Skiers participate in last year’s snow golf tournament at the Palisades Tahoe resort, which calls itself “the spring skiing capital.” The snowpack peaks in many parts of the country in March and early April, so resorts often have more terrain open than in December through January. And rates drop on pretty much everything in the spring. ( Patrick Lacey/Palisades Tahoe)
Think about snow sports, and chances are good that you’ll summon the dead of winter: gawking at powdery landscapes in slightly overcast light, bundling up in insulated clothing, downing hot cocoa. So come March, attention switches to other outdoor activities.
Yet March also marks the start of spring skiing, which boasts assets all its own: smaller lines, taller umbrella drinks on warm decks and kooky outfits for kooky traditions.
The snowpack peaks in many parts of the country in March and early April, so resorts often have more terrain open than in December through January. And rates drop on pretty much everything in the spring. Except food on the hill, where you’ll still pay through the nose for those loaded nachos.
Colorado powder
Parts of the northern Sierras, Cascades and northern Rockies have above-average snow cover this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Sarah Beatty, a spokeswoman for the trade association Colorado Ski Country USA, said many resorts extend their lift hours in March and April because those are often the snowiest months.
She said Colorado resorts offer “lots of ‘shoulder season’ ticket and lodging deals, and lots and lots of bluebird days and sunshine.”
At Arapahoe Basin, a designated tailgating area called the Beach takes up the front row of the parking lot, steps from the Black Mountain Express and Pallavicini lifts. Fire up the grills, and bring out the coolers at the legendary party spot about 13 miles northeast of Breckenridge.
A-Basin tops up at 13,050 feet and often gets enough snow to remain open strikingly late (the 2025 closing day is scheduled for June 8).
About 50 miles from Denver, Eldora Mountain Resort encourages skiers and snowboarders to whip out their flashiest neon outfits and their vintage skinny straight skis for a retro weekend on April 5 and 6.
Don’t forget the sunscreen, and keep in mind that there can be big swings in weather even within a day.
John Plack, a spokesman for Vail Resorts’ Rocky Mountain Region, said soft, untouched snow is best experienced early in the morning.
“If powder is in the forecast, set the alarm to get up early, then spend your afternoon with an Aperol Spritz on a patio,” he said. “If we’re in a freeze-thaw cycle, hit snooze, grab coffee or go to the gym in the morning — you’re waiting for the sun to warm up the snow for perfect spring corn,” he added, using ski slang for a type of grainy snow.
Cheap runs
Even if you don’t have a multiresort pass with Ikon or Epic, the coming weeks are an especially good time to venture out.
Mount Bachelor Ski Resort, about 15 miles southwest of Bend, Ore., sells a Spring Pass that’s valid April 1 until the end of the season (scheduled for May 26) and offers unlimited adult access for $349; single-day lift tickets start at $84. You may have some cash left over for the annual RendezVan festival (April 17-20) to celebrate Mount Bachelor’s enduring connection with recreational vehicle, camping and van communities.
“Live music paired with skiing and riding until 7 p.m. is an unbeatable slopeside experience during RendezVan,” said John Merriman, the resort’s president and general manager.
In Montana, glitzy Big Sky gets a little more down to earth April 7-27, when lift tickets decrease from an average of $250 to fluctuate between $56 and $119. Those tickets include access to the Lone Peak Tram, unlike multiresort passes. You can even take a scenic ride to bask in the eye-popping views without having to ski down.
Spring also offers perfect conditions to combine activities, such as skiing in the morning and biking, golfing or kayaking in the afternoon — or vice versa. Or you can double down on snow and improve your technique with lesson deals. Arizona Snowbowl, about a 15-minute drive from central Flagstaff, offers two-hour adult group lessons starting at $29 (in the morning) and $19 (in the afternoon) through April 27.
Along the Nevada-California line, Sierra-at-Tahoe offers three-hour clinics for $85 to advanced skiers age 55 and up on select Wednesdays in March and April. The Tahoe area is such a magnet at this time of year that sprawling Palisades Tahoe calls itself “the spring skiing capital.” In that resort’s annual pond skim (May 3), people barrel down a slope on skis or snowboards, gathering speed so they can glide across an artificial pond at the bottom of the run. Palisades also offers a snow golf tournament (April 19) for a break from the downhill runs.
Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho’s largest ski area, hosts a Schpring Finale (April 12 and 13) that will feature a cardboard box derby and a yellow-snow-eating contest that might involve Gatorade. Schweitzer sells a $229 pass that gets you unlimited lift access until April 13. Not too shabby.
In Utah, Solitude has daily lift tickets starting at $99 through May 11. The underrated gem within shouting distance of Salt Lake City offers live music, a pond-skim beach party (April 12), a free mogul competition (April 26) and a ski-in/ski-out bar near one of the base lifts. It’s also one of the rare places to include an event for Nordic skiers, the Silver Lake Loppet (April 5). Yes, that, too, involves fancy costumes.
In the Northeast, which has had a good snow year, one of the coolest deals is in Vermont, about 5 miles south of the Canadian border. Jay Peak — which recently passed 400 inches of snow for the season — is hosting Temps des Sucres weekends through April in tribute to a local favorite tradition: maple sugaring. A ski/ride weekend for a family of four at the Stateside Hotel and Baselodge or in a one-bedroom cottage starts at $359. That includes lift tickets, Sunday brunch, a carriage ride and indoor skating.
