Hotel at a Glance: The Resort at The Mountain

When winter arrives, the idyllic setting of Mount Hood National Forest becomes ripe for skiing and snowboarding. There are nearly 200 trails and five ski areas near this four-star resort, located within 25 miles of each area. Other ways to immerse yourself in the scenery include ice-fishing and snowmobiling along natural trails.

• Hit the slopes: Guests can get discount lift tickets at the nearby Skibowl (12 miles away) and Timberline (19 miles away) ski areas.
• Drift off to sleep on a comfy memory-foam mattress in a guest room equipped with free WiFi and a 42-inch flat-screen TV. Step out onto your private balcony or patio to take in the fresh mountain air.
• For extra space and a fireplace to keep you warm on chilly nights, choose a fireside studio room.
• Relax in style: Each stay in a fireside studio comes with two spa services. Locally grown natural ingredients are incorporated in treatments such as massages, facials, and body scrubs.
• Altitude restaurant: Chefs whip up locally caught seafood and desserts made with fruit from local groves. Sample a local microbrew or Oregon wine.
• Ease your muscles in the heated outdoor pool, a popular staple no matter the time of year.
• Recent accolade: 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Mount Hood, Oregon: Forest Hikes, Trout Streams, and Ski Trails on Volcanic Peak

Located about 90 miles east of Portland, Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon, reaching an elevation of more than 11,000 feet. Technically, it’s also an active volcano—though it hasn’t shown any real geothermal activity for more than 100 years. It’s the towering centerpiece of Mt. Hood National Forest, which stretches across more than 1 million acres of forested mountains and lakes. During warmer seasons, visitors come to pick berries, go fishing on Mirror Lake, and hike along some of Oregon’s best trails. The 1-mile trek to Buried Forest Overlook culminates in a dramatic view of White River Canyon, a woodsy spot that was buried in ash and mud during one of Mount Hood’s long-ago eruptions.

Though winter is the mountain’s most popular ski season, the slopes at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area often stay snowy through Labor Day, making it the only resort in North America to offer year-round skiing. Across the mountain, you’ll find several miles of cross-country and downhill trails as well as one of the country’s largest nighttime ski areas at the Mt. Hood Skibowl.

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