Most resorts stop spinning their lifts after 4 p.m. but a select few keep the party going long after the sun goes down. The experience of carving down the mountain under the stars with friends and family, refusing to call it a day is truly one of a kind. There is something so peaceful about hitting the slopes after dark as everything slows down as the daytime crowd noise fades away. This list covers the biggest night skiing operations in North America and is based on the following factors: vertical drop, number of runs, and skiable acreage.
#9 Blue Mountain Resort, Ontario
Blue Mountain, located 2 hours north of Toronto in Collingwood, sits on the Niagara escarpment and provides breathtaking views of Georgian Bay. It offers a modest vertical drop of 720 feet but provides skiers and riders with 30 illuminated trails to choose from. Blue Mountain also boasts an impressive lift fleet at night with 5 lifts including four high-speed 6-pack chair lifts. Blue Mountain is also known for its nightlife, as the village at the base of the resort provides lots of restaurant options as well as shops and live music. Night skiing operations run from 3:30 p.m.- 9 p.m. daily from mid-December until mid-March.
#8 Bogus Basin, Idaho
Bogus Basin is a perfect spot for scoring turns under the lights if you live in the Boise area. Located just 18 miles north of downtown, Boise boasts a 1,425-foot vertical drop and provides 200 acres of skiable terrain over 27 lit runs. These runs include wide open groomers and plenty of black terrain, making Bogus Basin great for all ability levels. The night skiing terrain is serviced by 2 high-speed quads and a fixed-grip quad, which spin from 6-10 p.m. every day.
#7 Brighton Ski Resort, Utah
Brighton is located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, just 30 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. The resort offers 200 acres of skiable terrain over 22 trails with multiple terrain parks to hone your skills. Brighton offers one of the tallest vertical drops for night skiing in North America, with 1,745 vertical feet of terrain to enjoy under the lights. These trails are serviced by 5 lifts, including 2 high-speed quads and a high-speed 6-pack. Night skiing runs from 4 p.m. -9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and is a great spot to hit the slopes after work if you live in the Salt Lake City area.
#6 Stevens Pass Ski Resort, Washington
Stevens Pass, located 80 miles east of Seattle, receives some of the strongest snow totals in the country, averaging around 460 inches of snow a year. The resort also offers 450 acres of night skiing with a vertical drop of 1,219 feet. Stevens Pass night skiing terrain is mostly made up of beginner and intermediate runs, with a few terrain park options for those looking to spend time in the park. This terrain is serviced by 6 lifts, including 3 high-speed quads, which helps alleviate long lineups. The mountain is open for night skiing Wednesday to Sunday from 3 p.m. -10 p.m.
#5 Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Oregon
Mt. Hood Ski Bowl probably has the coolest vibe of any of the resorts on this list. With 4 double chairs servicing the resort, it is no surprise that it is the fifth-oldest operating ski resort in America. This lift fleet services 36 lit runs for night skiing and provides terrain for all ability levels. The no-frills feel of this resort makes it a great spot for Portland locals who are just an hour’s drive away, who don’t care about the fancy accommodations and infrastructure that a destination resort might offer.
Where Mt. Hood Ski Bowl sticks out is the extensive advanced terrain off the upper bowl chair. The upper bowl section of the resort is completely lit up at night, providing skiers and riders with tons of wide-open terrain you can’t find anywhere else. The resort boasts a modest vertical drop of 1,500 feet, but its expansive terrain and small lift lines make for fast and enjoyable laps. Another thing that makes Mt. Hood unique is that it is not open for day skiing during the week. The mountain is open from 3-10 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
- Related: The 5 Oldest Ski Areas in the U.S.
#4 Mont Sainte Anne, Québec
Mont Sainte Anne is located just 30 minutes from downtown Quebec City and is a popular spot for locals to get a few laps in under the lights. Mont Sainte Anne boasts the largest vertical drop on this list with 2,050 vertical feet of terrain. This terrain is comprised of 19 lit runs that are serviced by an 8-person gondola and a high-speed bubble quad. There is also a fixed grip quad that services the terrain park at the summit of the mountain which is a favourite of the local park rats in the area. The rest of the terrain on the mountain is a combination of long beginner and intermediate cruisers that are great for carving enthusiasts. Mont Sainte Anne’s night skiing operations typically run from 4-9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. With long runs and spectacular views of the St. Lawrence Valley and the twinkling lights of Quebec City in the distance, Mont Sainte Anne remains a favorite for locals of the Quebec City area.
#3 Bromont, Quebec
While Bromont does not stand out with its modest 1,300-foot vertical drop, it packs a punch with 93 lit runs for night skiing. This expansive terrain is serviced by 8 chairlifts including a unique chondola lift combining 6-pack chairs and 8-seater gondola cabins. The resort is a favorite for locals of the Montreal area as it is only an hour drive from downtown and night skiing operations run 5 p.m.-10 p.m. daily. The mountain is made up of mostly blue intermediate runs with a few advanced options as well as multiple terrain parks found around the resort. With an abundance of terrain and proximity to Montreal, Bromont is a great spot to enjoy runs after 5 p.m.
#2 Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington
Located just 50 miles east of Seattle, Summit at Snoqualmie is a great place to ski under the lights if you live in the area. Similar to Bromont, Summit at Snoqualmie will not blow you away with its vertical drop of 1,260 feet but with almost 600 acres of terrain, this resort’s night skiing is quite impressive. The terrain open for night skiing is mostly beginner and intermediate and even though most of the advanced terrain is closed for night skiing, there are a few advanced runs that are lit up. Summit at Snoqualmie typically operates Wednesday to Saturday from 4 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.
#1 Alyeska Resort, Alaska
Coming in at the number 1 spot on the list is Alyeska Resort. If you are lucky enough to live in the Anchorage area, this resort is just a 50-minute drive from downtown, but for everyone else, this place is a bit of a hike. With a vertical drop of more than 2,000 feet and a skiable footprint of 550 acres at night, this resort provides guests with seemingly unlimited terrain under the lights. This terrain is serviced by 3 lifts including the only Ariel Tram open for night skiing in North America and night skiing operations run from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. For those lucky enough, the Northern Lights can sometimes be seen during the early winter months making for a truly unforgettable experience.
Every one of these resorts on this list is a great place to spend time with family and friends after school or work, and bigger is not always better, although more terrain is never a bad thing. Skiing under the lights is truly one of the coolest experiences one can have on a mountain and every skier or rider should try and check this off their bucket list at some point in their life.
