When many think of Chicago, they think of the windy city; however, there are also many beautiful ski resorts a short drive away. We have prepared a list of these places to ski near Chicago to save you time in your search.
Where can you ski near Chicago? Our 10 picks for the best places to ski near Chicago are as follows:
- Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports
- Timber Ridge Ski Resort
- Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort
- Mulligan’s Hollow Ski Bowl
- Bittersweet Ski Resort
- Chestnut Mountain Resort
- Villa Olivia
- Devil’s Head Resort
- Sundown Mountain
- Swiss Valley Ski and Snowboard Area
Read on to learn more about these best places to ski near Chicago including the features of each place.
Where Can You Ski Near Chicago? 10 Best Places
1. Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports
Only 25 miles from Chicago (around 20 minutes by car), Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports Center is one of the best ski resorts near Chicago. The center provides a variety of classes on skiing and snowboarding. Examples of these lessons are: “Ski Now Multiple Lesson Program” and “Nordic Beginner Program.”
If you’re a beginner, the center has an appropriate lesson for you. Professional skiers are welcome too as they have 5 trails, a terrain park, and 2 bunny hills to conquer.
The center has beginner trails, an intermediate trail, an advanced trail, and the Alley Terrain Park for all types of ski buffs. The Alley is available to both intermediate and advanced learners, so you may want to explore its ski runs. Specific instructions are given by skilled personnel as to what part of the Alley you could use, based on your expertise.
2. Timber Ridge Ski Resort
Timber Ridge is only 53 minutes (31.6 miles) away from Chicago. It is one of the family-oriented ski resorts near Chicago that provides terrain for both advanced skiers and beginners. There are 7 easy trails for beginners; 5 trails for those with average skills, and 3 difficult trails for skiers with advanced skills. That’s a total of 15 skiing trails in a 50 acre-spread of terrain; quite impressive, right?
In case you want to feel the exhilaration of plunging through heights, you can try its highest point at 850 feet with a vertical drop of 240 feet. For skiers who simply want to bask in the serenity of the white stuff, they can try the smaller ski runs at the lowest point of 610 feet.
There are 8 lifts to get you back to the top again. For children 5 years old and above, a Tubing Hill is offered solely for them. Take your kids with you to Timber Ridge and allow them to learn while having fun.
Examples of the easy trails are Pumpkin Patch and Willow. More difficult trails are Oak and Sycamore. The most difficult trails are Warlock and Hemlock.
3. Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort
From Chicago, you can take an hour’s drive to spend a wonderful day skiing at the nearby Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort. The resort has a variety of slopes for beginners and advanced skiers.
The resort is a complete community on its own as amenities are conveniently located inside the area, such as parking lots, a restaurant, a picnic area, a ski school, a ski shop, restrooms, rentals, a bar, a children’s center, and many more facilities.
A carpet lift is available for easy transport. You may want to have fun in the easiest, more difficult, or most difficult areas. A ski patrol is on standby for emergencies, and friendly people are always ready to help you out in whatever way they can.
The Wilmot Resort emphasizes the need to be aware of marked and unmarked obstacles that skiers could encounter in their runs. Also, as a skier, you should abide by the resort’s rules and policies before embarking on your skiing adventure. Show courtesy to fellow-skiers. Since there are other activities aside from skiing, be alert of other users who may be doing another activity, such as snowmobiling or snowboarding.
4. Mulligan’s Hollow Ski Bowl
Next on our list of the best places to skin near Chicago is Mulligan’s Hollow Ski Bowl. Mulligan’s Hollow is one of the best ski resorts near Chicago offering adventure and lessons for all levels of skiers. The resort has a special offer for parents – free skiing all they want.
Most probably, this is in keeping with Mulligan’s desire to foster a community spirit among their visitors. The ski bowl is around 3 hours away from Chicago by car, and it’s ‘nearby’, considering all the splendid ski services it offers.
Skiing would be a glorious journey as there are 7 acres of convenient space open for skiing and snowboarding. The shortest slope is 250 feet and the longest slope is 700 feet. The highest elevation at 1,300 feet would provide the hair-raising thrill you might be looking for. However, ski only in designated places and abide by the rules of the Responsibility Code of the resort. They are strict in implementing these rules.
The longest connecting run is at 1,300 feet; you won’t run out of trails to conquer. All the slopes are lit at night as well, so you can have the time of your life skiing under the brilliant night sky.
5. Bittersweet Ski Resort
Next on our list of the best near-to Chicago ski resorts is the Bittersweet Ski Resort. The Bittersweet Ski Resort is ideal, not only for beginners but also for intermediate and highly skilled skiers. This is because the slope provides several incredible runs for all types of skiers. Beginners can attend the ski school, and enjoy the benefits of having the beginner’s hill all to themselves. They can also utilize any of the 3 Wonder Carpet lifts to get back to the top of the slope.
The resort provides 20 runs, a 350-vertical feet area, a rope tow, and 7 standard chairlifts. You could use the Poison Ivy Terrain Park or any of the available trails appropriate to your skiing skills.
Food, lodging, and ski rentals are quick and easy to get from the amenities within the resort. What more, it’s only 1.5 hours by car from Chicago, so you can quickly take a respite from work and spend a day in this wonderful resort.
6. Chestnut Mountain Resort
Chestnut Mountain Resort is one of the best ski resorts near Chicago that offers a total package of fun for ski enthusiasts. It’s a 3-hour drive away by car. But it’s worth the trip as the resort sits on a 20,000 square feet of significant skiing space.
There are 19 runs that advanced skiers and beginners could explore. The vertical drop is at 475 feet and stretches to 3,500 feet of challenging trails. There are 7 available transport devices to get you back up the slope for another exciting run.
The resort provides everything you need. Mountainside Outfitters will provide all the proper gear you need, a ski/snowboard repair and tuning shop, and a learning center. There are comfortable nearby lodgings and diners for those who want to stay for the night too.
7. Villa Olivia
Next on our list of places to ski near Chicago is the Villa Olivia Ski Resort. An hour drive from Chicago, the Villa Olivia Resort offers all types of slopes to people of all ages – even children who are younger than 6 years old. The day and night slopes run for a total of more than 0.8 miles.
There are 7 runs, 6 rope tows, and a chairlift that would take you back up. You could try the Snow Tubing adventure or take ski lessons to improve your skills.
When you want to take a ski break, a ski café shop is ready to provide a variety of delicious food. There are special events, such as family nights and drawing events that you and your family could participate in. Special discounts are also granted to specific individuals, such as students and those in the military.
Ski and snowboarding lessons are offered to interested patrons. You can play golf as well in a designated area of the resort. There will definitely be an event for any of your family members’ recreational hobbies.
8. Devil’s Head Resort
Awarded as one of “Midwest’s 10 Best Ski Resort” by national and local ski magazines, Devil’s Head Ski Resort is a paradise for skiers. So, the 3-hour drive from Chicago is worth your time and money.
One of the unexpected surprises of the resort is that children under 5 years old could ski for free. Furthermore, seniors and skiers of all ages are welcome to the ski area. The resort’s Terrain Park offers a 500 feet vertical jump, 35 thrilling features, and 5 jumps. The mini-park is, likewise, fascinating as it provides smaller, unique features and obstacles you can practice your skiing skills in.
Also, it offers the longest run in the Midwest at 1.5 miles. There are 30 ski runs that are wide and long and a spacious terrain where skiers with different skills can explore. There are 2 magic carpets, and 7 chair lifts of various capacities that would transport you back to the slopes.
You would certainly savor night skiing runs as well, because the snowmaker would ensure that the trails are sufficiently packed with snow. The resort provides all year round recreational events that you and your family can participate in any time you want to escape the hurly-burly of city life.
9. Sundown Mountain
One of the perfect ski resorts near Chicago is Sundown Mountain. This is due to its scenic location and awesome ski runs. It offers 21 trails for all types of skiers, as well as 2 terrain parks with a 475 thrilling vertical drop that you can conquer.
Bring the whole family with you to Sundown Mountain for a day or a week vacation as there’s a facility for children aged 3 to 11. Snowboard and Ski lessons are offered as well to any member of your family at any age. They could learn while romping in the white-washed slopes.
The mountain resort can provide delicious food/snacks and secure lodgings. It’s a more than a 3-hour drive from Chicago at 187.5 miles. But that’s near enough for skiers who are out for an ultimate skiing experience.
10. Swiss Valley Ski and Snowboard Area
The Swiss Valley ski area has 11 trails, a 225 feet vertical drop, a terrain park, and 3 lifts. It has a 1,200-foot elevation making it a suitable place for all types of skiers to test their skills. Night skiing is allowed for those who prefer the tranquility of the night atmosphere.
It is 103 miles away from Chicago, a 2.5-hour drive by car; which you can easily cope with if you want to savor the thrill of skiing in the challenging trails of the valley. There are special discounts and events held for students, families, and specific groups.
You could also enroll in their ski classes if you’re a beginner. There are shops and rentals in the area that could make it more convenient for you to refurbish your gear. If you want to stay at Swiss Valley for the night, lodgings and diners are nearby for your convenience.
Conclusion – 10 Best Ski Resorts Near Chicago
So, to revisit our initial question, “Where can I ski near Chicago?” Our top 10 picks for the best places to ski in Chicago are as follows:
- Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports
- Timber Ridge Ski Resort
- Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort
- Mulligan’s Hollow Ski Bowl
- Bittersweet Ski Resort
- Chestnut Mountain Resort
- Villa Olivia
- Devil’s Head Resort
- Sundown Mountain
- Swiss Valley Ski and Snowboard Area
These Chicago ski resorts have their own perks to offer; so, we cannot recommend only one. If you are traveling to Chicago from out of state, or perhaps even out of the country, I highly recommend visiting more than one of these Chicago ski resorts. There are so many beautiful places to ski near Chicago that it would be a shame to limit yourself to only one.
