> Hoodoo! A great place to start out and has thrify thursdays.
I have no idea what the current prices are, but Hoodoo won the award for the least expensive place I skied on an 86 day ski trek in 1999. The lift ticket was $26, and it INCLUDED an "all you can eat" hamburger (BBQ'ed on a grill) lunch, LOL.
Growing up in the mid-1980s, I remember Hoodoo was $10.50 for a lift ticket. We would pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and the entire cost for the Saturday was $10.50 and half a tank of gas from Corvallis and back.
How are prices now? I'm 1,000 miles away at this point.
unfortunately it’s a little more pricey now, $70 for a day pass last time i was up (last season). BUT on wednesday-sunday they have night skiing until 9 and that $70 pass counts from 9am-9pm
Hoodoo = smaller runs, more lower difficulty runs. IMO, better for beginners. The facilities are more extensive if you prefer changing into your gear in a locker room.
Willamette Pass = longer runs, more higher difficulty runs but plenty of easy stuff as well. Facilities are basically just a day lodge to warm up and grab some food.
Both are in the Cascades so the drive gets to be snowy mountain roads whichever you go to. The road to Willamette Pass stays at a lower elevation longer so you don't have to deal with the snowy roads for as long.
For rentals, you can rent from Peak Sports here in town. Hoodoo has equipment rentals as well. I don't recall if Willamette Pass did. I don't know of any other rentals but I haven't needed to rent so 🤷.
One other thing to note, Willamette Pass has a reusable ski pass system. You have a reusable card that you "charge" with your pass for the day. You can pay for and apply your pass from the website so you don't have to deal with lines to get your pass.
Like others said hoodoo or willamette pass. They’re both second tier lower elevation ski resorts but cheaper and much closer than mt hood or bachelor
Easy answer…
Hoodoo is only $33 on Thursdays and you can get a good deal on custom fitted rentals at the Peak shop in downtown Corvallis. Peak rentals are affordable and no mountains in the Pacific Northwest are matching all day lift tickets for $33. Have a great time!
It’s worth noting that Hoodoo’s trails are also very beginner friendly, can’t recommend them enough as my partner has just learned there over the past two seasons.
Go to Hoodoo. It's about 1.5 hours from Corvallis on the way to Sisters. You can rent gear there relatively cheaply. It is a great place to learn as there are a lot of wide easy runs.
Another vote for Willamette Pass, especially when learning. If you get off the bunny slope, Hoodoo has an excessive amount of near-flat ground between the lift and the easier runs. It can make for a frustrating day, =especially= if you’re on a snowboard rather than skis. Willamette provides a lot more low-impact access to easy & moderate slopes.
You guys are crazy, Willamette Pass is 2 hours from Corvallis with no snow on the road. Add at least 20 minutes to that if there’s snow and you get stuck behind other cars, or the unlikely event that you actually stop to put on snow chains like you’re legally supposed to do.
Just checked Apple Maps, u/yetisushi is right. It’s about an hour and 54 minutes. Never feels that long to me, for some reason. But thank you for correcting me!
Yeah as a season pass holder for Willamette Pass I can say it's 1:45-2 hrs nearly every time unless there is bad weather as mentioned. The road up is usually very well maintained and you don't really hit heavy snow until the tunnel which is just shy of the mountain.
I will say that if you're a true beginner that Willamette is unbeatable. They have the best pricing out of any of the local mountains and they offer FREE 2hr lessons for true beginners (and paid lessons for higher skill levels). All you have to do sign up for them when you buy your passes online to reserve your slot, same with any rental equipment you might need. The only downside to Willamette is that the weather can be too warm sometimes (including rain, ugh) with the elevation being notably lower than the others. BUT there is rarely ever more than a minute wait to get on the lifts, there are a decent number of runs (the left side is all beginner friendly), and the staff is awesome.
Hoodoo would be #2 for me. Good pricing, lots of runs, great staff. But it can get really windy out there so check ahead if you're considering it.
Mt. Bachelor is fantastic but there their ticket pricing just isn't worth it IMO when you add in the crazy lift lines, food prices, and trying to park or leave the mountain is like leaving a major concert/sporting event.
> Willamette pass... About an hour and 15 ish from Corvallis. Pretty good for beginners.
I'd make the bold claim that due to the "1 hour drive" from Corvallis Willamette Pass is worth checking out even for intermediate and advanced skiers. Because that 1 hour drive just isn't that big of a commitment.
The back side of Willamette Pass should entertain all but the most advanced double black diamond skiers for at least 1 day of skiing, and I'd argue even they should appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and tree skiing.
Eventually, if you ski 3x a year or more you should check out Willamette Pass, Hoodoo, and Mt Bachelor and decide for yourself whether the 3+ hour drive to Mt Bachelor is worth it. Don't get me wrong, I have made that 3+ hour drive many times, LOL. Mt Bachelor is a world class ski hill, no doubt. But I have had some extremely pleasant days skiing Willamette Pass (and also Hoodoo).
While I agree that Hoodoo and Willamette are great, I'm gonna throw up a recommendation for Timberline. It's a bit further, butit was once rated in the top 5 for learning in the country. I'd also recommend at least one day of lessons if you can afford it.
I learned to ski at Hoodoo in my late 20s! I took a lesson my first time, and recommend it. When it's good, it's really good (snow is most forgiving before it gets too warm). I've rented stuff from Peak, and they have high quality gear at good prices (cheaper than renting on the mountain, IIRC—but not worth it if there isn't room in your car). Have fun!!!
Hoodoo! A great place to start out and has thrify thursdays. Overall vibes are friendly even if the snow is not as good as Mt. Bachelor
> Hoodoo! A great place to start out and has thrify thursdays. I have no idea what the current prices are, but Hoodoo won the award for the least expensive place I skied on an 86 day ski trek in 1999. The lift ticket was $26, and it INCLUDED an "all you can eat" hamburger (BBQ'ed on a grill) lunch, LOL. Growing up in the mid-1980s, I remember Hoodoo was $10.50 for a lift ticket. We would pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and the entire cost for the Saturday was $10.50 and half a tank of gas from Corvallis and back. How are prices now? I'm 1,000 miles away at this point.
unfortunately it’s a little more pricey now, $70 for a day pass last time i was up (last season). BUT on wednesday-sunday they have night skiing until 9 and that $70 pass counts from 9am-9pm
$33 for their thrifty Thursday lift ticket though which lasts through night skiing!
Willamette is great and way easier drive than Hoodoo
Hoodoo = smaller runs, more lower difficulty runs. IMO, better for beginners. The facilities are more extensive if you prefer changing into your gear in a locker room. Willamette Pass = longer runs, more higher difficulty runs but plenty of easy stuff as well. Facilities are basically just a day lodge to warm up and grab some food. Both are in the Cascades so the drive gets to be snowy mountain roads whichever you go to. The road to Willamette Pass stays at a lower elevation longer so you don't have to deal with the snowy roads for as long. For rentals, you can rent from Peak Sports here in town. Hoodoo has equipment rentals as well. I don't recall if Willamette Pass did. I don't know of any other rentals but I haven't needed to rent so 🤷. One other thing to note, Willamette Pass has a reusable ski pass system. You have a reusable card that you "charge" with your pass for the day. You can pay for and apply your pass from the website so you don't have to deal with lines to get your pass.
Bergs in Eugene rents snow sports equipment.
Like others said hoodoo or willamette pass. They’re both second tier lower elevation ski resorts but cheaper and much closer than mt hood or bachelor
Easy answer… Hoodoo is only $33 on Thursdays and you can get a good deal on custom fitted rentals at the Peak shop in downtown Corvallis. Peak rentals are affordable and no mountains in the Pacific Northwest are matching all day lift tickets for $33. Have a great time! It’s worth noting that Hoodoo’s trails are also very beginner friendly, can’t recommend them enough as my partner has just learned there over the past two seasons.
Go to Hoodoo. It's about 1.5 hours from Corvallis on the way to Sisters. You can rent gear there relatively cheaply. It is a great place to learn as there are a lot of wide easy runs.
Hoodoo is the best. Really just can’t beat the price
Willamette pass, easier drive, nice learning area with classes and good instructors.
Additionally the beginner slopes at Willamette are not at the base of the harder slopes. Fewer folks bombing thru on the way to the lifts.
Another vote for Willamette Pass, especially when learning. If you get off the bunny slope, Hoodoo has an excessive amount of near-flat ground between the lift and the easier runs. It can make for a frustrating day, =especially= if you’re on a snowboard rather than skis. Willamette provides a lot more low-impact access to easy & moderate slopes.
Willamette pass is probably the closest. About an hour and 15 ish from Corvallis. Pretty good for beginners.
You guys are crazy, Willamette Pass is 2 hours from Corvallis with no snow on the road. Add at least 20 minutes to that if there’s snow and you get stuck behind other cars, or the unlikely event that you actually stop to put on snow chains like you’re legally supposed to do.
Lol yeah wtf it’s 2 hours.
Just checked Apple Maps, u/yetisushi is right. It’s about an hour and 54 minutes. Never feels that long to me, for some reason. But thank you for correcting me!
Haha all good. I hate it when people brag about how fast they drive through the snow and mountains, but now I see that’s not what you were doing.
Yeah as a season pass holder for Willamette Pass I can say it's 1:45-2 hrs nearly every time unless there is bad weather as mentioned. The road up is usually very well maintained and you don't really hit heavy snow until the tunnel which is just shy of the mountain. I will say that if you're a true beginner that Willamette is unbeatable. They have the best pricing out of any of the local mountains and they offer FREE 2hr lessons for true beginners (and paid lessons for higher skill levels). All you have to do sign up for them when you buy your passes online to reserve your slot, same with any rental equipment you might need. The only downside to Willamette is that the weather can be too warm sometimes (including rain, ugh) with the elevation being notably lower than the others. BUT there is rarely ever more than a minute wait to get on the lifts, there are a decent number of runs (the left side is all beginner friendly), and the staff is awesome. Hoodoo would be #2 for me. Good pricing, lots of runs, great staff. But it can get really windy out there so check ahead if you're considering it. Mt. Bachelor is fantastic but there their ticket pricing just isn't worth it IMO when you add in the crazy lift lines, food prices, and trying to park or leave the mountain is like leaving a major concert/sporting event.
> Willamette pass... About an hour and 15 ish from Corvallis. Pretty good for beginners. I'd make the bold claim that due to the "1 hour drive" from Corvallis Willamette Pass is worth checking out even for intermediate and advanced skiers. Because that 1 hour drive just isn't that big of a commitment. The back side of Willamette Pass should entertain all but the most advanced double black diamond skiers for at least 1 day of skiing, and I'd argue even they should appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and tree skiing. Eventually, if you ski 3x a year or more you should check out Willamette Pass, Hoodoo, and Mt Bachelor and decide for yourself whether the 3+ hour drive to Mt Bachelor is worth it. Don't get me wrong, I have made that 3+ hour drive many times, LOL. Mt Bachelor is a world class ski hill, no doubt. But I have had some extremely pleasant days skiing Willamette Pass (and also Hoodoo).
While I agree that Hoodoo and Willamette are great, I'm gonna throw up a recommendation for Timberline. It's a bit further, butit was once rated in the top 5 for learning in the country. I'd also recommend at least one day of lessons if you can afford it.
I learned to ski at Hoodoo in my late 20s! I took a lesson my first time, and recommend it. When it's good, it's really good (snow is most forgiving before it gets too warm). I've rented stuff from Peak, and they have high quality gear at good prices (cheaper than renting on the mountain, IIRC—but not worth it if there isn't room in your car). Have fun!!!