Winter in Wisconsin is upon us and there are few things we love more than staying active and getting some Vitamin D (ie: sunshine!). We are fortunate to have quite a few ski resorts within a short drive from Madison.
**We are presenting the options — we encourage you to research online/FB reviews to see what options work best for your family!
Alpine Valley Ski Resort
Address: W2501 Co Rd D, Elkhorn, WI
Located in Elkhorn, WI, Alpine Valley offers exceptional skiing and snowboarding with one of the largest beginner areas in the Midwest! They’ve added a new trail called Snowdrift, at 1,400 feet in length. It’s a scenic run great for the entire family!
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Cascade Mountain
Address: W10441 Cascade Mountain Rd, Portage, WI 53901
Cascade Mountain is located in Portage, Wisconsin. It has 47 trails, 4 terrain parks, and an 800-foot-long chute for snow tubing. Snow tubing is fun for kids of all ages!
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Chestnut Mountain
Address: 8700 W Chestnut Mountain Rd, Galena, IL
Nineteen ski and snowboard trails cut through solid rock bluffs range up to 3,500 feet in length and are geared to all levels. The seven-acre Far Side Terrain Park, complete with its own triple, features a quarter-pipe, two halfpipes, and lots of rails, kickers and jumps. Chestnut, with the hotel and Village Ski Center located on top of the ski hill, features a 475-foot vertical drop.
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Devil’s Head Resort
Address: S6330 Bluff Rd, Merrimac, WI
Devil’s Head ski resort boasts a 500-foot vertical drop and 30 runs scattered across 300 acres and 9 lifts (lift capacity 16,500 skiers per hour). It’s is a full-service ski resort nestled in the heart of the glacier-formed, Baraboo Bluffs. Kids programs and lessons are available.
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Sundown Mountain
Address: 16991 Asbury Rd, Dubuque, IA
Sundown Mountain in Dubuque has a Kids Park Facility for kids ages 3-11 and also offers kids lessons. There’s a 475-foot vertical drop with terrain cut out of an old cedar forest that’s spread out over 45 acres. From the top of the scenic ski hill you can see three states and the Mississippi River valley. Sundown offers runs to accommodate all levels of skiers plus an expanded nine-acre terrain park featuring a halfpipe and lots of new rails and jumps.
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Tyrol Basin
Address: 3487 Bohn Rd, Mt Horeb, WI
Tyrol Basin is a ski and snowboard area located near Mount Horeb, WI. It has runs at beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert level. Tyrol Basin has 16 runs, of average size for Midwest hills.
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
A few other places to enjoy downhill skiing near Madison include:
- Christmas Mountain | S944 Christmas Mountain Rd, Wisconsin Dells, WI
- Wilmot Mountain | 11931 Fox River Rd, Wilmot, WI
- Grand Geneva | 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI
- Little Switzerland | 105 Cedar Creek Rd, Slinger, WI
All of these options are found less than 2 hours from Madison and offer great downhill skiing. Whether you want to get away for the weekend or enjoy skiing regularly, you can choose the right option for you from one of these excellent downhill skiing areas near Madison.
