With Oregon being the focal point on this continent for the Monday, August 21 eclipse, Mt. Hood Meadows is making overnight RV and self contained vehicle spaces available on a first reserved basis. Two hundred parking spaces will be available in Mt. Hood Meadows’ main paved parking lot. The vehicles must be fully contained as no services are available. The cost will be $50 and includes up to two nights, Saturday and Sunday August 19 and 20. Spaces can be reserved in advance on the resort’s website www.MtHoodMeadows.com/Eclipse.
The resort will also run it’s Stadium scenic chairlift from 9 AM to Noon Monday, August 21 for high elevation viewing of the eclipse. Chairlift rides will be $12, or free for 2017/18 season pass holders.
Google simulation of eclipse from Mt. Hood Meadows shows a near total (97%) eclipse and near total darkness. With no ambient light on the mountain it may be darker at Meadows than viewing from more populated areas in Oregon. See the eclipse from any address with the Google Eclipse Simulator.
Mt. Hood Meadows is located just outside of the zone of totality, and officials estimate those viewing from Meadows will see a 97% or near total eclipse experience. As campgrounds and viewing sites have reached capacity, Meadows is offering RV parking affordably priced and very convenient to the eclipse event. Those that want to drive Monday morning are only 19 minutes from reaching the zone of totality.
V.P. of Marketing and Sales Dave Tragethon expects the parking spaces will fill, just based on the overall demand and sold out spaces Oregon has already experienced, saying, “Many have made their plans and already reserved their spaces. But we know there will be thousands of spur of the moment decisions made to travel to Oregon to experience this event. We welcome those RVers and are happy to make these additional spaces available. We hope they will arrive early and join us on Saturday for a special wine tasting event, which is why we’re offering the overnight parking spaces for two nights.”
While just outside the zone of totality, Tragethon says there are advantages to viewing the event from Meadows. “First we will have a full two-and-a-half hour viewing experience with all but 3% of the sun covered by the moon during the height of the eclipse. It will be spectacular! Viewing from our higher elevation should provide more clarity of this solar event, and if there are low lying or valley clouds, we are more likely to have an unobstructed view of the eclipse. And if you’re at Meadows, you can take a chairlift ride for a totally unique perspective and experience.”
Meadows presents a Mountain Wine Festival Saturday, August 19 from noon to 3 PM, featuring the finest wines from around the Northwest. $15 entry fee includes five tastes indulging in sparkling wines, award winning Pinot Noirs and our very own Mt. Hood Meadows private reserve labels. For Wine Festival event information visit MtHoodMeadows.com.
Eclipse details from Mt. Hood Meadows vantage point:
- 9:07 AM Eclipse begins
- 10:20 AM Fullest Eclipse
- 11:40 AM Eclipse ends
Scenic Chairlift runs from 9 AM - 12 Noon.
Reserve your RV / Camper Space