Spring skiing means different things to different people and different destinations. In some places, like the Midwest, spring skiing mostly happens in March, while in others, like Utah, home to the Greatest Snow on Earth®, the spring ski season can continue into May. If you’re lucky and time it just right, you may even catch a spring powder day or two. Just remember to layer up and wear sunscreen, and arrive early to get the best of the snow before it softens.
While it’s easy to make a list of the best spring skiing destinations in North America full of the major ski resorts, we’re taking a slightly different approach. We’re leading off with some of the bigger, more renowned ski destinations for spring skiing, while also including a few ski resorts that may not be on your spring skiing radar.
The Best Spring Skiing Destinations in North America
Utah
Spring skiing in Utah brings a unique combination of casual ski vibes with warmer daily temps. Utah’s famous powder typically continues well into April, which means excellent snow and gorgeous bluebird days late into spring.
Beyond the slopes, spring in Utah is celebrated with end-of-season events, concerts, and competitions that add extra fun to any trip. The après scene comes alive with outdoor patios and sun-drenched decks. Plus, with the peak winter crowds gone, you’ll find shorter lift lines, more affordable accommodations, and a more laid-back atmosphere.
Start planning your spring Utah ski trip now.
Sunshine Village, Alberta
We can’t talk spring skiing in Canada and not mention Alberta’s SkiBig3 ski resorts. While Mt. Norquay typically closes in mid-April, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village stay open into May. Lake Louise typically closes in early May, while Sunshine keeps skiing going until later in May. Sunshine’s season ends with a three-day festival that includes the Slushshine Rail Jam and the legendary Slush Cup, North America’s longest-running end-of-season pond skim, which dates back to 1928. In big snow years, Sunshine has even reopened for summer skiing, as it did from June 20 to July 5 after the record 2025–26 winter. Spring is a great time to visit, too, thanks to longer days. Skiers and riders can get in a few hours of laps on soft snow before exploring all that Banff has to offer. Bonus: You can combine a spring ski trip to Banff with adventures around Canada’s first national park, Banff National Park.
Killington, Vermont
Killington often has ski terrain open until around Memorial Day weekend in late May, typically running daily into early May before shifting to weekends and select days. Don’t expect a full-mountain adventure, as terrain becomes limited toward the end of the season, and there isn’t much beginner-friendly terrain late in spring. We recommend checking Killington’s website ahead of your spring Vermont ski trip to see what’s open. You can usually count on some corn snow fun on a sunny spring day after freezing temperatures the night before. Killington regularly offers a spring pass valid from mid-March until the end of the season. The pass is also good at neighboring Pico, though Pico typically closes in early April.
Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
Arapahoe Basin, aka A-Basin, boasts one of the longest ski seasons in North America, with closing day typically landing in June and sometimes even July. Even in the low-snow 2025–26 season, A-Basin stayed open until May 17 and was the last ski area operating in Colorado. A-Basin’s ski terrain offers what is essentially two back-to-back bowls oriented north and south. That means lots of skiable terrain with 145 trails. Spring snow comes in all sorts of quality packages, and you’ll likely find it all here. A-Basin is Rocky Mountain high, with its top lifts reaching more than 12,000 feet. Additionally, you can hike up to some of the higher points before ripping downhill, as we discussed in our roundup of Colorado ski resorts with hike-to skiing terrain. It all makes for some of the best late-season skiing in Colorado. Don’t miss spending some time on the Beach. It’s a section of the Early Riser parking lot in an ideal location to take a break, relax, and grab some rays between runs.
Breckenridge, Colorado
While Breckenridge’s ski season isn’t quite as long as Arapahoe Basin’s, it’s still one of the longer seasons in Colorado, typically running through late April and stretching into May in big snow years. Breckenridge’s 2,908 acres of skiable terrain, base elevation at 9,600 feet, and 300-plus days of sunshine make it one of the headlining ski resorts in the Rockies for spring. Not to mention Breckenridge’s incredible après-ski scene, which earned an OnTheSnow Visitors’ Choice Award. Note that late spring at Breckenridge is for intermediate-and-above skiers and riders only. Check Breckenridge’s website regularly for the latest updates on spring skiing operations. Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Breckenridge are all within 30 minutes of one another, making this one of the best corners of America for spring skiing.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Whistler Blackcomb is one of Canada’s spring skiing headliners for smooth runs, bluebird days, and sun-soaked après-ski. Whistler Mountain typically closes in mid-to-late April, while Blackcomb keeps skiing going into mid- to late May. According to Whistler Blackcomb, “Runs like Whistler Bowl, Spanky’s Ladder or Glacier Bowl are great in the morning, whereas you can save Sun Bowl and the front side of 7th Heaven for the afternoon to get the prime conditions – the snow will be much softer from a full day of sun exposure.” After a fun spring day on the slopes, come back to Whistler Village to enjoy patio après vibes at any number of great restaurants and bars.
Mammoth Mountain, California
Skiing takes place at Mammoth Mountain long after many ski resorts have closed. Mammoth’s ski season typically extends through May, and sometimes even into the summer months. Mammoth Mountain has the benefit of the highest lift-served terrain in California, with a summit at 11,053 feet, and averages around 400 inches of snow per season. If you time it right, you may be treated to an April or even May powder day. After skiing in the morning, hit any one of the nearby hot springs. Then head to The Village at Mammoth for patio drinks and dinner.
Palisades Tahoe, California
It’s impossible to talk great spring skiing and not talk about Palisades Tahoe, the self-proclaimed Spring Skiing Capital, which boasts the longest ski season in Lake Tahoe. Here, skiing typically goes late into spring, and occasionally into summer. During the record 2022–23 season, Palisades Tahoe stayed open until July 4, with skiing at Alpine over the last few weekends of the season. The spring ski conditions are about as good as you’ll find, and so are the après-ski scene and events. Spring brings fun events like the Cushing Crossing, billed as the original pond skim, Alpine’s annual Snow Golf Tournament, the Made in Tahoe Festival over Memorial Day weekend, and live music in The Village at Palisades Tahoe. After a morning on the slopes, head to any number of great nearby biking trails around Lake Tahoe, or simply soak up the sun and warmer weather on North America’s largest alpine lake.
Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
While Oregon doesn’t come with the warm spring sun of California, it comes with a long ski season at many ski resorts, including Mt. Bachelor. One of Oregon’s higher peaks, Mt. Bachelor typically keeps skiing going into late May, though low-snow years can bring an earlier close. And with 4,323 acres, it has plenty of terrain to explore. After a morning of skiing, head to the Clearing Rock Bar, at the West Village Lodge, and soak up the sun with unbeatable views of Mt. Bachelor. Spring comes with great events, too, including RendezVan, a celebration of spring skiing, live music, and van-life culture, and in normal snow years, a Memorial Day weekend pond skim. Once your day is wrapped up on the slopes, head into Bend, which is chock-full of craft breweries, alley bars, and waterfront patios.
For an even longer ski season, check out Timberline Lodge, which is open for skiing through the summer.
Ski Resorts You May Not Think Of for Spring Skiing
Whiteface at Lake Placid, New York
While spring plants and flowers are pushing up through the dirt in much of the Northeast by mid-March, Lake Placid makes for a great few weeks of spring skiing until Whiteface closes, typically in mid-April. Spring can often be the sunniest and snowiest time of the season here, thanks to Whiteface’s elevation of almost 5,000 feet. But think of spring skiing here as skiing on mashed potatoes, both heavy and soft. You will have earned that post-ski hot tub session.
Spring corn snow is generally found higher up on steeper terrain, where the snow’s surface begins to break up into little kernels. You’ll go fast but still hold an edge for carving. Take a break in the midday sunshine at Whiteface’s Midstation Lodge, where you can make some new friends on the deck while enjoying a snack and drinks. Before or after your Whiteface trip, drop in at Gore Mountain, Whiteface’s sister resort, for some spring turns.
The Highlands, Michigan
Why yes, you can find some spring skiing in the Midwest. The Highlands (formerly known as Boyne Highlands) in Harbor Springs, in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, celebrates spring in March with St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities and its Ring in Spring weekend, which closes out the season with live music, drink tastings, and the popular Slush Cup, where brave skiers and riders try to make it across an open pond at the base of the slopes. The resort will often extend lift hours during the spring ski season and keep the lifts running late into the day. For late-season turns in Michigan, sister resort Boyne Mountain is often the last to close, staying open on weekends through Memorial Day in 2026. Nearby Nub’s Nob is another fun stop for early spring skiing.
Wolf Creek, Colorado
It’s only fitting that Colorado’s snowiest ski area would also be such a great spring skiing destination. Skiing and riding on that blanket of snow in spring brings the added fun of events like Local Appreciation Days (in which everyone is a “local”), College Days, Fun Races, and a Costume Contest. Per tradition, the Easter Bunny visits and hosts an egg hunt at Wolf Pup Hollow on Easter Sunday. Grab a tasty lunch or beverage during the extended season from either the Wolf Creek Lodge or Continental Espresso Bar. Wolf Creek typically closes in mid-April, but keep an eye on its website and social media channels for updates.
Sugar Bowl, California
Sugar Bowl, a venerable resort on Donner Summit west of Truckee, can easily be bypassed for the bigger Lake Tahoe names. But don’t sleep on the great spring skiing that’s found here. Spring skiing at Sugar Bowl typically runs until about mid-April and means finding corn snow in that warm California sun. Softer, more forgiving snow can also make it a great time to work on your skills. You can expect spirited après-ski on the patios outside of both lodges. Events include the Mini-Pipe Meltdown and Tiki Pond Skim.
Fernie, British Columbia
Fernie Alpine Resort, located in British Columbia’s Kootenay Rockies, pairs a friendly mountain with a classic ski town in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It’s just over a three-hour drive from Calgary. Fernie is typically open until mid-April, and late in the season often has its fair share of powder stashes, bluebird days, and après-ski fun on patios overlooking its ski runs. When you’re done skiing for the day, historic downtown Fernie is dotted with shops, cafes, restaurants, brewpubs, and spas that make it one of the most fun ski towns in Canada.
Header image: ©Visit Utah
