with 5 beginner runs to find your feet and 21 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
44
runs
44 runs across 4 grades
Beginner5 runs · 12%
Intermediate18 runs · 41%
Advanced16 runs · 36%
Expert5 runs · 11%
Time it right
When to visit Mt Ashland
The 2025-26 season at Mt Ashland ran from 13 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly fifteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 265 inches. This substantial snowfall gives Mt Ashland one of the more reliable natural seasons among southern Oregon ski areas. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season storm activity.
Midwinter, from January through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the mountain's advanced-weighted terrain. As a nonprofit community mountain, Mt Ashland draws primarily from the Rogue Valley and broader southern Oregon and northern California region rather than national destination traffic. Weekend crowds are generally heavier than weekdays, drawing from Ashland, Medford and the surrounding communities.
As an Indy Pass resort, Mt Ashland draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass in addition to its core regional base. The Mt. Ashland Association's nonprofit structure shapes much of the resort's seasonal programming toward community access and affordability rather than large-scale destination amenities. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the mountain's mix of terrain.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The mountain's 1992 community rescue, funded through Rotary club fundraising and Oregon Lottery contributions, remains a defining part of its identity and is frequently referenced in the association's ongoing community communications. Military discount pricing reflects the resort's connection to the broader southern Oregon community it serves.
Season 2025 - 2026
13 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
106
Days open
22 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Mt Ashland, and where to stay
Mt Ashland sits above the city of Ashland in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon, with a base elevation of 6,381 feet and a summit at 7,533 feet across a 1,152-foot vertical drop over 240 acres. This is one of the southernmost ski areas in Oregon, close to the California border.
Ashland itself, well known for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and its broader arts scene, provides the resort's main lodging, dining and services, with the ski area operating as a genuine day-use community mountain for the city's residents. Medford, a larger regional centre, lies a further short drive north. The Siskiyou Mountains offer additional summer and shoulder-season recreation beyond winter skiing.
Interstate 5 provides the main route to Ashland from both the north and south, with the Mt Ashland Access Road then climbing from the interstate into the ski area itself. Winter driving conditions on the access road can include snow and ice, and the route's elevation gain means conditions can differ substantially from those in Ashland below. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, roughly 30 minutes from Ashland, is the nearest airport with commercial service, making Mt Ashland reasonably accessible for fly-in visitors despite its identity as a local community mountain. Most visitors, however, are Rogue Valley residents driving up from Ashland or Medford rather than fly-in destination travellers.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mt Ashland, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law
Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.
22 July 2026
South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena
South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.
22 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited
Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.
21 July 2026
La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts
La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.
21 July 2026
The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain
The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.
21 July 2026
Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow
Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.
21 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall
Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.
19 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Banff Sunshine Village - Nine Metres of Snow and a Season That Runs Until May
Banff Sunshine Village sits at 1,660m base and receives 9.27m of snow annually. Inside Banff National Park, it offers a six-month season and terrain split that skews heavily advanced - though the crowds and lift infrastructure tell their own story.
18 July 2026
Lift tickets
Indy8 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 18–64
Adult Full Day
US$75up to US$89 peak
Full day access to Mt Ashland in Southern Oregon. Experience expert terrain with 44 slopes and spectacular views from the Siskiyou Summit.
Buy passYouth 13–17
Youth Full Day
US$65up to US$79 peak
Youth daily ticket for Mt Ashland. Southern Oregon skiing with challenging terrain perfect for developing advanced skiing skills in the Siskiyou Mountains.
Buy passChild 7–12
Child Full Day
US$55up to US$69 peak
Children's lift ticket at Mt Ashland Ski Area. Southern Oregon family skiing with beginner terrain and excellent ski school programs.
Buy passChild 0–6
Child (6 & Under)
Free
Free skiing for children 6 and under at Mt Ashland. Southern Oregon's mountain playground welcomes families with affordable skiing near Ashland.
Buy passSenior 65–99
Senior Full Day
US$65up to US$79 peak
Senior lift ticket for Mt Ashland. Discounted access to Southern Oregon's expert terrain with 1,150 feet of vertical and powder skiing.
Buy passAdult 18–64
Military Discount
US$56up to US$67 peak
Military personnel discount at Mt Ashland. Active duty and veterans receive 25% off lift tickets with valid military ID required.
Buy passHalf-day passes
Adult 18–64
Half Day
US$59up to US$69 peak
Half day skiing at Mt Ashland starting in the afternoon. Perfect for shorter visits to Southern Oregon's challenging mountain terrain.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 18–64
Season Pass
US$649
Unlimited access to Mt Ashland all season with no blackout dates. Southern Oregon's nonprofit ski area offers excellent value and free partner resort days.
Buy passMt Ashland lift tickets & passes
The 2025 - 2026 season at Mt Ashland closed on Mar 29, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from US$55, with peak rates up to US$89.
Lift tickets FAQ
How much does a Mt Ashland day pass cost?
Mt Ashland day passes range from US$55 to US$89 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Mt Ashland lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Mt Ashland lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Mt Ashland, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Mt Ashland lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Mt Ashland - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Mt Ashland lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Mt Ashland offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Mt Ashland directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Mt Ashland.
More Mt Ashland intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.