Mt. Hood Meadows will open on a limited basis Friday (November 25) operating at least one lift from 9 AM - 4 PM. Buttercup is scheduled to operate, largely due to the resort's innovative snow harvesting program. With a forecast of 12 - 18 inches officials speculate that more lifts and terrain will be opened through the day or the weekend.
The six inches of snow has grown our base area snow depth to a foot, deep enough to get cats on the hill. Snow harvesting efforts began Wednesday morning in advance of a major winter storm that is forecast to drop two to three FEET through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
With the move to setting up more of the hill, as of 4pm Wednesday, we are no longer allowing up-hill travel within the resort. Please communicate the following to those who enquire:
Backcountry access to the wilderness areas adjacent to the resort via two designated travel routes along our North and South Boundaries (see https://www.skihood.com/the-mountain/safety/avalanche-reduction-operations for details)
Designated hiking routes are:
Heather Canyon Runout - Proceed uphill from the Hood River Meadows Parking Lot to the first sign just below Gods Wall.
- If the sign is CLOSED exit the Mt. Hood Meadows Permit Area towards the Newton Drainage. Please do not travel further uphill on the Heather Canyon Runout.
- If the sign is OPEN continue traveling uphill on the Heather Canyon Runout to the CLOSED sign directly adjacent to the bottom of the Heather Canyon Chairlift. Turn right exiting the Mt. Hood Meadows Permit Area towards the Newton drainage.
South Boundary - From the main parking lot proceed uphill toward the bottom of the Vista Chairlift. Turn left at the bottom of Vista exiting the Mt. Hood Meadows Permit Area.
Those who do hike for turns and want to re-enter the ski area boundary shall do so only into open terrain.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation - it will help us to get the mountain open quicker for everyone!