Last Updated on 30th July 2022 by Steve
Wisconsin may not strike many skiers and snowboarders as a winter destination but there are numerous ski hills dotted around the state. The Wisconsin ski resorts may not have the vertical drop of Colorado or the scenery of Montana but keen locals (and visitors) are happy to have family-friendly options close to home.
The list below is not an exhaustive look at the skiing in Wisconsin but rather an overview of some of the bigger ski areas in the state.
Map of Wisconsin Ski Resorts
© www.skiresorts.net
Granite Peak Ski Resort
Granite Peak is by some way the biggest ski resort in Wisconsin. Located near the town of Wausau on a quartzite outcrop in Rib Mountain State Park, the ski area also has the highest vertical drop in the state. The skiing on Rib Mountain actually dates back to the 1930s and can proudly take its place alongside Sun Valley and Stowe as one of America’s historic ski resorts.
Granite Peak Ski Video
Granite Peak Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ski area offers seven lifts, including a six-seater chairlift
Skiable Terrain: The resort offers 225 skiable acres along with four terrain parks
Vertical drop: The 700 feet of vertical is the longest in Wisconsin
Resort Accommodation: There is some accommodation available at the highway exit near the ski lift base and more in the nearby town of Wausau.
Ski Resort Website: www.skigranitepeak.com
Cascade Mountain
Cascade Mountain is a ski resort in central Wisconsin just off I-90 and not far from the very popular Wisconsin Dells recreation destination. There are 47 ski runs ranging in difficulty from beginner through to advanced and night skiing is on offer on about three-quarters of the skiable terrain. There are four terrain parks and a popular snow tubing operation with 900 foot chutes.
Cascade Mountain Ski Video
Cascade Mountain Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ski area offers 11 lifts, including four quad chairlifts
Skiable Terrain: The resort offers 175 skiable acres along with four terrain parks
Vertical drop: Cascade Mountain has a vertical of 450 feet.
Resort Accommodation: The closest lodging available is around the town of Portage but skiers and snowboarders will also find a wide range of accommodation in the resorts of the Wisconsin Dells area, which is just over 20 miles to the north-west.
Ski Resort Website: www.cascademountain.com
Devil’s Head Ski Resort
The ski area at Devil’s Head Resort is part of a self-contained complex between Madison and Wisconsin Dells with its own golf course and accommodation, as well as a substantial ski operation in the winter months.
The 30 trails are cut on ski slopes which face south towards the Lake Wisconsin area of the Wisconsin River and offer a range to suit most standards of skier.
The runs are all covered by snowmaking facilities and night skiing is available every evening in the season. There are two terrain parks and a cross-country skiing loop which uses the resort golf course area.
Devil’s Head Resort Ski Video
Devil’s Head Resort Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ski area is served by eight ski lifts, including six quad chairlifts.
Skiable Terrain: The resort offers 300 acres of terrain, the ‘third-largest’ in the Midwest according to their information.
Vertical drop: The ski resort has a vertical drop of 500 feet.
Resort Accommodation: Accommodation is available in rooms, suites and condos at the ski resort itself, while the recreation area between Madison and Wisconsin Dells provides further options within easy reach of the ski area.
Ski Resort Website: www.devilsheadresort.com
Whitecap Mountains Ski Resort
The Whitecap Mountains ski resort is located up near the Wisconsin-Michigan state line around 10 miles to the west of Hurley (and Ironwood just over the border). The ski area here is split over three different mountains above Weber Lake and locals treasure it for its snow record (it is far enough north to get the ‘lake-effect’ snowfall) and its advanced and expert runs. Keen skiers are also within easy reach of several Michigan ski resorts in the Ironwood/Bessemer area.
Whitecap Mountains Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The three mountains and 45 ski trails are served by five chairlifts.
Skiable Terrain: The resort offers 400 acres of terrain.
Vertical drop: The ski resort has a vertical drop of 400 feet.
Resort Accommodation: Although this is quite a rural area, nearby accommodation can be found in Hurley and Ironwood. The resort offers rooms, cabins and condos near the base.
Ski Resort Website: www.whitecapresort.com
Mt. La Crosse Ski Area
The ski area at Mt. La Crosse has been in operation since the 1950s. The ski hill just to the south of the western Wisconsin city of La Crosse offers 18 ski slopes with 100% snowmaking and night skiing all week long. It claims to offer Wisconsin’s longest ski run and the steepest slope in the Midwest (with the encouraging name of Damnation), as well as a terrain park for skiers and snowboarders.
Mt La Crosse Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ski area has three chairlifts and a rope tow.
Skiable Terrain: There is around 100 acres of terrain.
Vertical drop: The ski resort has a vertical drop of 516 feet.
Resort Accommodation: There is no accommodation at the base but plenty in the nearby city of La Crosse.
Ski Resort Website: mtlacrosse.com
Nordic Mountain
Nordic Mountain is a small ski area around eight miles to the south-east of Wild Rose in central Wisconsin. The skiing opens in the evening from Monday through Thursday and all day and evening from Friday to Sunday. The vertical drop is not that spectacular, which means that the runs are fairly short, but the somewhat remote location means that it is less busy than other comparative small ski resorts near the cities.
Nordic Mountain Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ski area has two chairlifts, two rope tows and two magic carpets.
Skiable Terrain: There is around 60 acres of terrain.
Vertical drop: The ski resort has a vertical drop of 265 feet.
Resort Accommodation: Scattered accommodation is available for tourists on the various small lakes in the area or in the town of Wautoma.
Ski Resort Website: www.nordicmountain.com
Christie Mountain Ski Area
Christie Mountain is another of Wisconsin’s more remote small ski hills. The skiing, open from Friday to Sunday only in season, is located in the Blue Hills area of northern Wisconsin near the town of Bruce. Night skiing is available on the slopes and the ski area also offers four terrain parks and a separate beginners’ area. Snow tubing is also available.
Christie Mountain Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ski area has a total of five lifts, including one chairlift.
Skiable Terrain: There is around 40 acres of skiable terrain.
Vertical drop: The ski area has a vertical drop of 350 feet.
Resort Accommodation: The widest choice of accommodation options in the area would probably be at the tourist destination of Rice Lake, around 20 miles to the west.
Ski Resort Website: www.christiemountain.com
Trollhaugen Ski Area
Trollhaugen is located in western Wisconsin near the town of Dresser and not too far from the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area over the border in Minnesota. A family ski area with 23 trails of all levels, it can get crowded at weekends but fans say it retains a community vibe. The concept of night skiing is taken seriously with opening times up to 3am on Friday nights/Saturday mornings!
Trollhaugen Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ten lifts at the ski area include three chairlifts.
Skiable Terrain: There is around 90 acres of skiable terrain.
Vertical drop: The ski area has a vertical drop of 260 feet.
Resort Accommodation: Accommodation can be found in Dresser and at nearby St. Croix Falls and Osceola.
Ski Resort Website: trollhaugen.com
Tyrol Basin Ski Area
The skiing at Tyrol Basin is located just to the north-west of Mount Horeb and just over 20 miles west of Madison. Tyrol Basin has been operating since the late 1950s and keeps its Austrian-style atmosphere alive with greetings in German and a chalet-style building at the base. It offers 22 runs with a good range of advanced/expert runs for the size of the resort. There are also five (!) different terrain parks as well as a separate tubing hill.
Tyrol Basin Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ski area has six lifts including three chairlifts.
Skiable Terrain: There is around 30 acres of skiable terrain.
Vertical drop: The ski area has a vertical drop of 260 feet.
Resort Accommodation: There is lodging nearby in Mount Horeb, as well obviously as a plentiful choice of accommodation in Madison.
Ski Resort Website: tyrolbasin.com
Alpine Valley Ski Resort
The ski area at Alpine Valley is one of the closest to the city of Milwaukee. Located just off I-43 near the town of Elkhorn, Alpine Valley is a centre for beginners and early intermediate skiers from the Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago areas. The 21 ski trails are relatively short but served by a number of high-speed chairlifts. Night skiing is offered seven days a week.
Alpine Valley Ski Stats
Ski Lifts: The ski area has a total of 13 lifts (the seven chairlifts include three high speed quads).
Skiable Terrain: There is around 90 acres of skiable terrain.
Vertical drop: The ski area has a vertical drop of 390 feet.
Resort Accommodation: The resort offers hotel lodging at the base area and other options nearby are available in the Elkhorn and Lake Geneva area.
Ski resort website: www.alpinevalleyresort.com
