Environmental groups are suing to block a land swap that would let a ski resort expand on Mount Hood, claiming federal officials cut a deal that violates laws meant to keep the mountain’s north slope wild.
The lawsuit targets an exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort. Under the deal, the resort would surrender some land it controls in exchange for 120 acres of pristine federal forest on the mountain’s undeveloped north side — land Congress specifically protected from ski area expansion in 2009.
The Oregon Natural Desert Association, Bark, and Cascadia Wildlands filed the challenge in federal court, arguing the Forest Service ignored its own environmental rules and congressional intent to hand prime real estate to a private business.
“This isn’t a routine land swap,” said Paulo Cesar Guzmán, staff attorney for the Oregon Natural Desert Association. “Congress drew a clear line to protect Mount Hood’s north side from development. The Forest Service can’t erase that line with a backroom deal.”
The groups say the exchange violates the National Environmental Policy Act because the Forest Service failed to adequately study how development would affect wildlife, water quality, and public access. They also claim it contradicts the Mount Hood Wilderness and Legacy Forest Act, which set aside specific areas to prevent exactly this kind of expansion.
Mt. Hood Meadows operates on the mountain’s south side under a special-use permit from the Forest Service. The resort has pushed for years to expand, citing increased demand and competition from other Pacific Northwest ski areas.
The Forest Service approved the land exchange in March after what it described as a thorough review process. Agency officials said the swap would benefit the public by consolidating forest ownership and improving management efficiency. They valued both parcels equally and said environmental impacts would be minimal.
Conservation groups reject that assessment. They point to the north slope’s ecological value as habitat for threatened species including the northern spotted owl and Roosevelt elk. The area also contains old-growth forest that provides crucial watershed protection for communities downstream.
The case puts a federal judge in the familiar position of deciding whether land managers followed the law or bent rules to accommodate a politically connected business. Similar disputes over Forest Service land swaps have produced mixed results in recent years, with courts sometimes siding with conservation groups when agencies skip environmental review steps.
A hearing date has not been set. The Forest Service and Mt. Hood Meadows have not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
Key Points
- Federal land swap would give Mt. Hood Meadows 120 acres of protected forest on the mountain’s undeveloped north side
- Lawsuit claims deal violates 2009 congressional law specifically designed to prevent ski expansion in that area
- Conservation groups argue Forest Service skipped required environmental review to benefit private business
https://www.courthousenews.com/oregon-conservation-groups-challenge-mount-hood-land-swap-between-forest-service-and-meadows-ski-resort/ – May 21, 2026
