This week’s winter storm bumped Oregon’s mountain snowpack to above normal levels, setting up an excellent but busy holiday weekend for winter recreation in Oregon’s mountains.
Oregon’s Cascade Range passes gained around 14 inches of new snow on Monday and Tuesday — while lower elevations saw a bit less — to help boost Oregon’s snowpack to 108% of normal, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“The most recent storm brought some relief to the central and northern Cascades where snow accumulation had slowed at the end of December,” said Matt Warbritton, lead hydrologist for the Oregon Data Collection Office.
More mountain snow — and even low-elevation snow — appears possible by Monday and especially into next week. That could lead to a second straight year where quality winter recreation can last deep into spring.
This coming holiday weekend is likely to be a busy one at ski areas and at sno-parks, with clear skies forecast until late Sunday and Monday, with snow again moves into the mountain forecast.
“Ski areas could easily sell out every day of this holiday weekend,” Mt. Hood Meadows spokesman Dave Tragethon said.
Ski areas and sno-parks are likely to be busy around Mount Hood, Santiam Pass, Willamette Pass and outside of Bend this coming Saturday, Sunday and possibly Monday.
Tips for heading to a ski area this weekend
Anyone headed to a ski area where tickets can be purchased in advance — such as Meadows or Willamette Pass southeast of Eugene — is advised to do so. The same applies for rentals or lessons.
“That gets you the best pricing anyway,” Tragethon said.
Another key is considering parking, which can be brutal for those arriving late. Tragethon said anyone arriving at Meadows after 8 a.m. will likely have to take a shuttle to the ski area because of how rapidly its main lots fill up.
The same rules apply for the smaller but still popular ski areas such as Hoodoo (on Santiam Pass east of Salem) and Willamette Pass Resort (southeast of Eugene on Highway 58).
At Hoodoo and Willamette, it’s best to arrive between 8:30 to 9 a.m. at least. Shuttles are a good option where they’re available.
Sno-parks a good option, but also busy on peak weekends
For those interested in sledding, snowshoeing or cross country skiing, Oregon’s sno-parks are a good option. They’re basically plowed out areas which provide access to marked trails or sledding spots around Mount Hood, Santiam Pass, Tombstone Pass and Willamette Pass in northwest Oregon.
A sno-park permit can be purchased for $25 from local outdoors shops or online at: https://dmv2u.oregon.gov/eServices/.
The most popular sno-parks are the ones with sledding hills, which outside of Salem and Eugene include Santiam Sno-Park (Highway 20 on Santiam Pass, just across from Hoodoo) and Salt Creek Sno-park (Highway 58 southeast of Oakridge). For those, arriving early is also a good idea — before 10 or 11 a.m. is best. Those that arrive too late often cannot find parking spots.
Other spots for snowshoeing include Maxwell and Potato Hill sno-parks, while Gold Lake and Ray Benson sno-parks offer excellent cross country skiing or snowshoeing.
Sno-parks around Mount Hood and outside Bend on Cascade Lakes Highway are typically extremely busy on holiday weekends.
More mountain snow and cold coming?
Snow is expected to return to the Oregon mountains and ski areas late Sunday and Monday, with heavier snow possible on Tuesday, according to extended weather forecasts.
Some meteorologists are already projecting the possibility of low-elevation or Willamette Valley snow again next week.
Long-term forecasts favor cold and wet conditions through late February.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.
