When do Wisconsin's ski hills and resorts open for the season?

Claire Reid, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·5 min read

Temperatures below freezing mean winter is pretty much here.

And while many Wisconsinites dread the bitter temps and the snow, many are also excited for the outdoor activities winter brings including ski and snowboard season at Wisconsin's many ski hills and resorts.

Several ski hills in the state haven't announced opening days yet, or those dates remain tentative and weather dependent. We will update this list as more information is released.

Here are the opening dates that have been announced, some tentative, for popular Wisconsin ski hills.

Alpine Valley Resort, Elkhorn

Alpine Valley Resort in Elkhorn opened for the season on Sunday, Nov. 26. According to the resort's website, "Alpine features over 100 skiable acres with 20 runs that range from beginner to expert and vertical drop of 388 feet. The longest run is 3,000 feet." Alpine also has a terrain park. Equipment rentals and lessons are available, and the resort has multiple spots to grab food and a drink.

  • Opening day: Sunday, Nov. 26

  • Address: W2501 County Road D, Elkhorn

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 45 minutes

  • Learn more: alpinevalleyresort.com

With the help of snowmaking technology, skiers and snowboarders flocked to the runs at Little Switzerland Ski Area Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 in Slinger, Wis.
With the help of snowmaking technology, skiers and snowboarders flocked to the runs at Little Switzerland Ski Area Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 in Slinger, Wis.

Little Switzerland, Slinger

Little Switzerland in Slinger, Wisc., announced Monday that its opening day will be Wednesday, Nov. 29. Located just over 30 minutes from Milwaukee, Little Switzerland offers seasonal and one-time equipment rentals, a variety of ski and snowboard lesson packages, a terrain park and numerous ski trails of varying difficulty levels.

  • Opening day: Wednesday, Nov. 29

  • Address: 105 Cedar Creek Road, Slinger

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 35 minutes

  • Learn more: littleswitz.com

Amber Abert of Muskego supports her 4-year-old daughter Taylor as they ride the tow line at The Rock Snowpark in Franklin on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021.
Amber Abert of Muskego supports her 4-year-old daughter Taylor as they ride the tow line at The Rock Snowpark in Franklin on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021.

The Rock Snowpark, Franklin

Located only 20 minutes from Milwaukee, the Rock Snowpark in Franklin, Wisc., opens for the season on Friday, Dec. 1. The snowpark offers skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, lessons, a terrain park and multiple ski trails.

  • Opening Day: Friday, Dec. 1

  • Address: 7011 S. Ballpark Drive, Franklin

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 20 minutes

  • Learn more: rocksnowpark.com

Snow is made on the ski hills of the Granite Peak Ski Area in Wausau on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Opening day is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1.
Snow is made on the ski hills of the Granite Peak Ski Area in Wausau on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Opening day is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1.

Granite Peak, Wausau

Granite Peak in Wausau offers equipment rentals, ski and snowboarding lessons for adults and kids, terrain parks and a variety of trails and ski lifts. Opening day is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1.

  • Opening day: Friday, Dec. 1

  • Address: 227200 Snowbird Ave., Wausau

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 2 hours and 45 minutes

  • Learn more: skigranitepeak.com

Ski instructors and their young students goof around at Tyrol Basin in Mount Horeb.
Ski instructors and their young students goof around at Tyrol Basin in Mount Horeb.

Tyrol Basin, Mount Horeb

The tentative opening day for Tyrol Basin in Mount Horeb is Friday, Dec. 1, according to a representative from the ski park's office. Located just outside of Madison, Tyrol Basin offers ski lessons, equipment rentals, snow tubing, a terrain park and a variety of slope difficulties.

  • Opening day: Friday, Dec. 1

  • Address: 3487 Bohn Road, Mount Horeb

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 1 hour and 40 minutes

  • Learn more: tyrolbasin.com/slopes

Wilmot Mountain in Kenosha County has a number of ski programs for kids as young as 3.
Wilmot Mountain in Kenosha County has a number of ski programs for kids as young as 3.

Wilmot Mountain, Wilmot

Wilmot Mountain resort in Wilmot, Wisc., has a tentative opening date of Friday, Dec. 1, according to a representative from the resort's parent company, Vail Resorts. Wilmot Mountain has dining, lodging, terrain parks, equipment rentals, lessons, season passes and special events.

Through Sunday, Dec. 3, you can purchase an Epic Pass and save money on accessing Wilmot and other Vail Resorts unlimited or multiple times this season, depending on the pass you choose. According to Vail Resorts senior communication manager Pamela Roye, you can save as much as $31 a day, "a savings of 40% when compared to daily lift tickets."

  • Opening day: Friday, Dec. 1

  • Address: 11931 Fox River Road, Wilmot

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 50 minutes

  • Learn more: wilmotmountain.com

Devil's Head Resort, Merrimac

Lift ticket reservations at Devil's Head Resort in Merrimac, Wisc., begin for the season on Friday, Dec. 1. Devil's Head offers lodging, equipment rentals, lessons and season passes. Skiers can enjoy trails of a variety of difficulty levels.

  • Opening day: Friday, Dec. 1

  • Address: S6330 Bluff Road, Merrimac

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 1 hour and 45 minutes

  • Learn more: devilsheadresort.com

A rainbow forms as snow is made at Sunburst Ski Area in Kewaskum, Wisc.
A rainbow forms as snow is made at Sunburst Ski Area in Kewaskum, Wisc.

Sunburst Ski Area, Kewaskum

Sunburst Ski Area in Kewaskum, Wisc., near West Bend, opens for the season on Friday, Dec. 1. Sunburst offers equipment rentals, season passes, lessons, snow tubing, terrain parks and nine ski hills of varying difficulty levels.

  • Opening day: Friday, Dec. 1

  • Address: 8355 Prospect Dr., Kewaskum

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 45 minutes

  • Learn more: skisunburst.com

Nordic Mountain, Wild Rose

Nordic Mountain ski, snowboard and snow tubing park in Wild Rose, Wisc., near Wautoma, also opens for the season on Friday, Dec. 1. Snow sports enthusiasts can enjoy different lesson packages, on-site dining, snow tubing and a variety of trails.

  • Opening day: Friday, Dec. 1

  • Address: W5806 County Road W, Wild Rose

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 2 hours

  • Learn more: nordicmountain.com

Kids 12 and under ski and snowboard for free with a paying adult at Cascade Mountain in Portage.
Kids 12 and under ski and snowboard for free with a paying adult at Cascade Mountain in Portage.

Cascade Mountain, Portage

Cascade Mountain's tentative opening date is Saturday, Dec. 2, according to its website. Cascade has equipment rentals, lessons, snow tubing and season passes available.

  • Opening day: Saturday, Dec. 2

  • Address: W10441 Cascade Mountain Road, Portage

  • Distance from Milwaukee: About 1 hour and 30 minutes

  • Learn more: cascademountain.com

The Mountain Top ski hill at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva is a great spot for beginners to learn to ski and snowboard.
The Mountain Top ski hill at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva is a great spot for beginners to learn to ski and snowboard.

Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva

The Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva has 20 downhill ski runs for skiers of all levels, according to the resort website. Skiers can enjoy lodging options, a mountain-top ski lodge, equipment rentals and lessons. Ice-skating, cross-country skiing and sledding are also available on-site. Opening day for skiing at Grand Geneva is Saturday, Dec. 16.

More ski hills and opening days will be added as the information becomes available.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When do Wisconsin's ski hills and resorts open for the 2023 season?