Are you planning a family ski trip? You might want to try Wyoming ski resorts.
Table of Contents
Overview of Wyoming Ski Conditions
Wyoming’s ski season typically spans from November to April, offering skiers and snowboarders the chance to enjoy the state’s renowned powder snow. The state averages around 200-300 inches of snowfall annually, creating a pristine canvas on the slopes. Elevations in the region often range from 6,000 to over 10,000 feet, helping to preserve the quality of the snow throughout the season. This high-altitude climate contributes to less humid conditions, ensuring that the snow remains dry and ideal for skiing experiences. Visitors can expect varied weather, from cold, sunny days to light snow showers, maintaining an excellent skiing environment overall.
Known for its dry powder snow and the rugged Tetons, Wyoming has some of the best ski resorts in the west, which are rarely crowded to ensure that skiers and snowboarders get the best experience.
Imagine spending the day skiing with your loved ones on the slopes and enjoying some good après ski activities like sleigh rides and watching wildlife. That is truly a lot of fun.
From the popular Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to the laid back Meadowlark Ski Lodge, Wyoming is home to remarkable ski areas. If you want to visit this state for your winter vacation, here are some of the best Wyoming ski resorts for families to try out:
6 Best Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in Wyoming
Safety Tips for Family Ski Trips
When planning a family ski trip, safety should be a top priority. Ensuring everyone is equipped with proper fitting gear, including helmets, goggles, and layers that wick moisture away from the skin, is essential. For families traveling with young children or first-time skiers, consider starting on gentle slopes to build confidence. Accommodating high altitudes by staying hydrated and acclimating gradually can help prevent altitude sickness. Additionally, keeping sunscreen on hand for sun protection is wise, as UV rays are stronger at higher elevations. Emphasizing the importance of staying together as a group and setting clear meeting points ensures everyone has fun while staying safe on the mountain.
#1. Grand Targhee Ski Resort
- Vertical Drop: 2270 feet
- Skiable Terrain: 2602 acres
- Ski Lifts: 6
The Grand Targhee Ski Resort is nestled on the border of Wyoming and Idaho, west of the Grand Teton Mountain and a few miles southwest of Driggs Town.
Grand Targhee Resort is one of the most popular Wyoming ski resorts. With its sunshine-filled days and spectacular views of the Grand Tetons, you and your family will have a fantastic time here.
When you visit the Grand Targhee Resort during the winter, your schedule will be filled with many adventure activities, including Nordic skiing, fat biking, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing.
With a vertical drop of 2,270 feet and a skiable land of 2,602 acres, this resort has beautiful terrain and groomed tracks that build up the Grand Targhee Nordic trail system.
You can comfortably ski and snowboard with your family through the scenic meadows, aspen groves, and wooded glades.
The resort is also home to Quakie Ridge and Rick’s Basin, which provides the best terrain in the region.
If your family has first-time skiers who want to learn skiing and snowboarding, Grand Targhee has a snow sports school that offers quality lessons. Kids under five years can ski free on this mountain.
Après-Ski Activities
Tubing and snowshoe tours are some of the exciting non-ski activities you can engage in with your children. You can also explore the surrounding forest area through the single-track trail with fat tire bikes as you learn a lot.
Besides that, you should definitely try their hot tub and sauna with your partner, where you can soak off your exhaustion and help your muscles relax after a long day on the slopes.
When it comes to dining and accommodations, there are many restaurants and hotels nearby. You can stay in a condo unit or rent a vacation home.
Dining options near Grand Targhee are plentiful, offering a delightful range for families. For a casual meal, consider visiting The Branding Iron, known for its warm atmosphere and hearty menu featuring local favorites. If your family enjoys pizza, the Trap Bar & Grill provides a fun, welcoming environment with live music on certain nights, perfect for relaxing after a day on the slopes. For breakfast or lunch, The Tower has recently become a favorite, offering quick bites and freshly brewed coffee to kickstart your mountain adventures.
#2. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
- Vertical Drop: 4139 feet
- Skiable Terrain: 2500 acres
- Ski Lifts: 16
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is an all-time favorite spot for most skiers and snowboarders coming to Wyoming. It’s strategically located a few miles near the Grand Teton National Park and about 50 miles south of Yellowstone.
The popular resort sits on the verge of two mountain peaks, the Après Vous Mountain and the rendezvous Mountain. This gives it one of the largest vertical drops of 4,139 feet and an extensive ground for beginners, intermediates, and advanced skiers.
Skiing as a family is one of the best things to do here, with the resort providing everything you need, from ski lessons (with a Kids Ranch ski and snowboard program) to GPS maps to track your movement. There are also two terrain parks for freestyle skiing and riding!
When visiting Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, you are spoiled for dining and lodging options. You can even buy a ski and stay package to enjoy a discount.
Après-Ski Activities
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has excellent services that ensure you are well-rested and relaxed after hitting the slopes. These activities range from exploring some of the best eating areas to frequent entertainment gigs throughout the year.
When not skiing or snowboarding in Jackson Hole, you can enjoy dog sledding, zip lining, snow biking, whitewater rafting, and more.
Jackson Hole’s picturesque setting provides not only thrilling ski experiences but also an opportunity to witness remarkable wildlife. The region is home to diverse species such as elk, moose, and bald eagles, often spotted along the outskirts of the resort. A guided wildlife tour offers insights on the best times and places to see these animals in their natural habitat, adding a magical touch to your family trip. While exploring, keep binoculars handy to safely observe from a distance, ensuring both your safety and that of the wildlife.
Furthermore, Jackson Hole borders two national parks, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, which offer a perfect environment to unwind.
#3. Meadowlark Ski Lodge
- Vertical Drop: 1100 feet
- Skiable Terrain: 320 acres
- Ski Lifts: 2
The Meadowlark Lodge is situated in the Big Horn Mountains, just off Highway 16, between the Ten Sleep and Buffalo.
While the resort provides a laid-back and relaxed skiing experience, it’s dubbed the ‘Little Jackson Hole’ of the Big Horn Mountains, and there is a good reason for that.
Meadowlark sits on 320 acres of skiable land, a sizable 1,100 feet vertical drop, and 35 trails of skiable terrain for both beginner and advanced skiers.
The resort will grant you an excellent feel of the 300 inches of annual snowfall and many other activities all year round.
If you or your kids haven’t learned how to ski yet, this resort offers a ski school for both children and adults to help you get started on your skiing journey.
Après-Ski Activities
After skiing, you can enjoy one of the longest zip lines in the lower 48 to have one of the best experiences. You can also unwind with snowshoe tours or even a hot chocolate and some delicious serving.
#4. White Pine Ski Area
- Vertical Drop: 1100 feet
- Skiable Terrain: 370 acres
- Ski Lifts: 2
One of the medium-sized resorts in Wyoming with 370 acres of skiable terrain, 1,100 feet of vertical drops, and 25 trails is White Pine Ski Area.
The mountain offers a lot of vacation excursions during the winter and the hot season. The snowy months are a major deal, though, as the resort offers excellent skiing, snowboarding, tubing, backcountry, fishing, and more.
This resort offers excellent package deals on tubing tickets. Also, you do not have to hike to the top of the tubing lanes since the tube tow will take you there!
The resort’s terrain is well groomed with fantastic scenery and excellent runs where families can enjoy peace, quiet, and perfect mountain views.
You’ll love its diverse terrain, which accommodates skiers and boarders of all levels and abilities, including beginners, intermediate terrain, and advanced skiers.
New skiers, especially children, have lessons and an extensive beginner-friendly terrain to learn and build experience.
Families visiting White Pine will appreciate the resort’s dedicated children’s programs. The ski school is designed to cater to young, budding skiers with age-appropriate lessons that focus on technique and safety. Instructors are trained to create a fun, engaging environment that keeps kids eager to return to the slopes. Beyond lessons, weekend kids’ camps are available, offering structured activities that blend fun with education, ensuring the little ones are entertained while parents enjoy some time on the mountain.
There are no frustrating crowds and lift lines in this ski resort, so you are guaranteed of a perfect winter getaway with your family.
Après-Ski Activities
Dining and accommodation services are suited to your needs and convenience, ensuring your family gets a fantastic experience. Just be sure to try the resort’s backcountry fishing as a relaxing activity after a long day of skiing.
Summer activities are endless when visiting the resort off-season, from hiking to horseback rides.
#5. Hogadon Basin Ski Area
- Vertical Drop: 640 feet
- Skiable Terrain: 92 acres
- Ski Lifts: 2
Located 11 miles south of Casper, Wyoming, Hogadon Basin ski Area sits on only 60 acres of skiable terrain and has a 600 feet vertical drop. But don’t let the size discourage you since the resort makes up for it in many exciting ways.
Even with these low stats, the Hogadon ski area has slopes designed to accommodate young and old, providing them with a memorable skiing and snowboarding experience.
If you are looking for a place to ski as a whole family, Hogadon Basin Ski Area offers an all-inclusive package that allows the family to ski together. Here, you’ll spend less and yet have the most fun.
Kids and beginners will enjoy skiing and snowboarding the gentle bunny slopes, allowing them to build confidence and skill in the snow. And if anyone wants to learn to ski and ride in your family, they can benefit from the resort’s 2-hour lessons.
One more interesting thing about this ski resort; there is night skiing on Fridays and Saturdays for adventurous skiers and riders.
Après-Ski Activities
After a day of hitting the slopes with your family, enjoy a relaxed evening enjoying the scenic views at the Hogadon Basin, which shows off the beauty of downtown Casper running through to the Big Horn Mountains.
Then enjoy snowshoeing tours before heading to the food court to grab a hot meal with your loved ones.
#6. Sleeping Giant Ski Area
- Vertical Drop: 810 feet
- Skiable Terrain: 184 acres
- Ski Lifts: 3
The Sleeping Giant ski area is yet another incredible ski resort for families to enjoy and have a good time on a winter vacation. It’s an excellent destination for skiers looking for a budget-friendly ski area.
With all skill levels of skiers coming to this area, you can be sure to have all your ski needs accommodated, whether you are a beginner or an expert.
The resort offers only the best, from the breathtaking sceneries of the country’s first National Park to the beautiful views of wildlife and the unique mountain ranges.
Located 49 miles west of Cody, the ski resort harbors a lot of history, with the space being a community project designed to entertain everyone.
It has recently been re-opened as a non-profit organization to ensure affordability for everyone looking to have a good time.
With this kind of agenda, you can feel safe in this environment. All you have to do is come and witness this beauty while enjoying some spectacular services.
Après-Ski Activities
Once you get enough skiing and snowboarding for the day, you can engage in snowmobiling, tubing, zip lining, and snacking at Grizzly Grill.
Overall, this is the place for you if you are on a tight budget or looking to have fun in a calm and subtle area.
FAQs
u003cstrongu003eQ: Is Jackson Hole Skiing Kid-Friendly?u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eA: Yes, u003c/strongu003eJackson Hole is kid-friendly. It has a snow school that offers excellent kid lessons for skiing and snowboarding. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eFor kids who already know how to ride on the snow, Jackson Hole has some exciting kid-friendly trails where your little ones can have fun. There are also unique non-ski activities like wildlife tours, snow tubing, dog sledding, sleigh ride tours, and gondola rides.
u003cstrongu003eQ: How Difficult is Skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming?u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eA: u003c/strongu003eJackson Hole Mountain Resort is home to some of the most advanced ski terrain in the country. About 50% of the resort is rated advanced level. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eHowever, it’s still an excellent destination for families with kids and beginners as it has an incredible ski and exciting gentle slopes, easily accessible from the mountain base
u003cstrongu003eQ: Is Jackson Hole Ski Resort Good for Beginners?u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eA: Yes, u003c/strongu003eJackson Hole Mountain Resort is suitable for beginners. If you want to learn to ski in Wyoming, you can join the Jackson Hole ski school for fantastic lessons. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eAlso, about 50% of the slopes in Jackson Hole comprise green and blue runs where you can practice skiing and snowboarding and gain confidence in the snow.
u003cstrongu003eQ: Is the Snowy Range Ski Resort Family Friendly?u003c/strongu003e
u003cstrongu003eA: Yes, u003c/strongu003eSnowy Range Ski Resort is family-friendly. It has a terrain park and decent ski terrain with easy runs for kids and beginners. There are also more challenging trails for parents and advanced teens. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eOther family-friendly ski mountains in Wyoming include Antelope Butte, Snow King Mountain, and Pine Creek Ski Resort.
