The term “upside down ski area” might sound a bit bizarre, but it makes plenty of sense once you’ve seen it in person. Skiing down from the parking lot before getting on a chairlift means a quick warmup, fantastic views from the parking lot, and a generally unique experience. In the Rocky Mountains, there are 4 “upside down” ski ares across 4 separate states, and they’re all worth a visit.
Blacktail Mountain Ski Area, Montana
Located in Lakeside, Montana, Blacktail Mountain overlooks Flathead Lake from Highway 93 South. The lodge and parking located at the top of the mountain, meaning everyone from beginners to the best experts can enjoy the views. The area is spread out over 1000 acres of National Forest, with 1440 feet of vertical elevation, 3 chairlifts, and one surface lift.
Echo Mountain, Colorado
Echo Mountain is among the closest ski areas from Denver, with the drive taking less than one hour even on days of bad traffic. From the parking lot, skiers and snowboarders can access a small beginner area serviced by a magic carpet and a sledding area serviced by a surface lift. The actual chairlift is below the parking lot, lodge, and all the trails, and the views from the top are pretty hard to beat.
Hogadon Basin Ski Area, Wyoming
Owned by the city of Casper, Wyoming, Hogadon Basin Ski Area offers low-cost skiing and snowboarding in a unique fashion. With two chairlifts servicing green, blue, and black runs, the area features 31 named trails (including the terrain park). Both full day and half day tickets are available for cheap skiing and snowboarding.
Powder Mountain, Utah
Standing out as the largest on this list, Utah’s Powder Mountain is a beast of an upside down ski resort. Powder has 5,000 acres of total skiable terrain and 163 trails, serviced by 5 public lifts and 3 resident lifts. From the multiple parking lots, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy remarkable views of the Utah mountains before descending down some unbelievable terrain, ranging from easy greens to seriously intense double-blacks.
