Spout Springs Ski Area

Take heart if you have not heard of Spout Springs - but do note that you need to brush up on your history. Oregonians have been skiing in the hills around Tollgate since the 1930's, and lifts have been in place at Spout Springs since the 1950's. But gone are the old rope tows -- though you can still see their ruins near the base - and in are two double chairlifts. Spout Springs has a modest vertical drop and only a handful of runs, but it does have a lot of snow - six feet was piled up on the weekend I swung by to visit. Add snow to rock-bottom lift tickets and a homey atmosphere in the base lodge