You won鈥檛 find spring music festivals and the听typical end-of-season听festivities at ski resorts this year鈥攖he pandemic is still not over, as much as we want it to be鈥攂ut that doesn鈥檛 mean spring skiing has been canceled.听Conditions ranging from听powder to听slushy corn snow are on offer well into April in many states, and best of all, most of the midwinter crowds are now gone. Here are some of our favorite picks around the country for spring ski trips.
Breckenridge, Colorado
plans to stay听open through Memorial Day weekend, making it one of the longest operating ski resorts in the country. With a summit elevation of nearly 13,000 feet, snow at the top of the mountain stays cold here even as the weather starts to turn.听Breck鈥檚 big spring festivals,听like Breck Pride and the听concert-packed Spring Finale,听are on hold this year, but the ample sunshine and laid-back vibes are not.听 for skiing (day tickets from $179), so plan ahead. For a day off from the slopes, head to the听, which has听doubled its fat-bike rental fleet due to increased demand. And the 60-room (from $179), a five-minute walk from the Quicksilver Lift, has three snow cabanas serving homestyle shared plates from the hotel鈥檚 Cabin Juice restaurant. Finally,听be sure to check out the new 听in town for its eclectic tasting menu and music-inspired wine list, offered in one of two cozy six-person yurts in its front yard (from $115 per person, minimum of four people; 脿听la carte dishes are available inside).
Mount Hood Meadows, Oregon
Spring at听听usually means beer festivals, banked slalom races, and pond skimming. This year听some of that will still take place, but mostly听you鈥檒l come for the sunshine, a ski season that extends听into May, and the chance to听 at the base听(overnight parking permit from $4). The ski area currently sells a听 (from $239) that鈥檚 valid for the remainder of the season. For a fun听Pacific Northwest road trip, hit up听, also on Mount Hood,听known for its extra-long season, and听, less than three hours away in Bend, with听great spots to听 come this time of year.
Killington, Vermont
is known for having one of the longest seasons on the East Coast, typically staying open into May or even June. Show up on a sunny spring weekend and you can lap soft bumps under the Superstar quad, then tailgate in the parking lot with coolers and grills. The resort鈥檚听 (from $249) gets you unlimited access from now until the end of the season at both Killington and neighboring听; your pass will also score you听 at the 听(from $266).
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, California
Billed as the spring-skiing capital of the U.S.,听听frequently gets听ample amounts of snow through March and April, which means the two neighboring resorts can stay open well into May (they鈥檝e even been known to reopen for the Fourth of July). Typical spring skiing here includes music festivals like听 (on hold until听2022) and on-mountain revelry like the听 and the Cushing Crossing Pond Skim, also听both likely on hold this year. No matter: you can still ski perfect corn snow off Sherwood Chair at Alpine, then hang out in a lawn chair in the Subway parking lot while eating a bratwurst from the听. Ikon听pass holders can score up to 30 percent off lodging at the听 (from $598) through Memorial Day.
Mount Bohemia, Michigan
Spring skiing in Michigan brings mild temperatures, deep snow depths, and sweet late-season deals. Head to the Upper Peninsula鈥檚 , which averages over 270 inches of lake-effect snow annually听and has two main lifts and four shuttle busses that access 585 acres of rugged, ungroomed terrain. Mount Bohemia tends to stay open until the end of April,听and on spring weekends, you can ski until 5 P.M. Sleep in a 鈥攖he resort鈥檚 spring-break special includes lift tickets, meals, and lodging from $75 per person听per day.
Sugarloaf, Maine
usually hosts its popular Reggae Fest in mid-April. That won鈥檛 happen this season,听but spring at the Loaf is still a guaranteed good time, and the mountain usually stays open until the end of April. If you for next season, you can start using听it now to ski the rest of this month (from $569). The resort still听plans to host its popular East Coast Pondskimming Championships on April 17. Book a room at the听 (from $287), which has a brewery inside.听
Snowbird, Utah
Boasting Utah鈥檚 longest ski season,听 has been known to stay open until early July after听deep-snow winters. This year is looking promising, with more than 300 inches of snowfall already on the slopes. Plus, April and May can still bring big storms to Little Cottonwood Canyon. When it鈥檚 a bluebird day, there鈥檚 no better place to be than listening to live music on the Plaza Deck after a day听skiing laps off Snowbird鈥檚 legendary Cirque. From now until May 2, you can听 slopeside at Snowbird, including lift tickets, starting at $145.