Timberline Lodge
City:
Government Camp
Region:
West Coast
Updated:
October 31, 2024
58
PeakRankings Score
To give each resort a Mountain Score, we assess 10 equally weighted categories that paint an overall picture of the typical mountain experience.
[Year] Rankings
Overall Rank
#
70
Rank In
United States
#
56
Rank In
Oregon
#
3
Category Scores
Snow

Criteria Breakdown
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10
The resort gets top accumulation and snow that forms in a way that feels light and powdery all the time.
9
The resort sees very good accumulation and gets powder that takes awhile to track or feels notably light.
8
The resort sees very good snow accumulation each season that tends to stay powdery for several days in a row.
7
The resort sees very good, powdery snow accumulation each season, but powder doesn't always last long at certain places in the resort.
6
The resort sees good accumulation that forms a solid base each season and sometimes sees powder but sometimes suffers from variable cover.
5
The resort sees decent accumulation each season but sometimes suffers from variable cover and rarely sees powder.
4
The resort sees okay accumulation each season. Non-snowmaking trails regularly suffer from thin or variable cover.
3
The resort sees mediocre accumulation each season. Thin cover is a given on all non-snowmaking trails.
2
The resort receives poor accumulation each season and must heavily rely on snowmaking to stay open.
1
The resort would have little to no snow if it weren't for snowmaking. If you're not on a trail, you probably don't see any accumulation.
0
The resort doesn’t get any snow.
7
Lifts

Criteria Breakdown
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10
High-speed lifts exist across every mountain area. Helper lifts are high-speed as well.
9
Most lifts are high-speed, with only a few areas serviced by helper fixed-grip lifts.
8
All but a few areas are accessible by high-speed lifts. Helper lifts may be fixed grip.
7
Most areas are accessible by high-speed lifts. Helper lifts are fixed grip.
6
Many areas are accessible by high-speed lifts, but some are only serviced by fixed-grip lifts.
5
About half of areas are accessible by high-speed lifts.
4
A few areas are accessible by high-speed lifts, but most areas only see fixed-grip lift service.
3
All lifts are fixed grip but some are at least modern.
2
Lifts are extremely old or low-capacity. Some places are only serviced by surface lifts.
1
Surface lifts only.
0
No lifts.
8
Resiliency

Criteria Breakdown
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10
The mountain can quickly recover from the worst conditions and deliver the exact same experience as on a good day.
9
The mountain can quickly recover from almost any poor conditions thanks to excellent poor snow and weather mitigation.
8
The mountain successfully mitigates snow or weather issues in nearly every mountain area and across all terrain categories. A few parts of the resort may occasionally see significant impacts.
7
The mountain successfully mitigates snow or weather issues in most mountain areas, but some parts of the mountain are highly affected by inclement weather or poor conditions.
6
The mountain successfully mitigates snow or weather issues in many mountain areas, but other parts are highly susceptible to inclement weather or poor conditions.
5
The mountain has some capabilities to avoid inclement weather or poor conditions, but struggles to mitigate poor conditions in many mountain areas.
4
The mountain has some capabilities to avoid inclement weather or poor conditions, but is regularly forced to close a few major parts of the mountain. Under severe circumstances, the mountain may be forced to completely suspend operations.
3
The mountain has some capabilities to avoid inclement weather or poor conditions, but is regularly forced to close multiple major mountain areas. Occasionally, the mountain may be forced to suspend operations completely.
2
In the event of any inclement weather, the mountain loses most of its skiable terrain, with restoration regularly taking several days or weeks. A few small runs may stay open.
1
In the event of any inclement weather, the mountain loses its entire skiable footprint and may take weeks to recover.
0
Any inclement weather issues are season-ending.
5
Crowd Flow

Criteria Breakdown
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10
The mountain's infrastructure is perfectly set up for crowd flow and capacity and does the best possible job to mitigate crowding.
9
The mountain's lift infrastructure is mostly direct and well-placed with excellent capacity.
8
The mountain's lift infrastructure is mostly direct and well-placed with good capacity. One or two areas could use a capacity upgrade.
7
The mountain's lift infrastructure is usually direct and well-placed with good capacity. A few areas could use a capacity upgrade or better placed lifts. Trails themselves rarely become chokepoints.
6
The mountain's lift and trail network is usually direct with good capacity. Some areas suffer from indirect lift placements or poorly thought out junctions.
5
The mountain’s lift and trail network comprises a comparable mix of direct, well-placed routes and indirect or capacity-constrained ones.
4
The mountain's lift and trail network is set up in a way that causes major crowding or indirect routing for many popular routes. Some areas are served by direct, well-placed lifts.
3
The mountain's lift and trail network causes serious crowding or indirect routing for most areas, but a few places are served by direct, well-placed lifts.
2
The mountain's lift and trail network is not equipped to handle crowds on a normal day and sees backups of more than half an hour.
1
The mountain's crowd flow logistics are seriously flawed. Poor lift placement and uphill capacity can cause backups of more than an hour.
0
The mountain's crowd flow logistics are so bad that you shouldn't expect to get on the mountain on a typical day.
5
Size

Criteria Breakdown
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10
7000+ skiable acres
9
3500-7000 skiable acres
8
2500-3500 skiable acres
7
1800-2500 skiable acres
6
1200-1800 skiable acres
5
800-1200 skiable acres
4
500-800 skiable acres
3
250-500 skiable acres
2
100-250 skiable acres
1
1-100 skiable acres
0
0 skiable acres
5
Facilities

Criteria Breakdown
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10
The mountain boasts easily accessible, high-capacity lodges at every major and minor junction area.
9
The mountain boasts easily accessible, high-capacity lodges throughout most mountain areas.
8
The mountain boasts several lodges or huts across the resort. A few minor mid- or high-elevation areas lack easy access to high-capacity facilities.
7
The mountain boasts several lodges or huts across the resort. Some major mountain areas lack easy access to high-capacity facilities.
6
The mountain boasts several lodges or huts across multiple areas, but some places lack easy access to the closest facilities.
5
The mountain consists of high-capacity lodges at each base area but suffers from limited, low-capacity, or impractically placed on-mountain facilities.
4
The mountain consists of high-capacity lodges at each base area. Any on-mountain facilities are limited, low-capacity, and impractically placed.
3
The mountain consists of at least one high-capacity base lodge but no on-mountain facilities.
2
The mountain consists of a moderately-sized base lodge but no on-mountain facilities.
1
The mountain consists of a singular base lodge that's either impractically small or hard to reach.
0
The mountain doesn't consist of any on-site lodge facilities.
6
Terrain Diversity

Criteria Breakdown
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10
The mountain has an abundance of terrain in all categories for all ability levels.
9
The mountain offers multiple options in all terrain categories you'd typically find at a ski resort.
8
The mountain offers at least some options in all terrain categories you'd typically find at a ski resort.
7
The mountain offers terrain in most categories for a range of ability levels, but may fall short in one or two areas.
6
The mountain offers terrain in many categories but either falls short or lacks terrain in a few others.
5
The mountain offers terrain of varying lengths, gradients, and widths but lacks terrain in multiple categories.
4
The mountain offers similar terrain of moderately different lengths, gradients, and widths.
3
The mountain offers similar terrain of slightly different lengths, gradients, or widths.
2
The mountain consists of runs that are similar to one another but vary slightly by difficulty.
1
The mountain only consists of runs that provide nearly identical terrain experiences.
0
The mountain has no terrain.
6
Navigation

Criteria Breakdown
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10
It's easy, direct, and clear to get anywhere on the mountain from any place.
9
It's easy, direct, and clear to get anywhere on the mountain from most places. A small fraction of trails don't have direct access to all other mountain areas.
8
It's easy to get to and from most mountain areas. A few minor areas aren't directly accessible from all other parts of the resort or may be hard to find.
7
It's reasonably simple to get between most major mountain areas. A few areas require catwalks or traverses to get to or from or are hard to find. Some areas require multiple direct lift rides to travel between.
6
It's reasonably simple to get between many major mountain areas, but some areas require more effort due to poor signage, indirect lifts, or catwalks.
5
Some mountain areas are easy to navigate while others require more effort due to poor signage, indirect lifts, or catwalks.
4
Some mountain areas are easy to get between, but navigating many major areas can be confusing. Some major trails may suffer from poor signage or require catwalks.
3
It can take multiple lifts or be notably confusing to get between major resort areas. Many resort areas suffer from indirect trail routes, poor signage, or multiple catwalks.
2
It takes a substantial amount of effort and multiple indirect lifts to get between resort areas with little enjoyable terrain in between. Expect to occasionally get lost.
1
Expect to regularly get lost at this resort due to poor signage and lift placement. Getting between mountain areas requires notable effort and extremely unenjoyable terrain.
0
It's impossible to get around this resort. You will likely get lost or spend your whole day trying to get from one place to another.
6
Challenge

Criteria Breakdown
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10
The resort boasts truly extreme terrain across several prominent areas. Any double blacks should not be attempted, even by experts, without using extreme caution.
9
Select resort areas boast some of the most challenging runs in the world. The most challenging terrain should not be attempted, even by experts, without using extreme caution.
8
The mountain boasts extremely demanding terrain with sustained pitches, cliffs, drop-ins, and/or tight turns.
7
The mountain offers a range of very steep, ungroomed terrain with features like cliffs, drop-ins, or tight turns.
6
The mountain offers a range of steep, difficult terrain, with expert features like cliffs in some places.
5
The mountain offers some fairly steep groomed and ungroomed runs.
4
The mountain offers some steep runs but very little ungroomed terrain.
3
The mountain primarily offers groomed terrain with moderate pitches.
2
The mountain offers mostly gently-sloped terrain.
1
None of the mountain's terrain is more difficult than a typical bunny hill.
0
The mountain is completely flat.
3
Mountain Aesthetic

Criteria Breakdown
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10
The resort offers one-of-a-kind views, terrain, isolation, and vibes. You probably won't find a resort that feels like this again in your lifetime.
9
The resort offers unique terrain, views, and isolation that you'll rarely find anywhere else.
8
The resort clearly distinguishes itself with class-leading views, terrain, and isolation.
7
The resort feels unique, with high-quality views, terrain, and isolation across the footprint.
6
The resort doesn't boast the same unique terrain as some competing resorts but offers excellent views and isolation in many areas.
5
The resort offers some cool terrain and great views and isolation in some areas. Some areas may feel commercialized or built-up.
4
The resort offers decently cool terrain, nice views, or pockets of isolation in places. Major areas may feel commercialized or built-up.
3
The resort either feels commercialized or built-up around more than half the resort or offers only moderately interesting terrain, views and isolation.
2
The resort either feels commercialized or built-up in most areas or offers only mildly interesting terrain, views or isolation.
1
The resort barely feels like a mountain, with intense commercialization and very little in the way of views, terrain, or isolation.
0
The resort is completely flat or indoors.
7
Good To Know
Aprés-ski:
Moderate
On-site Lodging:
Yes
Nearest City:
Pass Affiliation:
Powder Alliance
Epic [Backend]
Ikon [Backend]
Mountain Collective [Backend]
Other [Backend]
Recommended Ability:
From
Beginner
To
Advanced
Beginner [Backend]
Intermediate [Backend]
Advanced [Backend]
Expert [Backend]
Extreme [Backend]
Pros
Year-round ski season World-class terrain parks Distinctive high-alpine snowfields Rustic, historic lodge High-speed lifts Available night skiing
Pro Con Item [Backend]
Cons
- Resort never spins 100% of lifts, with high-alpine areas closed during the winter and lower elevations closed during summer
- Inconsistent conditions during winter months
- Very little true advanced and expert terrain
- Lift logistics that result in chokepoints and long lines
Pro Con Item [Backend]
Mountain Stats
1135
acres
Skiable Footprint
1685
acres
Total Footprint
73
%
Lift-Serviced Terrain
8540
ft
Top Elevation
4540
ft
Vertical Drop
2
Lifts
41
Trails
25
%
Beginner
50
%
Intermediate
25
%
Advanced/Expert
Comprehensive Review
Located on the south face of Mount Hood and home to a historic lodge, Timberline Lodge is the only ski resort in North America to feature a year-round operating schedule. The resort’s unique summer skiing opportunity generates considerable interest, but the mountain faces stiff competition during the core winter season. As one might expect, the resort’s experience varies considerably depending on the time of year.
During the winter months, Timberline generally sees high-quality snow but variable conditions. The resort sees a number of powder days throughout the winter, although not quite as many as at some Washington resorts; however, the accumulation tends to be less wet and heavy than at those mountains. Winter wind and storm cycles can bring about windswept, icy conditions—especially in upper-mountain areas. Spring and summer give way to more consistent, sunny conditions and soft snow, although wind holds do still occur occasionally.
Timberline’s snowpack gradually recedes as the summer goes on, and less and less of the footprint remains skiable as the fall approaches. By May, only the high-alpine Magic Mile and Palmer lifts remain open—and by June, only Palmer still services skiing. By late summer, only the terrain above Palmer’s mid-station—which is only set up when needed—remains open.
Timberline’s 12-month ski season claim holds shakiest during the early fall. Past Labor Day and through Thanksgiving, the resort spins the Palmer lift only on select weekends, should enough snow remain. In many years, the snowpack recedes too much for the lift to spin at all, and guests must hike to reach what remains of the Palmer snowfields. But the off-season doesn’t last long—winter lift operations generally resume some time in November, depending on fall storm cycles and the snowpack.
Timberline is known for one of the strongest terrain park setups in the Pacific Northwest, with a freestyle presence on the mountain year-round. During the winter months, the overwhelming majority of features exist off the Stormin’ Norman lift, including boxes, rails, jumps, and halfpipes ranging from small to large. Park features get beefed up during the spring, with special events such as Holy Bowly, an extensively-crafted flow park, and It’s Tits, a women’s snowboarding event with aptly-shaped snow features. The park moves up to Palmer during the summer and continually receives re-setting as the snowpack recedes; during the late summer, Timberline commissions a dedicated rope tow for the park. The summer setups are arguably the most impressive of all, with features built to competition-grade standards. Professional teams often rent out the parks for training during the summer months.
During the winter months, Timberline offers night skiing on some lower-mountain terrain. Only a select few trails and freestyle features remain open after 4pm, but the resort enjoys phenomenal sunsets that are a treat to watch while skiing. Operations can go as late as 10pm depending on the day of the week.
At a first glance, there’s a lot to like about Timberline. The resort certainly isn’t the biggest, but on paper, it boasts a considerable 3,690-foot vertical drop across quite varied terrain. On a clear day, all but the lowest mountain areas feature striking vistas of Mount Hood. Now that the Pucci lift has been upgraded to a high-speed quad, the resort features high-speed lift service across nearly all terrain (the one exception is the bunny hill, which is served by a double chair that only takes about 30 seconds to ride).
However, unprepared guests may end up disappointed with a winter trip. Due to the resort’s unique four-season setup, the resort never spins 100% of its lifts, with the highest-elevation Palmer lift out of commission from December to May (the lift incredibly gets buried by the winter accumulation and must be dug out for spring operations). The Palmer snowfields are home to all of Timberline’s distinctive advanced high-alpine terrain, and the lines aren’t short, spanning over 40% of the resort’s vertical drop. As a result, the lack of winter lift service is a major negative. The resort runs snowcat operations along Palmer on select weekends and holidays, but snow, wind, and visibility conditions have to be near perfect. Truly dedicated guests are welcome to hike the Palmer snowfields when the snowcat isn’t running, but the area won’t be regularly patrolled.
Some above-treeline terrain can remain open throughout the winter, although it’s not exactly reliable. On clear, less-windy days with sufficient snow cover, the resort runs its Magic Mile lift, which offers an entirely-above-treeline intermediate footprint. This terrain is quite unique for any ski resort, let alone one on the West Coast. Magic Mile’s operating schedule is a crapshoot during the peak winter season, but when it’s open (and Palmer isn’t running), it’s the best place to be on the mountain.
Besides Palmer and Magic Mile, Timberline chiefly consists of typical, below-treeline slopes. These areas are open with substantially more reliable schedules than the high-alpine areas, and most trails receive regular grooming. But for the most part, the terrain is rather unremarkable, chiefly consisting of beginner and intermediate cruisers.
That being said, lower-mountain areas do contain some interesting features. Timberline’s woods are an under-the-radar pleasure, featuring unique natural halfpipes. These glades are generally mellow in pitch—especially off the Pucci lift—making them solid areas to practice woods.
Besides the summer-only Palmer runs, Timberline contains very little advanced terrain. Only a handful of other black-diamond trails exist, and the tough pitches on each are quite short. We wouldn’t consider any of Timberline’s terrain, including Palmer, to contain expert features. In fact, advanced intermediates should be able to handle everything at the resort.
Despite little in the way of challenges in-bounds, Timberline offers easy access to solid backcountry terrain. With the right conditions, it’s even possible to ski down to Government Camp and the much smaller Summit Ski Area at the base of Mount Hood. One off-piste path down to town, the Glade Trail, even gets groomed once a year. However, Timberline’s backcountry is not patrolled or maintained, and it should be explored with great caution.
Across different times of day and seasons, Timberline’s crowds vary almost as much as its terrain offerings. On winter weekdays and some summer days, lines at the resort are generally non-existent. However, weeknights and peak winter weekends see quite long lines, as large crowds flock to the modestly-sized mountain. Lower-mountain lifts start below the base, meaning there’s no way out besides riding these chairs, which leads to serious chokepoints. The worst lines actually occur during the late spring, when lower-mountain lifts have closed and people from other areas flock to Timberline after seasons at other resorts have ended (the mountain’s low-cost spring pass plays a major role in this).
Unlike most ski resorts, Timberline’s base area sits at the middle of the resort, above much of the skiable footprint. Generally, below-treeline slopes exist below the base, while above-treeline slopes can be found above it - hence the Timberline name. During the winter months when Magic Mile is closed, the base facilities offer the best views of any open area at the resort.
The base complex consists of a large building with ticket windows, shops, and multiple dining options. Directly above this complex sits the historic Timberline Lodge, which boasts a fancy restaurant—the Cascade Dining Room—and two bars with food service. The Cascade restaurant requires a reservation to be seated, but it’s generally easy to get in on weekday afternoons due to lower crowds.
Outside of the base, the only place to go in for a break is the small Phlox Point Cabin. This rustic lodge is small—and only open during the winter months—but it offers limited indoor and outdoor seating and serves casual lunch food, such as tacos. That being said, it’s never too hard to get back to the main base; every lower-mountain lift provides direct access to the complex, as does each upper-mountain area.
On the other hand, resort signage in some places is just plain lousy. Most major junctions lack trail maps, making it difficult for unfamiliar guests to pinpoint exactly where they are on the mountain. Additionally, some signs offer misleading directions or have faded past the point of usability.
Lodging
Timberline is perhaps even better known for its accommodations than its skiing, with the historic Timberline Lodge on-site. This lodge—the only on-site accommodation at a ski resort in Oregon—has a storied history, having been constructed in the 1930s by a New Deal agency and designated as a National Historic Landmark. The complex boasts a remarkably rustic feel, as well as a pool, hot tub, gym, and spa. However, due to its age, the building lacks the noise isolation and climate controls one might expect from a nice hotel. Prices are on the higher side—the cheapest rooms go for about $200 per night—and the fancy food options command a pretty penny as well.
For large groups (a 10-12 person minimum depending on the time of year), Timberline also rents out its high-alpine Silcox Hut. The private hut is not cheap, but the experience comes with free breakfast, a facility host, and on-demand snowcat transportation to and from Timberline Lodge.
For those not looking to stay directly on-site, a few cheaper inns exist in nearby Government Camp, OR; however, these accommodations run pricier than your typical motel due to the high demand. The cheapest options can be found about 45 minutes away from the resort in the Portland suburb of Gresham, where plenty of economical hotel and Airbnb options exist.
Aprés-ski
Timberline’s aprés-ski experience centers entirely around Timberline Lodge. The building’s Ramshead and Blue Ox bars are the places to be after a day on the slopes; Ramshead overlooks Mount Hood and offers phenomenal views, while the fully-underground Blue Ox offers a more laid-back environment. These spots may be slow on the weekdays, but they get absolutely packed on the weekends during the peak winter season.
Verdict
When other resorts are in season, Timberline is outclassed by other mountains with better, more difficult terrain. But during the summer, there’s nothing else in North America that can match. The unique terrain worth visiting for stays reliably open through the later months, so there’s no need to fret over missing the core winter experience.
NOTE:Mountain Score criteria for this resort were adjustedon October 12, 2021.
Best Winter Wonderland Getaway
The resort is a true winter wonderland, with stunning scenery and fantastic skiing conditions. The après-ski activities were a blast, and the staff went out of their way to ensure everything ran smoothly. I especially enjoyed the variety of trails and the relaxing atmosphere after a day on the slopes.
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