Spring is here and for most Minnesotans that means firing up the lawn mower and dusting off the golf clubs. But wait, it's still possible for one last shot of winter before summer takes over for good. Here are 5 places for a last-ditch day of skiing or snowboarding.
Yes, you can still ski in Minnesota. Long after the metro area resorts like Afton and Buck Hill are closed for the season there is still snow high above the north shore of Lake Superior. The popular Minnesota resort, located about an hour from the Canadian border, has gotten over 100 inches of snow this season. Some runs are closed but the lifts will continue to run on weekends until May 5th. You can get discounted tickets for the rest of the season for just $44.
Ski Brule: Iron River, Michigan
Lutsen isn’t the only option for late season skiing in the Midwest. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is known for less people and lots of snow, and Ski Brule has enough snow to stay open for weekend skiers and boarders through April. Michigan sounds like a long drive but Brule is just across the Wisconsin border and only a five-hour drive from the Twins Cities. Spring lift tickets are just $25.
Jay Peak: Jay, Vermont
Vermont has some of the best skiing in the Eastern US and boasts several resorts that are open well into spring. Jay Peak is no exception, and it's the only resort that’s still 100% open in mid-April. It’s a bit of a trip just to get there as the resort stands less than five miles from the Canadian border. Jay Peak is a four- hour drive from Boston and only two from Montreal. Don’t forget to hit the scan button on your way. You’ll pick up plenty of French stations from north of the border.
Big Sky Resort: Big Sky, Montana
Big Sky is big…really big. At 5,800 skiable acres and a 4,350 foot vertical drop, this Montana landmark lives up to it’s slogan of "Biggest Skiing in America". You can typically hit the slopes into the 3rd week of April and with 26 inches of snow there last week, it looks like this season will be no exception. Consider combining some late season skiing at Big Sky with an early season visit to Yellowstone National Park located just an hour from Big Sky.
Arapahoe Basin: Keystone, Colorado
Located about an hour west of Denver, this resort is ideally situated for late season snow. Its north facing slopes and high altitude mean you can often ski into the first or second week of June. A-Basin, as it’s often called, sits almost on top of the continental divide and boasts a maximum skiable elevation of over 13,000 feet. Next time you visit Colorado in late spring or early summer, remember it’s not too late to hit the slopes.