Downhill Thrills: Ski and Snowboard Areas on National Forests
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Downhill Thrills: Ski and Snowboard Areas on National Forests
National Forests are a great place to enjoy the outdoors almost any time of year, but with 122 ski areas on National Forest lands, winter might just be the most exciting time! In addition to the thrill of alpine skiing and snowboarding, many forests offer opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, dog sledding or snowmobiling!
Remember, January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month , when children and adults are encouraged to learn to ski or snowboard, and current skiers and snowboarders are challenged to improve their skills through lessons with professional instructors. This season, get out into the snow and explore winter recreation activities, spread the word and encourage your friends to join you.
Take a look at the list of National Forest ski areas below where you can enjoy “downhill thrills”, use it as a resource to start your winter adventure and be sure to check out our Avalanche Safety Tips .
Looking for something a little more mellow? Check out the Tranquil Winter Escapes Go List .
Arizona
California
Ski Area U.S. National Forest Location
Mountain High Angeles Wrightwood, CA
Mt. Waterman Angeles Los Angeles, CA
Mt. Baldy Angeles Mt. Baldy, CA
Kirkwood Ski Eldorado Kirkwood, CA
Sierra at Tahoe Eldorado Twin Bridges, CA
June Mountain Inyo June Lake, CA
Mammoth Inyo Mammoth Lakes, CA
Heavenly Lake Tahoe Basin Mgmt. Unit Stateline, NV
Homewood Lake Tahoe Basin Mgmt. Unit Homewood, CA
Diamond Peak Incline Lake Tahoe Basin Mgmt. Unit Incline Village, NV
Stover Mountain Lassen Cedarville, CA
Cedar Pass Modoc Big Bear Lake, CA
Bear Mountain San Bernadino Running Springs, CA
Big Air/Green Valley San Bernadino Big Bear Lake, CA
Snow Summit San Bernadino Big Bear Lake, CA
Snow Valley San Bernadino Running Springs, CA
Shirley Meadow Sequoia Wofford Heights, CA
Sierra Summit Sierra Lakeshore, CA
Bear Valley Stanislaus Bear Valley, CA
Dodge Ridge Stanislaus Pinecrest, CA
Sugarbowl Tahoe Norden, CA
Donner Ski Ranch Tahoe Norden, CA
Boreal Ridge Tahoe Truckee, CA
Alpine Meadows Tahoe Tahoe City, CA
Squaw Valley Tahoe Olympic Valley, CA
Colorado
Ski Area U.S. National Forest Location
Eldora Mountain Arapaho-Roosevelt Nederland, CO
Loveland Arapaho-Roosevelt Georgetown, CO
Winter Park Arapaho-Roosevelt Winter Park, CO
Powderhorn Resort GrandMesa-Uncompaghre-Gunnison Mesa, CO
Crested Butte GrandMesa-Uncompaghre-Gunnison Crested Butte, CO
Telluride Ski GrandMesa-Uncomaghre-Gunnison Telluride, CO
Steamboat Medicene Bow-Routt Steamboat, CO
Monarch Pike-San Isabel Monarch, CO
Ski Cooper Pike-San Isabel Leadville, CO
Wolf Creek Rio Grande Pagosa Springs, CO
Durango Mt. Resort San Juan Durango, CO
Aspen Highlands White River Aspen, CO
Aspen Mountain White River Aspen, CO
Buttermilk White River Aspen, CO
Snowmass White River Snowmass, CO
Ski Sunlight White River Glenwood Springs, CO
Arapahoe Basin White River Keystone, CO
Breckenridge White River Breckenridge, CO
Keystone White River Keystone, CO
Vail White River Vail, CO
Beaver Creek White River Avon, CO
Copper Mountain White River Copper Mtn., CO
Idaho
Ski Area U.S. National Forest Location
Bogus Basin Boise Boise, ID
Pebble Creek Caribou-Targhee Inkom, ID
Kelly Canyon Caribou-Targhee Ririe, ID
Brundage Mountain Payette McCall, ID
Payette Lakes/Little Hill Payette McCall, ID
Magic Mountain Sawtooth Twin Falls, ID
Pomerelle Sawtooth Albion, ID
Soldier Mountain Sawtooth Fairfield, ID
Sun Valley Sawtooth Sun Valley, ID
Lookout Pass Idaho Panhandle Mullan, ID
Lost Trail Bitterroot Conner, MT
Michigan
Montana
Ski Area U.S. National Forest Location
Lookout Pass Montana/Idaho Pandhandle Mullen, ID
Discovery Basin Beaverhead-Deerlodge Anaconda, MT
Maverick Mountain Beaverhead-Deerlodge Polaris, MT
Lost Trail Bitterroot Conner, MT
Red Lodge Mountain Custer Red Lodge, MT
White Fish Resort Flathead Whitefish, MT
Blacktail Flathead Lakeside, MT
Bridger Bowl Gallatin Bozeman, MT
Teton Pass Lewis and Clark Choteau, MT
Showdown Lewis and Clark Neihart, MT
Montana Snow Bowl Lolo Missoula, MT
Turner Mountain Kootenai Libby, MT
New Hampshire
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Ski Area U.S. National Forest Location
Mt. Bachelor Deschutes and Ochoco Bend, OR
Mt. Hood Meadows Mt. Hood Mt. Hood, OR
Cooper Spur Mt. Hood Mt. Hood, OR
Mt. Hood Ski Bowl Mt. Hood Government Camp, OR
Summit Ski Mt. Hood Mt. Hood, OR
Timberline Mt. Hood Timberline Lodge, OR
Ski Ashland Rogue River-Siskiyou Ashland, OR
Anthony Lakes Wallowa-Whitman North Power, OR
Hoodoo Ski Bowl Willamette Sisters, OR
Spout Springs Umatilla Weston, OR
Willamette Pass Willamette Eugene, OR
Utah
Washington
Ski Area U.S. National Forest Location
49 Degrees North Colville Chewelah, WA
Crystal Mountain Baker-Snoqualmie Crystal Mountain, WA
Mt. Baker Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Bellingham, WA
Stevens Pass Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Skykomish, WA
Summit at Snoqualmie Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Snoqualmie Pass, WA
Loup Loup Okanogan and Wenatchee Okanogan, WA
White Pass Okanogan and Wenatchee White Pass, WA
Mission Ridge Okanogan and Wenatchee Wenatchee, WA
Leavenworth Ski Hill Okanogan and Wenatchee Leavenworth, WA
Ski Bluewood Umatilla Dayton, WA
Wyoming
Vermont
