While many of us visit ski resorts in the wintertime for skiing, snowboarding, and other snowy escapades, many of North America’s premier ski destinations transform into vibrant hubs of activity during the summer months. As the snow melts, these mountainous regions reveal ideal playgrounds that offer endless outdoor pursuits, from hiking and mountain biking to zip-lining and scenic gondola rides.
Summer at a ski resort can rival the warmer months as they offer a unique blend of adventure, relaxation, and breathtaking natural beauty, making it an ideal getaway for travelers seeking an active vacation. Below we will highlight some of the best ski resorts to visit in North America during the summer, showcasing the diverse experiences and stunning scenery that await.
#9 Aspen Snowmass, CO
Summer in the Rocky Mountains can be a magical time and Aspen Snowmass certainly delivers with endless entertainment options and four different mountain bases to explore. On Aspen Mountain, the Silver Queen Gondola delivers you to the Sundeck at 11,200 feet where you can enjoy Rocky Mountain vistas, flower-laden hiking trails, disc golf, yoga, nature programs, and live music. At Aspen Highlands, the lifts are closed for the summer, but public hiking trails can lead you to some of Colorado’s best views in the twin summits of Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak. Snowmass Village may be where the most action is as all summer long with a world-class lift-accessed bike park, zipline tours, an alpine coaster, climbing wall, paintball, sightseeing, gondola rides, and treeline ropes challenge courses. It also hosts a free concert series with genres of music to please anybody. Every Wednesday is the long-standing Western tradition of The Snowmass Rodeo which features cowboys, cowgirls, music, and horses. Don’t forget to enjoy the fine dining and shopping options in the town of Aspen.
#8 Mammoth, CA
If you are lucky, following a big snow year, there may still be lift-accessed skiing during the summer at Mammoth. If not, there is still plenty that the summer months offer. The Mammoth Adventure Center is the summer headquarters, with activities like a climbing wall, bungee trampoline, ropes course, zip line, and archery. The Mammoth Bike Park features world-class downhill and cross-country trails. Throughout the area is a plethora of hiking options and you can even visit nearby June Mountain for a scenic chairlift ride or take the Mammoth Gondola to the top for stunning 360-degree views. In addition, you can fish, paddleboard, and kayak at the Tamarack Bike & Paddle in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, as well as golf amongst pristine lakes and stunning mountain views at Sierra Star Golf Course. Mammoth truly is a four-season destination with something for everyone.
#7 Vail, CO
Maybe the most well-known ski resort in the nation, Vail does not disappoint in the summer. The highlight of the area is Epic Discovery, the mountaintop adventure center located at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Here visitors can participate in scenic gondola rides, a mountain coaster, bungee trampolines, rock climbing, tubing, ziplining, mini golf, and more. Another highlight is the GoPro Mountain Games, where thousands of pro and amateur adventure athletes converge upon the mountains and rivers of Vail to compete in 11 adventure sport disciplines and more than 30 competitions including kayaking, running, slackline, rafting, SUP’ing, mountain and road cycling, climbing, fishing, disc golf, and more. Of course, there is also plenty of mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and golf options. Additionally, there are a number of signature events like the comedy festival, multiple music events and concerts, trail running races, and even Octoberfest in the early fall.
#6 Banff, AB
The beauty of the Canadian Rockies is on full display in Banff. Three ski resorts in the area (Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Mt. Norquay) offer an abundance of winter fun, but the summer gives sunshine, mountain adventures, and vibrant beauty. Banff National Park offers scenic lakes, valleys, and mountains that can be enjoyed by car or helicopter. Other activities include hiking, biking, rafting and paddling, scenic gondola rides, horseback riding, fishing, climbing, caving, and canyoning. Summer in Banff may offer a slower and quieter escape from the more built-up resorts where a weekend is just not enough time to explore the bounty of natural experiences that the region offers.
#5 Lake Tahoe, CA
The entire Lake Tahoe region is a mecca for outdoor activities, and it might be the most popular summer destination in North America. Just the lake offers fishing charters, stand-up paddleboarding, boat and jet ski rentals, and kayaking. Or you could just find one of the many beaches and soak up the sun. Of course, there is hiking, biking, and golf, but the many ski resorts in the area also offer plenty to do. At Palisades Tahoe you can take the Aerial Tram, which climbs over 2,000 feet, to enjoy views of Lake Tahoe and the picturesque Sierra Mountains. At High Camp, the fun continues with activities like roller skating at an outdoor rink, playing a 9-hole disc golf course, geocaching, and Lake Tahoe’s only Via Ferrata. Northstar Resort offers the largest bike park in Northern California and Heavenly Resort on the south shore may offer the most picturesque scenic gondola rides around, along with tubing, ziplining, a mountain coaster, and more.
#4 Sun Valley, ID
As America’s first destination ski resort, Sun Valley is just as amazing in the summer as in the winter. It has everything you would expect in hiking, fishing, golf, and horseback riding. Cyclists can enjoy 400 miles of singletrack mountain biking trails and 30 miles of paved trails. Other highlights could include mountaintop yoga, lift access on Bald Mountain, a myriad of concerts, and ice skating on the outdoor ice rink (yes, even in summer). The clean air, clear skies, and high elevation can lead to some of the best stargazing there is.
#3 Park City, UT
The action never stops in Park City as the summer is just as bustling as the winter. 400 miles of trails are available for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. You can go fly fishing, kayaking, rafting, or tubing in the Weber and Provo rivers, or even go hot air ballooning. There is also Olympic Park, where visitors can engage in summer bobsledding, zip lining, challenging ropes courses, alpine slide, extreme tubing, and more. There is plenty to do at the local ski resorts as well. Deer Valley has 60 miles of mountain bike trails spread over six mountains and up to 3,000 feet of vertical served by three chairlifts. It also offers hiking, scenic chairlift rides, and more. Park City Mountain Resort has its Alpine Adeventure Park with an alpine slide, mountain coaster, zipline, mini golf, mountain biking, and more. The city also has a rich history and is a hotspot for wellness, dining, sports, arts, and culture, and holds a bevy of festivals showcasing local music, art, craft beer, and wine all season long.
#2 Jackson Hole, WY
Jackson is the gateway to Grand Teton National Park, one of America’s most beautiful parks, as well as on the way to Yellowstone National Park. Just the parks would be enough to keep most busy for an entire week, but the area offers so much more. In Teton Village, there is Jackson Hole Mountain Resort where you can ride the Aerial Tram up to the top of Rendezvous Mountain for hiking and waffles at Corbett’s Cabin. The resort also has gondola rides, Via Ferrata, paragliding, aerial ropes course, disc golf, and one of the most flowy mountain bike parks around. Nearby Snow King Mountain has its own adventure park with America’s steepest zipline, gondola rides, mountain coaster, alpine slide, observatory and planetarium, and more. The authentic western town of Jackson is lined with restaurants, breweries, shops, and more. Jackson Hole is a can’t-miss destination in the summer.
#1 Whistler Blackcomb, BC
Whistler truly has it all. It has everything you would expect, along with experiences you can’t find anywhere else. It starts with two mountains connected by the spectacular Peak to Peak Gondola. From there you can enjoy numerous hikes as well as the Cloudraker Skybridge and the Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk viewing platform, which suspends almost 40 feet off a cliff’s edge with expansive views of the valley below. The Whistler Bike Park is world-famous as a mecca for downhill singletrack riding. There are also endless trails outside the bike park including the paved Valley Trail. There is even heli-biking options. Additionally, there are Ziptrek Ecotours, the Family Adventure Zone, ATV tours, Via Ferrata, whitewater rafting, and golf. Off the mountain, you can enjoy fishing, beaches and lakes, and a farmer’s market. It feels like every square foot of land is being used for maximizing adventures and sometimes just a stroll through the bustling village can be just as entertaining.
Exploring ski resorts during the summer unveils a world of adventure and natural beauty that rivals their winter allure. There is something for everyone that offers a perfect blend of excitement and relaxation. The activities listed here are only scratching the surface of everything there is to do in these resort regions. So, pack your bags and head to the mountains for a new kind of mountain fun under the sun.
