9 summer skiing destinations in the US
We rarely say the words ‘Summer’ and ‘skiing’ in the same sentence. But how rad would it be if those Spring slush sessions extended into Summer shreds? Well, with our Dope Mag guide, they can – so dive into the top nine summer skiing destinations in the US and keep on riding!
What’s one word every skier and snowboarder dreads (apart from anything to do with ACLs)? Summer. Whereas beach bums and Vitamin-D lovers rejoice, we snow addicts mourn when most ski resorts in the Lower 48 close around mid-April. How can we possibly go eight months without a shred fix?
Okay, we could follow the white stuff and go to Australia, New Zealand, and South America. But we’ve found something even better – and jetlag isn’t a factor. That’s right – we’ve made sure you’ll never have to leave the continent with our guide to nine of North America’s best summer skiing destinations.
And by summer, we mean skiing and snowboarding during Summer Solstice (June 21st), over the 4th of July weekend, and beyond. Just don’t forget the SPF. The goggle tan is a pretty niche look in winter, let alone mid-summer!
9 summer skiing destinations in the US
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Timberline Lodge, Oregon
Okay, first on our list is the resort that holds the title for North America’s longest ski season: the epic Timberline Lodge in Oregon. Did you know they have a chairlift dedicated only to summer shredding?
Travel just 1.5 hours from Portland and charge Palmer Glacier at 8,450 feet on Mount Hood’s south side every day from June to early September (it’s closed during winter as conditions are too gnarly!). So, laps on Labor Day? We’ll take it! And, if the snow and weather hold, Timberline also opens three days a week throughout September and October. That’s practically year-round riding!
You’ll share those Palmer Snowfield sunshine laps with none other than Olympic athletes like Red Gerard and Jamie Anderson. Yep, Olympians, summer ski racers, and freestyle camps use Palmer Snowfield’s lanes to train n’ tan. While only one lane is open to the public, it’s more than enough space to secure that fix. However, this kind of glacier riding is best suited to intermediate and advanced riders – as are the freestyle terrain parks that start in the Mile Canyon and move up to Palmer Snowfield.
Mammoth Mountain, California
Mammoth by name and mammoth in snowfall. Yep, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area usually delivers shed loads of snow during the winter (a record-breaking 58 feet for 2022-2023 season!). And you know what that means? There’s usually more than enough to keep this ski resort open until at least late May. Record-breaking snowfalls will see it stay open through late July and August, too!
So, how does watching the 4th of July fireworks surrounded by those epic snowy peaks sound? And you can go for Independence weekend and mix things up. Not only can you ski and snowboard here in July throughout the ski resort’s 3,500 acres of rideable terrain, but you can also go for a round of golf or send it on Mammoth’s mountain biking trails.
If you’d rather catch air on your ski/snowboard rather than two wheels, we get it – and so does Mammoth. Its 11 award-winning Unbound Terrain Parks are also open during summer. And the features are maintained to peak-winter standards. But if you’re craving the chance to go full throttle, Mammoth has you covered, too. Check out the sublime mix of natural and created features on the expert-only Hemlocks bowl, or rip the intermediate slopes accessible from the Cloud 9 lift. It’s what summer’s about, right?
Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
We’ve already mentioned the place that hosts North America’s longest ski season (Timberline Lodge). Now, we turn our attention to the ski resort home to Colorado’s longest ski season: Arapahoe Basin. Yep, head to Arapahoe Basin ski area, and it’s perfectly possible to float through waist-deep pow in mid-May and beyond. Seriously.
And not only that – at Arapahoe Basin, you also have a respectable 1,428 acres of terrain to shred to your heart’s content. And let’s not forget the views either. That's because A-Basin is next to the Continental Divide, providing insane views of between 10,780 and 13,000 feet!
Beginner and intermediate riders will also love those sunshine laps here. That’s all thanks to Arapahoe Basin’s lower-mountain lifts providing access to mellow terrain normally open until the end of June. On a snow-heavy year, though, A-Basin can stay open through 4th of July weekend. What better way to enjoy sizzling BBQ food than after a slushy shred sesh?
Beartooth Basin, Wyoming
How about switching things up and going remote? Maybe even unleashing your inner Dutton (that’s a Yellowstone reference, FYI)? If that sounds up your street (or mountain), aim for Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area in the Beartooth mountains by the border of Wyoming and Montana.
As its full name suggests, Beartooth Basin is a summer-only destination and usually opens when the roads are clear of snow in May. Once it’s got the green light, you can shred here into July, depending on the conditions, of course.
It might be on the small side, with only 600 acres (0.9 square miles) of rideable terrain. However, some steep slopes offer up to a 50-degree gradient. Not bad! Just remember, the only lifts are two drags, taking you up to Beartooth Basin’s wilderness. Google the conditions before making the trek here, too – there aren’t any lodges or rest areas, so it’s just you, the snow, and the open slope.
Snowbird, Utah
With its high altitude and an average of over 41 feet of snow per year (yes, really!), Snowbird ski resort stays open way longer than most other North American ski resorts. This means you can catch some rays riding slush or chilling in a slope-side deckchair well into mid-May.
And it rarely ends there. If winter sets it up right, Snowbird’s lifts can stay spinning into June. Okay, by this point, the mountain usually only opens three days a week. However, there’s more than enough snow and space to keep you busy. Just jump on the tram from the resort’s bare base and boom – you’re in slush heaven.
Our top tip is hitting Mineral Basin first thing, before things get too grippy and thigh-burning around noon. When the slush becomes too much there, aim for Road to Provo at Little Cloud. There, you’ll find the super fun ‘wave’, a booter formed from a natural wind lip. Send it as big as you like for this – crowds often gather to conquer the sketchy run-in and throw hella-insane backies and 3s galore. After that, all eyes are on the Peruvian Gultch’s pond skim. A total dice-roll, but super fun!
Palisades Tahoe, California
If somewhere calls itself the ‘Spring Skiing Capital’, you’ll want to check it out, right? Enter California’s Palisades at Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley). This ski resort is in the Olympic Valley in Sierra Nevada and offers a winter season until early July – often including the 4th of July weekend! So, we’re classing this as a summer skiing destination for sure!
And, wow, is this place epic. Palisades Tahoe offers an insane 6,200 rideable acres (15 square miles), over 270 trails, and 43 lifts. Oh, and let’s not neglect to mention the incredible 40 feet of snow and 267 days of sun it receives every year!
Plus, this is probably the choice if your crew is a mix of all abilities. That’s because there’s no glacier-only advanced riding here in summer. Instead, there are plenty of beginner and intermediate areas (70% of Palisades Tahoe’s terrain). Don’t forget to carve with the crew on Big Blue’s groomer. It’s an absolute must!
Aspen, Colorado
It’s no secret that Aspen is well worth shredding in Spring. After all, the days are longer with an extra hour of sunshine, and March is often one of the snowiest months of the year (hello, spring pow). Plus, it’s the time of the year when the sun-soaked patios really come into their own.
Okay, we get that this article is about summer skiing destinations – and most of Aspen’s resorts close early to mid-April. However, Aspen is awesome for something we haven’t yet mentioned in this list: summers in the backcountry! Yep, until early July, you can usually earn your turns on the Independence Pass, with its summit at 12,095 feet. And it’s 100% worth hiring a guide. These guys know all the tips for riding iconic off-piste trails, such as Independence Peak and Mountain Boy.
If you’re super advanced (and we’re not kidding), you definitely have to try Grizzly Peak’s north couloir. It stands at 13,998 feet and can hold snow until mid-July. Trust us – there’s nothing like charging a couloir while most people back home think about beaches and BBQs. But if you’re craving some more traditional summer party vibes, head to the Aspen Tap after. Sipping their Independence Pass Ale on their slick summer patio is what dreams are made of.
Alyeska Resort, Alaska
Last but not least, we’re heading to the northwest extremity of North America: Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska. Yep, while the snow in most US ski resorts is done and dusted by early April, Alyeska’s is still going strong thanks to the resort’s insanely deep base – sometimes the deepest of any major ski resort outside Japan.
In 2023, for example, the 42 feet of white stuff over winter showed no sign of disappearing in Spring – and that’s just at the base, BTW. It’s three times that at the summit, nearing a dizzying 115 feet! Our top tip is to wait until the snow has softened and venture out late afternoon. And don’t worry – lifts keep going until 6 pm. That’s more than enough time to fill your boots with that classic Alaskan terrain: steep faces, steeper bowls, and mega-fun chutes.
Okay, Alyeska technically shuts in late April every year. But, if conditions are still banging, it opens weekends through to late May. And, if you’re looking for an off-grid summer adventure, we’ve known riders to hire forest service cabins above Girdwood in the Western Chugach Mountains. It’s the perfect place for backcountry days and early summer summit riding in June. Who said paradise has to be tropical?
Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre, Virginia
Sometimes, you don’t want to worry about snow conditions. In that case, a dry slope is an awesome alternative to the real deal. Dry slopes offer year-round guaranteed snow even in high temperatures and non-stop sunshine. Our fave spot? Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.
Yep, head to Lynchburg, Virginia. Here, you’ll find a dry slope surrounded by a 3,500-acre trail system for Liberty University students, staff, faculty, and you. It runs throughout the four seasons, including the height of summer! And we’re not talking about shredding on mats or horrible fake snow here. Instead, you’ll rip on Briton Engineering’s patented Snowflex surface, the closest thing to real snow. Ski, snowboard, and take part in lessons. Or why not try tubing, sledding, or catching air in the terrain park instead? And speaking of air, there’s also an Olympic-grade trampoline on site. Saying it’s addictive is an understatement!
Don’t worry about missing out on those alpine vibes, either. Liberty Mountain has you covered with its scenic centerpiece: the two-story Barrick-Falwell Lodge. Expect wood-clad walls, open fireplaces, and a bearskin or two. And if you think you might have difficulty convincing non-riders to join, think again. Liberty Mountain is rad for knockout sunset views – the perfect way to twist the arm of anyone who prefers sun and scenery over snow.
Wrapping up
Phew — that’s quite a list! And now there are zero excuses to complain about winter being over. So, halt hauling your gear back into the attic and pack a bag for a twist on the classic summer holiday.
And, with the list we’ve put together, you can chase the white stuff around the US all summer long, ready for next season. Don’t forget to let us know how your summer shred sessions are going by tagging @dopesnow on your socials. We never thought we’d say this as winter addicts, but roll on summer!
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