Mount Hood Skibowl is a recreation area on Mount Hood located near Government Camp, Oregon. It is the largest night ski area in the United States, and the total skiable area encompasses an area of . The resort is the closest ski venue to Portland, with an elevation of at the lodge, rising to just over at the summit. The average snowfall at the area is, with an average consolidated base around and 65 marked trails. The area is also popular for summer recreation with mountain biking. An adventure park in the area includes alpine slides, zip-line, and bungee jumping. As well as other outdoor activities. Just across the highway is Government Camp, the focal point of Mount Hood. Skibowl is owned by Kirk Hanna. Hanna purchased Skibowl in 1987 and has made many changes since purchasing the resort.
Mountain statistics
Average Annual Snowfall: Approx. 300 inches
Average Annual Base: 5-10 feet
America’s largest night-ski area
Average season length: 4 months, weather depending
Mount Hood Skibowl began as two separate resorts, Skibowl and Multorpor. In 1928, Everett Sickler developed Jump Hill on Multorpor Mountain. The following year, the Cascade Ski Club began holding competitions on the hill, which brought national recognition after hosting a National Ski Association event. By 1938, Raymond Hughes had built the first tow rope on Multorpor on what is now the ski run named, Raceway. The current lodge on Multorpor was built by George Butler in 1949. 1937 marked the opening of the Warming Hut on Skibowl and the opening of the mountain’s first rope tow that was installed by Boyd French. In 1946, "Sandy" Sandberg installed the first chair lift that connected the lower mountain to the original Upper Bowl tow rope.
Multorpor and Skibowl are joined
The two resorts came together in 1964 when Carl Reynolds and Everett Darr bought Skibowl. The area is collectively known as Skibowl while the resort at Multorpor Mountain is now Skibowl East.
Kirk Hanna purchase
In 1987, Kirk Hanna purchased Skibowl out of bankruptcy and began making improvements to the resort. Hanna added 300 acres, expanded the runs that are lit for night skiing, and cut the Olympic Certified, Reynolds Run. Summer activities were also expanded with the addition of mountain biking, go-karts, and miniature golf.
