It’s all downhill from here 🛷

Where to ski, snowboard, tube, and sled near Portland

A view from the top of a long sledding hill flanked by trees on both sides.

Little John Sno-Park is another great (but farther) option. | Photo by @benmcbeephoto

The mountains surrounding Portland have donned their white winter caps, which means it’s the ideal time to put on your own cold weather gear for a day of sledding. Just be careful you don’t go full Griswold.

Visiting a designated sno-park requires a permit, which ranges from a one-day ($4) or three-day pass ($9) to an annual pass ($24). You can purchase these online or at local resorts, sporting goods stores, and other retail outlets. To make sure you’re getting the most out of the slopes, Next Adventure stocks a variety of sleds, tubes, and other toys. And it’s also never a bad idea to prepare for road conditions with Trip Check.

Here are a few of our favorite spots:

Mt. Hood Skibowl | 87000 US-26, Government Camp | Times vary |Thanks to the area’s only conveyor-assisted tubing hill, you won’t have to waste energy trudging back uphill here. Which is good, because you’ll already be out of breath from laughing. Stick around after sundown for what’s said to be the only cosmic tubing in the world, featuring laser shows, black lights, 600,000 LEDs, and more. Tickets range from $25 to $39.

Red, green, blue, and yellow inflated tubes sit on a snowy slope — Will you pick a single, double, or party tube?

Trillium Sno-Park | 90312 Mt. Hood Hwy., Government Camp | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | This alpine destination is a popular spot for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding to boot — or should we say toboggan? Plus, it’s hard to find a more beautiful view than Mount Hood reflected in a glassy Trillium Lake.

Gabriel Park | Southwest 45th Avenue and Vermont Street, Portland | 5 a.m.-12 a.m. | On the rare occasion that snow falls at city level, grab your saucer and head to this 89-acre park in Southwest Portland. There are plenty of gentle slopes that are perfect for young kids to join in the fun.

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Wednesday, Jan. 4

Holiday Art & Gift Show | Wednesday, Jan. 4-Saturday, Jan. 7 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Alberta Street Gallery, 1829 NE Alberta St. Unit B, Portland | Free | The holidays might be over, but it’s never too early to start planning (or shopping) for next year.
The People’s Jam | Wednesday, Jan. 4, Wednesday, Feb. 1 | 7 p.m. | Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St. #110, Portland | Free | Power to the musicians at this open opportunity for Portland’s sonic talent to play any genre or style.
“Moulin Rouge” | Wednesday, Jan. 4-Sunday, Jan. 15 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Portland | $76+ | Rub elbows with Bohemians and aristocrats with this electric and enchanting musical.

Thursday, Jan. 5

Good News with Lee H. Tillman | Thursday, Jan. 5 | 8 p.m. | Show Bar, 1300 SE Stark St. #101, Portland | $15 | Sometimes it’s geopolitics, sometimes it’s celebrity gossip, but it’s always funny watching these Portland comedians riff on the day’s headlines.

Friday, Jan. 6

All Elite Wrestling | Friday, Jan. 6 | 6 p.m. | Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 300 Winning Way, Portland | $25-$90 | Still trying to grapple with the new year? Drop into 2023 from the top rope.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

START THE YEAR RIGHT

Weather

41º | Windy with afternoon rain | 71% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:50 a.m.
Set: 4:40 p.m.

Community

It’s a new year and a new, higher rate from Portland General Electric. Effective Sunday, Jan. 1, customers will see an increase of 6% on their electricity bills, stemming from fuel cost increases, supply chain delays, and volatility in regional electricity markets. Pacific Power customers will see a 15% increase. ⚡ (OPB)
The DMV offices in Lake Oswego and Beaverton are both closed due to broken pipes and severe water damage caused by recent freezing weather conditions. They are expected to reopen on Monday, Jan. 9, and Tuesday, Jan. 17, respectively. Drivers with appointments are urged to visit other local offices. (KOIN)

Plan Ahead

The Oregon Truffle Festival is sort of like a fungus Festivus — for the rest of us, of course — and a celebration of one of the state’s most-prized culinary ingredients. Events will kick off with special lunches, dinners, and a few forays Friday, Feb. 3-Sunday, Feb. 5, at locations around Dundee and Newberg. 🍄 (Willamette Week)

Legacy

Jeremiah Green, the drummer in Portland-based indie rock band Modest Mouse, has died at 45. The news comes just over a week after his mother Carol Namatame shared her son’s cancer diagnosis in a Christmas Day Facebook post. (Portland Tribune)

Drink

Doing Dry January? Downtown Portland restaurant Dolly Olive wants you to know abstaining from alcohol doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor. Its lineup of mocktails includes the Red Bone, a concoction of lemon juice, honey syrup, and a bittersweet aperitivo from Hood River-based Wilderton Botanical Spirits. (KOIN)

Ranked

Hey, at least we try. Portland comes in at No. 17 on WalletHub’s “2023’s Best Cities for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions” list. The study took into account 57 key self-improvement metrics, although we think it’s a bit early to make any hard-and-fast judgments. (WalletHub)

Eat

Don’t just eat better — eat the best. Sunbasket’s meal kit service delivers delicious, healthy meals created by award-winning chefs straight to your front door. Bonus: PDXtoday readers can get $100 off their first four deliveries and more when they sign up.*

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Soaring into 2023 💸

Oregon Zoo’s condors soar into new year with additional funding

A California condor perches in the Oregon Zoo's Condors of the Columbia habitat

Collective species recovery efforts began in 2003 and now 300+ condors are flying free in the wild. | Photo by Shervin Hess/Oregon Zoo

A portion of Oregon’s investment package from the year-end omnibus bill will support the important work at Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, the nation’s second-largest California condor breeding facility.

The $2 million in federal funding is wind beneath the wings of Oregon Zoo’s Condor Restoration Resiliency Project, whose successful efforts have brought the critically endangered species away from the edge of extinction. Last year saw a record 12 condor chicks hatch, with eight adults released into the wild.

Specifically, the money will help staff “climate proof” the building in rural Clackamas County, where wildfires and winter storm power outages have already forced evacuations and are expected to occur more often in the future.

“Our center will be better equipped to withstand weather-related events, protecting condors and staff so that recovery efforts can continue,” said Heidi Rahn, Oregon Zoo director. “Each chick hatched at the center is a lifeline for the species.”

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ben.

Editor’s pick: We’re baaack. It’s a new year and I’m feeling excited for what’s to come. On a personal note, I’ve got some big trips planned — including a first-time visit to Hawaii. We want to hear about what you’re looking forward to the most in 2023.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We found some local resources to help you meet your resolutions.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Rachel Sklenar | Advertise with us.

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