Winter Fun in Wisconsin: Best Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowtubing

Jan 8, 2025

Moving right along with our enthusiastic celebration of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, with today’s stop off being our neighbors to the North, Wisconsin! Bundle up and get ready to embark on some great winter sports adventures, because today’s blog is all about great destinations for skiing, snowboarding, sledding and more. We’ve selected some fabulous destinations for road-tripping with your family and friends over the winter season. Grab some season passes or book a weekend getaway for some fresh mountain air. The choice is yours and the possibilities for fun are endless!

Devil’s Head in Merrimac has been named one of the top 10 Best Ski Resorts in the Midwest for a reason! Just three hours drive from the Chicago area, it’s a hop skip and a jump away making it the perfect weekend getaway trip. The resort offers a multitude of options for lodging, dining, indoor and outdoor activities, and the surrounding region is jam-packed with interesting things to see and do. You’ll have a blast skiing down one of the highest peaks in the state, and exploring its many trails and runs across diverse terrain options. There are 30 runs which offer 100% snowmaking capabilities, plenty of well-groomed trails, and terrain parks. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or expert level winter sports enthusiast, we can assure you that you’ll find the perfect slope. The Kids Kamp offers 90 minute lessons for visitors aged 6 through 12, Group Lessons for visitors 12+, a special First Timers Package as well as individual lessons for all ages 6 and up.

Whitecap Mountain in Upson offers miles of trails across 3 mountains and 400 acres with 48 runs, making it the perfect vacation getaway for the avid winter sports fan! You’ll definitely need a trail map to navigate your way through each of the peaks: Thunderhead, Eagle’s Nest, and Whitecap Mountain itself. It’s one of the largest resorts in the state, nestled in the heart of the historic Penokee Mountains range. This resort is more geared towards skiing than snowboarding due to the terrain, and it’s best left to the intermediate to advanced skier. Visitors have said that the terrain is quite varied and keeps it interesting, and the scenery is very picturesque! New management at the resort is making some upgrades over the last few years and continuing, so we expect big things to come!

Tyrol Basin in Mount Horeb offers 22 runs and a 300-foot vertical slope, with options ranging from beginner to intermediate, advanced to expert, meaning the whole family can find something to enjoy no matter their experience level. It’s a budget friendly option if you’re heading out with kids in tow, and they’ll have lots to enjoy from skiing to snowboarding to snow tubing. You’ll find 4 terrain parks to explore as well as ungroomed trails for Tree Skiing experiences. The facilities offer a wide variety of lessons in skiing and snowboarding, including an Adaptive Ski Lesson, freestyle skiing, and more.

Mt. La Crosse in La Crosse features 19 slopes and trails for both skiing and snowboarding, along with a beautiful new Terrain park with jumps, bars, tubes, and more for the expert snowboarding enthusiast; you’ll need your own equipment to enter the park, rentals are not allowed. The mountain also hosts local and visiting racing events such as the Midwest Masters Race, USCSA Midwest Race and more. Mt. La Crosse also offers night skiing opportunities for those who would like a little more solitude and a chance to ski under the lights and stars

Cascade Mountain in Portage covers 220 acres of terrain near the Wisconsin Dells. The resort welcomes winter sports fans of all ages to explore its 48 trails, 19 ski slopes and terrain park, as well as an 800 foot chute for snow tubing. If you’re looking for family friendly resorts, this one definitely takes the cake as kids aged 12 and younger ski for free when accompanied by a paid adult! Online pre-purchase of tickets are required Friday through Sunday and holidays/peak days, so make sure you’re reserving ahead of time. There are numerous lessons both group and private, as well as opportunities to check out local races on the mountain or join the local team.

Alpine Valley Resort in Elkhorn has been a number one family favorite thanks to its unique on-slope ski-in/ski-out lodging at its 120 room hotel and exhilarating options for winter sports of all skill levels. It’s located just 2 hours from Chicago and 45 minutes outside of Milwaukee. With more than 90 acres of skiable terrain across 21 runs and a vertical drop of nearly 400 feet, you’ll find plenty of thrills. The area is also known for its stunning old growth forests and unique landscapes of the Kettle Moraine Area in Wisconsin. There’s never a shortage of excitement on the mountain with its snowmaking capabilities and night skiing options!