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Planning a President's Day Ski Trip? Consider These Areas

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Feb 10, 2025 7:07 AM ET

President's Day, which falls on February 17th this year, is a great long weekend for a quick ski getaway. Especially if you're planning at the last minute, smaller ski towns might have lodging booked up, or be more difficult to get to than it's worth for the long weekend. Certain mountains tend to have better snow in February, which is certainly something to consider when planning a ski trip.

Rather than list out a bunch of resorts, here are a few areas with tons of options for skiing, usually see good February conditions, have an airport or two nearby and have a few towns for lodging options.

1. Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City's proximity to so many resorts makes it a great idea for a holiday weekend. You can fly into the Salt Lake Airport from just about anywhere, and resorts are only 30-40 minutes away. There's also more lodging options in a city like SLC than a small ski town if things get booked up fast.

Little Cottonwood Canyon is home to world-renowned resorts like Alta and Snowbird that are known for steep terrain and incredible snow. Brighton and Solitude aren't far off in Big Cottonwood Canyon. While Solitude is a bit more advanced like Alta and Snowbird, Brighton has more beginner and intermediate-friendly terrain. Because of their terrain, slope aspects, and elevation, Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, and Brighton are also among the best places to ski in February.

If none of those strike your fancy, just 30 minutes from Salt Lake is Park City, which is home to Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley. Between these two alone, you'll find some of the largest skiable acreage in the US, and incredible snow conditions, not to mention fantastic dining in Park City. Whether you opt for the convenience of Salt Lake or the luxury of Park City, the area has tons of options for a quick weekend ski trip.

2. Lake Tahoe, CA

Like Salt Lake, Tahoe is another hotspot of ski areas. You can fly into Reno, which is only about 45 minutes from the Tahoe area. There's no shortage of great skiing in the Tahoe area. Legendary mountains like Palisades and Sugar Bowl are in North Lake Tahoe, near Truckee. South Lake Tahoe is home to mountains Heavenly and Kirkwood, just to name a few. There are also plenty of smaller, local resorts if you want to avoid some of the holiday crowds at the bigger mountains.

There are lodging options in Truckee, South Lake Tahoe, or Incline Village if you're feeling really spendy. You can also stay in Reno for more affordable and available lodging options. If you do that, Mt. Rose is just a couple of miles away and another great skiing option in the area.

Between world-class skiing and proximity to Reno, there's no shortage of great options for an easy weekend ski trip to the Tahoe area.

3. Burlington, VT

Vermont is a hot spot for East Coast skiers, and Burlington provides access to quite a few of the state's best resorts. Burlington has an international airport, and as a college town, has lots to do off the slopes.

Just thirty minutes from the city are Bolton Valley and Cochran's. Bolton is known for being one of the most fun and soulful resorts in the area. If you're willing to drive a little farther, you'll find the famous Mad River Glen and Stowe, which are both renowned east coast ski areas with some of the best (and most difficult) terrain in the area 30 more minutes up the road. Just a little farther from Burlington are also Killington and Jay Peak. Within an hour and a half, you can find a handful of the East Coast's best ski areas with a variety of terrain.

You can find lodging in Burlington, or many resorts have cute, smaller towns nearby with several lodging options. For a weekend trip to ski the east, Vermont is a great spot for all the groomer carving and craft beer drinking you could dream of.

4. Summit County, CO

Summit County, Colorado, is home to towns like Silverthorne and Dillon that sit at the base of some of the state's best skiing. From Denver International Airport, Silverthorne is just under two hours, and from Eagle County Airport, its only about an hour. If you do fly into Denver, make sure to leave extra time on I-70 or consider driving up on a week day as skier traffic can get quite bad on the weekends.

Once there, you've got your pick of skiing. Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Loveland are all in Summit County and within fairly close proximity to one another. Loveland's elevation and north-facing terrain also make it a great location for February skiing. You can find lodging in the nearby towns of Silverthorne, Dillon, Frisco, Breckenridge, or Keystone.

Not technically in Summit but just a little further up I-70 are Vail and Beaver Creek. If you fly into Eagle, these two are actually a bit closer and there's plenty of places to stay in Vail, Minturn, or Avon.

Many of Colorado's best resorts aren't too far from each other, making a quick weekend trip easy to plan with lots of options.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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