Timberline Ski Area
Our favorite Mount Hood ski spot holds a lot of history and chill vibes
Timberline Ski Area
OVERVIEW
The complete Mount Hood experience. Timberline Ski Area boasts a historic lodge, the longest ski season in North America, and record vertical feet (when accessible).
ADDRESS
27500 E Timberline Road
Government Camp, OR 97028
30 minutes from Mt. Hood Alpine Chalet
FIELD NOTES + INSIDER TIPS
4,540’ Vertical | ~400” Snowfall | 1,685 Acres | 41 Runs | 11 Lifts
With only two major ski resorts on the actual slopes of Mount Hood, you can imagine there is some debate about which is the best. Timberline or Meadows? While many jump to metrics, we feel there’s more to a ski resort than what you see on a trail map or snow report. This is why Timberline Ski Area sits above the rest for us, even though Ski Bowl is closest to our cabin in the woods.
For one, my family has been cutting turns at Timberline for three generations, and celebrating with shakes at the Huckleberry Inn afterward. My grandmother “Tiny” is actually spending a portion of her eternity on the Magic Mile, so give her a shout while you’re shredding by. Beyond blood, it also comes down to culture.
A legendary bartender sporting double side braids summed it up for me one day. In between making drinks, he told me he had worked at a few resorts on the mountain. Timberline was his favorite hands down, and he said he knew from day one by looking at people’s pants. “The baggier the legs, the better the resort,” he said.
Needless to say, Timberline lives a little more loose. While we love the simplicity, this is bigger than a pant leg. It’s an entire attitude. Timberline lives easy because it has nothing to prove. It’s the original Mount Hood resort. What comes from its storied history is a genuine sense of freedom, grit, and nonchalance.
Even if you’re looking at stats, Timberline boasts the longest ski season in North America and now claims the most vertical feet in the United States at 4,540’. This is a place where you can have fun, meet good people, find your terrain, and ride long stretches. Timberline Ski Area is a quintessential Oregon experience, and it will always be our go-to spot for a day on the slopes.
Ski Terrain
So, we’ll be straight with you. The full vertical is not realistic most of the year unless you’re willing to stand in line for a snowcat ride up the Palmer snowfield (the lift rarely operates before May). The good news: this lift allows Timberline to stay open later than any other resort–usually late August. Timberline also has a lot to offer outside its new claim to vertical fame. High speed lift service covers nearly all of its terrain, giving you more time to hit turns. The trail map is mostly blue, and even the black diamonds are doable for advanced intermediate riders. It’s a great spot for families, low-key riders and those looking for a unique experience. Here are a few of our mainstay runs to help you find your best lines:
Coffel’s to Kruser: Nothing extreme here, but it’s some of the best snow and one of the longer rides at Timberline. Occasionally I’ll hit outside the lines on Coffel’s and work my way back through the trees onto Kruse, just below the top of Stormin’ Norman, but you ski at your own risk out there. Even in bounds, you can find some great stashes of powder on this run after a decent snow, and it keeps your interest with a variety of turns and grades. Take a left off the Magic Mile lift (the second ever chairlift in North America) and traverse over, almost to the boundary line, to find your drop-in.
Conway’s and The Bonezone: Timberline is a pioneer of the park scene and continues to have some of the strongest terrain parks in the Northwest. You’ll find the bigger hits along Conway’s during the height of the season, but the features move up in elevation during the summer to keep the good times rolling year-round. Another unique feature at Timberline are its natural half pipes carved out by creeks and canyons. The Bonezone gives you a great taste of what these are like without having to get lost in the trees. Both of these runs can be accessed by taking a right off of Stormin’ Norman lift.
EZ Way: We don’t take the easy route much in life, but when we find ourselves on the east approach to the Jeff Flood lift there is magic to be found. The EZ Way gives those who don’t like steeps an alternative way down to the lift, and that comes via a meandering, forested trail that is in a world of its own. You can weave through the trees to find whoops and kickers or stay on trail for sweeping turns. There’s no wrong way, but you will want to keep your speed because it ends in a long flat.
Molly’s: You have to keep your speed up on the awkward start of Vicky’s Trail in order to access Molly’s Run. This black diamond offers some of the most consistently good powder at Timberline. Before you know it, you’ll come to another junction. Stay straight to hit Huckbowl or veer left to join back up with Vicky’s. Either way you’ll find more stashes in the ungroomed areas as you close in on the lower lift house. The other bonus: there’s fewer people on these runs.
Attractions (from lowest to highest elevation)
Part of what makes Timberline so appealing is its story, and that legacy stretches across its miles of trails. You’ll notice it the moment you drive in, whether it’s a vintage Tucker Sno-Cat sitting lodge-side or a greeting from Heidi and Bruno–the resort’s iconic St. Bernards. There are many nooks and crannies to explore, but here is a short list to start your trip off right:
Phlox Point Cabin: If you hit the slopes, you have to find your way to this ski-in-ski-out taco spot. Pick from carnitas, barbacoa, chicken, or vegetarian then grab a seat near the fireplace or jump back outside for a fire pit and tunes. Our favorite combo is a carnitas taco and an Ice Axe IPA from Mount Hood Brewing Company. The hut itself is a former Boy Scouts cabin built in 1930! You’ll have to stay alert to find your way, because the cabin is located on a side trail between the Pucci and Jeff Flood lifts.
Timberline Kids Club: You can read our full review of Timberline’s ride school here, but all you need to know is that it’s a game-changer for parents. We love our kids, but some days we need to ride like banshees instead of working to corral two of them. Kids Club helps the little groms (levels 1-3) get up on their skis and turning. The full day option runs $180 and comes with lunch for the littles. It’s like paying a babysitter, plus getting up to six hours of laps in before pickup.
Y’Bar: Did you say après? You’ll find the best crowds at Y’Bar, and possibly our legendary bartender. If you worked up an appetite, the mountainous nachos are stellar and live up to their name. Mount Hood Brewing Company beers are fresh on tap, the cocktail list is strong and features an infamous Irish Coffee, and sliding doors open onto a deck that offers panoramic views of Mt. Jefferson and the rest of the Cascades on clear days. The deck also offers an easy perch to watch when the crowds have cleared the parking lot.
Timberline Lodge: Constructed in 1937 as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal, Timberline Lodge is a National Historic Landmark and a jewel on the crown of Mount Hood that welcomes 2 million visitors a year. The 55,000-square-foot structure continues to offer historic lodging, detailed craftsmanship and fine dining in the Cascade Dining Room. If you want to immerse yourself in its history, stop by the interpretive museum in the lower lobby. Just looking to soak in the surroundings? Grab a book or some hot cocoa and post up next to the towering fireplace in the main lobby.
Palmer Snowcat & Silcox Hut: Another tradition that continues at Timberline are the cat rides up Palmer. The first tracks were laid by a fleet of Tucker Sno-Cats that carried skiers to the 8,540-foot mark long before a lift serviced the terrain. Today, you can find two more modern snowcats offering rides daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in winter months (conditions permitting). To get there, take the Magic Mile lift and exit right toward Silcox Hut, a former warming hut that rents out for private overnights and adventure dining experiences. Don’t worry, the line for cat rides is closer to the lift house. Look for a person and/or snowcat clad in yellow and waiting to steer you in the right direction.
No matter if you’re skiing or sight-seeing, Timberline Lodge is a must visit when coming to Mount Hood. Just make sure to check road and weather conditions before heading up. Access is easy in the summer and you can even find future Olympians, camps and classes on the slopes. Even as the snow melts, a whole new set of trails are revealed for biking and hiking through the summer and fall. So, no matter when you arrive, you can experience and become part of Timberline’s iconic story.
