Bluewood Ski Resort Review

Bluewood Ski Resort, or Bluewood Ski Area, or Ski Bluewood, is located in southeastern Washington. It is just four miles north of the Oregon border and twenty one miles from Dayton. Spokane is 150 miles away, Colfax at 91 miles and the Tri-Cities are 83 miles away.

Ski Bluewood is high atop the Blue Mountains with the second highest base elevation in Washington. They are noted for uncrowded slopes, unlimited powder, some of the best tree skiing around, short lift lines, clear skis and dry powder.

Bluewood has 24 runs with 27% being easy, 43% intermediate and 30% advanced. The longest one is 2.2 miles. Getting up the slopes is done by 2 triple chairs and 1 surface lift. The vertical drop is 1125 feet. They have one terrain park and six backcountry runs.

At Bluewood they are eager to teach you how to ski with many different options available. They have one on one instruction and an instructor for the day option. Kinderski allows a child specialist to work with you and your child together. The Women's Workshops work to improve your skiing on many different levels. Group lessons include skiing and snowboarding, general lessons as well as First Timers, Platterpull Packages and Scouts.

The accommodations include a food service area for breakfast, lunch and snacks. The pub is good for drinks and sandwiches. They have a rental and a repair shop to take care of your ski and board needs. The Learning Center is for lessons and the Kids Club is for kids out of diapers and up to 3rd grade. Nancy's Treewell is the place for gifts and stuff you may have forgot.

Blue Mountains south of Dayton, WA.
Thanks to ChasBirder for the picture at flickr.com

The lodging for Bluewood Ski Resort is not onsite but close by. The Weinhart Hotel has an Elegant Victorian feel and is in walking distance of Dayton's dining and nightlife. Nothing New Lodging is in the historic district of Waitsburg. Pamela Jane's Vacation Rental, also in Waitsburg, is a cozy cottage. The Purple House is a nearby bed and breakfast with a heated outdoor pool. Other lodging in Dayton includes the Blue Mountain Motel, the Bluewood View Lodging, Holly Hock Heaven, McCann Manor, Silver River Ranch RV Park, The Second Street Cottage and the Tucannon River RV Park.

Restaurants in the Dayton area include the Country Cupbard, Fiesta en Jalisco, Highway 12 Ristorante', Manila Bay Asian Cafe, Patit Creek Restaurant, Skye Book and Brew, The Sand Trap and Woody's Bar and Grill.

The Blue Mountains are included in, or surrounded by, the Malheur National Forest, the Wallowa-Whittman National Forest and the Umatilla National Forest. The area also includes several wilderness areas, the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, Monument Rock Wilderness, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness and North Fork John Day Wilderness. These are just some of the many reasons to visit this area and explore to your hearts content.

The ski season at Bluewood is from mid November to mid April. The hours are 9 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Sunday. They can be reached at 509-382-4725. Mail can reach them at P.O. Box 88, Dayton, WA 99328.

Bluewood Ski Resort Map & Directions (click on "Marker" for your personalized directions)