Spring is peak après-ski season, and there are few things better than topping off a day on the slopes with drinks, food, and Vitamin D on a sun-drenched patio. Many of the best après-ski patios are on the mountain, and are generally attached to mid-mountain or summit restaurants where you can soak up the sun while indulging with a belly-busting burger and your favorite post-ski libation. Yet you’ll also find many great patios at the base lodge or nearby village. Below we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ski resort patios around North America.
The Best Ski Resort Patios In North America
Mammoth Mountain, California
Mammoth Mountain hits the trifecta with live music, sunshine, and stunning views at numerous après-ski spots across the mountain. Once you’re ready to come off the slopes you’ve got your pick of a variety of locations and vibes to end the day on an awesome note. Canyon Après on the patio at Canyon Lodge has become famous for pumping DJs and patio party vibes that never fail to deliver. Keep an eye out for “elevated” parties this season featuring big-name DJs like LP Giobbi and NEIL FRANCES, drink specials, and pop-up activations from Mammoth partners like Red Bull, Athletic Brewing, Sun Bum, and more. Each weekend of fist-pumping fun draws closer to the season send-off by way of the annual Pond Skim.
The outdoor deck at The Mill has long been a favorite on-hill pit stop, and, with the days getting longer, they’re firing up a whole new place to let loose on the weekends. Featuring live country music (and rumors of a mechanical bull appearance), Honky Tonk on the Hill is sure to keep the good vibes going long after you’ve stepped out of your boots. On the backside of the mountain, don’t miss The Outpost, where you’ll find expansive views on a massive, elevated deck. Featuring micro-brews and artisan grilled cheese sandwiches, The Outpost is an awesome spot to post up with friends and give your legs a little break.
These are just a few of Mammoth’s great après hangs. Spring at Mammoth truly nails the perfect combo of awesome conditions on the slopes with fun après experiences.
Aspen, Colorado: The Sundeck
High atop Aspen Mountain, The Sundeck couldn’t be more aptly named. Operated by the Little Nell Hotel, one of the top ski resort hotels in the world, The Sundeck’s food, hospitality, and views are unparalleled. Not to mention the scenic 15-minute gondola ride from the hotel. Once you arrive, The Sundeck’s spacious patio opens up to gorgeous views of 14,000-foot peaks. What’s more, The Sundeck’s building, located in a 23,000-square-foot day lodge perched on the edge of Forest Service boundaries, became the country’s first resort project awarded a LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy Efficient Design program.
The Sundeck is just one of the many great patios in Aspen. After all, OnTheSnow users and readers rated Aspen Snowmass the best ski resort in North America for après-ski for the 2023-24 ski season.
Vail, Colorado: Pepi’s Restaurant and Bar
Pepi’s outdoor deck at the iconic Gastof Gramshammer provides some of the best outdoor experiences you’ll find in the Vail Valley. Pepi’s, named for the Austrian ski racer who established the Gastof, is a legendary eatery close to the slopes near Gondola One. It’s hailed as “the sunniest deck in Vail Village.” Pepi’s is a great spot for lunch, après-ski, and dinner, so we won’t judge if you go twice in a day. But it’s not only great for spring since the heated covered patio section is open year-round.
Breckenridge, Colorado: Quandry Tequila Bistro
While many people rave about Breckenridge’s TBar, don’t sleep on the Quandry Tequila Bistro. This off-the-beaten path bistro in Breckenridge is often voted one of the best après-ski hot spots anywhere. Enjoy 12 beers on tap, games, and happy hour specials from 3-5 p.m. daily. Quandry’s sunny deck, overlooking Peak 9, Peak 10, and Maggie Pond, is huge, and makes for an ideal lunch or après-ski spot. Quandry is located where Main Street meets the mountain, on the corner of South Park Ave. and Main Street, inside the Hyatt Main Street Station Plaza.
Park City, Utah: Lookout Cabin
Lookout Cabin, located off the mid-station of the Orange Bubble Express lift, earns its name at Park City Mountain. Enjoy a nice lunch here while taking in the expansive views of the Wasatch. This is not your everyday ski resort food menu with menu items like pan-seared diver scallops, braised short ribs, and Bison Bolognese. Yet you can still get classics like the chili and Wagyu Burger.
Palisades Tahoe, California: KT-22 Base Bar
KT-22 Base Bar is a particularly lively outdoor après-ski scene at the base of the famed KT-22 lift at Palisades Tahoe. Longtime Palisades skiers and riders will likely tell you there’s no better place to soak up the sun than on the KT Deck. Enjoy a refreshing cold one while watching skiers make their way down the fabled KT-22 run. The steep 8,200-foot slope was named when Sandy Poulsen, wife of the resort’s founder, hiked it and was intimidated. So she traversed back and forth to descend, making 22 kick turns.
Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont: Cliff House
Atop the gondola on Stowe Mountain Resort’s Mount Mansfield, the Cliff House brings panoramic-view seating with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the surrounding alpine peaks. While a popular spot in winter, spring means it’s time to grab a seat on Cliff House’s outdoor deck. Its chef serves regional American cuisine with a rustic Vermont flair. Needless to say, this is a step up from your typical après-ski meal.
Mt. Bachelor, Oregon: The Sun Bar
Few bars are so aptly named for our purposes here. The Sun Bar, located on the upper patio of Sunrise Lodge, is the place to be on those spring skiing afternoons at Mt. Bachelor. Bonus: Mt. Bachelor has one of the longest spring skiing seasons in North America. Kick back just steps from the slopes as skiers come down the mountain. The Sun Bar has a great selection of warm and cold craft cocktails, as well as a selection of beer and wine.
Blue Mountains, Ontario, Canada: Rusty’s
Blue Mountain is one of Ontario’s most popular ski resorts, and once it’s time for après-ski, Rusty’s is the place to be. Headliners of the food menu include the fish tacos, smoked brisket, and nacho chips. Rusty’s is a cornerstone of Blue’s spring skiing experience come March when you can drink in the sun on the patio then move onto the dance floor after dark. This takes après-ski up a notch.
Sunshine Village, Banff, Canada: Mad Trapper’s
Recently we named Mad Trapper’s, at Sunshine Village, one of the best après-ski bars in Canada, and it’s for good reason. They’ve been slinging drinks here since 1928, and while the bar itself is an experience, Mad Trapper’s patio is just as good. Located in the Old Sunshine Lodge, Mad Trapper’s gets busy on a beautiful spring day, so get here early. Chow down on its great selection of chili, like the bison chili, along with a great selection of drinks.
Header image: ©Mammoth Mountain
March 16, 2025
