Amazing Places to Ski and Snowboard in Minnesota

Jan 3, 2025

January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and we’ll be highlighting fantastic places to enjoy winter sports in the Midwest region. Today, we’re traveling over to Minnesota to explore a wide range of ski slopes, terrain parks, and more. Whether you’re a beginning snowbunny or you’re an avid enthusiast looking to test their chops with new challenges, you’ll find a wide range of things to enjoy. Plus, there’s lots of family friendly activities and destinations on our list, so it’s perfect for traveling with kids (and even pets) in tow!

Afton Alps in Hastings covers 300 acres of mountain terrain and snow covered hills. The Bubly Tubing Park offers some lowkey tubing fun for those who don’t want to ski or snowboard. New to winter sports? Sign up for skiing or snowboarding lessons at any experience level, then hone your skills and practice til you’re confident over at the Meadows Maze Adventure Zone, fun for all ages! Once you’re ready to go, you can check out the East terrain park with beginner boxes to rails and a jump, or the West terrain park for intermediate and advanced riders! If you’d rather do some local sightseeing in the area during the day, there’s an option to sign up for nightskiing starting at 3PM onwards so you can enjoy a jampacked day. If you’re just dipping your toes into the snow, as they say, you can stop by the afton alps ski shop for rentals and retail to get all the gear you’ll ever need! Looking for a bite to eat? Stop by the Afton House Inn Fine Dining, Current Restaurant, or Swirl My Wine.

Andes Tower Hills in Kensington is located in the center of farm country, offering picturesque views of snowy hilltops and glistening evergreen trees. With affordable prices for ski and snowboarding passes and equipment rentals, it’s a fantastic family friendly entry on our list! There are 16 downhill runs: 4 beginner runs, 4 intermediate runs, 7 difficult runs, and 1 expert level only run. Plus, there’s a terrain park for snowboarding and tubing fun! Interested in exploring more of the area? Try the cross country skiing and skating trails over 800 sprawling acres of park lands, with equipment available for rental with your trail tickets.

Buena Vista Village and Ski Area in Bemidji is a winter sports wonderland with 16 runs, 6 lifts, 2 terrain parks, and snowboarding, as well as cross country trails! Skiing and snowboarding lessons are available for booking on Saturdays and Sundays; reservations are required. Snowtubing is available with 2 hour passes per person, which must be purchased in advance. While you’re in the area, we recommend checking out the historic Lumberjack Hall of Fame including a working sawmill, old-fashioned logging sleighs, a historic school house and church, and more! There’s also a fantastic three-story chalet with two fireplaces and a cafe for delicious food and beverages you’ll need to refuel. Enjoy a fun afternoon in the sun on the ice by trying your hand at ice fishing, whether for catch-and-release sport or to enjoy a fresh fish dinner. Plus there’s a full calendar of local winter special events such as turkey bowling, pond hockey, polar plunge challenges, and more!

Chester Bowl in Duluth holds an immense amount of excitement in a small package, within its 119 acres you’ll find 5 different trails, a terrain park, and varying levels of difficulty in slope for all experiences. Want to try something different this year? Challenge yourself to learning how to Snowskate, with 12 snowskates available for rental with an introduction included by the experienced staffers. New to winter sports entirely? Sign up for the small group lessons on select weekend dates in December, January, and February. There are also special race days on Sundays in February for those who are Level 3 Ski/Snowboard/Snowskate lesson approved! Register the Saturday prior to each race and you can join in the Chester Bowl Alpine Race Series and win an award at the end of your run.

Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area in Maple Grove features a lit snowtubing trail, beginner level downhill skiing and snowboarding hills, and miles and miles of cross-country ski trails, and plenty of snowy entertainment like snowshoeing as well. Head on over to the Three River’s SnowSports Academy to sign up for private or semi-private lessons for all ages and abilities. Traveling with pups in tow? Head over to the Elm Creek Dog Off-Leash Area to enjoy 29-acres of fenced off land to roam, play, explore, and run free; there’s also an area for smaller and frail dogs so they can safely enjoy the great outdoors, too. For those who seek more adrenaline with their canine companions, we bet you’ll be delighted to find there are designated Skijoring and Dog Sledding trails to enjoy some sports together

More Great Areas to explore: