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Night skiing is a unique skiing experience you can’t just have anywhere. And night skiing’s history is just as unique. It dates back to post-World War I, when Clarence (Clare) Bousquet, an injured World War I veteran, turned his profitable mink farm into the small rope tow-served slope of Bousquet near Pittsfield, Massachusetts. With the help of then locally-based general electric, which installed mercury vapor floodlights on the slopes, he lured visitors from New York City for night skiing.
The venture began to flourish almost a decade later, when Webb Moffet, the owner of Snoqualmie Summit, added lights. Illuminated slopes opened up the sport to those who couldn’t ski during the day, and extended hours to those who could.
Today, it’s become a staple skiing experience in across North American. Skiers and riders can watch the sun set and moon rise as they continue shredding, often until 9 or 10 p.m. Without further ado, here’s a list of the best night skiing in North America.
The best North American ski resorts for night skiing
Cranmore, New Hampshire
Lifts at New Hampshire’s Cranmore spin until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and holidays. Note that trails open for night skiing and snowboarding are not regroomed midday, so conditions are variable. Night skiers and snowboarders here should be comfortable riding a chairlift and navigating intermediate terrain. Rental equipment is available for night skiing from 2-8 p.m.
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Wachusett, Massachusetts
Located an hour from Boston, Wachusett offers nighttime skiing and boarding from 7-9:30 p.m. nightly from late December until early March.. Note that exact closing times sometimes vary, so check the snow report ahead of time. A night-only season pass is available for $399 for use from December 25th through March 8, 2025.
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Bolton Valley, Vermont
Bolton Valley, located just 30 minutes from Burlington and Montpelier, is one of the few Vermont ski areas offering night skiing and riding. Bonus: If you can play during the daytime, your lift ticket also gives you nighttime skiing, which typically takes place 5 nights per week from 4-10 p.m. Night skiing runs from Tuesday to Saturday and during holiday periods (but not on Christmas Eve and Day). Views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains make this such an extraordinary New England ski experience.
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Granite Peak, Wisconsin
Granite Peak started small, but Rib Mountain Winter Sports Area, as it was called then, became the first major Midwest ski area to offer night skiing in 1955. Nowadays, night skiing usually kicks off around late-December, from 4-9 p.m. It offers some variety and challenge.
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Boyne Mountain, Michigan
Michigan’s Boyne Mountain now boasts the most night skiing terrain in the state. It runs from December until mid-March from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on select dates, weather permitting. Trails are serviced by the Meadows Doppelmayr Quad.
The Highlands, Boyne Mountain’s sister resort, offers night skiing on select nights until 9 p.m. Note that tickets for the two resorts are not interchangeable.
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Keystone, Colorado
Keystone boasts some epic night skiing, with its operations taking place out of River Run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Its night skiing season kicks off for the November and December holiday weekends, and then ramps up in January on select weekends and holidays through the end of March. Check out Keystone’s website for the complete night skiing schedule. Purchase your tickets ahead of time online for discounted rates on night skiing.
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Steamboat, Colorado
Both Keystone and Steamboat are great examples of major destination ski resorts offering night skiing. The Christie Peak Express high-speed chairlift whisks skiers to the top of Christie Peak (8,000 feet) for an evening adventure across five trails: Sitz, See Me, Vogue, Stampede and Lil’ Rodeo. Cruise down 1,100 vertical feet of terrain, which caters to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, under state-of-the-art Ultra-Tech trail lights
Thursday through Sunday from mid-December until the end of March, night skiing runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. weekend evenings (Thursday-Sunday) from mid-December until the end of March. Night skiing access is included in daily lift ticket purchase.
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Brighton, Utah
“Brighton up your nights,” as Brighton urges, with night skiing Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Skiers and riders can shred Ziggy and Pine Martin under the stars in addition to last season’s Snake Creek, Crest Express, Majestic and Explorer runs. Brighton has also added night skiing off the Millicent Chairlift. Beginners can even take lessons at night, as Brighton offers group lessons on Thursday nights. Night Riding is available from mid-December through late-March, conditions permitting. Note that night skiing isn’t available most Sundays and on Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, and New Year’s Eve.
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Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah
About an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport, Sundance opens up most of its front terrain for night skiing a few days each week. Skiers and snowboarders at Sundance can enjoy laps under the lights, beginning in mid-December, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 4:30-9 p.m. Sundance’s lit runs include Top Gun, Montoya, Stampede, Maverick, and more. Note that night skiing isn’t offered on Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
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Snow King Resort, Wyoming
Night skiing is available in the heart of Jackson Hole at Snow King from 4-6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It’s the only night skiing in Jackson Hole so those who ski and ride at the massive destination ski area of Jackson Hole can cap of a fun day of skiing at Snow King. Access is easy even if you don’t have a car. Just take the START bus straight to the slopes.
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Boreal, Lake Tahoe, California
In the Lake Tahoe area, night skiing at Boreal is an iconic experience. Purchase the night season pass for as low as $249 and get access from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., 7 nights a week, all season long. No blackout dates or reservations are needed. Perks include a $25 Buddy Pass and two free one-hour bunker sessions at nearby Woodward Tahoe.
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Mt. Hood Skibowl, Oregon
Mt. Hood Skibowl is home to the largest night skiing operation in America, lighting up three chairlifts, including Upper Bowl, for the biggest, best night skiing in America under the shadow of Mt. Hood. From beginner to expert runs, Mt. Hood Skibowl has it all, lighting up more than 35 runs for night skiing. Ski or ride from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Refuel at Mt. Hood Skibowl’s historic mid-mountain Warming Hut between laps.
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Mt. Ashland, Oregon
Twilight skiing is a great way to experience what the Oregon slopes have to offer. The resort offers night skiing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from January to March, which a variety of ticket options for adults and youth including a half-day ticket that gives guests the option to ride from noon to 9 p.m. Night skiing is accessed by the Sonnet, Comer, and Windsor ski lifts.
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Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington
Located about an hour from Seattle on I-90, Summit at Snoqualmie continues to offer a huge amount of night skiing since becoming the first in the West to do so nearly 8 decades ago. Night skiing happens across Summit at Snoqualmie — check their website and social media channels for the latest terrain updates. Hours are subject to change without notice because of weather conditions.
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Stevens Pass, Washington
80 miles east of Seattle is Stevens Pass, another great major ski resort with night skiing operations. Night skiing operates from 3-10 p.m., Wednesdays to Sundays, beginning in December and typically lasting into March. Stevens Pass even offers lessons and coaching programs at discounted rates on select evenings. Note that Stevens Pass is the only Epic Pass resort in the Pacific Northwest.
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Bogus Basin, Idaho
Skiers and snowboarders have been skiing under the light at Bogus Basin since 1964. Night skiing happens daily, until 10 p.m., providing up to 12 hours of daily skiing at this Idaho nonprofit ski area. Bogus Basin’s popular Night Season Pass, priced as low as $119 for those over 18, offers access to the mountain from 6 p.m. to close all winter long.
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Night skiing in Canada
Bromont, Canada
With more than 1,500 snow guns, Bromont often has good conditions day or night over its 450 acres of skiable terrain. It’s home to one of the largest night skiing operations in North America, featuring more than 100 lit runs. Keep an eye out for Bromont’s popular Nuits Blanches (French for “sleepless nights) night skiing event. Taking place on several nights of the ski season, Nuits Blanches pulls out all the stops for all-night skiing and aprés-ski until the early morning hours. Enjoy skiing under the lights, a DJ, dancing, outdoor bars, games, contests, and more throughout the night. See dates and more info on Bromont’s website.
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Mt. Norquay, Canada
Mt. Norquay is the only night skiing resort in the Canadian Rockies. Part of SkiBig3’s Banff area resorts, is the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights from January until mid-March from 5 to 9 p.m. Food service is available at the Cascade Lodge Cafeteria and North American Lodge.
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Big White, Canada
Ski under bright lights at the largest night skiing area in Western Canada. Skiers and riders can chill under the stars at Big White, from 3:30-8 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The lights on the Bullet Express and Plaza Chair give you access to acres upon acres of terrain. Big White’s night lift capacity exceeds 3,000 people per hour, as the Plaza and Bullet high-speed chairs bring skiers and riders to the top of the longest vertical drop (1,955 feet from the top of the Bullet lift) that you’ll find at any North America ski area with night skiing. Its TELUS Park terrain park is open Friday and Saturday nights.
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Header image: ©Adam J Sanders/Stevens Pass
November 06, 2025
