How to Go Skiing in Summit Ski Area, Oregon

Established back in 1927, Summit Ski Area is not only the oldest ski area in the Mt. Hood Area of Oregon, but the oldest one in the entire Pacific Northwest. A small resort located just outside the historic town of Government Camp in Northeastern Oregon, Summit Ski Area runs two lift chairs to six trails covering just 70 acres.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Credit card to book your ski trip

Book Your Ski Trip to Summit Ski Area

1. Choose from among a variety of accommodations in the Mt. Hood area. Accommodations types include bed and breakfast inns in gorgeous surroundings, log cabins, short-term vacation rentals, campgrounds, dorm-style motels, all-inclusive resorts, and RV parks packed with amenities. Rates vary with the type of accommodations chosen but tend to be moderate to expensive.

2. Begin the process of booking accommodations by visiting the official Mt. Hood Info Web site (see Resources below). You'll see an extensive list of accommodations in the area. Book directly with a provider by phone, email or online when available. You can also call the Mt. Hood Information Center at 1-888-622-4822.

3. Log onto the official Summit Ski Area Web site for information on lift tickets, ski instruction and equipment rentals. Then call or email Summit Ski Area to book your ski trip. The phone number is [phone].

4. Book your flight travel for an arrival in Portland International Airport, which is just 54 miles west of Summit Ski Area.

5. Reserve a rental car at the airport, which will be the best way to travel along the Columbia River Gorge toward the Mt. Hood recreational areas.

Arrive at Summit Ski Area

6. Call the Snow Phone at 503-272-0256 for snow conditions. You can also visit the Oregon Ski Report page of the SkiReport.com Web site for conditions in the Mt. Hood area (see Resources below). Summit Ski Area does not report ski conditions on its Web site.

7. Enroll the entire family in one of the instructional courses at the resort. Summit Ski Area has a reputation for being one of the best ski resorts for kids and novices, since 75 percent of the runs are designated for beginners, and lessons are cheap.

8. Book some time at the ski racecourse if you're trying to improve your speed, or compare your skills against others.

9. Use one of the many shuttle buses available in the Mt. Hood recreational area to get from resort to resort.

Enjoy the Summit Ski Area

10. Rent a pair of snowshoes and hike through the designated areas on the outskirts of the ski resort.

11. Improve your snowboarding skills by shredding the half tube at the terrain park.

Tips & Warnings

• Expect a relatively modest vertical drop of 300 feet on a mountain with top elevation of 4,300 feet.
• Making reservations online is often the fastest, most convenient way to book a ski trip.