Mount Hood Meadows facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Hood Meadows |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Mount Hood Meadows
Location in Oregon
Mount Hood Meadows
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Mount Hood, Oregon |
| Nearest city | Government Camp, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45°19′44″N 121°39′45″W / 45.32889°N 121.66250°W |
| Vertical | 2,777 feet (846 m) |
| Top elevation | 7,300 feet (2,225 m) |
| Base elevation | 4,523 feet (1,379 m) |
| Skiable area | 2,150 acres (8.7 km2) |
| Runs | 87 |
| Longest run | 3 miles (5 km) |
| Lift system | 11 chairlifts |
| Terrain parks | Yes, 4 |
| Snowfall | 430 inches (1,100 cm) |
| Night skiing | Yes |
| Website | skihood.com |
Mount Hood Meadows is a super fun ski resort located on the side of Mount Hood in northern Oregon. It's the biggest ski resort on the mountain! You can find it about 67 miles (108 km) east of Portland.
This awesome place offers both downhill skiing and cross-country skiing. You can even ski at night! If you're new to skiing or snowboarding, they have lessons and equipment rentals. Plus, there are lots of places to grab a snack or a meal, from coffee bars to sit-down restaurants. While Mount Hood Meadows doesn't have places to stay overnight, other nearby resorts like Timberline Lodge do. Many buses can also take you to and from the resort.
Contents
Exploring Mount Hood Meadows
Skiing and Snowboarding Fun
Mount Hood Meadows has amazing areas for skiing and snowboarding. It's known for its wide variety of slopes.
Getting Up the Mountain
The resort has 11 different chairlifts to take you up the mountain. Some of these are super-fast "high-speed" lifts that can carry many people at once. For example, the Mount Hood Express can carry six people per chair! Other lifts, like Buttercup, are great for beginners.
Awesome Ski Trails
Mount Hood Meadows boasts 87 different trails for you to explore. The total area you can ski on is about 2,150 acres (8.7 km2).
- 15% of the trails are green, perfect for beginners.
- 40% are blue, great for intermediate skiers.
- 15% are black diamond, for advanced skiers.
- 30% are double-black diamond, for expert adventurers!
High Points and Low Points
The lowest point at the resort is 4,523 feet (1,379 m) at the Hood River Meadows base area. The main lodge sits at 5,366 feet (1,636 m). The highest point you can reach by chairlift is 7,305 feet (2,227 m) at the top of the Cascade Express. If you're up for a hike, you can even reach 9,000 feet (2,700 m)!
Cross-Country Skiing Adventures
If you love cross-country skiing, Mount Hood Meadows has 9 miles (14 km) of trails just for you. It's a peaceful way to enjoy the snowy scenery.
The Story of Mount Hood Meadows
The idea for a new ski area on Mount Hood started way back in 1964. A group of business people from Hood River thought it would be a great idea. They even paid for a study to see if it was possible.
In 1966, the Forest Service approved a plan for the new ski area. It would have two ski lifts, a T-bar lift, a rope tow, and a lodge. Workers started clearing the first ski runs in the summer of 1966. The entrance road was built, and the main highway was improved to make winter travel easier.
Mount Hood Meadows officially opened to skiers in December 1967. It was a very modern resort for its time! The first parking lot could hold about 330 cars, but it was made much bigger by 1974 to hold around a thousand.
Over the years, the resort kept growing and adding new features.
- In 1972, a T-bar lift was replaced by a new chairlift called Daisy.
- In 1976, the Hood River Meadows double chairlift opened, adding more skiable areas.
- Many of the older chairlifts were replaced with faster, more modern ones over time. For example, the Cascade Express replaced an older lift in 1993.
- In 2011, the Stadium Express, a new high-speed quad chairlift, was built.
- In 2012, Mount Hood Meadows added special RFID gates at every lift. This means you don't have to show your ticket every time; it just scans automatically!
- In 2017, the Buttercup double chairlift was upgraded to a fixed-grip quad, making it even better for beginners.
- A big new building called the Sahale Lodge was built in 2019 and opened in 2020. It has more space for gear rentals, a food court, and extra seating.
- Most recently, in 2023, the Mount Hood Express chairlift was upgraded to carry six people per chair, making it even more efficient.
Mount Hood Meadows continues to be a popular spot for winter sports enthusiasts of all ages!
