Brains
The national parks of the United States offer some of the most protected and pristine natural escapes that can be found in North America. Typically, they hold many restrictions on infrastructure and general development, aside from what is deemed necessary for visitors throughout their borders. Some other regulations, including the requirement of camping permits, ban of drone usage, and the principle of leave no trace ensure that the parks stay wild even with their 300-plus million visitors each year.
It may come as a surprise to many when they realize skiing, a sport that relies heavily on development and infrastructure, would be permitted in such areas. But in fact, there are three separate U.S. national parks that offer lift-served skiing at fully operational winter resorts.
Boston Mills and Brandywine Ski Resorts – Cuyahoga National Park, Ohio
This joint resort offers skiing at two separate areas, located only five minutes apart from one another. The mountain stats advertise a 264-foot vertical drop over 88 acres of skiing, with 15 lifts and 18 trails. On top of this, the resort offers 100% snowmaking coverage, and three terrain parks. The resorts also offer tubing, night skiing, and full tuning, dining, and lodging services. Just south of Cleveland, Boston Mills and Brandywine offer the unique chance for the entire family to ski and recreate in an often overlooked Cuyahoga National Park.
Hurricane Ridge Ski & Snowboard Area – Olympic National Park, Washington
On the West Coast sits Olympic National Park, a park known for its vast diversity, ranging from towering snow-capped peaks to the temperate rainforests that border the Pacific Ocean. Within this park is Hurricane Ridge, a resort that boasts an 800-foot vertical drop spanning over 10 trails that are serviced by two rope tows and a Poma lift. What it may lack in size, Hurricane Ridge makes up for in snowfall, seeing roughly 400 inches of snow on a yearly basis. However, the resort is only open on weekends and select holidays, limiting availability for guests. Hurricane Ridge also offers a ski school, terrain park, and family tubing for its guests to enjoy.
Badger Pass Ski Area – Yosemite National Park, California
Badger Pass is the oldest ski resort in California, which opened in 1935. Badger Pass similarly offers downhill skiing, cross country skiing, ski school and tubing, making it an ideal family destination for those visiting Yosemite National Park. The resort claims an 800 foot vertical over 10 runs serviced by five lifts. With a large variety of beginner and intermediate terrain, equipment rentals and the ability to access the resort through car or shuttle, Badger Pass is perfect for Yosemite visitors hoping to get their fix of winter sports inside the National Park.
Even though these three resorts don’t possess the impressive mountain statistics or accommodations of larger and more popular ski destinations, the chance to ski in a national park is a rare experience in itself. The next time you may find yourself within or near one of these three parks during the winter, don’t forget to bring your ski gear.
Please add Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) to your list of National Parks to ski in. There is stunningly beautiful cross country skiing in GTNP, from a 14.4 mile groomed trail from Taggart trailhead to Signal Mountain, to untracked cross country trails to many lakes (Phelps Lake, Jenny Lake, Two Oceans Lake, Jackson Lake). Many options for alpine touring skiing in GTNP, on wooded peaks such as 25 Short, Maverick, Wimpy’s, Shadow Peak and more. I can share photos of cross country skiers dwarfed by the Grand Teton (13,770 ft).