When we think of U.S. National Parks, we usually think of pristine natural or historical experiences with a few buildings, campsites, and hiking trails. Infrastructure is usually fairly limited, though it’s certainly there, and visitors usually show up to experience nature in its true form. There are a few that have some unique, man-made features though (beyond the obvious like Gateway Arch National Park), including three that feature ski areas.
Badger Pass Ski Area – Yosemite National Park
Badger Pass Ski Area, located on the Glacier Point Road five miles east of the junction with the Wawona Road, sits at a base of 7,200 feet. It’s usually open from December or January to March, as long as conditions allow. There are five lifts (one triple, three doubles, and one rope tow), ten ski runs, and a beginner friendly terrain park. Lift tickets can be purchased for $79 for adults.
Hurricane Ridge Ski Area – Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge Ski Area, located inside Washington’s Olympic National Park, features 2 rope towns and one Poma lift serving 10 trails. It sees an average of 400 inches of snowfall every season, though it still generally only sees around 5,000 visitors every year. It’s a family orientated ski area, operating only on Saturdays, Sundays, and some holidays throughout the season.
Boston Mills/Brandywine – Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Boston Mills/Brandywine, situated in the heart of Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, offers 15 total lifts, 18 trails, and 88 total skiable acres. The mountain’s highest elevation sits at 871 feet. Boston Mills and Brandywine area actually two separate ski areas a bit down the road from each other, but they operate as one.
