USA — Did you know several ski areas are run by the U.S. military? At or near military installations in Alaska, New York, and Wisconsin, the U.S. military offers lift-served skiing on smaller slopes that still let service members enjoy a relaxing day on the slopes. Some are open to the public, while others have more restrictive access.
In honor of Veterans Day, we have compiled a list of ski areas run by the U.S. military.
Victor Constant Ski Area, New York
Located at West Point, Victor Constant is probably the most well-known ski area that’s run by the U.S. military. The ski area features 7 trails, 2 lifts, and a vertical drop of 487 feet. The ski area is open to the public on weekdays. However, it’s only open to military members and their families on weekends.
Whitetail Ridge, Wisconsin
Near Fort McCoy, this small military-run ski area is open to the public. The ski area has a vertical drop of over 185 feet and is served by a T-Bar. Other activities include snow tubing and cross-country ski trails.
Birch Hill, Alaska
Located in Fort Warmington, Birch Hill is another small Alaska ski area. There are two lifts for skiing, with another lift being used for snow tubing. Additionally, there’s an adjacent Nordic ski trail network.
Hillberg, Alaska
Situated on the Elmendorf Air Force Base, Hillberg is a small ski area that’s served by a chairlift. There’s also a learning area that includes a rope tow. In terms of non-skiing activities, there’s also a tubing park, which is served by two lifts, a sledding hill, and an ice skating rink.
Iceman Falls, Alaska
At this point, this lift-served operation at Eielson Air Force Base hasn’t operated for a few years. The T-Bar is in need of repairs, resulting in an extended closure. However, the operators have told The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast that they plan to fix it.
Are The Alaska Ski Areas Open To The Public?
Yes, but also no. Ultimately, ski areas are meant for military members and their families. Your best chance is if you know someone on the military base; you can get access to ski with them if you get their thumbs-up. Alternatively, you can get a recreation pass to visit the ski areas, but it does sound like a bit of a hassle to get in. Others have reported wanting to go in to ski or tube, but not being able to. I’d say it’s better to just go to other adjacent ski areas.
Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served.
Image/Video Credits: Alba Adventures, Victor Constant Ski Area, Skimap.org, The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast
