Oregon has some great spots to snowboard if you know where to look. There are prominent peaks and plenty of snow in the central part of the state, and when the snow starts to fall in the winter, you can chase powder.
I’ve been an avid snowboarder for most of my life. I love to travel, which means I take every opportunity to explore new places to ride. I’ve been to Oregon many times over the years and know through first-hand experience where good spots to ride are here.
This post will highlight some of the best places to snowboard in Oregon. I’ll give you some essential information on these spots, such as when they open and close each year and what type of terrain you can expect if you visit.
Let’s dive in.
Contents
1. Mt. Bachelor
- Official Website: https://www.mtbachelor.com/
- Opening Day: December 1 (Average)
- Closing Day: May 15 (Average)
- Best Known For: Largest resort in Oregon, vast amounts of terrain
One of the best places to snowboard in Oregon is Mt. Bachelor. This is an awesome mountain and one of the largest in the country, making it the largest resort in Oregon by a considerable amount.
The resort has over 4,000 acres of rideable terrain. That’s impressive, to say the least, and gives riders of all ability levels the chance to get out in the snow and explore. There is a wide variety of terrain within all of this, from groomed runs to technical slopes and terrain parks.
All of the terrain parks here are well designed and maintained. If you are a freestyle rider, you will appreciate all the hard work and attention that the staff puts into the parks at Mt. Bachelor. There are parks for all ability levels, which is also a nice touch.
One of the only downsides of Mt. Bachelor is that there really isn’t any place to stay right at the mountain. You don’t have access to slopeside lodging or anything and will need to drive about a half-hour away if you want to stay the night.
2. Mount Hood Skibowl
- Official Website: https://www.skibowl.com/
- Opening Day: December 15 (Average)
- Closing Day: April 15 (Average)
- Best Known For: Close to Portland, Night Riding
If you are looking for an easily accessible resort close to the city of Portland, Mount Hood Skibowl is your best bet. This location is less than an hour from the city, giving you quick access to excellent conditions during the winter months.
It’s not the biggest area in the state, but you still have access to almost 1,000 acres of rideable terrain if you visit here. And the conditions are always good after fresh snow if you want to cut out of work early and go chase powder.
Night riding is also awesome at Snowbowl, and nearly half of the mountain stays lit up after the sun goes down. This gives you added time to enjoy the slopes, which is nice during the heart of winter when the daylight hours can be really short.
This is another location without many accommodations nearby. But since it’s so close to the city, there isn’t a shortage of options. Still, Skibowl is more of a day trip than a vacation destination. It can also get pretty crowded on the weekends.
3. Timberline
- Official Website: https://www.timberlinelodge.com/
- Opening Day: November 25 (Average)
- Closing Day: May 25 (Average)
- Best Known For: Extended season, good for beginners
Timberline is another great place to snowboard in Oregon. This is a fun and beginner-friendly mountain with approachable terrain and good amounts of snow. You won’t be disappointed if you make the trip, and it’s a consistent favorite with locals and visitors alike.
This is another resort in the Mt. Hood area, so you know the snow will be good. That also makes this location a relatively short drive from the Portland area, so it can be an easy day trip if you don’t want to say overnight.
One of the reasons Timberline is so popular is that it has one of the longest seasons of any resort in the country. There have been years when the resort didn’t close! That doesn’t happen every year, but if you want to experience skiing in the summer, it’s possible.
This mountain doesn’t have the most technical terrain around, so experienced riders might want to look for a challenge elsewhere. But beginner and intermediate snowboarders will be more than satisfied with everything Timberline offers.
4. Hoodoo
- Official Website: https://skihoodoo.com/
- Opening Day: December 15 (Average)
- Closing Day: April 20 (Average)
- Best Known For: Lots of good snow, comfortable weather
Hoodoo is another resort worth checking out in Oregon, and it gets hammered with consistent snowfall all season long. This gives you an excellent chance for powder nearly all season long, which has its obvious benefits.
This is a smaller resort for Oregon and only has around 800 acres of rideable terrain. But it sits at a lower elevation than many of the other spots, making it more accessible for anyone coming from sea level. It also means that temperatures are generally warmer.
You can take advantage of a vertical drop of over 1,000 feet at Hoodoo, and there are plenty of lifts to get you all around the mountain to explore its terrain. There is also night riding, and over half the resort stays open once the sun goes down.
It can get a little too warm at times, resulting in slushy conditions. But there is usually fresh snow in the forecast to get the powder back on top of any melt. You’ll also need to venture into the nearby town if you want to find good accommodations.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions relating to Oregon’s best places to snowboard.
Is there snow in Oregon mountains?
Yes, the Oregon mountains get plenty of snow in the winter months. It depends on the region, but there are some spots where the packs really start to stack up. Nearly every winter sees snow here, although some seasons are drier than others.
Does Oregon have good snowboarding?
Oregon does have good snowboarding. There are several solid resorts here, offering excellent opportunities to get out and ride. When the snow is consistent, you can ride deep powder, gentle groomers, and a lot of terrain in between.
Is there snowboarding in Portland?
There isn’t snowboarding directly in the city of Portland, but there are a few resorts within a short drive nearby. If you live in the city or are visiting, you have plenty of options of places to go ride, and when the snow starts falling, you can expect good conditions.
Final Thoughts
Oregon is an excellent spot for snowboarders to live or visit. There are many quality resorts within an hour or two of the city of Portland, and lots of fresh snow falls from the sky every winter.
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