If you’re a snowboarder who likes to ride terrain parks then you are going to love Oregon. Yes, some riders prefer to hit the back country and chase fresh powder but not everyone has the ability to do that. It also doesn’t snow everyday and most people are only lucky enough to get one or two powder days in a season. This is why terrain parks become attractive to certain riders.

What is a terrain park exactly? Well, a terrain park is basically a skatepark in the snow where snowboarders can slide, grind, and launch themselves off perfectly groomed jumps, just like they would at one of Oregon’s many skateparks. If you’re new to snowboarding or just new to riding terrain parks then you will be glad to know that these mountains listed below focus on building terrain parks to suit all abilities. This means you can start out on the small stuff and slowly progress your way up to the big obstacles.

Some common words you might hear in conversations about terrain park obstacles will include half pipes, quarter pipes, kickers, or jumps. There are also boxes, rails, pole jams, and wallrides which are also referred to as jibs. For example someone might say; Bro, did you see that tail press I just did on the the box? or I’m going to do a backside three-sixty off the big kicker! If you hangout in a terrain park enough you will learn all the snowboarding lingo in no time.

Snowboarders who ride terrain parks even have special snowboards that are designed specifically for this purpose. They are referred to as “freestyle” or “park” snowboards and are more flexy then a regular snowboard. Having a flexible snowboard allows riders to ollie on to obstacles easier.

Whether you’re in the northwest, central, or southern part of Oregon and you are wanting to ride the best terrain parks, then these ski areas listed below have the best on offer.

Best Terrain Parks For Snowboarding In Oregon

Mt. Hood (Meadows Terrain Parks)

Mt. Hood Meadows is one of the most popular ski resorts in the Northwest. From the steep front side bowls to the gentle beginner slopes, Mt. Hood Meadows is known for its diversity and playfulness. It was actually voted by Oregonians for having the best cruising intermediate terrain in the state. Mt Hood Meadows also builds amazing terrain parks.

Mt. Hood Meadows terrain parks are designed to enhance the overall experience for riders looking launch in to the air, board slide a rail, or grind a box. Their new park configuration best utilizes the resort’s terrain while offering unique riding opportunities for guests of all ages and ability levels. Riders will find an eighteen-foot Superpipe and lots of creative features in the Zoo, Fireweed, Shipyard and Forest Park. 

Here is a list of all the terrain park runs that are available at Mt. Hood Meadows.

• Outrigger The newest terrain park is right off the Hood River Express lift and offers medium and large features for more advanced park riders.
• The Zoo A family-friendly progression park with rollers, small jumps and other mini features. The Zoo is the best place for riders of all ages to learn and improve their park riding skills. To get there take the Mitchell Creek Trail off of Easy Rider.
• Fireweed Ride all day and into the night in Fireweed. This park hosts slopestyle competitions and is where you will find small and medium features.
• Forest Park Tucked in the woods, Forest Park offers a creative variety of medium features for intermediate to advanced park riders.
• Superpipe Dial in your pipe riding skills in our eighteen-foot Superpipe. One of the only Superpipes in the Northwest, it also serves as a competition venue.
• Banked Slalom Weave your way through a series of banked turns and rollers. Practice on your own or challenge a friend. The Banked Slalom course is also host for competitions at Meadows.

Mt. Bachelor (Woodward Terrain Parks)

With over 4,300 acres of lift-accessible terrain, Mt. Bachelor is the sixth largest ski resort in North America! Located just outside the city of Bend in Oregon’s Central Cascades, Mt. Bachelor is known for its light, dry snow, diverse terrain, family-friendliness, and long seasons. If you are looking to ride the best terrain parks in the state it’s going to be hard to find somewhere as good as this mountain.

The Woodward Mountain Park at Mt. Bachelor is a series of featured terrain zones that offer a balanced variety of exciting jumps, jibs, and other unique obstacles for all ages and abilities. There is a base area with learning zones, large freestyle zones, and everything else you could ever want in a terrain park. The terrain parks here are designed to make the experience fun and accessible for all riders.

Mt Ashland Ski Area

Overlooking the Oregon and California border and situated just minutes from Ashland and Medford is where you will find Mt. Ashland Ski Area. It boasts a small resort feel with plenty of terrain to appease both the avid snowboarder and those just learning the ropes. It definitely doesn’t have the caliber terrain parks of Mt. Bachelor or Mt. Hood but if you live close by it’s worth heading up to for a session as it it still a whole lot of fun!

There are two terrain parks at Mt. Ashland Ski Area that have a variety of jumps, rails, boxes, and other jib obstacles that will suit all riding abilities.

Where To Buy A Snowboard For Riding Terrain Parks

If you have a local snowboarding shop in your hometown then this would be a good place to start. There will be knowledgeable staff who can help assist in finding the right snowboard to suit you. If this isn’t an option for you then we recommend reading our article on The Best Online Snowboarding Shops as there is a list of the best and most popular online snowboarding retailers who stock the a large range of snowboards.

Recommended Snowboarding Gear For Riding Terrain Parks

The number one recommended piece of snowboarding equipment for riding terrain parks is a helmet. When you’re hitting jumps and other metal obstacles, having a good helmet to protect your head is of the utmost importance. If you need to buy a snowboarding helmet or upgrade your old one then Outdoor Master have some great options. Use coupon code SKATE10 at checkout for 10% off.

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