Central Oregon’s best-kept secret is that there’s a new ski area in the region, and it’s called…Hoodoo. Locals might protest and say they’ve skied at Hoodoo for years, but new owner Chuck Shephard has transformed the ski area over the past three seasons.

“The changes would floor someone who hasn’t been here lately,” says recreation manager Erik Turner. “It’s like a whole new ski area.” Shephard swapped out two old chairlifts for new quads. He added another lift that opened up new terrain on the backside of the hill, providing more advanced runs for snowboarders and expert skiers. Then he built a state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot lodge so there are never lines—inside or outside—even on the busiest days.

The closest ski area to Salem and the mid-Willamette Valley, Hoodoo also draws skiers from Central Oregon who find Hoodoo cheaper, deeper and steeper. The ski slopes are on a big, rounded butte, with lots of wide open terrain."

More info:

Average annual snowfall: 350 inches
Base elevation: 4668 ft.
Vertical elevation: 1035 ft.
Longest Run: 1.0 mile
Ski Acres: 806 acres
Lifts: 7
Trail Info: 30% beginner, 30% intermediate, 40% advanced
Nordic: 7.5k groomed track, plus 8.3k Skyliner trail groomed weekends and holidays.
Ski School: Yes
Snowboarding Profile: The first question newcomers ask staff is, “Where’s the terrain park?” They’ll usually find it on the Blue Valley run, full of rails, tabletops and hits.

Where: