Oregon Ski Vacations

Oregon is famous for the ski slopes found around the 
state, and if you are planning a ski vacation, you 
should definitely consider Timberline Lodge, located 
near Mt. Hood in Oregon. There is quite a bit of 
history in the area, starting with the lodge that was 
built during the Great Depression by a master 
craftsman. The Timberline Lodge also has a bit of 
more recent history attached to it. Part of the movie, 
The Shining, was filmed here. Many of the ‘outside’ 
shots were done at Timberline Lodge. 

The lodge is entirely hand made, and well preserved. 
The hand woven draperies and the hand hewn beams 
add to the rustic charm and history of the place. The 
lodge sits in the middle of 1400 acres consisting of 
35 trails. The trails are perfect for beginners, 
intermediates, and experts. The top elevation at 
Timberline Lodge is 8504 with a vertical drop of 2501. 
There are six chair lifts to accommodate skiers.

One of the most unique things about Timberline is 
that it is the one place in the United States that offers 
year-round snow skiing. Palmer Snowfield is part of 
the Timberline Resort, and it is permanently covered 
with snow. Beginners are not always allowed on 
Palmer snowfield – the conditions are considered 
each day when making this determination.

Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, and 
lodge tours are the main attractions at Timberline. 
Here, it is all about the powder! Mt. Hood is an active 
volcano which is considered to be dormant. 
Occasionally, tremors are felt, and steam vents are 
often visible. The Cascade Dining Room is open for 
breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, but the hours 
do change with the seasons. Other fare can be found 
at the Ram’s Head Bar, the Blue Ox bar, the Wy’East 
Kitchen Cafeteria, the Market Café, and the Mt. Hood 
Brewing Company.

Rental equipment is not available at Timberline. You 
must bring your own equipment. However, smaller 
items such as gloves and goggles can be purchased 
at the lodge, along with some clothing items. There is 
a snowboard and ski school on the premises, and 
private and group lessons are available. 

If the idea of a ‘rustic’ ski vacation appeals to you, 
as opposed to trips with accommodations that are a 
bit fancier, then Timberline Lodge in Oregon is the 
place to be! Again, it is definitely all about the history 
and the powder here. However, whether you ski or not, 
you must not miss the Magic Mile, which offers a 
panoramic view of the Cascade mountains that cannot 
be matched!
 
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