Whitecap Mountain Ski Resort

Whitecap Mountain is a four-season resort is located in the heart of the ancient Penokee Mountains. It is one of Wisconsin's largest ski resorts with a vertical drop of 400 feet and skiing and riding available on 400 acres.

Choose from among Whitecap's three mountains: Thunderhead, Eagle's Nest and the Whitecap Mountain. Thirty-six trails/runs offer a variety of options to match all ability levels. It's one of the few Midwestern ski areas where you will actually need a trail map to navigate the three mountains.

Where Is Whitecap Mountain Ski Area Located?

The ski resort is approximately four hours away from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The closest airport is Gogebic-Iron County Airport in Ironwood, Wisconsin, which is 35 minutes away. The Oneida County Airport in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, is about 2 hours away, and the Duluth International Airport is about 2 hours 20 minutes away from the ski resort.

Where to Stay

Accommodations range from 100 lodge rooms at the area, to Swiss Inn style rooms, trailside chalets, and condominiums ranging in size from one to seven bedrooms.

Transportation

Important Dates

Projected opening date

Dec 20, 2025

Projected closing date

Mar 15, 2026

Projected Days Open

118

Days Open Last Year

105

Years Open

Average Snowfall

74"

There are 6 chairlifts, a Magic Carpet for beginners and 2 lifts on the "bunny bowl" that carry over 7,000 skiers an hour. The resort average 200 inches of snow a year, ensuring its 385 skiable acres are covered. With a summit of 1,750 feet, visitors will experience a 400-foot vertical drop into an Austrian-style ski village.

Terrain

Beginners Runs

33%

Intermediate Runs

28%

Advanced Runs

28%

Expert Runs

12%

Runs in Total

Longest Run

1 mi

Skiable Terrain

400 ac

Snow Making

150 ac

Lifts

5

Triple Chairs

Double Chairs

Inside Scoop

Whitecap Mountain Resort also offers snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice skating. Be sure to call in advance to reserve rentals, if needed.

Reviews

Scott

They are rapidly upgrading this outstanding ski resort. The new owners are investing in major updates and improvements and it shows! If you haven't been here in a few years give it a try again because if you've been here before you know the varied terrain is the most fun in Wisconsin and Michigan. The downside used to be that the resort was on a downward trajectory of maintenance. No more! We started skiing in northern WI and MI in the early 1990s and used to stay remote and make day trips to ski at several locations. After a few years we all agreed that Whitecap was hands down the best skiing and have come here exclusively ever since. Our group has always consisted of adults and later added kids as they arrived so we always have mixed abilities and a mix of skiers and boarders. Whitecap has more than enough variety for everyone. It's impossible to get bored here. The fact that half the slopes face south and half face north is a huge advantage also. We've skied here in temperatures like this weekend (-19 overnight and high winds) and had sunny days above freezing. The ability to move from S-N and back in response to wind and sun is great and makes what could be considered a tough weather day into a lot of fun. If you require only "the best" in your accommodations then you are giving up the best skiing in the region. But based on the work done so far the new owners have the right plan and the right vision to bring the hoards of people soon enough. Enjoy it now while you have 300+ acres to play on with no waiting on lifts.

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