Where The Winter Never Ends: Ski Resorts Open This Summer
The lifts are still spinning at these areas in the USA.
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For most of us, the 2018–19 ski season is fading into a happy memory as the mountains transform from into summer destinations ripe with hiking, mountain biking, ziplines, and coasters. A few ski areas, however, continue to serve up the snow-sliding stoke, with lifts and runs that stay open into the summer months. Here’s an up-to-date list of where you can still carve some final turns this season.
Arapahoe Basin, Colo.
After a winter of historic snowfall, Colorado’s highest ski area has extended their season twice already, and are currently scheduled to operate on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until June 23, 2019. Get up to A-Basin early for some cold groomer carving, or hike the East Wall when it corns up for steep, glorious alpine turns.
More about A-Basin’s recent expansion: The Anti-Resort
Aspen Snowmass, Colo.
Aspen Mountain will be open for yet another weekend of skiing on June 15-16, 2019 from 9 AM – 1 PM. The Colorado resort also plans on operating the Silver Queen Gondola for sightseeing and access to live music on the Sundeck, located at the summit of the mountain. The with 130 acres of terrain still open and the very popular Food & Wine Classic in town, you can bet on ending your season in style.
Beartooth Basin, Mont.
Continuing its tradition of only operating during the summer, Beartooth Basin, on the Montana-Wyoming border, will hopefully open its gates on June 11 and operate every day until its forecasted closing day on July 7 (keep an eye on their Instagram for opening date announcements). For those who enjoy a bit of expert, rough-and-tumble skiing late in the season, Beartooth Basin’s unique off-the-beaten path skiing is a great option. If hitting the slopes of a resort that resembles “backcountry skiing with a lift” sounds like your cup of tea, Beartooth is the spot for you.
Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
Boasting some of the best spring skiing in the country, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area will be open daily until August. With 75 inches of snow at base and 140 inches at the summit, Mammoth is still operating seven chairlifts in early June and plans to be open daily until August.
Snowbird, Utah
With 700 inches of snow this season, it’s really no wonder Snowbird claims the #LongestSeasonInUtah hashtag as its own. After June 16, 2019, the resort is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, and Snowbird’s remaining feet(!!!) of snow should keep the lifts running for a good while longer. The longest season in Utah just keeps getting longer.
Squaw Alpine, Calif.
The fun isn’t nearly over at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, where a whopping 35 inches of snow fell during the month of May and $5 lift tickets for all ages on Fridays in June have kept Tahoe natives and visitors alike on the slopes. Lifts will continue to run on weekends until June 30, with a special season-ending finale to celebrate the 4 of July from July 3–7.
Timberline Lodge, Ore.
As the only ski area in the United States that offers the chance to get in some turns every month of the year, Timberline Lodge in Government Camp, Oregon, is already pretty unique. Timberline opens its Palmer lift for the spring and summer months, usually operating through Labor Day. If year-round skiing in the Pacific Northwest near the top of an 11,000-foot volcano isn’t exciting, we really don’t know what is.