A Guide to Ski Season in The Gorge

Published on October 26, 2021by The Society Hotelon Bingen, Things to Do in Bingen, Things to do in Portland, Tips

Ski and Stay like a Boss!

With an El Nino year forecasted, we expect cold nights, lots of rain down low, and tons of powder on the mountain! With highway 26 getting more and more clogged, and totally sketchy when driving home, there has to be a better way to enjoy winter fun.

No matter how you like to roll (bus, train, or EV!), we have an itinerary for a perfect ski day for you.

Best of all, each day ends with a soak in our bathhouse + spa!

Ski Bums – Car Free?

No wheels? No problem. With the following tips, you can get from downtown Portland to the summit of Mt. Hood without driving a mile!

Night before:

– Take Amtrak to Bingen, OR (rates starting at $12). Snacks at the station. (editor’s note: there’s plenty of space for oversized baggage, so feel free to bring your gear!)
– Walk 5 blocks to the hotel
– Check in and grab dinner at Ayutlense Mexican Restaurant

Ski Day:

– Breakfast at the cafe

– Take the Mt. Adams bus to Hood River (GorgePass)

– Take the Cat Bus to Mt. Hood Meadows (GorgePass)

– Thrash Heather Canyon all day (Mt. Hood Meadows)

– Take the Cat Bus to Hood River (GorgePass)

– Take the Mt. Adams bus to the Hotel (M-F GorgePass)

– Take a Taxi to the Hotel 541-714-3130

THEN

– Soak your bones in the hot tub

– Chill by the fire pits

– Crash in the bunks

Head Home:

– Breakfast sandwich in the cafe

– Take Amtrak back to Portland in the am, or take the Gorge Express from Hood River (GorgePass)

Have car, can travel.

Look at you, got yourself a fancy adventuremobile, eh? Let’s put it to good use! But first, grab at least $4 cash from between your couch cushions or your last run to the Acrop. You’ll need this later.

Subaru Set:

– Pre-fuel with a Chorizo breakfast burrito at Javier’s Tacos (open 24 hrs)

– Drive to the mountain

– Thrash all day on the Cascade Express (editor’s note: ask the lift operators as much as possible if it’s open, They REALLY like it. Kidding!)

– Brews and dinner at Ferment in Hood River Waterfront

– Cross the bridge ($2 cash only) and check in to the hotel

– A nice long hot shower in the spa, and then soak and chill

– S’more’s around the fire

– Crash in a schoolhouse room

Tesla Crowd

– Early pastry and cappuccino at Lovejoy Bakery

– Whoosh up to the mountain with the latest podcasts

– Ski all day

– Dinner at Celilo

– Cross the bridge ($2 cash only) and plug in the car at the hotel – it’s free!

– Check in to your cabin

– Ease your knees with a Hot/Cold cycle in the sauna/cold plunge

– Enjoy a glass of Pinot Gris by the fire pits