Secret Slopes
Psst! Can you keep a secret? There’s amazing powder skiing in Oregon—if
you know where to look. And you don’t need to pay a lot for a lift ticket,
or wait in line to catch a ride to the top. Thanks to its volcanic past, Oregon
boasts a range of mountains sure to satisfy downhill skiers, snowboarders and
Nordic skiers alike. This winter, head to Oregon’s “secret slopes,”
where you’ll find untracked snow, spectacular views and a friendly atmosphere
where the whole family is welcome.
(Incidentally, if swooshing down a powdery slope with the kids isn’t your cup of tea, check out these ideas for fun family snow activities. )
The scoop on Oregon skiing - from Hoodoo to Willamette Pass...
HOODOO
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.
One of Shephard’s most popular additions is the epic Autobahn, an 800-foot
tubing run that’s the longest in the state. Shephard says he’s far
from done. Future plans include an expansion to the tubing park and more surprises
for Oregon’s “newest” ski area.
Directions: Highway 20, 20 miles west of Sisters;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.hoodoo.com or call 541.822.3337
MT. ASHLAND
Community-owned Mt. Ashland, the highest mountain in Southern Oregon’s
Siskiyou range, is one of the only slopes in the nation where skiers can carve
graceful turns during the day and enjoy clever turns of phrase at night. It’s
located just 30 minutes from Ashland, where après- ski options include
a vibrant arts community, superb restaurants, quaint bed and breakfasts, and
a world-famous Shakespeare Festival.
From Mt. Ashland’s 7,533-foot summit, skiers and snowboarders ride a
drop of 1,150 vertical feet. There is a remarkable terrain park, and the four
chairlifts provide access to 23 trails as well as to open bowl skiing. The mountain’s
200 acres of skiing offer a number of challenging runs, including Ado and Balcony,
leading locals to brag: If you can ski Ashland, you can ski anywhere.
Directions: Take the Mt. Ashland Exit off I-5;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.mtashland.com or call 541.482.2897
WARNER CANYON
Imagine having your own personal ski resort 10 miles from home, where the snow
is dry powder and on busy days you might see 100 other people. That place is
Warner Canyon, just outside Lakeview in the high desert “outback”
of southeast Oregon.
Ken Odegaard exemplifies the spirit of involvement that makes this community-owned
slope so inviting. Odegaard learned to ski in Lakeview, and now jokes that skiing
helped him get out of this town of 2,500. But after spending 15 years in the
ski industry, Odegaard came home and brought his expertise with him. He volunteered
as coach of the local high school ski team, then led a community effort to acquire
and install the area’s first-ever chairlift, a refurbished triple that
speeds skiers to the top for the mountain pass’s 14 runs. “I’ve
had plenty of powder days with 20 other people on the slopes, where I never
skied the same track twice,” says Odegaard.
Directions: Highway 140, 10 miles north of Lakeview;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.lakecountychamber.org/skihill.html or call 541.947.5001 or 541.947.6040.
COOPER SPUR
Mt. Hood is well known for its snow sports, and the 11,239-foot mountain hosts
three of the state’s most popular ski areas: Mt. Hood Meadows, Timberline
and Mt. Hood Skibowl. But tucked on the north slope of the mountain, away from
the bustle of the big resorts, sits Cooper Spur, which offers an intimate family
alternative.
Eighty percent of the terrain at Cooper Spur is beginner and intermediate,
providing an ideal learning environment. With station-based classes, skiers
start with a short lesson, then go skiing and come back for more help throughout
the day as needed. Meanwhile, parents can sit at the lodge and survey the entire
area, relaxing with confidence while their children explore the 50-acre winter
playground, which includes 10 ski runs and two lift-served tubing runs.
This season, Cooper Spur is adding a ski carousel, a device similar to a merry-go-round,
for skiers. The carousel delivers the fun of an amusement ride while helping
beginners develop confidence on skis.
Directions: Highway 35, 23 miles south of Hood River;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.cooperspur.com or call 541.352.7803
SKI ANTHONY LAKES
If you’re serious about pushing powder, look to Ski Anthony Lakes in Eastern
Oregon. With the highest base elevation of any ski area in the state (7,100
feet) and located in the Elkhorn Ridge of the Blue Mountains, Anthony Lakes
has the recipe for light, dry snow. Or, as snowboarder Jerry Krieg puts it:
“Serious powder!”
Krieg, a Houston native, spent six years working on Mt. Hood before making
the move to Eastern Oregon. Now the marketing director at Anthony Lakes, he
appreciates the lack of crowding just as much as the light stuff. “At
big ski areas, the runs are all cut up by 11 a.m.,” says Krieg, an avid
snow rider. “Here, two days after a big snow, you can still find fresh
powder to ski.”
For even more adventure, Krieg recommends Anthony Lakes’ famous backcountry
snow cat tours. For $150 (or $75 for a half-day), up to a dozen skiers and boarders
ride in a plush, heated snow cat toward the untouched snow of three separate
peaks. “It’s unbelievable,” says Krieg. “There’s
this total silence—just you and five or 10 other people skiing in a foot
or two of fresh powder.”
And for those who prefer skinny skis, Anthony Lakes has quietly become the
state’s second largest cross-country ski area, regularly grooming more
than 37 kilometers of Nordic trails. Clear skies, dry powder and 1,100 acres
of skiing greet skiers at Anthony Lakes.
Directions: Exit 285 off I-84 at North Powder. 45 miles southwest of La Grande and 35 miles
northwest of Baker City;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.anthonylakes.com or call 541.856.3277
Of course no Oregon ski adventure can be complete without hitting the slopes of Mt. Hood, one hour east of Portland, and Mt. Bachelor, just outside of Bend in Central Oregon.
MOUNT HOOD
Mt. Hood, the tallest of Oregon's Cascade peaks, stands watch over the awe-inspiring Columbia River Gorge from a height of 11,239 ft. The mountain has four ski areas, including Timberline, the only ski area in North America that's open 12 months of the year. The lodge is located near the top of Mt. Hood and offers some of the state’s most scenic skiing and up to 3,590 vertical feet. Afterward, dine or stay overnight at historic Timberline Lodge, a classic WPA-era lodge, complete with two resident St. Bernards named Bruno and Heidi. The cozy lodge is a welcome relief after a full day on the slopes. In the height of winter, the ground floor of the lodge is typically fully buried in snow, with entry through a snow tunnel, or directly into the second floor.
Directions: 60 miles east of Portland off Hwy 26;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.timberlinelodge.com or call 503.622.7979
The other popular ski areas on Mount Hood are Mt. Hood Meadows and Ski Bowl.
MT. HOOD MEADOWS
Mt. Hood’s largest ski area offers 2,150 acres of diverse terrain served by 11 lifts, including five high-speed quads. Experts will revel in backcountry skiing at Heather Canyon.
Insider Tip: Locals cherish trail that runs from the top of the Cascade Express chair to Memorial Bowl, traverse across Heather Canyon to the second ridge and then down Accordion Bowl to the run out at the bottom of the Heather Chairlift.
Another option is to traverse across Accordion Bowl to southwest facing Pea Gravel Ridge and ride it down to the Heather Chair - both very fun runs for experts only - definitely double black diamond territory!
Directions: 67 miles east of Portland on Hwy 35;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.skihood.com or call 1.800.SKI.HOOD
MT. HOOD SKIBOWL
The closest ski area to Portland offers convenience, affordable prices and plenty of advanced terrain. Skibowl lights 34 runs, making it the largest night ski area in the nation.
Directions: 52 miles east of Portland on Highway 26;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.skibowl.com or call 1.800.SKI.BOWL
MT. BACHELOR
Mt. Bachelor, a 9,065-foot volcanic cone, offers world-class skiing and snowboarding from November through May. Famous for its deep, dry powder, the mountain annually plays host to Olympic hopefuls and international competitions, as well as families looking for winter fun. With 3,683 acres of terrain served by a network of ten lifts, seven of which are high-speed quads, there’s room for every interest and ability. In addition to the world-renowned downhill skiing and snowboarding; snowshoeing tours, sled dog rides and Nordic skiing are all offered on site. And while you are there, don't forget to check out the newly remodeled West Village Lodge.
Directions: Cascade Lakes Highway, 22 miles southwest of Bend;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.mtbachelor.com or call 800.829.2442
Last, but not least, don't miss WILLAMETTE PASS...
While everyone in the family will enjoy the terrain at Willamette, advanced skiers will pick eight black diamond runs. There's night skiing and a 1,563 vertical drop. Choose from 29 runs and terrain from beginner to expert, including Oregon’s only six-passenger chair and spring gondola skiing from the summit. This family-oriented Central Oregon resort includes an activity center for skiers with children.
Directions: Highway 58, 69 miles east of Eugene;
Hours and Prices: Visit www.willamettepass.com or call 541.345.SNOW
Photo Credits: Ski Anthony Lakes, Mt. Ashland