Best Ski Resorts near Portland - OR

Timberline is located near the top Mt. Hood, a 11,245-foot-tall dormant volcano. Given the region’s unique climate, Timberline is able to boast the longest ski season in North America. Slopes remain open around 10 months of the year thanks to 400 inches of annual snowfall, on average. Timberline maintains multiple terrain parks, 41 runs, 25 percent of which are designed for beginners, 50 percent for intermediate skiers and the rest for advanced and expert powder hounds. Plus, the resort has an impressive 4,540 vertical drop. Timberline also offers night skiing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

Mt. Hood Meadows, located in Mt. Hood National Forest about 90 mins from Portland, offers prime skiing and riding  conditions for those who feel comfortable on the snow. While beginners will find terrain that suits them, 80 percent of the resort’s 85 runs cater to intermediate and expert powder hounds. What’s more, many praise this resort for having the best cruising intermediate terrain in the state. Mt. Hood Meadows averages 430 inches of snow per year across its 2,150 acres of terrain, which features a 2,776-foot vertical drop Mount Hood Meadows also features six terrain parks with a mini pipe and a superpipe, as well as night skiing.

Mt. Hood Skibowl is located in the Mt. Hood National Forest, not far from the largerMt. Hood Meadows. Although this resort, located  less than an hour from Portland, may not be as large as other ski destinations in the area, it has been impressing powder hounds since it first opened in 1928. Skibowl’s 960 acres of skiable terrain is said to be some of the best in the region. And although 80 percent of the resort’s marked runs are designed for more advanced skiers and riders, Skibowl’s Olympic Ski & Snowboard School caters to all levels. Mt. Hood Skibowl is also home to the largest night ski area in the country, not to mention multiple terrain parks and a snow tubing area.

Cooper Spur is located in Mt. Hood National Forest, just 90 minutes from Portland. Although only encompassing 50 acres of skiable terrain and a mild 350-foot vertical drop, this small-but-mighty ski destination is the ideal place to learn to ski or snowboard. Cooper Spur’s 10 runs cater only to beginner and intermediate powder hounds, and available ski instruction will help everyone feel comfortable on the slopes. Cooper Spur also offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snow tubing for visitors who want to take advantage of the resort’s 100 inches of annual snowfall, but need a break from the runs. And with available night skiing, the fun doesn’t have to end come twilight.