While many people know Las Vegas for the dazzling lights of the Strip, what you might not know is that it’s actually a pretty awesome hub for winter sports, too. If you’re wanting to trade casinos and sunshine for snow and fresh air, these ski resorts near Las Vegas are a fantastic getaway. Don’t forget to plan your trip to these legendary places for snowboarding and skiing near Las Vegas before the season is over!

Top Ski Resorts Near Las Vegas

Lee Canyon Ski Resort

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 49 miles (~50 minutes)
  • Accommodations Available: Not on site, but there are hotels nearby
  • Ability Level: Mostly intermediate and advanced

Lee Canyon Ski Resort is a ski area near Las Vegas that caters mostly to intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. Since Lee Canyon is the closest of the ski resorts near Las Vegas, it’s a perfect spot for a day trip to shred the slopes. The resort boasts 445 acres of skiable terrain, with 26 trails, most of which are intermediate or advanced.

Ponderosa Glade comes highly recommended by visitors and locals as the most beautiful glade to ski on the mountain. While there’s no lodge on-site, there’s currently one under construction and there are plenty of hotels nearby.

How to Get There: The best way to get to Lee Canyon is by car. If driving, start on US-95 N, then NV-156 S to the mountain.

Brian Head Resort

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 200 miles (~3 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Not on site
  • Ability Level: All levels

Located in some of Utah’s highest elevations, Brian Head Resort is known for getting a LOT of natural snow. It’s the perfect place for a weekend of snowboarding or skiing near Las Vegas, and it’s just a 3 hour drive away. The resort consists of two connected mountains – Giant Steps and Navajo. With 71 runs spanning easy to difficult, the 650 acres of skiable terrain here is fantastic for all levels.

Visitors love the snow here, and its proximity to spectacular parks like Zion National Park. Additionally, guests love that the resort is very family friendly, with tons of programs to learn skiing or snowboarding for beginners.

How to Get There: If driving, start on I-15 N to US-95 N towards Salt Lake City, then take UT-143 S to the resort.

Photo Credit: Russ Allison Loar (Flickr CC)

Mountain High Resort

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 224 miles (~3 hours, 20 minutes)
  • Accommodations Available: Not on site; closest hotel is Canyon Creek Inn
  • Ability Level: All levels

You probably didn’t know that you can find winter sports in sunny Southern California, did you? Known as “Southern California’s closest winter resort,” Mountain High Resort is located in the Saint Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles. It’s also the most visited resort in Southern California. At just under 3.5 hours from Las Vegas, locals can easily visit Mountain High as a weekend getaway.

There are 3 conjoined resorts here – the West, East, and North Resorts. At the properties, you can snowboard or ski down a combined 59 total trails, the combination of three formerly separate resorts. The resort now consists of a variety of trails from first-time friendly hills to advanced and expert-level runs. While it’s not the largest spot on our list, Mountain High is one of the best ski resorts near Las Vegas thrilling ski trip.

How to Get There: If driving, start o I-15 S towards LA, then CA-138 W to Table Mountain Rd, to resort.

Mt. Baldy Resort

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 242 miles (~3.5 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Not on site
  • Ability Level: All levels

At 3.5 hours from the city, Mt. Baldy Resort is a wonderful place to go snowboarding and skiing near Las Vegas and was recently rated the #1 mountain resort in California. It’s a smaller resort, with around 800 skiable acres, but one that’s quite beloved since it’s easy to reach in a short day trip from downtown LA. Snowboarders and skiers enjoy the varied trails, and the gorgeous views of the surroundings and the ocean from the top of the mountain.

With 26 total trails, Mt. Baldy has a pretty even spread of beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert-level trails, making it one of the more well-rounded ski resorts in Southern California. For beginners, they’ve got ski and snowboard lessons and rentals to help get you started. They’ve also got dining and lounge options for rest in between hitting the slopes. You can get steep discounts on lift tickets if you purchase online in advance.

How to Get There: If driving, start on I-15 S towards LA, then CA-210 W towards Pasadena, onto Mt. Baldy Rd. to resort.

Bear Mountain Resort

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 314 miles (~3.5 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Yes, Big Bear Condo Resort
  • Ability Level: All levels

Bear Mountain Resort is a Southern California gem that’s made up of 2 different resort areas – Big Bear and Snow Summit. All lift tickets at the resort are good for both areas, which offer a combined 26 trails across all levels (plus, they’re free on your birthday!).

Big Bear is a small but mighty ski area that packs a punch among the places to go snowboarding and skiing near Las Vegas. At Big Bear, the majority of runs are rated as blue, or intermediate level. However, there are a handful of trails in the beginner, advanced, and expert categories.

As the sister resort to Big Bear, Snow Summit isn’t far from its flagship resort, and has its own unique array of trails and slopes to explore. It, too, caters largely to intermediate-level skiers, with nearly 50% of its trails rated in the blue category. According to the Big Bear website, Snow Summit is meant to offer a “traditional alpine atmosphere with a great deal of intermediate terrain and mainstream cruising for skiers and snowboarders.”

How to Get There: If driving, start on I-15 S towards LA, then CA-247 S onto Big Bear Blvd to the resort. If not driving, there is a bus from downtown Las Vegas almost directly to the resort (about a 10 minute walk from where the bus drops you off, $28)

Eagle Point Ski Area

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 241 miles (~3.5 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Yes, at Eagle Point Resort
  • Ability Level: All levels

Eagle Point Ski Area is a charming, smaller resort located in the Tushar Mountains, with 40 runs across 650 skiable acres. The grounds offer a variety of trails across different ski levels, and boasts some of the best powder skiing that Utah has to offer. Their Lookout Lodge has some of the most stunning views in the area, and there are many charming parts of the resort to wander through.

As the resort is not as commercialized or crowded, and it boasts no lines for its lifts. With its affordable prices and locally-owned reputations, it’s a great family-friendly spot for skiing near Las Vegas.

How to Get There: If driving, start on I-15 N towards Salt Lake City, then UT-21 to Beavers, then UT-153 E to resort. If not driving, there is a bus that runs once a day from downtown Las Vegas directly to Beaver, UT, (5 hr, $35) then 18 miles drive to the actual mountain.

Alta Sierra Ski Resort

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 308 miles (~5 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: None on site
  • Ability Level: Mostly intermediate and advanced

Located in the southern region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Alta Sierra Ski Resort is a small ski area that’s part of Sequoia National Park. With just 11 trails, the resort really packs a punch for more experienced skiers and snowboarders. 4 of the advanced runs are in wooded areas and aren’t groomed, making for an extra fun challenge.

Frequented by Bakersfield locals, it’s a family-friendly resort with snow tubing and a warming hut for cold days. While it may be a little far for such a small resort, this is a great place to go snowboarding and skiing near Las Vegas when paired with a California road trip.

How to Get There: If driving, start on I-15 S towards LA, then CA-58 W towards Bakersfield,then CA-178 W to CA-155 to Wolford Heights.

Mammoth Mountain

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 313 miles (~5 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Yes, at the Mammoth Mountain Lodge
  • Ability Level: All levels

If you’re looking for the full “ski trip” experience, look no further than Mammoth Mountain. Its namesake came from the Mammoth Mining Co, which was a gold mining company during the gold rush in the 1800s. Today, this ski resort and ski town combination make for a fabulous family-friendly snowboard and ski combination that’s about a 5 hour drive from Las Vegas. There are a whopping 154 runs in the resort over 3,500 acres, ranging from bunny hills and learning areas to double black diamond expert terrain.

Here at Mammoth Mountain, there’s an atmosphere that’s totally welcoming and supportive of beginners, which means you’re in luck as a first-timer, with plenty of daily ski lessons and gear rentals available. The vast majority of trails here are beginner to intermediate level, but there are a handful marked as advanced and expert for more experienced skiers. Visitors generally rave about the fabulous snow conditions on the park premises, as well as the additional snow tubing opportunities during down time.

How to Get There: If driving, start on US-95 N to US-395 N, to CA-203 towards Mammoth Lakes, to Lake Mary Rd to resort. If not driving, there is a bus from Las Vegas to Mammoth Lakes, have a 10 minute drive to the actual mountain from drop off.

Park City Mountain Resort

We’ve, of course, included a whopper: Park City Mountain Resort, one of the most massive ski resorts in the country with over 7,300 acres of skiable terrain. There are over 330 trails across 17 peaks in this expansive resort, 115 which are open for night skiing. Park City Mountain Resort is especially catered toward intermediate to expert-level skiers, with 90%+ of the trails ranked as intermediate or harder.

Originally a silver mining town, Park City Mountain Resort offer year-round outdoor activities. In the winter, you’ll find a seemingly endless amount of trail options, 8 terrain parks, and a variety of resources for beginner skiers. The upscale on-site resort is a great spot for a family vacation activities, with plenty of non-ski activities like winter zip lining, snowmobiling, and mountain tours.

How to Get There: If driving, start on I-15 N towards Salt Lake City, then UT- 52 E then to Main St to the resort. If not driving, there are buses multiple times a day directly from Las Vegas to Park City ($83).

Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows Resorts

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 481 miles (~7.5 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Yes, at Squaw Valley Ski Resort
  • Ability Level: All levels

Alpine Meadows and its sister park Squaw Valley make up a massive ski complex near Lake Tahoe, one of the largest in the country. This park is made up of 170 trails across 6,000+ acres of skiable terrain and hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.

There are 3 different peaks between the two resorts with tons of variety in terrain for all levels. “Snow Ventures” is a small hill primarily for junior skiers and snowboarders. “Big Blue” is comprised of gentle slopes and is made up of 60% green trails. KT-22 is for the experts; it includes 2,000 feet of cliffs and near vertical drops. Lift tickets are on the more expensive side compared to others on this list, but you get access to a large and well-run park. This resort is also partnered with the Ikon Pass

How to Get There: If you are driving, start on US-95 N, then continue to NV-439 to CA-89 S to resort.

Mt. Rose

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 446 miles (~7 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Not on site
  • Ability Level: All levels

With 60+ trails over 1,200 acres of skiable terrain, Mt. Rose (AKA “the Biggest Little Mountain”) is a fantastic option for ski resorts near Las Vegas, especially if you’re already planning to visit the Lake Tahoe region anyway. Located in the Carson Mountains, this resort has the highest base elevation in the Lake Tahoe area. The trails here are largely intermediate and advanced, but ~20% of them are beginner-friendly.

As a less crowded option to nearby Squaw Valley, it’s an affordable and family-friendly option for those coming in from out of town. You can even catch beautiful views of the lake on many of the runs!

How to Get There: If driving, start on US-95 N to US-50, then NV-431 W to the resort.

Heavenly Mountain Resort

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 443 miles (~7 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Yes, at Heavenly Village Condos
  • Ability Level: All levels

Heavenly Mountain Resort is probably one of the most thrilling and picturesque ski resorts near San Francisco. With stunning views of Lake Tahoe from its southern banks and a magnificent spread of 97 trails over 4,800 skiable acres, Heavenly Mountain should definitely be on your skiing near Las Vegas bucket list. If you’ve got an Epic Pass, you’re in luck – Heavenly is part of their network!

Beginners should note that Heavenly Mountain has a heavy focus on intermediate, advanced, and expert-level runs. Only 8% of the trails are beginner-friendly, although they do have a ski school to learn the ropes. They’re also home to the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster, a gravity powered alpine roller coaster!

How to Get There: If driving, start on Us-95 N to NV-339 S to Us-50 W to resort.

Ruby Mountain

  • Distance from Las Vegas: 443 miles (~7 hours)
  • Accommodations Available: Not on site
  • Ability Level: All levels

Located in the Ruby Mountain Range near Elko, NV, Ruby Mountain is a huge ski resort that has over 400 runs. While it’s 7 hours away from Las Vegas, this unique resort is well worth the trek – with 10 peaks above 11,000 feet and stunning views of alpine lakes nearby, it’s heaven for outdoor lovers, riders, and skiers.

However, we’re not here to tell you just about that…Ruby Mountain is on our list for its epic helicopter skiing programs. A helicopter will fly 5 passengers at a time for some seriously epic backcountry skiing with an experienced guide. The experience is so incredible, it’s been featured on high-profile publications like Forbes and National Geographic.

How to Get There: If driving, start on US-93 N towards Salt Lake City, then NV-229 W onto Mountain View Rd to the resort.

Additional Resources for Skiing Near Las Vegas

What to Pack

  • Waterproof outerwear – Possibly the most critical pieces of clothing for your ski trip packing list is durable, waterproof outerwear. Burton and Helly Hansen are famous ski brands for having best-in-class clothing that will keep you warm in the coldest, snowiest conditions. Click here to shop ski jackets and compare prices.
  • Thermal layers – Thermal baselayers are absolutely critical for a smooth skiing experience, as these will keep you warm and dry underneath your outerwear. The best kinds of thermal baselayers are made of Merino wool, which is moisture-wicking and comfortable. Our favorite brand of thermal layers is SmartWool – their tops and leggings are soft, lightweight, but warm and durable for all kinds of outdoor activities, including skiing. Click here to shop thermal tops and leggings and compare prices.
  • Ski goggles – No ski trip packing list would be complete without a pair of fog-resistant ski goggles, especially if you’re going somewhere that makes artificial snow. Ski slopes often have snow blowing into the air several times a day and it can be hard to keep freezing snowflakes out of your eyes, even during clear days. We use and recommend these ski goggles. However, you can shop ski goggles and compare reviews/prices here.
  • Waterproof outerwear – Possibly the most critical pieces of clothing for your ski trip packing list is durable, waterproof outerwear. Burton and Helly Hansen are famous ski brands for having best-in-class clothing that will keep you warm in the coldest, snowiest conditions. Click here to shop ski jackets and compare prices.
  • Thermal layers – Thermal baselayers are absolutely critical for a smooth skiing experience, as these will keep you warm and dry underneath your outerwear. The best kinds of thermal baselayers are made of Merino wool, which is moisture-wicking and comfortable. Our favorite brand of thermal layers is SmartWool – their tops and leggings are soft, lightweight, but warm and durable for all kinds of outdoor activities, including skiing. Click here to shop thermal tops and leggings and compare prices.
  • Ski goggles – No ski trip packing list would be complete without a pair of fog-resistant ski goggles, especially if you’re going somewhere that makes artificial snow. Ski slopes often have snow blowing into the air several times a day and it can be hard to keep freezing snowflakes out of your eyes, even during clear days. We use and recommend these ski goggles. However, you can shop ski goggles and compare reviews/prices here.

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