Timberline Lodge, U.S.’s Only Outdoor Year-Round Ski Resort, Closing 3 Weeks Early Due to Snow Melt

A view of Timberline and Mount Hood this May. Snowpack levels have decreased substantially since then.

Tomorrow, August 15, will be the last day of summer operations for Timberline Lodge. This year-round Oregon ski resort, known for its 12-month season during good years, faces faster-than-usual snowpack melt and will shutter operations three weeks before its usual Labor Day break. As of Saturday, guests had to hike down rocks to leave the Palmer snowfields.

We reached out to Timberline for comment on the status of weekend fall operations, and a member of the team said that while a decision hasn’t been made yet, conditions are not looking favorable.

Our Take

Timberline Lodge is well known for its 12-month ski season when conditions permit. But a record-setting heat wave earlier this summer really put a strain on the resort’s snowpack, and it seems that the effects are really being felt now. That being said, late summer often isn’t the best time to visit Timberline anyway. By late August, the Palmer snowfields typically shrivel down to just a ribbon of snow; in many years, guests must hike in or out of snow-covered terrain due to a lack of cover.

Additionally, a closure this early isn’t entirely unprecedented for Timberline. The resort saw an even earlier closing date back in 2015—August 2nd—following a well-below-average snow year.

Considering a trip to Timberline Lodge next winter—or next summer? Read our comprehensive mountain review here. Additionally, check out our West Coast rankings.