Any skier or snowboarder has a list of “must-visit” mountains and resorts—but the focus is usually on their peak seasons, when the powder is deep and the temps are cold. Really, this is unfortunate, because many popular mountains offer just as much excitement in the summer—often with thinned crowds and reduced rates.
Here are six popular ski resorts that are just as exciting in the summer:
Obviously, there’s not much skiing going on in Vermont in the summer. This is no reason to give the state a pass, however. In the summer, Killington offers a full range of activities including golf, hiking, disc golf, and an extensive mountain biking park.
Moreover, the resort is home to a number of summer festivals, including a brewfest, music festival, and Spartan race.
The town of Jackson Hole, which serves as a basecamp for trips into the Grand Teton and is only a few hours south of Yellowstone National Park, is already a popular summer destination. Most summer visitors, however, focus on the National Parks—and the famous rodeo—and forget about the mountain.
The mountain itself, however, offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and paragliding. Plus, every Sunday at 5pm the resort plays host to a free concert series.
What Telluride, Colorado, offers summer visitors is an opportunity to spend time in the quintessential mountain town. Quaint shops, cafes, and bakeries line the streets and the whole town is surrounding by imposing peaks.
In addition to this, the town is host to a string of world-class events all summer including music festivals, a film festival, and major stop on the course of the epic Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run.
The Timberline Lodge on the slopes of Mount Hood, Oregon, is perhaps most famous for being the setting of The Shining. There is one other notable feature: It’s the only resort in the lower 48 states that offers skiing all summer.
That’s right, if you are desperate for a snow fix in July and can’t make it to Canada or Alaska, Mount Hood is the place for you.
Those looking to vacation in the Golden State have a few choices—the most popular being a trip to Lake Tahoe. Instead of fighting the crowds at that well-established summer spot, however, consider a trip into the Eastern Sierra to Mammoth Mountain.
In the resort, the summer is transformed into a mecca for mountain bikers but also offers golf, fishing, hiking, and easy access to Yosemite National Park. There are also a number of events, including Fourth of July Fireworks and a whiskey pairing dinner sponsored by Glenfiddich.
Another resort known for its summer skiing and snowboarding is Whistler, in British Columbia. In addition to the snow, Whistler offers mountain biking and hiking, golf, zip-line and atv tours, wildlife safaris, and world-class rock climbing in nearby Squamish.
Photo credit: Camp of Champions/Creative Commons
