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    Oregon, Usa

    Mt Hood Meadows

    2,150 acres, 85 runs on Mount Hood. Largest of the mountain's resorts, an hour from Portland.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    12 Dec 2025
    Closes
    2 May 2026
    Days open
    141
    Annual snow
    38ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    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.

    2,776ft
    Vertical
    85
    Runs
    2,150 acres
    Skiable
    38ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    85 runs across 2,150 acres skiable

    Mt Hood Meadows spreads 85 runs across 2,150 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 50%, with 13 beginner runs to find your feet and 30 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    85
    runs
    85 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner13 runs · 15%
    Intermediate43 runs · 50%
    Advanced17 runs · 20%
    Expert13 runs · 15%
    Time it right

    When to visit Mt Hood Meadows

    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.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    12 Dec 2025
    Opens
    2 May 2026
    Closes
    141
    Days open
    38 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Mt Hood Meadows, and where to stay

    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.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Mt Hood Meadows, powered by Stay22.

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    Mt Hood Meadows Trail Map

    Mt Hood Meadows trail map↓ Download PDF
    Terrain split
    85
    runs
    Beginner15%
    Intermediate50%
    Advanced20%
    Expert15%
    2,150 acres skiable870 hectares
    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base4,524ft
    Summit7,300ft
    Annual snowfall
    38ft
    Season
    2025 - 2026
    12 Dec 2025 - 2 May 2026
    Trail coverage
    85 runs
    2,150 acres (870 ha)

    About Mt Hood Meadows's trail map

    Explore Mt Hood Meadows's full trail map with 85 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗

    More Mt Hood Meadows intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.