Ski Bluewood | |
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Location in the United States Location in Washington | |
Location | Umatilla National Forest Columbia County, Washington, U.S. |
Nearest major city | Dayton - 22 mi (35 km) Walla Walla - 52 mi (84 km) |
Coordinates | 46°04′55″N 117°51′04″W / 46.082°N 117.851°W |
Vertical | 1,125 ft (343 m) |
Top elevation | 5,670 ft (1,728 m) |
Base elevation | 4,545 ft (1,385 m) |
Skiable area | 530 acres (2.1 km2) |
Trails | 24 - 27% easiest - 43% more difficult - 30% most difficult |
Longest run | 2.2 miles (3.5 km) Country Road |
Lift system | 2 triple chairs - (fixed-grip) 2 Magic Carpet |
Lift capacity | 3,950 / hr. |
Terrain parks | 1 |
Snowfall | 300 inches (760 cm) |
Snowmaking | none |
Night skiing | none |
Website | bluewood.com |
Ski Bluewood, formerly known as "Bluewood Ski Area," is an alpine ski area in the northwestern United States, in southeastern Washington in Columbia County. Located at the northern end of the Blue Mountains in the Umatilla National Forest, the elevation at the base area is 4,545 feet (1,385 m) above sea level, with a summit of 5,670 feet (1,728 m) for a vertical drop of 1,125 feet (343 m). The northward-facing slopes are about four miles (6.5 km) north of the Oregon border and fifty miles (80 km) west of Idaho, part of the headwaters of the Touchet River, the main tributary of the Walla Walla River.
The only surface access to the base area of the mountain is through Dayton, 22 miles (35 km) to the northwest and nearly 3,000 feet (900 m) below on North Touchet Road. Though the summit is only about twenty miles (30 km) due east of Walla Walla as the crow flies, Ski Bluewood is about an hour's drive as Dayton is thirty miles (50 km) northeast on U.S. Route 12. In addition to Walla Walla, Bluewood is the closest alpine ski area (in mileage) to the Tri-Cities to the west, and the closest chairlift-served area to Lewiston-Clarkston.