Ferguson Ridge Ski Area, United States
Watch this spot We email you when Ferguson Ridge Ski Area is worth the trip.
About Ferguson Ridge Ski Area
Village 1,560 m. Facts: verified.
A ski resort with its village at 1,560 m and its top at 1,759 m. It has 8 km of runs and 2 lifts, as mapped on OpenStreetMap. The runs drop 199 m, from 1,759 m to 1,560 m. For beginners and families: 68% of the km of runs are green or blue (beginner to intermediate). For experts: 2 km of advanced, expert and freeride runs. It is usually in season from December to April. The snow is usually deepest in March, about 1.2 m at the top (1,759 m). For skiers the best month is usually March, with about 5 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Joseph.
Ferguson Ridge Ski Area (referred to locally as "Fergi") is a small ski area in northeastern Oregon located about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Joseph in the Wallowa mountains and near the Eagle Cap Wilderness. It's a small, community-run ski area, volunteer operated by the Eagle Cap Ski Club. Ferguson Ridge is open weekends and holidays 10AM-4PM when there is sufficient snow cover.
From the Wikipedia article Ferguson Ridge Ski Area, shortened. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.
The ski area
Runs from 1,560 m to 1,759 m: 199 m of vertical. 8 km of runs and 2 lifts, as mapped on OpenStreetMap for Ferguson Ridge Ski Area.
| Beginner | 1.2 km |
|---|---|
| Easy | 1.9 km |
| Intermediate | 2.0 km |
| Advanced | 2.4 km |
| Drag lifts | 2 |
|---|
Measured along each mapped run, so it can differ from the resort's own figure. Ski area data © OpenSkiMap.org and OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
For families
68% of the km of runs are green or blue (beginner to intermediate).
No public pool, ice rink, leisure centre, ski school or childcare is mapped within 5 km of the village. That may mean nobody has mapped them yet.
The Family filter counts these. Check opening times before you go.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 10 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to BOI, direct.
See flights MDW → BOI · Skyscanner from about £190 returnAdGetting there. 5 h from the airport to Ferguson Ridge Ski Area.
Accommodation.
Stay in JosephAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Joseph (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Joseph 16 min by car · rooms from £80 a night · where Ferguson Ridge Ski Area stays
Places to stay in Joseph · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire, lessons and lift passes.
Ski lessons in Joseph · GetYourGuideAdSki and board hire · SkisetAdLift passes · Ski area website
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury Where it is
Ferguson Ridge Ski Area on Google Maps · Directions
The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.
One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Lifts closed for the season. They usually open about 25 November.
Forecast
The score, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Fresh72 h | Depthtop, mid, base | Coldestat top | Windat top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 0°C | wind, 8 knots |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 7°C | wind, 10 knots |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 5°C | wind, 5 knots |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 6°C | wind, 6 knots |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 8°C | wind, 4 knots |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 1°C | wind, 6 knots |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 1°C | wind, 9 knots |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 0°C | wind, 7 knots |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to.
Snow by month
| Month | Base1,560 m | Mid1,660 m | Top1,759 m | Coldestat the top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov | none | 0.1 m | 0.1 m | -4°C |
| Dec | 0.5 m | 0.5 m | 0.5 m | -8°C |
| Jan | 0.9 m | 0.9 m | 0.9 m | -7°C |
| Feb | 1.0 m | 1.1 m | 1.1 m | -7°C |
| Mar | 1.1 m | 1.2 m | 1.2 m | -4°C |
| Apr | 0.8 m | 0.9 m | 1.0 m | -1°C |
| May | none | 0.1 m | 0.3 m | 3°C |
Typical snow on the ground in the village, halfway up and at the top: the middle value over 2016 to 2025, from ERA5-Land reanalysis at the grid cell nearest each height. Not a forecast, and not the groomed pistes: resorts make snow lower down.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to BOI, then 5h by road. About 10h 30 door to door
- Tue 20 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Wed 21 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Thu 22 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Fri 23 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Sat 24 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to BOI, then 5h by road. About 10h 30 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,935–£3,050 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to BOI, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £190–£400 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Transfer | shared airport transfer, return | £70–£120 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £215–£360 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £260–£480 |
| Lift pass | 5 days | £1,000–£1,350 |
| Ski hire | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £165–£275 |
| Total | £1,935–£3,050 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Airport to resortAd
Transfers · Hoppa (ad)Lift passes
Lift passes · Ski area websiteLinks marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.