Skiing Mt. Hood Meadows: Your Insider’s Guide from Vancouver, WA

Sitting on the eastern slope of Mount Hood in Oregon, Mt Hood Meadows operates under a special-use permit on the Mt. Hood National Forest and offers one of the Northwest’s most spectacular winter playgrounds. Base facilities in the North and South lodges provide rentals, sport shops, restaurants, ski schools and daycare. For Vancouverites, it’s about a 90-mile drive, a bit of a trek, but the reward is 87 trails, twelve lifts and varied terrain that caters to everyone from beginners to experts. The mountain is busiest on weekends and holidays from late December through February; mid-week visits mean cheaper Mt Hood Meadows lift tickets and fewer crowds.

When does Mt Hood Meadows open and close?

The resort’s official operating schedule for the 2025-26 season:

• Opening day: Yet to be announced (conditions dependent)

• Night skiing begins: December 12, 2025

• End of regular night operations: March 1, 2026

• Bonus night weekend: March 6 - 8, 2026

• End of seven-day operations: April 19, 2026

• Closing day: May 2, 2026

Peak days include December 26 - January 4 and weekends through early March.

Buying Mt Hood Meadows lift tickets

Demand often exceeds supply, especially when special deals drop, so plan ahead:

• Dynamic pricing: The earlier you buy, the cheaper the ticket. Prices rise as the day sells out. On-site 9 AM purchases cost extra.

• Ticket types: 9 AM–close, 12 PM–close, or 4 PM–close during night operations.

• Where to buy: Online, or in person at Meadows PDX in northwest Portland, where you can pick up your RFID card early.

  
  

Deals to know about

• Black Friday sale: A limited in-person sale at Meadows PDX offering two mid-week lift tickets for $109. Lines stretched outside the store with roughly 30-minute waits.

• Cyber Monday: Specials such as two mid-week tickets for $129 and discounted lessons/rental bundles.

• Military & adaptive discounts: Adaptive skiers can buy day tickets for $50 and night tickets for $19. Active military, ski patrol and PSIA members get discounted rates on non-peak days.

  
  

Mt Hood Meadows season passes

Season passes for 2025–26 are sold in tiers:

• All Access: Ski any time the resort is open.

• Value Pass: Ski any day, but on peak days access begins at 1 PM.

• Night Pass: Good after 4 PM during night operations.

Pass prices are dynamic — the earlier you buy, the cheaper they are. Renewal discounts typically run through late spring, and promotional deals (like auto-partner offers) occasionally pop up.

If you’re searching for the best mt hood measows season pass deal (yes, spelled like that because people search for it that way), keep an eye out for late-spring discounts and payment plans. In recent seasons, a Night Pass cost roughly the same as four day tickets, another reason a mt hood measows season pass can pay off quickly. No matter how you spell it, buying early usually saves money.

Getting there from Vancouver

• Driving: From Vancouver, take I-84 east to Hood River, then OR-35 south to the resort. This drive is generally smoother than Highway 26. Enter this in your GPS: 14040 OR-35, Mt. Hood, OR 97041.

• Shuttles: Columbia Area Transit runs the Gorge-to-Mountain bus daily from Hood River. Within the resort, free shuttles run every 10–15 minutes between the lots.

• Parking: Free, but you need an Oregon Sno-Park permit. Lots fill early on weekends; overflow parking comes with shuttle service.

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What to expect on the mountain

• Weather: Conditions change quickly. Dress in layers and bring waterproof outerwear, gloves, and goggles.

• Crowds: Weekends and holidays are busy. Arrive before 8 AM for lessons or after 2 PM for easier parking. Night skiing is less crowded and cheaper.

• Terrain: With 87 runs and 12 lifts, the mountain has everything from beginner greens to double-black diamonds. There are progression parks, learning areas, and Nordic trails.

• Food & amenities: Multiple lodges offer dining options. Expect resort-level pricing and longer lines during peak times.

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Why lines formed in Vancouver

Those long lines you saw weren’t for the slopes, they were at Meadows PDX, the resort’s satellite store in NW Portland. The Black Friday deal offering two mid-week lift tickets for $109 drew big crowds. Because tickets had to be purchased in person and were transferable, people from Vancouver and the entire metro area lined up early.

Alternatives to Mt Hood Meadows

If Mt Hood Meadows is sold out, crowded, or conditions aren’t ideal, you’ve got options:

Timberline Lodge & Ski Area

• Home to the longest ski season in North America — open 12 months a year.

• Famous vertical drop and high-alpine terrain.
  

Mt Hood Skibowl

• America’s largest night-skiing area.

• Known for black-diamond terrain and cosmic tubing with LED lights.
  

Cooper Spur Mountain Resort

• Family-friendly, small mountain experience.

• One chairlift, two tubing lifts, beginner rope tow, and Nordic trails.
  

Summit Pass

• Budget-friendly beginner terrain.

• Shuttle access to Timberline for full-mountain skiing.

Final tips for a great day

• Book early: Mt Hood Meadows lift tickets often sell out.

• Check conditions: Weather can swing quickly, and early storms sometimes push opening dates forward.

• Stay flexible: Timberline and Skibowl are great backups if Meadows is packed.

• Compare costs: A mt hood measows season pass could save money if you expect to ski multiple days.

  
  

Even seasoned locals are surprised by how fast a mt hood meadows season pass pays for itself.

Addresses of key locations

• Mt Hood Meadows: 14040 OR-35, Mt Hood, OR 97041

• Meadows PDX: 1639 NW Northrup St., Portland, OR 97209

• Timberline Lodge & Ski Area: 27500 E Timberline Rd., Government Camp, OR 97028

• Mt Hood Skibowl: 87000 East Hwy 26, Government Camp, OR 97028

• Cooper Spur Mountain Resort: 10755 Cooper Spur Rd., Mt Hood, OR 97041

• Summit Pass: 90255 Government Camp Loop Rd., Government Camp, OR 97028