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    Oregon, USA

    Willamette Pass

    555 acres, 29 runs on Eagle Peak. Oregon's steepest lift-served run, Power Pass access near Eugene.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    13 Dec 2025
    Closes
    29 Mar 2026
    Days open
    106
    Annual snow
    33ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Willamette Pass's terrain rises from a base at 5,118 feet to a summit at 6,683 feet atop Eagle Peak, a vertical drop of 1,565 feet across 29 runs spread over 555 acres in the Oregon Cascades. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 24 per cent expert, 21 per cent beginner and 10 per cent advanced, with average annual snowfall of roughly 400 inches. The resort offers Power Pass access.

    Willamette Pass includes Oregon's steepest lift-served run, a distinction that has helped the resort retain a loyal following of experienced skiers despite its modest overall scale. The mountain's substantial snowfall total, around 400 inches annually, supports reliable conditions through a season shorter than some larger Oregon resorts. Its history of local, family-style ownership for much of its existence has shaped a distinctly community-oriented character.

    Roy and Edna Temple founded the ski area in 1941, logging a section of 6,683-foot Eagle Peak and installing a rope tow to get started. Ownership proved unstable through much of the 1960s: a group of ten Cottage Grove teachers purchased the area from George Korn for 55,000 US dollars in 1962, but the resort passed through at least eight ownership changes over the following years, closing for two or three seasons and at one point replacing its volunteer ski patrol with management employees.

    After a further transition through the Eugene-Lane Teachers Credit Union and a brief 1979-80 closure during a foreclosure action involving neighbouring Hoodoo, brothers Charles Wiper Jr. and Tom Wiper Sr. bought a 60 per cent share of the resort in 1981 and invested 750,000 US dollars in the area's first chairlift and other improvements. The Wiper family of Eugene owned and operated Willamette Pass from 1982 until 2022, when the resort entered a new joint venture with Mountain Capital Partners. Adult daily tickets run from 69 to 79 US dollars, with the Power Pass from 249 dollars.

    1,565ft
    Vertical
    29
    Runs
    555 acres
    Skiable
    33ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    29 runs across 555 acres skiable

    Willamette Pass spreads 29 runs across 555 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 6 beginner runs to find your feet and 10 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    29
    runs
    29 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner6 runs · 21%
    Intermediate13 runs · 45%
    Advanced3 runs · 10%
    Expert7 runs · 24%
    Time it right

    When to visit Willamette Pass

    The 2025-26 season at Willamette Pass ran from 13 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly fifteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 400 inches. This substantial snowfall total supports reliable conditions across the resort's terrain despite its comparatively short operating window relative to some larger Oregon resorts. 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 resort's varied terrain, including Oregon's steepest lift-served run. Given the resort's history as a locally owned, community-focused mountain for much of the past eighty years, Willamette Pass draws primarily from the Eugene and southern Willamette Valley region rather than national destination traffic. Weekend crowds are generally heavier than weekdays.

    As a Power Pass resort under the 2022 joint venture with Mountain Capital Partners, Willamette Pass now draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass in addition to its core regional base. The Power Kids Pass, offered at no cost, reflects a continued emphasis on family accessibility consistent with the resort's community-oriented history. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The Wiper family's four decades of ownership from 1982 to 2022 shaped much of the resort's community character, a legacy that continues under the current Mountain Capital Partners joint venture. Willamette Pass's reputation for Oregon's steepest lift-served terrain remains its clearest point of distinction each season.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    13 Dec 2025
    Opens
    29 Mar 2026
    Closes
    106
    Days open
    33 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Willamette Pass, and where to stay

    Willamette Pass sits on Eagle Peak in the Oregon Cascades, with a base elevation of 5,118 feet and a summit at 6,683 feet across a 1,565-foot vertical drop over 555 acres. This puts the resort along the Cascade crest in the southern Willamette Valley region of Oregon.

    The town of Oakridge lies within a reasonable drive of the resort, offering local lodging and services, while Eugene, home to the Wiper family who owned the resort for four decades, provides more extensive amenities a further distance to the west. The broader Willamette National Forest surrounds the resort, offering additional summer and shoulder-season recreation beyond skiing.

    Oregon State Route 58 provides the main route to Willamette Pass from Eugene and the southern Willamette Valley, climbing steadily into the Cascade Range. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, and travellers should carry chains during winter weather advisories given the elevation involved. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.

    Eugene Airport is the nearest airport with commercial service, offering a practical option for visitors flying into the southern Willamette Valley before making the drive up to the pass. Most Willamette Pass visitors, however, are Eugene-area locals or regional Oregon skiers driving up rather than fly-in destination travellers, consistent with the resort's long history as a community-owned mountain.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Willamette Pass, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    26 Aug 2026

    Willamette Pass Webcams

    1 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.

    About Willamette Pass's live webcams

    Check live conditions across Willamette Pass with 1 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.

    Camera guide

    Base Area5,118ft
    Monitor all the action through this Willamette Pass webcam at the base area positioned at 1560 meters elevation in the Central Oregon Cascades. This Willamette Pass live cam captures the lodge, lift operations, and current snow conditions at this family-friendly destination. Perfect for Eugene-area skiers planning their trip, this live snow cam provides real-time views of conditions at Oregon's hidden gem ski resort on the Cascade crest.

    Willamette Pass snow cams FAQ

    How often do Willamette Pass snow cams update?+
    All Willamette Pass snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Willamette Pass.
    Which Willamette Pass webcam shows the best powder conditions?+
    The high-elevation Base Area webcam at 1,560m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Willamette Pass webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
    Can I see Willamette Pass lift queues on the webcams?+
    Yes. Multiple Willamette Pass snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
    When is the best time to check Willamette Pass snow cams?+
    Check Willamette Pass webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
    How can I check current conditions before buying Willamette Pass lift tickets?+
    Use our Willamette Pass webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
    Do Willamette Pass webcams work on mobile devices?+
    Yes. All Willamette Pass snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.

    More Willamette Pass intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.