Industry News
Snowriver, Michigan – Chestnut Mountain, Illinois – Bluebird Backcountry, Colorado join the coalition for the 22/23 season.
The Indy Pass announced today that Illinois’ most popular winter resort – Chestnut Mountain, will join Michigan’s newest named resort – Snowriver, and Colorado’s only non-lift-served resort – Bluebird Backcountry, to offer two days each to passholders this season.
“The Indy Pass is the dominant pass in the Midwest with 26 resorts now. The addition of Chestnut and Snowriver gives us two more great mountains for our passholders to enjoy in a region that is so passionate about the sport. And with the recent explosion of off-piste, uphill exploration, we are proud to welcome Bluebird Backcountry, the world’s first and only resort dedicated to human-powered skiing and riding.”
– Indy Pass founder Doug Fish
About Chestnut Mountain Resort
Only in the Midwest will you find such an unexpected diamond in the rough. High above the Mississippi, tucked nicely in the hills near historic Galena, Chestnut Mountain is Illinois’ premier winter resort that offers nineteen trails, a seven-acre terrain park among 220 rolling acres with a total vertical drop of 475 feet.
“Chestnut Mountain is excited to be a part of the Indy Pass, and we look forward to welcoming Indy skiers and riders from across the Midwest. Our season passholders will also be thrilled to explore other Indy mountains using the Indy AddOn Pass.”
– Mike Bergles, GM of Chestnut Mountain
Mountain Stats
- Vertical: 475 ft.
- Top elevation:1,020′
- Base elevation: 600′
- Skiable acres: 220
- Runs 19
- Longest run: .66 miles
- Lifts: 2 Quads, four triples, three surface lifts
No blackouts at Chestnut for Base Pass holders.
About Snowriver Mountain Resort
Snowriver Mountain Resort is the new name for the resort previously called Big Snow Resort, located in the “Big Snow Country” area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, so named because of its 20 feet of annual snowfall. Snowriver consists of two base areas about 1 mile apart, Black River Basin (previously Blackjack), and Jackson Creek Summit (previously Indianhead, the UP’s first ski area, founded in 1959). Total skiable acreage is over 400 acres, making Snowriver one of the largest in the Midwest.
“We are pleased to add our newest acquisition Snowriver Mountain Resort to the Indy Pass revolution. Last season Granite Peak and Lutsen saw huge redemptions, placing both properties within the top 15 most visited resorts by Indy Passholders. With over 200” of annual snowfall, Snowriver should easily be a destination for Midwest Indy Passholders for powder-filled fun.”
– Greg Fisher, CMO of Midwest Family Ski Resorts
Mountain Stats
Jackson Creek Summit
- Annual snowfall: 204″
- Vertical drop: 638
- Skiable acres: 230
- Lifts: 9 (including a magic carpet lift)
- Terrain park: 1
Black River Basin
- Annual snowfall: 204″
- Vertical drop: 490
- Skiable acres: 170
- Lifts: 6 (including two rope tows)
- Terrain parks: 2
Snowriver will blackout the MLK and President’s weekends (six days) for Indy Base Pass holders.
About Bluebird Backcountry
Bluebird Backcountry offers avalanche-managed terrain, skin tracks instead of chairlifts, slopeside parking instead of crowded lots, great terrain without all the hype, a culture of education, and a grassroots scene chock full of campfires and live music. Located in the heart of Colorado ski country, between Steamboat Springs and Winter Park, and just two hours from Denver.
“Bluebird’s mission to revive the soul of skiing aligns perfectly with the goals of the Indy Pass. We love the mom & pop ski area culture that the Indy Pass continues to support, and look forward to making the backcountry more accessible for this season’s Indy Passholders.”
– Bluebird Backcountry co-founder Jeff Woodward
Mountain Stats
- Skiable acres: 4,200+
- Avalanche-managed and ski-patrolled acres: 1,200+
- Guided-only acres: 3,000
- Vertical rise: 1,245′
- Base elevation: 8,600′
- Highest elevation: 9,845′
- Marked skin tracks: 11
- Total runs: 28
- Longest Run: 1.4 miles
No blackouts at Bluebird for Base Passholders.
Pre-Season Prices End September 13th
- Indy Base Pass – Adult $299, Kids (12-and-under) $139
- Indy+ Pass – Adult $399, Kids $189 (no blackouts)
- Indy Base AddOn Pass – Adult $199, Kids $99 (partner and allied resort season passholders only)
- Indy+ AddOn Pass – Adult $309, Kids $149 (no blackouts)
- Indy Cross Country (XC) Pass – Adult $69, Kids $29 (no blackouts)
About the Indy Pass
After three seasons, the Indy Pass is the fastest-growing multi-mountain pass in North America. It offers 109 Alpine and Nordic resorts across the US, Canada, and Japan, each providing two days of skiing or riding, and ten Alpine Allied Resorts offering up to 50% discounts on lift tickets. Indy resorts are independent and uniquely authentic; many are owned and operated by multi-generational families.
2022/23 RESORTS
DOWNHILL RESORTS – 96
PACIFIC REGION – 16
ALASKA — Eaglecrest Ski Area
BRITISH COLUMBIA — Apex Mountain Resort, Manning Park, Sasquatch Mountain
CALIFORNIA — China Peak, Dodge Ridge, Mountain High, Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Snow Valley
OREGON – Hoodoo, Mt. Ashland
WASHINGTON — 49 Degrees North, Ski Bluewood, Hurricane Ridge, Mission Ridge, White Pass
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION – 20
ALBERTA — Castle Mountain Resort
ARIZONA — Sunrise Park Ski Area
COLORADO — Bluebird Backcountry, Sunlight Mountain Resort
IDAHO — Brundage Mountain, Kelly Canyon, Silver Mountain, Tamarack Resort, Pomerelle, Soldier Mountain
MONTANA — Blacktail Mountain, Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Red Lodge Mountain
UTAH — Beaver Mountain, Eagle Point, Powder Mountain
WYOMING — Meadowlark Ski Lodge, Snow King Mountain, White Pine Ski Area, Antelope Butte
MIDWEST REGION – 26
ILLINOIS — Chestnut Mountain
IOWA — Seven Oaks, Sundown Mountain
MICHIGAN — Big Powderhorn Resort, Caberfae Peaks, Crystal Mountain, Marquette Mountain, Nubs Nob Ski Resort, Pine Mountain Resort, Shanty Creek, Snowriver, Swiss Valley Ski Area, Tree Tops Resort
MINNESOTA — Buck Hill, Detroit Mountain, Lutsen Mountains, Mount Kato, Powder Ridge Winter Recreation, Spirit Mountain
SOUTH DAKOTA — Terry Peak Ski Area
WISCONSIN — Granite Peak, Little Switzerland, Nordic Mountain, Trollhaugen, Tyrol Basin, The Rock Snowpark
EASTERN REGION – 19
CONNECTICUT — Mohawk Mountain Ski Area
MASSACHUSETTS — Berkshire East Mountain Resort, Catamount Mountain Resort*
MAINE — Saddleback Mountain, BigRock Resort, Black Mountain of Maine
NEW HAMPSHIRE — Cannon Mountain, Pats Peak, Black Mountain, Waterville Valley
NEW YORK — Catamount Mountain Resort*, Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Swain Resort, Snow Ridge Ski Resort, Titus Mountain, West Mountain
VERMONT — Bolton Valley Resort, Magic Mountain, Saskadena Six, Jay Peak Resort
*Catamount straddles NY/MA border
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – 10
NORTH CAROLINA — Cataloochee Ski Area
PENNSYLVANIA — Blue Knob Resort, Montage Mountain, Ski Sawmill, Shawnee Mountain
TENNESSEE — Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area
VIRGINIA — Bryce Resort, Massanutten Resort
WEST VIRGINIA — Canaan Valley Ski Resort, Winterplace Ski Resort
JAPAN TOHOKU REGION – 5
Geto Kogen – Kitakami, Iwate
Aomori Spring, Nishitsugaru District, Ajigasawa
Okunakayama Kogen – Ninohe District, Iwate
Shimokura/Pandora – Hachimantai, Iwate
Tazawako – Semboku, Akita
CROSS COUNTRY RESORTS – 13
BRITISH COLUMBIA – Sovereign Lakes Nordic Club, Manning Park Resort
MAINE – Black Mountain of Maine
MICHIGAN — Tree Tops XC
MINNESOTA — Mapelap Resort
NEW HAMPSHIRE — Waterville Valley Resort, JacksonXC
NEW JERSEY — High Point Cross Country Ski Center
NEW MEXICO — Enchanted Forest XC
VERMONT — Woodstock Nordic Center, Rikert Nordic Center
WASHINGTON — 49 Degrees North Nordic Center
WEST VIRGINIA — White Grass Touring Center
ALLIED RESORTS – 10 (Discounted Lift Tickets for Indy Passholders)
MASSACHUSETTS — Bousquet Mountain
NEW HAMPSHIRE — Dartmouth Skiway, King Pine, McIntyre Ski Area, Whaleback Mountain
UTAH – Cherry Peak
VERMONT — Burke Mountain, Middlebury College Snow Bowl
WASHINGTON — Loup Loup Ski Bowl
WISCONSIN — Paul Bunyan
