Willamette Pass Ski Resort

OREGON / WILLAMETTE PASS

Oregon

Nearby:

Mt. Ashland Mt. Bachelor

Elevation

5,120'

Base

6,683'

Summit

1,563'

Vertical Drop

Trails

555 Acres

Lifts

3 Types

Snowfall

157"

Annual Snowfall

11"

Nov

37"

Dec

41"

Jan

39"

Feb

47"

Mar

Apr

Best known for

# 3 Small Ski Area in Oregon

Where to Stay

Plan Your Trip

Transportation

Important Dates

Projected opening date

Nov 22, 2024

Projected closing date

May 11, 2025

Years Open

Average Snowfall

157"

Terrain

Beginners Runs

17%

Intermediate Runs

47%

Advanced Runs

10%

Expert Runs

27%

Runs in Total

Longest Run

2.1 mi

Skiable Terrain

555 ac

Snow Making

60 ac

Lifts

6

High Speed Sixes

Triple Chairs

Surface Lifts

Inside Scoop

Reviews

Fluffy Kitty

You don't come to Willamette Pass for a week-long resort experience. It's a day-trip kinda' place at a day-trip-able distance from the Willamette Valley. No one speaks aprés ski, although you can find broasted chicken in the nearby village of Crescent Lake, and I'm sure there are bars that open late in Oakridge, if you don't mind the wood smoke. But, the mountain! It's a small mountain with only three main lifts, logically laid out, which means you can get from anywhere to anywhere with just a lift ride away, and there isn't a single trail that isn't worth trying. Trails range from about 0.6 to 1.5 miles. For beginners, Duck Soup is a nice, long run to start with. For honing your carving skills, By George is a very wide trail that's an even-keeled 20 degrees all the way down, and Rough Cut is a more variable alternative. If you want more variability, Rosary Run in the front and Where's Waldo in the back (which is actually North-facing) are decent-width choices with only little bits of flats. In the end, Willamette Pass is for advanced/expert skiers and boarders, and you get your money's worth with $49 lift tickets. The black trails are ungroomed, and arranged from easy to hard as you go from east to west, on front and back, ranging from about 25-30 degrees to RTS's infamous 40-45 degrees! On powder days, be sure to show up first thing in the morning, as things get tracked out by lunch, but those first runs will be the ones to remember, as it's never that crowded there. On weekdays, you may be the only one on that trail! Just make sure you know how to handle crud and bumps. Backside trees can be gnarly. Success is a flat 30 degrees all the way, often icy or bumpy, good for perfecting your steeps form; it is on a lift line, so people will be watching you. Northern Exposure in the back can be messy on top, but mellows out into a nice run. Some cons. Powder is almost always wet and heavy. It rains there more than it should. The bunny slope and back side are often closed on weekdays. They are sometimes understaffed; ski patrol coverage can be uneven, and sometimes a lifty is missing. There is only one express lift, Eagle Peak Accelerator. Route 58 east of Oakridge can get pretty foggy at times, and there are a lot of trucks and very impatient locals. Snow can get pretty choppy after 2 pm. When driving through Oakridge, DO NOT EXCEED 35 MPH! Some pros. Wind is much gentler than at Bachelor. The front side is south-facing, which means it softens up nicely and evenly when it's sunny. You don't need backpacks, since you can park very close to the lodge if you arrive before 9 am. All that rain means that the road is often ice-free (but it can also be deceptively slippery). Lift lines are super short, even on weekends; often, you can coast right up to the loading spot. Boarders and skiers get along well, and there are few obnoxious people. You can often find a good powder stash on the sides of groomers. I have found the staff friendly and knowledgeable, with some who have skied there for decades. Be nice and friendly to them, and they will be nice and friendly to you. Be demanding, and you will get a baffled look back, which is a typical Oregon thing. Food is the usual burgers and fries and some other things I don't eat, but they do have a good collection of teas!

All Reviews

Nearby:

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort