Best Ski Resorts for Spring Skiing
Springtime at ski resorts brings the best of two seasons together: long, sunny days laced with the occasional snowstorm, live music at fabulous après parties, big mountain competitions and a contagiously festive atmosphere celebrating the close of the ski season.
Planning your spring break ski trip this year might not be as straight forward as yesteryears.
According to SnowPak, it has been a pretty dry season for premier ski destinations like Colorado and Utah, with some resorts recording the lowest snowfall in 3 decades.
To help you decide where to find the perfect sunny slope and get that sweet goggle tan. SnowPak’s team talked to local contacts and reviewed snowfall data and forecasts to come up with seven resorts to check out this spring break.
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler Blackcomb is a spring breaker’s dream. When it comes to the ultimate ski vacation with friends, there’s nothing quite like the largest resort in North America. Set in the majestic mountains of British Columbia, these two mega-resorts, which converge as one at the bustling base village, boast over 8,000 ac of terrain, unparalleled late-season snowpack, and a nightlife to rival any resort town in the world. The biggest event on the spring calendar for Whistler is the World Ski & Snowboard Festival from April 10th to 15th, a week-long celebration of arts, music and mountain culture. Bonus? The legal drinking age is 19, so not-quite-21-year-olds can party to their heart’s content.
Terrain Open to Ski – 99% Lifts Running – 24/26 Current Base Depth – 117”
Breckenridge, Colorado
Spring Break in Breckenridge lasts over an entire month, and it’s on the top end of this list because of its extensive offerings for families and party-goers alike – regardless of the specific vacation week. The resort offers big mountain events, like Helly Hansen Big Mountain Challenge, as well as huge free concerts in the base area and on-mountain. Spring Fever gets rolling March 17th and continues through late April, with tons of live entertainment, special happy hours, and celebratory debauchery all over town. Spring celebration ends with the annual Breck Plunge pond skim, you will need a combination of good costume and speed to take out the competition!
Terrain Open to Ski – 100% Lifts Running – 34/34 Current Base Depth – 49”
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Since its beginnings as a favorite local ski hill to massive world-class resort, Jackson Hole has maintained a reputation for wildly challenging terrain, no-nonsense ski culture, and soulful community of people living the good life and having fun while doing it. The season started poorly at Jackson Hole with a relatively dry December and January. Things turned around with a couple of big dumps in February and March, which have brought the snow depth back to yearly average. With daily snow forecasted for rest of March, we are expecting fresh runs in the morning and long, sunny afternoons to enjoy live music under the tram with locals and spring breakers alike.
Terrain Open to Ski – 87% Lifts Running – 12/13 Current Base Depth – 106”
Heavenly, Lake Tahoe
When it comes to the Lake Tahoe area, there’s nothing quite like a spring break at Heavenly. South Lake Tahoe’s mecca for big mountain skiing, outdoor adventure, and fabulous clubs kicks off the spring season with the annual Spring Loaded festival. The festivities include outdoor concerts, blowout après parties, and a famous pond skimming competition. Besides organized resort events, you’ll find the usual all-night dance parties and gambling thrills in clubs on the Nevada side of the line. The 2018 Season have not been friendly to the Tahoe Area, with some the lowest snowfall recorded in history. However, the largest storm for the season is forecasted for mid-March, bringing 7 feet of snow and potentially doubling the existing base depth. Heavenly might just be the best place to find fresh powder this Spring break!
Terrain Open to Ski – 96% Lifts Running – 23/28 Current Base Depth – 54”
Sunday River, Maine
Sunday River is renowned for its excellent late-season conditions, which can be precarious in the East. Exposure to cold temperatures throughout the winter and a world-class snowmaking system guarantee good coverage through March, and often into April. At Sunday River, spring break is all about enjoying the outdoors with good food and drinks, and the resort hosts a number of events for the final month of the season, which starts mid-March. Outdoor concerts, chili cook-offs, and a 3-day spring festival suited for all ages are a few highlights.
Terrain Open to Ski – 99% Lifts Running – 11/15 Current Base Depth – 48”
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
The second half of March in Aspen is chock full of festival events, all taking place during the Bud Light Spring Jam. Aspen has been throwing some of the best parties in Colorado since its beginnings, and continues to host world-class events like the Kick Aspen Big Air competition. You can stroll around in your faux fur boots and tortoise-print shades window shopping in the glamorous village streets, or kick back and relax with a cold beverage after a day on the slopes with old-time locals. Be sure to get some skiing in; the steep slopes are prime late season.
Terrain Open to Ski – 100% Lifts Running – 38/43 Current Base Depth – 59”
Mount Snow, Vermont
Mt Snow in southern Vermont is the closest destination for spring breakers from the tristate area, along with other Vermont ski resorts. The resort has gone through many changes in the past several years. It’s our top pick for spring skiing in the East Coast if your primary goal is partying. Make sure to check out the St Patrick Shamrock fest on March 16th-17th and the Bud Light Reggaefest on March 23rd-25th for a weekend of fantastic Reggae Music. There are also plenty of great skiing to be had too. Mount Snow received a giant snow storm in early March, receiving 4 feet of new snow over the first half of the month. Temperature is expected to remain cold and with the biggest snow making operating in North American, you can be confident for a great Spring Break.
Terrain Open to Ski – 99% Lifts Running – 10/20 Current Base Depth – 42”
