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Hoodoo Ski Area - Story by Kim Cooper Findling
Aside from being a fabulous family ski area, Hoodoo Mountain Resort is a great example of the funny ways that places sometimes get their names. Typically, a hoodoo is a pedestal of earth or pillar of rock that develops through erosion by wind and water, especially in areas where the sedimentary layers alternate between soft and hard material. A column of stone is created when a hard shale cap-rock on top protects softer underlying sandstone from erosion. Alternatively, a hoodoo is snow that’s accumulated over the top of a tree, causing a sagging column.
Hoodoo Ski Area is located on the northwest through northeast flanks of Hoodoo Butte, a volcanic cinder cone 20 miles northwest of Sisters. The description “hoodoo” was originally applied to the mountain next to the ski area, currently called Hayrick. Hayrick is actually a butte, but apparently was called a "hoodoo” by some. Hoodoo Mountain is in the shape of a "hayrick," or mound of hay in a field. Somehow, at some point the names were reversed on the map. Now the "hayrick" shaped mountain is called Hoodoo and the butte or "hoodoo" shaped mountain is called Hayrick.
In any case, Hoodoo is a wonderful winter resort, with a summit of 5,703 feet, 806 skiable acres and five lifts: three quads, one triple chair, one double chair, two tow ropes and one carousel. Thirty alpine trails allow skiers access to much of the mountain, as well as offer views of the beautiful Cascade Range.
Hoodoo is known for the fact that they are one of only a couple ski areas in the state to offer night skiing. Friday and Saturdays after mid-December, skiers enjoy lit night skiing, with ski area hours from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Hoodoo's Autobahn Tube Park has up to 20 runs, over 250 tubes, and a tube tow that speedily delivers fun-seekers to the start. Tubing fanatics won’t forget the 800-foot thrill-a-second runs at the Autobahn.
Nordic skiers enjoy 15.8 kilometers of maintained trails, just under half of which are groomed Friday through Monday, with an additional 8.3 kilometers (the Skyliner Trail) groomed on weekends and holidays.
Ever heard of a snowbike? How about an airboard? Hoodoo will introduce you to either, and show you how to use it. Learning to ski is easy at Hoodoo, with many lesson options to choose from. Private lessons are offered to would-be skiers, snowboarders, cross-country skiers and telemarkers. Group and children’s lessons are offered for skiing and snowboarding, and the Nordic Ski School teaches cross country and telemark. And of course, those who want to learn to snowbike can do just that.
Two day lodges offer Nordic and snowboard centers, rental and repair shop, ski shop, deli, pizza pub, bar, lockers, showers and overnight car and RV sites. Parking is free for Hoodoo guests.
