Member of the Month

hi_vis360
November, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Best places to ski in the Midwest?

profile picture
Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
Where is the best place to ski if you live in the Midwest?
Sep 4 2014 11:10AM
39 3
profile picture
erica
Posts: 3450 - Karma: 24,088
check out regionals:

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/39/Indiana-Michigan-Ohio

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/40/Minnesota-Wisconsin-Iowa

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/41/Nebraska-Dakotas

IMO if you're in MN / WI your best bets are Granite Peak, Trollhaugen, Spirit Mtn and Hyland.
Sep 4 2014 11:18AM
1 0
profile picture
erica
Posts: 3450 - Karma: 24,088
ERICA.MNcheck out regionals:

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/39/Indiana-Michigan-Ohio

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/40/Minnesota-Wisconsin-Iowa

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/41/Nebraska-Dakotas

IMO if you're in MN / WI your best bets are Granite Peak, Trollhaugen, Spirit Mtn and Hyland.


links got fucked up:

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/39/Indiana-Michigan-Ohio

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/40/Minnesota-Wisconsin-Iowa

https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/41/Nebraska-Dakotas
Sep 4 2014 11:19AM
0 0
profile picture
Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
I know places I'm looking for good parks to
Sep 4 2014 12:17PM
0 0
profile picture
Milbocker
Posts: 572 - Karma: 1,370
C-Burg
Sep 4 2014 12:28PM
2 0
profile picture
John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,165
Granite peak is a favorite. Trollhaugen has fucking amazing rails. Lutsen is easily the biggest, it's like going out west but 1/3 the size. Snow conditions are meh.
Sep 4 2014 12:46PM
2 0
profile picture
JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,179
Lutsen, Mount Bohemia
Sep 4 2014 12:56PM
1 0
profile picture
TurquoiseGrizzly
Posts: 1819 - Karma: 13,149
Just make the trip and come to Utah. Brighton and Park City.

Nuff said.
Sep 4 2014 1:19PM
0 1
profile picture
John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,165
GrizzlyBurrJust make the trip and come to Utah. Brighton and Park City.

Nuff said.


you forgot alta
Sep 4 2014 10:15PM
1 0
profile picture
.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
SPIRIT MOUNTAIN, GRANITE PEAK, AND MOUNT BOHEMIA
Sep 4 2014 10:17PM
1 0
profile picture
EM_Productions
Posts: 43 - Karma: 234
Seriously come out to "The rock sports complex" best ski hill in south wisconsin... crazy settups and all new features
Sep 4 2014 10:34PM
1 0
profile picture
Mr.Mitten
Posts: 1330 - Karma: 3,945
Cannonsburg in Grand Rapids Michigan has to be on the list. Their parks are incredible
Sep 4 2014 11:22PM
1 0
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8950 - Karma: 36,492
Terry peak is the best in the Dakotas by quite a bit. Eh park but the terrain is pretty good!
Sep 4 2014 11:38PM
1 0
profile picture
Iraq_Lobster
Posts: 1866 - Karma: 4,904
ssssssuuuuuunnnnnddddooooowwwwwnnnnnnnn mountaiiinnnnnn in dubuque iowa. Probably the shittiest place to be but no one there really cares anymore, and my crew of park rats run that shit now.
Sep 5 2014 10:45AM
1 0
profile picture
CashmereCat
Posts: 2211 - Karma: 2,394
Iraq_Lobsterssssssuuuuuunnnnnddddooooowwwwwnnnnnnnn mountaiiinnnnnn in dubuque iowa. Probably the shittiest place to be but no one there really cares anymore, and my crew of park rats run that shit now.


Ha sundown sucks now, real talk.
Sep 5 2014 11:13AM
1 0
profile picture
smooter
Posts: 1121 - Karma: 1,368
in ohio, mad river has the best park but the hill itself is flat as a pancake
Sep 5 2014 12:02PM
2 0
profile picture
Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
How about any in iowa? Lol
Sep 5 2014 1:13PM
0 0
profile picture
Ankilla
Posts: 506 - Karma: 2,378
people leave out perfect north slopes in indian. They don't market themselves like other midwest hills do (i.e. Mad river mountain), but the kill it in the park scene. Everyones alway stoked and there are some damn good people from there like Goepper, Laker, Rich Fahey, and more. Back in the day, I'd say the were easily the best park in the midwest with events such as Pink Flamingo Camp. However, i do know from sits that Granite Peaks park looks dope and the kid there kill it.
Sep 5 2014 1:19PM
0 0
profile picture
zwilly
Posts: 635 - Karma: 1,908
Spirit Mountain has an amazing jump line for the Minnesota and has a very well kept park. Mont Du Lac is really fun with a high speed ropetow and super creative features. Mount Bohemia and Lutsen have the best pow.
Sep 6 2014 10:23AM
0 0
profile picture
Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
tHANKS bros
Sep 7 2014 12:02AM
0 0
profile picture
toastyteenagers
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 6,793
john18061806you forgot alta


deer valley is cool if you want to be pampered like Paris Hilton's dog.
Sep 7 2014 12:05AM
0 0
profile picture
Crispy.
Posts: 6116 - Karma: 7,712
I ride Granite all the time, trollhaugen's rails look tight. Mt. Bohemia is super fun if you're looking for more "real skiing". Tyrol always kills it with pre and post season events.
Sep 7 2014 10:37AM
3 0
profile picture
brett_fisher
Posts: 2418 - Karma: 10,501
sun valley,park city
Sep 7 2014 12:28PM
0 0
profile picture
CartCal
Posts: 220 - Karma: 724
Granite peak and spirit mtn. If u are ever near sunburst it's worth a stop, the park isn't always the best but they sometimes have unique stuff and the rope laps are endless
Sep 7 2014 12:55PM
0 0
profile picture
Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
Ya granite is fun is there any others?
Sep 12 2014 10:11AM
0 0
profile picture
natethegreatt
Posts: 592 - Karma: 570
Snowshoe is real nice, great terrain and good enough parks (have to go to Silver Creek right down the road, too - free with Snowshoe ticket)
Sep 12 2014 4:54PM
0 0
profile picture
Paul.Marik
Posts: 1123 - Karma: 1,878
Granite Peak was the place to be. They have a new park manager for this year so I'm not sure how their park will be this upcoming season. Otherwise in south west wisconsin there is Tyrol Basin, which can be pretty fun. They are probably redoing their park layout this season which will be different from years past. It's looking very hopeful.
Sep 12 2014 5:33PM
1 0
profile picture
skier58284
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 5,366
If you want off-piste, Mount Bohemia. There is no competition. IMO it's the only place really worth skiing in the Midwest, and I've skied at many places in the Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan). It has about 1k vertical feet and terrain that rivals most Rocky Mountain ski areas, and it gets a lot of lake effect snow. Mostly tree skiing, some open bump runs, and some cliffs. Potential downside is that they don't have grooming equipment so if you like taking easy runs on groomers from time to time you don't have that option.

If you want a mix of on-piste and off-piste, based on my experience, Whitecap is your best bet. Blackjack and Lutsen are great for groomers (by Midwest standards) and both have a little off-piste. Runners up (groomers only) would be Giants Ridge and Spirit.

Places I have not been to but have heard good things about are Granite Peak and Indianhead. Also Porcupine Mountains but if you're going to the UP you'd be an idiot to not ski at Mount Bohemia so it would be pointless to go to Porcupine.

Summary:

Places I have been:
1: Mount Bohemia (no competition at all)
2: Whitecap
3: Blackjack and Lutsen tied
5: Giants Ridge
6: Spirit Mountain

Places I have not been:
Granite Peak
Indian Head
Sep 13 2014 12:37AM
2 0
profile picture
iH8pow
Posts: 1825 - Karma: 7,826
For skiing in general, Lutsen and Mount Bohemia but not for park.

Spirit for park, I remember liking Giants ridge's park too because it's pretty big with lots of features (at least that's how it was years back when I was there), but the downside is they are poorly maintained.

I'm sure tons of places have good parks, but just to get quality skiing in I'm sticking to Lutsen and Bohemia.
Sep 13 2014 1:19AM
0 0
profile picture
John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,165
CoreyTrevorI remember liking Giants ridge's park too because it's pretty big with lots of features (at least that's how it was years back when I was there), but the downside is they are poorly maintained.


It's gotten pretty sweet recently, they have a few fat tube rails, an amazing donkey dick rail, the jumps are weird but I like them. Giant's is my home resort as far as feeling the most at home goes, it's rarely busy, very snowy, pretty remote...
Sep 14 2014 12:18AM
0 0
profile picture
JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
Lutsen, Bohemia, and Spirit.
Sep 14 2014 12:35AM
1 0
profile picture
Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
Any others there been a lot of good places?
Nov 2 2014 9:34PM
0 0
profile picture
FuckAllOfYou
Posts: 3864 - Karma: 2,518
i ski afton. it sucks sometimes but the vibe is fun in my opinion.

troll has tight rails but it's just fucked with boarders and is an ice rink from december on
Nov 2 2014 10:14PM
0 0
profile picture
willifast
Posts: 248 - Karma: 299
Alpine Valley would have to take the cake. It will go toe to toe with any indoor skiing bunny hill, and lose. Badly.
Nov 2 2014 10:41PM
0 0
profile picture
Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
Stay away from Mount Bohemia. Its the absolute worst, nothing good there at all, not worth it.
They don't groom, there are no lights, and its about 75 miles from anything.
They don't even accept cash, credit only.
The only lodging is in a stupid tent, and if you can't afford one you have to pay 20 whole dollars to sleep with other people.
Yep absolutely nothing worth seeing here, keep driving east or west. Marquette Mtn is great.
Nov 2 2014 10:54PM
4 0
profile picture
WU-sconsin
Posts: 565 - Karma: 1,301
Am I the only one thats gonna say Alpine Valley up in here
Nov 2 2014 11:27PM
0 0
profile picture
ItsTubbyTime
Posts: 58 - Karma: 156
welch village (said nobody ever)
Nov 3 2014 12:42AM
1 0
profile picture
LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
Lutsen Mtns or Spirit.

Lutsen has the super sketchy Gondola too, so that's a plus...?
Nov 3 2014 12:49AM
1 0
profile picture
ItsTubbyTime
Posts: 58 - Karma: 156
LynxNationLutsen Mtns or Spirit.

Lutsen has the super sketchy Gondola too, so that's a plus...?


i thought i was going to die riding in that gondola
Nov 3 2014 1:02AM
0 0
profile picture
LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
ItsTubbyTimei thought i was going to die riding in that gondola


Door opened on us once. Definitely not recommended if it's windy. At all.
Nov 3 2014 1:27AM
0 0
profile picture
skier58284
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 5,366
LynxNationLutsen Mtns or Spirit.

Lutsen has the super sketchy Gondola too, so that's a plus...?


If you want sketchy, ride the chairlift at Whitecap that goes from Thunderhead to Eagles Nest.
Nov 3 2014 1:58AM
0 0
profile picture
Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
Haha where I live, nothing even has gondolas.
Nov 3 2014 10:13AM
0 0
profile picture
.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
Matt5838Haha where I live, nothing even has gondolas.


Im pretty sure lutsen is one of the only places with gondalas in the midwest.
Nov 3 2014 10:43AM
0 0
profile picture
Matt5838
Posts: 321 - Karma: 335
Where is lutsen and spirit?
Nov 3 2014 2:02PM
0 0
profile picture
.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
Matt5838Where is lutsen and spirit?


Spirit is in duluth, mn

Lutsen is near grand marais, mn
Nov 3 2014 2:20PM
0 0
profile picture
UFOsarereal
Posts: 2285 - Karma: 1,132
Coffee Mill in Wabasha, Minnesota.
Nov 3 2014 3:48PM
0 0
profile picture
LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
UFOsarerealCoffee Mill in Wabasha, Minnesota.


That's where I learned to ski, can't get any better than 10 second runs down a hill.
Nov 3 2014 5:29PM
0 0
profile picture
Randel
Posts: 123 - Karma: 178
There's Alpine Valley in south eastern Wisconsin. Not very good but we get a ton of runs in everyday.
Nov 3 2014 5:47PM
0 0
profile picture
Randel
Posts: 123 - Karma: 178
There's Alpine Valley in south eastern Wisconsin. Not very good but we get a ton of runs in everyday.
Nov 3 2014 5:47PM
0 0
profile picture
yangumane
Posts: 1816 - Karma: 3,347
as far as Ohio goes, Mad River Mountain. Crystal Mountain in Michigan is okay.
Nov 3 2014 5:56PM
0 0
profile picture
losh
Posts: 1126 - Karma: 4,695
john18061806you forgot alta


lol he "forgot" alot of places. not just alta
Nov 3 2014 6:02PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)