Deep into Deschutes National Forest, only an hour away from Eugene, you can find a ski mountain called the Cascade Summit. With 555 acres of skiable terrain that make up the Willamette Pass Ski Resort, the Cascade Summit is popularly known as one of the steepest downhill ski runs in the world. With breathtaking views and an annual snowfall average of 430 inches, the Willamette Pass is a popular travel destination for families and college students every year.
Determined to make planning your trip as easy as possible, the close lodging and food options make organizing a spontaneous getaway more convenient than ever. The diverse terrain and versatile trails make the Summit an endless exploration. From renting snowmobiles to sledding down the slopes, there is so much to do, good luck fitting it all into one trip. Annually open right after Christmas, visiting The Willamette Pass is a wonderful way to celebrate your winter season.
Whether you are a beginner or you’ve been in the snow for years, skiers of all levels are encouraged to explore the Willamette Pass. With 29 downhill runs at a descent of 1,563 feet and 20 kilometers of cross-country skiing, this resort has something for every skill level. While the slopes may seem daunting to newcomers, a beginner’s area is always available to ease you in. If you need some extra help navigating the snow, they offer skiing and snowboarding lessons to get you started.
The Willamette Pass provides group lessons for every age, so even the youngest skiers have a chance to conquer the slopes. They also host camps for ages four through twelve, to encourage kids to learn from each other and socialize on their winter break. The resort even offers a free Power Kid Pass for skiers twelve and under to make family trips more affordable. With two terrain parks, a tube park, and 20 kilometers of Nordic trails, there is enough entertainment to keep your family occupied all winter season.
The 1,563 feet of vertical rise is accessible by five chair lifts, one conveyor, and all twenty-nine trails. With the only High-Speed Six-Pack chair lift in all of Oregon, the Willamette Pass has the biggest and fastest lift in the state, making accessibility a huge priority. Once you reach the highest elevation, from the top of Eagle Peak you’ll see all the volcanoes and mountain lakes that bountifully paint the Oregon Cascades below. Operating on federal land, under a special use permit, this gorgeous resort that resides deep in the Willamette and Deschutes National Forest, is known for its waterfalls and wildlife. Such a special location makes the area around The Willamette Pass popular year-round, drawing in people from all over the Pacific Northwest.
When snowboarder, Zach Schacherer a senior at the University of Oregon, moved to Oregon from Minnesota, he was surprised at how big The Cascade Summit was in comparison to the slopes he experienced back home. Upon exploring more of the Pacific Northwest, Schacherer found The Willamette Pass to be one of the smaller resorts in Oregon, but still thinks “for its size, it has the terrain of a bigger mountain.” What keeps him coming back to this “underrated spot” is the convenience of “being able to wake up early and only have a one-hour drive to reach the snow.” Schacherer suggests making the most out of your trip by doing the drive with good friends and using a camp stove to easily cook food, so you don’t have to leave the mountain.
If you need a quick pick-me-up in between trails and you didn’t bring a stove, the resort has a convenient cafeteria-style restaurant open from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon. For a more intimate experience, the twenty-one-plus, Summit House Lounge has a wide variety of drinks and a breathtaking view of the mountains, you won’t want to miss. With lodging less than two miles away and accommodations in neighboring cities, finding somewhere to stay is never a problem and makes it easy to get back to the resort. You won’t want to go far, so you can experience the cozy cabins in the mountains firsthand.
Preparing for a trip in the snow can be difficult, so if you don’t have your own gear, you can rent the necessities like boards, helmets, and boots upon arrival. It’s best to go on a weekday because equipment prices almost double on weekends and holidays. On the other hand, if you are a University of Oregon student, there is a much larger variety of gear at The Rental Barn for a reduced price. They even have deals the longer you need to use the equipment, so make sure to check out their website before making the trip.
Since 1982, the Wiper family’s love for skiing has propelled their business to become a stand-out resort in the Pacific Northwest. Last year, the Willamette Pass joined a collection of Western ski resorts, collaborating with Mountain Capital Partners to ensure the resort continued to flourish. With an emphasis on innovation, the resort finds new ways to improve its conditions every year. At the Willamette Pass, there is something new and improved to look forward to every holiday season. The perfect place to plan your next spontaneous getaway without breaking the bank. From the to the tube park, there really is something for everybody to enjoy. Don’t miss out on all the fun this winter, the snow is calling your name.
Unfortunately, due to climate change, winter temperatures have risen the last couple of years, causing the resort to push back their grand opening. To stay updated on the current hours and prices at the Willamette Pass, make sure to visit their website or follow them on instagram @skiwillamette.
