Snow Play and Sledding on Mt Hood. As a family we have always spent a lot of time on the mountain every Winter.
My girls have been in USSA ski racing since 2000, and my youngest lives in Government Camp during the Winter so she can train every day. My oldest is a sophomore in college but coaches seven and eight year olds on the weekends. We get asked alot of questions about taking the family to the mountain for a fun family day so I thought I would share some of our tips. The best place to go play in the snow is in and around Government Camp. There is a large parking lot on the east side of Loop Rd. which is usually plowed and easy to access. Ski Bow l East which is acssesed from Loop Rd in Government Camp and not off the Hwy like Ski Bowl West has a tube hill with benefits. How to dress your kids? Mt Hood Ski - Recreation and Activities. Winter Attractions Downhill Skiing , Snowboarding, and Telemark Skiing Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, 1-800-SKIBOWL, www.skibowl.com Skibowl is America’s largest night-ski area with over 34 lighted runs, featuring 90 acres with 1,500-foot vertical drop and is a favorite with skiers and snowboarders.
On Telemark Tuesdays, check out the latest demos. Portland: Trillium Lake. A great destination for snowshoeing or cross country, this trip has groomed trails and many options for back country snowshoeing. This trip shows a mix of both. You can easily control length and difficulty by varying your route. TRAILHEAD: Take Highway 26 East from Portland. Park at Trillium Lake SnoPark, about 3 miles east of Government Camp.
Ready, set, go . . . tubing at Mount Hood and more . . . but be sure to carry tire chains for the car. The year-end holidays bring to the mountains a group of visitors who avoid the snow like the plague the rest of the winter. With the kids out of school, they come for a day of throwing snowballs, building snowmen and to slide downhill. The key thing to remember is to drive a vehicle that is prepared for winter, to have a sno-park permit for parking and not to go sliding in the runaway vehicle lane coming off Mount Hood. Believe me, I've seen adults pulling junior up the runaway truck lane, which fortunately wasn't needed for its designed purpose at that particular moment.
Most occasional winter visitors from Portland want to know where they can go sliding at Mount Hood. The truth be known, the options are limited. You may have to shell out $15 to rent a tube for the day, but these developed places are a lot safer than freelance spots in the forest, where a stout sapling may be lurking at the end of the run. And remember, hard-runner sleds don't work well in the Cascades' wet snow. Mt. Hood National Forest - Winter Sports:Sledding/Tubing. Ready, set, go . . . tubing at Mount Hood and more . . . but be sure to carry tire chains for the car. Play in the Snow.
Play in the Snow Around Mount Hood You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy making snow angels or speeding down a slippery hill. Find out about the Sno-Parks near Mount Hood that are tailor-made for wintry family fun. What is a Sno Park? A Sno-Park is a state park that’s set aside for recreational activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, tubing, and sledding. Oregon has Sno-Parks all over the state. Where are some of the area’s top Sno-Parks? White River West Sno-Park is a free undeveloped snow play area at White River on Hwy 35 about 4 miles north of Hwy 26/Hwy 35 Junction Little John Snow Play Area is a free developed snow play area located 11 miles north of the Hwy26/Hwy35 junction.
Ski Bowl East is south of Government Camp off US 26. Summit Ski Area is located at Government Camp on US 26, part of the Mt. Snow Bunny Lodge is 3 miles east of Government Camp on US 26 in the Mt. Are Sno-Parks Free? Where do I Get Sno-Park Permit?