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Mt Hood Meadows' summit reaches 7,300 feet, dropping 2,776 vertical feet to a base at 4,524 feet across 85 runs spread over 2,150 acres on the southeastern face of Mount Hood, Oregon. Terrain splits 50 per cent intermediate, 20 per cent advanced, 15 per cent expert and 15 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 454 inches. The resort operates independently without major multi-resort pass affiliation and is the largest of Mount Hood's several ski areas. Twelve lifts, including seven quad chairs and four double chairs, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.
Mt Hood Meadows' 2,150-acre footprint makes it substantially larger than the mountain's other ski areas, giving it the most varied terrain on Mount Hood's slopes, from open alpine meadows to timbered runs. Its exceptional snowfall total, exceeding 450 inches annually, ranks among the highest of any resort in the contiguous United States. The resort's independent operation, without a major destination pass, has kept its focus on the Portland metropolitan area's day-trip skier base.
In 1964, the US Forest Service began a feasibility study for a new ski area on Mount Hood's eastern side, with a group of Hood River businessmen incorporated as Hood River Meadows, Inc. raising 3,500 US dollars to help finance the study. Local businessman Franklin G. Drake became captivated by the site after a 1966 Forest Service prospectus caught his eye, drawn by the terrain's variety, its alpine meadows and its expanses above the treeline.
Skiers began using the resort, named Mount Hood Meadows, in December 1967, with one of two original lifts opening in January 1968. In 2001, Mt Hood Meadows purchased the nearby Cooper Spur Ski Area, expanding the company's presence on the mountain. Adult daily tickets run from 99 to 149 US dollars using dynamic pricing, with a season pass at 1,139 dollars.
Total Runs
85
Total Area
2150 ac
870.1 ha
Mt Hood Meadows runs twelve lifts: four double chairs, seven quad chairs and one surface lift, serving 85 runs across 2,150 acres on Mount Hood's southeastern face. The seven quad chairs provide substantial uphill capacity across the resort's varied terrain, from open alpine meadows to timbered lower-mountain runs.
The lift network has grown from the resort's original two lifts, one of which opened in January 1968 alongside the first skiers using the newly named Mount Hood Meadows resort. Investment has continued steadily since, including expansion following the resort's 2001 purchase of the nearby Cooper Spur Ski Area, broadening the company's overall footprint on the mountain.
The quad chairs distribute skiers across the resort's full terrain range, from beginner-friendly lower slopes through to steep upper-mountain expert terrain. The four double chairs and single surface lift round out access to additional zones. There is no gondola or high-speed six-pack chair, though the overall twelve-lift network is substantial relative to many single-mountain Pacific Northwest resorts.
Specific recent lift replacement or expansion projects beyond the current twelve-lift network are not confirmed in available resort information. As an independently operated resort without major destination pass affiliation, lift investment decisions remain with Mt Hood Meadows' own management rather than a larger multi-resort parent company. This independence has kept the resort's focus on serving Portland-area skiers directly.
Total Lifts
12
Lift Types
3
The 2025-26 season at Mt Hood Meadows ran from 12 December 2025 to 2 May 2026, one of the longer seasons in the Pacific Northwest at roughly twenty weeks. Average annual snowfall of around 454 inches, among the highest totals of any resort in the contiguous United States, supports this extended operating window well into spring. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across the resort's varied terrain. As Portland's premier mountain resort, Mt Hood Meadows draws heavy weekend traffic from the metropolitan area, roughly an hour's drive away, with holiday periods bringing particularly heavy crowds. Weekday visits generally remain considerably calmer.
The resort's dynamic pricing structure rewards advance booking, a pricing approach that has become increasingly common across the industry. Given the resort's independent operation without major destination pass affiliation, its visitor base skews heavily toward the Portland metropolitan area rather than national destination traffic. School holiday periods and spring break bring particularly strong demand given the resort's late-season snow reliability.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The 2001 purchase of Cooper Spur Ski Area expanded the company's presence on Mount Hood without altering the core Mt Hood Meadows operation itself. The resort's status as the largest of Mount Hood's ski areas, combined with its exceptional snowfall, continues to define its identity as the mountain's primary destination through the season.
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
12/12/2025
Closing Day
5/2/2026
Days Open
142
Mt Hood Meadows sits on the southeastern face of Mount Hood, Oregon's highest peak, with a base elevation of 4,524 feet and a summit at 7,300 feet across a 2,776-foot vertical drop over 2,150 acres. This places the resort within the Mt. Hood National Forest, roughly an hour's drive from the Portland metropolitan area.
The town of Hood River, known for its wine country and outdoor recreation along the Columbia River Gorge, lies to the north, while Government Camp offers closer lodging on the mountain's southern side. Portland, Oregon's largest city, supplies the majority of the resort's weekend and day-trip visitor base given the relatively short drive. The broader Mount Hood corridor includes several other ski areas alongside Meadows.
US Route 26 and Oregon State Route 35 provide the main routes to Mt Hood Meadows from Portland and Hood River respectively, both climbing into the mountain's forested slopes. Winter driving conditions on these routes can include snow and ice, and chains or traction tyres are often required during storms. There is no direct public transport service to the resort, though seasonal shuttle options operate from the Portland area.
Portland International Airport is the nearest airport with extensive commercial service, roughly 90 minutes from the resort depending on conditions. This makes Mt Hood Meadows readily accessible for visitors flying into Oregon's largest city, reinforcing its role as Portland's primary mountain resort despite its independent, non-destination-pass operation.
