: Photo: Ben Mitchell/Mt. Hood Meadows

Summer Adventures at Oregon Ski Areas

June 28, 2016 (Updated June 27, 2023)

The snow has (mostly) melted, but that doesn’t mean Oregon’s mountain resorts are closed for the season. Six resorts across the state take on another personality for the summer as they switch from snow sports to one-stop shops for scenic chairlift rides, biking, hiking and running trails, al fresco dining and other outdoor adventures. Here’s your guide to unforgettable summer memories at Oregon’s mountain resorts.

Hike from the base or buy a ticket for the Pine Marten Lift to the mid-mountain level at 7,775 feet and hike to the 9,065 foot summit from there. (Photo credit: Mt. Bachelor)
Mt. Bachelor features a PDGA-listed disc golf course. Ride the Pine Marten chairlift up to hole #1 and work your way down the mountain to the final hole #18. (Photo credit: Mt. Bachelor)
Enjoy a scenic chairlift ride and sunset dinner at Mt. Bachelor. (Photo credit: Mt. Bachelor)

Central Oregon: Mt. Bachelor

Have you dined at 7,800 feet? Mt. Bachelor in Central Oregon is once again offering its popular sunset dinner series (reservations recommended), a unique way to take in the sunset and dine from a curated menu of gourmet options including spirit, beer and wine tastings. The scenic chair lift ride here is simply stunning, with views of Three Sisters peaks, Broken Top and many of the Cascade Lakes below. Once you’re up top, you can grab a meal on deck at the Pine Marten Lodge, play a round of disc golf or take a U.S. Forest Service-led interpretive tour. You can also take to the trails by foot or bike. The ZipTour also starts from the summit of Mt. Bachelor, this  adrenaline rush features three stages of scenic, fast-paced plunges. The resort is also a bike-lover’s paradise, with 13 miles of established downhill trails, bike rentals of all types, trail maps and Gravity Bike Camps for youth are offered all summer. The athletic endeavors continue with the annual GraviCross series combining downhill mountain biking and cyclecross.

Scenic chairlift ride at Mt. Hood Meadows feature wildflowers views. (Photo credit: Mt. Hood Meadows)
Hiking trails lead to waterfalls at Mt. Hood Meadows. (Photo credit: Mt. Hood Meadows)

Mt. Hood: Mt. Hood Meadows

Soak up the summer sunshine at Mt. Hood Meadows Thursday through Mondays throughout the summer. Attractions include over 8.5 miles of  hiking trails accessible from the parking lot and connect to the popular Umbrella Falls and Sahalie Falls trails. Or take the scenic chairlift ride to get a bird-eye view of the wildflower-covered meadows and see Mt. Jefferson and Three Sisters on the horizon. The resort’s summer plans include geocaching and games on the deck, plus the return of events including the Culinary Tour dinner series, Makers Market, and themed dinners. The resort’s popular daycare, preschool camps and summer camps are a welcome chance to entertain the whole family at the mountain.

Frisbee golf
Heading up to access the 18-hole disc golf course. (Photo credit: Mt. Hood Skibowl)
Family fun on the 350-foot-long Alpine Slide. (Photo credit: Mt. Hood Skibowl)
Ziplining in the mountains is an exciting experience. (Photo credit: Mt. Hood Skibowl)

Mt. Hood: Mt. Hood Skibowl

Mt. Hood Skibowl is a playground for the whole family, with more than 20 attractions including zip lines, the Malibu Raceway, a bungee tower, mini golf, and disc golf at the Mt. Hood Adventure Park. At Skibowl West, visitors will find a thrilling half-mile dual alpine slide with speeds up to 20 miles per hour along the 350-foot drop. More family fun can be found at Skibowl’s Malibu Raceways, where you can get behind the wheel of a nimble sprint kart or high-performance indy race kart and try your hand at making hairpin turns around the race track. For a more serene adventure, opt for the interpretive nature trails, or rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard through Mt. Hood Outfitters and set off on your own.

Explore Mt. Hood’s biking and family-friendly hiking trails in the summer, including the prized Paradise Park Loop. (Photo credit: Cheryl Hill)
Hotel guests enjoy the outdoor jacuzzi and heated pool at Timberline Lodge (Currently under construction, new pool coming Fall 2023). (Photo credit: Timberline Lodge)
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Mt. Hood: Timberline

You will still find snow near Timberline, which has the longest ski season in North America. (So it’s no wonder the U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams train here during the summers.) Take the Palmer Express high-speed quad lift to ski or snowboard to your heart’s content through Labor Day, while the Magic Mile Sky Ride offers spectacular views of Mt. Hood, Palmer Snowfield and Mt. Jefferson nearby. The kids will love the heated outdoor pool at an elevation of 6,000 feet and open all summer (Editor’s note: Under construction, new pool coming Fall 2023). Or, explore the mountain’s family-friendly hiking trails, including trips to Little Zig Zag Falls and Paradise Park Loop, both short drives from Timberline. The Timberline Bike Park features all-ability lift-accessed trails. Visitors can also ride the U.S. Forest Service Timberline to Town trail, a five-and-a-half mile ride down to Summit Pass, which is operated by Timberline, in the town of Government Camp.

Mt. Ashland hosts trail-running events like the Siskiyou Out Back Trail Run. (Photo credit: Siskiyou Out Back Trail Run)

Southern Oregon: Mt. Ashland

Mt. Ashland in Southern Oregon continues to add to summer operations weekend lodge operations including meals and snacks beginning Memorial Day weekend. The mountain will also host Youth Adventure Days, guided hikes, group runs and rides, and other gatherings throughout the summer. The annual Mt. Ashland Hill Climb 13.3 mile run in June is for the die-hard enthusiast: climbing over a mile vertical to reach the summit. The Siskiyou Out Back Trail Run held annually in July offers three lengths, from 50K to 100K, beginning and ending at Mt. Ashland Lodge. The sunshine uncovers singletrack nearby — Ashland is a mountain bike destination —that includes the 13-mile Mt. Ashland Super D and 14-mile Time Warp to Ashland, both downhill rides accessible via shuttle with Ashland Mountain Adventures.

Mountain bikers head to the singletrack trails at Anthony Lakes. (Photo credit: ALMR)

Eastern Oregon: Anthony Lakes

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort in Eastern Oregon aims to open for summer operations in early July with Summer at the Starbottle — enjoy the deck at the resort’s Starbottle Saloon, a family-friendly restaurant that offers fresh, locally sourced food with spectacular views at 7,100 feet along the Elkhorn Scenic Byway. Located in North Powder (between La Grande and Baker City), the resort’s rugged terrain and accessible trail system make it a hotspot for mountain biking, with more than 8 miles of singletrack following the Nordic ski corridors. The Broadway Flow Trail is 3 miles of sloping downhill and banked turns. If you don’t want to leave this picturesque place at night, book a summer yurt or secure your spot at more than a half-dozen campgrounds and rental cabins.

About The
Author

Jen Anderson
Jen Anderson is a longtime journalist and travel writer/editor who is now Travel Oregon’s Content & Community Manager, helping to align content for visitors via social media, print and web. She’s called Oregon home for 25 years and loves finding the latest places to eat, drink and play around the state with her husband and two boys. Brewpubs, beaches and bike trails top the list.