Summer Operations At Mt. Hood Meadows Start
The temperatures are warming up, the wildflowers are starting to pop, and the waterfalls are flush with snowmelt from what was an incredible winter... signs are all around us that summer is almost here, and we're stoked to kick off another season of Summer Operations at Mt. Hood Meadows, starting this Friday, June 23!
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Get ready for some epic hiking, scenic chair rides, games out on the deck, daycare camps, special events, live music, RV camping, delicious food, cold beverages, and all the other amenities and experiences that make summer a fantastic time to visit Meadows. We have some new things that we're excited about this summer, including different operating hours than past seasons, some brand-new events, and more live music than ever before!
Our Summer Operations for 2023 run from June 23 - September 4, with a bonus weekend on September 9 & 10. Initially, we'll be open Thursday - Monday from 10 - 5 PM through July 3, then starting July 6, we expand our hours, open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM and on Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM. On occasion, we'll be open even later than that for some of our special events, like our Stargazer Dinners and Movies on the Deck, that go late into the evening and offer guests the chance to experience the alpine night sky.
Whether you're a longtime local skier/snowboarder or a first-time visitor coming from out of town (Welcome!), this year's Summer Operations at Meadows will have something for everyone. Here's a little more about what we have in store this season, and why summer is a truly wonderful time to visit the mountain:
Hiking
Just like in the winter, the terrain and the natural beauty of where Meadows is located is what makes this place special. As the snow melts, it reveals summer trails that offer some of the best hiking anywhere on the mountain... you won't have to go far to find incredible views of Mt. Hood, but you can if you want: we have trails that go all the way up to the 7,000-foot elevation level! As our name suggests, a good portion of our permit area is comprised of alpine meadows, which make for some truly remarkable displays of colorful wildflowers, especially during mid-summer. These flowers are fed by glacial streams and snowmelt that also create a number of spectacular waterfalls, including the iconic Sahalie and Umbrella falls, the latter of which is easily accessible from our main parking lot. Speaking of parking... we have plenty of it, so you don't have to worry about showing up early at Meadows like you do at other trailheads around Mt. Hood and the Gorge, which often fill up early in the day during the summer months. Go ahead, enjoy that extra cup of coffee, and relax before heading out for your day hike! One thing to be aware of though: due to the construction of the new Mt. Hood Express six-seater lift this summer, there may be intermittent closures of portions of the Timberline and Bear Grass trails, but the vast majority of our trail system will be unaffected.
Scenic Chair Rides
Our Stadium Express lift will be open for Scenic Chair Rides during our operational hours throughout the summer, offering easy access to the Timberline Trail, great views of Mt. Hood and the Central Oregon Cascades, and a fun activity for the whole family. Best of all, scenic chair rides are free for kids ages 6 and under and seniors ages 75 and older (also, free for those who have bought a winter pass for the 2023-24 season)! You can purchase a single-day ticket or ride all summer long with our Summer Season Pass, both of which are now available for purchase on our website.
Special Events
Races, brew fests, outdoor movies, theme dinners, and more are all on tap this summer with our extensive list of special events, happening almost every weekend during our operating schedule. New this summer is our Friday Night Fun on the Deck series in July: we'll be cooking out on the Paradise Sun Deck and have a different food theme each week, starting off with Burgers and Brews on July 7. Also new is our Bovine and Vine tasting event on July 15, featuring a variety of cuts of beef paired with red wines from regional vintners, and our All-American Tasting Tour on September 2 & 3, which will showcase an extensive array of signature dishes from around the U.S., like Louisiana Gumbo, Fried Cheese Curds (Wisconsin), Marionberry Pie (the great state of Oregon), and many more! Also new on Friday nights this summer is the build-your-own pizza portion of our Movies on the Deck series, where we show classic flicks that the whole family can enjoy out on the deck and under the stars! Head to our special events page to check out the full lineup.
Check out our Special Event schedule
Live Music
Also happening nearly every weekend this summer will be live music out on the deck, which starts July 1 & 2 with music by local singer-songwriter and guitarist Jess Clemons. We're very excited for this season's shows, as we've NEVER had this many artists, genres, or performances before! Live music will be primarily happening in the afternoons and evenings on the Paradise Sun Deck, but we'll also have some performances on the Sahale Deck during select special events. Visit our Summer Music page to check out artists and dates!
Daycare Camps
We take great pride in the fact that Mt. Hood Meadows is one of the ONLY resorts in the nation to offer state-certified childcare for infants as young as 6 weeks old. Our Daycare is open for drop-in service through the summer (with the exception of July 4) Mondays-Thursdays from 8 AM - 4 PM, with extended hours available, for kids ages 6 weeks to 11 years. Meadows also has a number of Summer Daycare Camps available for kids ages 30 months through 11 years, which will allow your kids to enjoy getting outside and experiencing the mountain environment at Meadows, completing STEM projects, creating art, and more while you remote work from our lodge and/or go on a hike yourself! Visit our Daycare page for more details and registration.
Register your child for Daycare
RV Parking
Like parking at trailheads, campgrounds in the Pacific Northwest can often fill up fast... sometimes months in advance. At Meadows, we have plenty of overnight parking for those with self-contained RVs, available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the summer (must be purchased online in advance). Skip the drive home after one of our special events, enjoy the sunset on Mt. Hood, then retire to your RV for the evening... or simply use our parking lot as your base camp for other adventures around Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge!
Make overnight RV Parking reservations
Other Amenities
Fuel up before or decompress after your hike with breakfast or lunch at the Paradise Grill, or grab a beer to enjoy on the deck in one of our comfy Adirondack chairs. Swing by our on-mountain Retail Shop, conveniently located near the Paradise Grill, and browse our selection of clothing, hats, stickers, drinkware, and other items that make great souvenirs or gifts for your family (or yourself)! Looking for a place to host your big day? Look no further! Meadows also serves as a year-round wedding venue that offers customized banquet and bar services, lodging discounts at our nearby sister resort Cooper Spur, transportation coordination, and much more. Visit our Weddings page for more details and to start making arrangements.
We hope you can make it up here to enjoy some or all of these experiences and amenities this summer at Mt. Hood Meadows!
For more information, visit the resort website at SkiHood.com.
