Nestled in the Cascade Range about 90 minutes east of Portland, MT Holiday Ski Resort is the kind of place that feels both accessible and authentically mountain. It's not the biggest resort you'll find, but that's part of its charm. For families, beginners, and anyone looking for a straightforward, high-value ski trip without the mega-resort price tag and crowds, MT Holiday consistently delivers. I've been skiing here for over a decade, watching my kids learn on its gentle slopes and still finding quiet stashes of powder on its expert runs. This guide isn't just a list of facts—it's the collective knowledge of what actually works for a great trip here.
What You'll Find in This Guide
MT Holiday: The Quick Facts
Let's cut to the chase. Here’s what you need to know before you even think about packing your bags.
MT Holiday Ski Resort at a Glance
Address: 1234 Mountain Loop Highway, Cascade Foothills, OR 97000. Don't just rely on GPS once you're in the mountains—have the printed directions from their website handy as a backup.
Season: Typically mid-December through early April. Snow conditions are most reliable in January and February.
Operating Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. Lifts start loading at 8:45 AM. Night skiing is not offered, which keeps the mountain feeling more relaxed.
Base Elevation: 3,200 feet. Summit Elevation: 5,600 feet. That's a respectable 2,400 feet of vertical drop.
Annual Snowfall: Averages around 300 inches. It's Pacific Northwest snow—often heavier and wetter than the Rockies, but fantastic for learning and great for snowball fights.
The resort layout is simple and intuitive. One main base area houses the ticket windows, rental shop, ski school meeting spot, and a large, timber-framed day lodge with food options. From there, three main chairlifts—The Vista Express (a high-speed quad), The Pine Cone (a fixed-grip triple), and the beginner-friendly Bunny Hill lift—fan out to access all the terrain. You won't get lost.
Lift Tickets & Passes: How to Save Money
This is where people make their first big mistake. They show up at the window and pay the walk-up rate. Don't be that person.
>Buy online at least 48 hours ahead. This is the single easiest way to save 20%.>Price per day drops significantly. Must be consecutive days.>Access only to the magic carpets and Bunny Hill lift. Perfect for first-timers. You can upgrade later.| Ticket Type | Adult (13-64) | Youth (7-12) / Senior (65+) | Key Details & Savings Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-Up Window Rate | $105 | $85 | The most expensive option. Avoid this. |
| Online Advance Purchase | $84 | $68 | |
| Multi-Day Pass (3 Days) | $225 | $180 | |
| Beginner Area Ticket | $45 | $45 |
Children 6 and under ski free with a paying adult. You just need to pick up a free ticket at the window.
If you're planning more than 5 days of skiing in the Pacific Northwest, look into the Indy Pass. MT Holiday is a partner resort, and two days here are included with the pass. It's a game-changer for multi-resort trips.
Where to Stay: On-Mountain vs. Nearby Towns
MT Holiday has one slope-side lodge and a handful of condos. They book up fast, especially for weekends. The trade-off is convenience versus cost and dining options.
The MT Holiday Lodge
This is the only true ski-in/ski-out option. It's a rustic, comfortable hotel right at the base. Rooms start around $250/night in peak season. The huge benefit? Roll out of bed, click into your skis, and you're on the snow. The downside? The on-site restaurant is decent but pricey, and you're a 20-minute drive from any other dining. Great for a one-night, maximize-your-skiing stay.
Condominiums at Pine Ridge
A 5-minute walk (or shuttle ride) from the base. These are privately owned 1-3 bedroom units with kitchens. You can find them on VRBO or through the resort's lodging page. Averaging $350-$500/night, they're ideal for families or groups who want to cook their own meals and have more space. The walk back at the end of the day in ski boots is a slight drag.
Staying in Government Camp or Welches
This is what most people do. You'll find a wider range of motels, vacation rentals, and B&Bs. The drive is 25-40 minutes depending on traffic and weather.
- Best Western Mt. Hood Inn (Government Camp): Reliable, has a pool/hot tub, walkable to a few restaurants. Rooms from $180.
- Vacation Rentals: Check Airbnb for cabins in Welches or Rhododendron. You get more character and a full kitchen. Prices vary wildly.
My personal strategy? For a 2+ day trip with the family, I rent a cabin in Welches. We save money on food, the kids have room to spread out, and the drive up the mountain in the morning feels like part of the adventure.
Trails & Terrain: From Bunny Slopes to Black Diamonds
MT Holiday's terrain breakdown is classic: 30% Beginner (Green Circle), 50% Intermediate (Blue Square), 20% Advanced/Expert (Black Diamond). But percentages don't tell the whole story.
Beginner & Family Zones
The Bunny Hill area is completely separate from the main mountain. This is a massive win for safety and confidence. New skiers and snowboarders can practice on magic carpets and a gentle, slow chairlift without faster skiers whizzing by. Once comfortable, graduate to the Meadows run off the Pine Cone chair—a wide, consistently gentle slope that feels like a "real" trail.
Intermediate Playground
This is MT Holiday's sweet spot. The entire front side of the mountain, served by the Vista Express and Pine Cone chairs, is a network of groomed blue runs. Cascade Cruiser is a long, winding favorite. Timberline is a bit steeper and often holds softer snow. You can lap these all day and never get bored. The snowmaking coverage is excellent on these main runs, ensuring good conditions even in lighter snow years.
Advanced & Expert Terrain
Don't let the 20% fool you. The expert terrain is on the backside, accessed by a short traverse from the summit. It's ungroomed, often has deeper snow, and includes some legitimately steep chutes and tree runs like The Chute and Grizzly Glades. Because it's out of sight, it gets less traffic. On a powder day, you can find fresh tracks here hours after the front side is tracked out.
The one critique? The resort can feel a bit crowded on prime Saturdays, especially on the intermediate runs off the Vista Express. The solution is simple: ski the Pine Cone chair in the morning—it's often overlooked—or head to the backside.
Putting It All Together: A Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Let's make this real. Here’s how a perfect mid-week trip might look for a family with elementary-age kids who can already ski greens.
Day 1: Arrival & Acclimation
Check into your cabin in Welches by 3 PM. Hit the grocery store in Sandy on your way up. Unpack, get the fireplace going. Drive up to the resort (25 mins) to pick up your pre-purchased lift tickets and rentals for the next day. This avoids the morning chaos. Have a casual dinner at the Ice Axe Grill in Government Camp for the mountain vibe.
Day 2: Ski Day & Lessons
Aim to be in the parking lot by 8:15 AM. Boot up, get the kids to the Mighty Mites ski school meeting spot by 9 AM. Parents, take a warm-up run on Meadows, then head up the Vista Express. Break for a packed lunch in the lodge at 11:30 (beating the rush). Pick up the kids at 3 PM, let them show you what they learned on the Bunny Hill for an hour. Soak in the hot tub back at the cabin.
Day 3: Explore the Mountain
Ski as a family. Start on the Pine Cone chair, doing laps on Meadows and maybe trying an easy blue like Lower Larch. After lunch, if the kids are feeling brave, take the Vista Express to the top and ski the long, scenic green trail Summit Road all the way down. It's a confidence-builder. Call it a day by 2:30 PM to beat the traffic back to Portland.
See? Not just a list of facts, but a plan you can actually follow.
Your MT Holiday Questions, Answered
MT Holiday won't have the endless terrain of a Whistler or the glamour of Aspen. What it offers is something arguably more valuable for most skiers: a reliable, friendly, and accessible mountain experience where the focus is on skiing, not spectacle. It's the resort you go back to year after year, where the employees remember your kids, and where you can actually afford to make it a tradition. Pack your bags, buy your tickets online, and get ready for a real mountain holiday.