With or without snow on the ground, winter in Wisconsin is here and when the temperatures drop, it can get a little tougher to find ways to stay active outdoors. Obviously, the old fashioned snowball fight is always a solid choice, but we are also lucky to have several ski resorts and ski hills within a reasonable driving distance of Milwaukee!
Skiing is great exercise and a wonderful way to enjoy the Wisconsin Winter!
Ski Resorts + Ski Hills Within Driving Distance from Milwaukee, WI
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! New for the 2020/21 season, 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
Distance from Milwaukee: 40 minutes
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
Distance from Milwaukee: 1.5 hours
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
Distance from Milwaukee: 3 hours
Christmas Mountain
Address: S944 Christmas Mountain Rd, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Guests of this resort enjoy one of the Dells’ best 27-hole championship golf courses and a pristine groomed hill for downhill and cross country skiing in the winter. The ski hill provides a perfect backdrop and winter recreation for all ages. Ski lessons and tubing are also available.
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Distance from Milwaukee: 2 hours
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
Distance from Milwaukee: 1 hour, 45 minutes
The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva
Address: 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI
Enjoy southern Wisconsin’s gem – our skiing and snow resort in the countryside of Lake Geneva, with the best ski hills in Wisconsin. The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa boasts 20 downhill ski runs and terrain designed for all ages, groups and abilities, making us one of the best ski resorts in Wisconsin. Just an hour from Milwaukee and Chicago, our Lake Geneva ski resort is close enough to home for convenience, but far enough for you and your family to have an adventure.
Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, and sledding also available!
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Distance from Milwaukee: 55 minutes
Little Switzerland
Address: 105 Cedar Creek Rd, Slinger, WI
Little Switzerland has a great bunny hill for beginning learners and a magic carpet which makes it easier for little kids to get back up the hill, but also has more challenging hills with ski lifts for the more experienced skiers.
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes (both private and group lessons available)
Distance from Milwaukee: 35 minutes
The Rock Snow Park
Address: 7011 S Ballpark Drive, Franklin, WI
Located just 15 minutes from downtown Milwaukee we are your winter fun destination! Offering skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing there is something for everyone. Snow Tubing is especially popular at The Rock!
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Distance from Milwaukee: 15 minutes
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
Distance from Milwaukee: 3 hours
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
Distance from Milwaukee: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Wilmont Mountain
Address: 11931 Fox River Rd, Wilmot, WI
Wilmot Mountain has enchanted families as one of the Midwest’s premier Winter destinations for snowsport activities. Just a short drive away from Chicago and Milwaukee, they have made skiing, snowboarding, and tubing an easy, accessible, affordable and fun trip for the whole family.
With nearly 120 skiable acres, 25 trails, 7 lifts, 2 surface conveyor lifts and 4 progression terrain parks with a double high speed rope tow, there is enough terrain to challenge experts to beginners, day or night.
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Distance from Milwaukee: 55 minutes
Whether you are a seasoned skier or looking to try it for the first time, we have a lot of options for ski hills and ski resorts within driving distance of Milwaukee, WI. Bundle up, and get ready to hit the slopes!
