Countdown Begins: Timberline Lodge Announces End of Summer Skiing

Photo: Timberline Lodge

While most of North America has packed up the ski gear, the real season is just getting started on Mt. Hood. Timberline Lodge, the continent's undisputed summer skiing mecca, is firing on all cylinders, drawing everyone from World Cup racers and elite park skiers to the die-hards who just can't quit. Just last week, we were on the glacier with the Atomic crew for the TGR Signature Session at Windells, and the scene is all-time.

So, how much longer can you get your lift-served slush laps in? According to Timberline’s Director of Marketing, John Burton, the crew is feeling good about their snowpack. The target closing day is currently set for August 20, 2025.

“Sometimes we go a little longer, sometimes we go a little shorter,” Burton said. “We'll see what the weather brings.”

The foundation for this extended season is laid months in advance. "The basis of the summer skiing, it starts in the winter, right?" Burton explained. "We're preparing, we're snow farming... really getting those depths we need." This process involves creating massive "windrows"—wave-like structures that catch wind-blown snow, building a deep and durable base on the Palmer Snowfield that can withstand the summer sun.

Daily operations run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the Magic Mile and Palmer lifts spinning to get you to the goods. While the whole mountain isn’t open, the main draw for many is the world-class freestyle scene. Timberline is running two distinct terrain parks:

Freestyle Training Center (FTC): This is where the pros and summer camps like Windells come to train. The FTC is a pro-level park featuring an Olympic-spec 22-foot halfpipe, a variety of serious rails, and multiple large jumps. Laps are kept quick with three dedicated handle tows. The public can access the FTC for $135 a day (the 22-foot pipe requires advance registration).

Public Terrain Park: Located just below the FTC, this park is open to anyone with a lift ticket or summer pass. It offers smaller, more approachable jumps and jibs in a more "relaxed environment," according to Burton.

Looking for the ultimate dual-sport day? The Timberline Bike Park is scheduled to open on July 9th. You can be slashing corn on the Palmer in the morning, break for lunch, and then be ripping laps through the bike park in the afternoon. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Watch the highlights from our week at Windells below!