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MEACHAM DIVIDE SKI TRAILS

Located in northeast Oregon at an elevation of 4200', the ski trail system is comprised of the Loppet Trail, with Roller Coaster, Kansas, Butcher, Tillicum, and Quarry Loops branching from it. (The Origin Myth of Meacham Divide)

The Nordic area is accessed from Summit Road exit 243 on I-84 (travel 18 miles west from La Grande, OR, or 34 miles east from Pendleton, OR).  At the exit, travel 1.7 miles northeast on Forest Service Road 31.  All wheel drive vehicle is generally required.  A snopark pass is required.

Loppet Trail starts at the parking area and ending at Loppet Point (11k round trip). The first 2.5 km of Loppet Trail is relatively flat, except for Moose Huff Hill, the ski area's steepest climb. After that heart-pumper, Loppet rolls north through Red Saddle and descends two hills, The Lillehammer Lunge and the Trondheim Trembler. At the far end of Loppet, the trail loops back through wide meadows at Loppet Point, which offers a spectacular 20-mile vistas.

Roller Coaster is a short, intermediate-ability trail just west of the parking area. Rollercoaster winds through young pines and climbs steeply across a meadow to the top of the hill we call I Scream, which delivers skiers quickly to the winding and twisting lower sections of Roller Coaster.

The Pendleton Plunge and Whitman Whip are two short trails that intersect at the low-point between Roller Coaster and Kansas. These trails very steep and recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers.

Kansas lies to the west just off of Loppet below Moose Huff Hill. Kansas, like its namesake, rolls through easy to intermediate terrain.

Butcher Loop begins at the top of Moose Huff Hill and from Butcher Point provides an outstanding view of the 1,400'-deep Meacham Canyon.

Tillicum Loop is a favorite for skiers who desire a trail with slight ups and downs, and continuous views. At Tillicum Point one recent winter, skiers discovered fresh cougar tracks.

When snow conditions permit, we sometimes groom a side trail that parallels Loppet from the bottom of the Trondheim Trembler to Loppet Point. The West Meadow Trail descends gently through Ponderosa forest and enables the skier to ski a loop at the far end of Loppet.

Quarry Loop offers more open surroundings along flat to rolling terrain, with one zippy downhill section that includes a quick turn.