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The 8 Best Places to Ski in February

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Jan 24, 2025 10:39 AM ET

February is a great time to plan a ski vacation. It's before the spring break crowds hit most of North America, but can liven up certain spots in Europe. It's also late enough in the season that most places have good snowpack and relatively consistent snowfall without too much sun to melt snow quickly.

As the northern hemisphere inches towards the spring equinox in March, resorts with higher elevation and more north-facing terrain tend to hold snow a bit better.

Here are a few places to consider for a February ski vacation, whether you're looking to get some fresh turns for the weekend, or celebrate Valentine's Day on the slopes.

1. Obergurgl, Austria

If you're going to ski in Europe in February, Austria is surely the spot, specifically Obergurgl. Just 90 minutes from the Innsbruck airport, it's not too out of the way for those flying in from far and wide. With a summit of 3030 meters in elevation, Obergurgl is considered 'snow-sure' in February and has 112 kilometers with all types of terrain.

Obergurgl also sees an average of 74cm of snowfall in February, so your odds of fresh snow aren't too shabby. Austria is also a good place to avoid the crowds while French and British schools are on spring break, and French resorts tend to be a bit more crowded.

2. Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

As the sun intensifies closer to the spring equinox, the combination of Loveland's 10,800ft base area and 40% north-facing terrain make it an excellent destination for February skiing. Cold temps up high keep snow from melting on those sunnier Colorado days. Loveland sees an annual snowfall of more than 300" per year, so the middle of the season is also a good bet for good coverage and possible refreshes.

A bit less skied than some other nearby resorts, the odds of finding some quality turns in Loveland in February are pretty high. As an added bonus, Loveland plays into its name and hosts group weddings, mountain-top weddings, and Valentine's Day celebrations, so if you're looking for just a romantic ski getaway or a place to tie the knot on the slopes, Loveland is the way to go.

3. Val d'Isere, France

Even though French ski resorts can see some of their busiest times in February during school holidays, that doesn't mean they're not worth a visit. Val d'Isere has the longest winter season in the Alps and some of the best piste skiing in Europe. While the odds of good conditions are high, visiting Val d'Isere in February is really for the après. An already legendary scene, après gets even better during the busy season in Val d'Isere. Skiing world-class groomers and topping it off with a world-class glass of wine? Count me in.

4. Winter Park Resort, Colorado

Another high-up and north-facing Colorado gem, Winter Park Resort is primo in February. Located off Highway 40 past Berthoud Pass, and a bit away from the crowds of Summit County, Winter Park's base area sits at an impressive 9,000ft in elevation. Cold temperatures and more than 50% north-facing terrain mean the mountain holds snow pretty darn well.

If you happen to ski it on a weekday, Winter Park can deliver amazing untracked runs on a powder day. Even if you don't get free refills while skiing Winter Park, the mountain is known for its challenging mogul skiing, so make sure your legs are ready and enjoy some of Colorado's most versatile terrain.

5. Kirkwood, CA

In comparison to other mountains in the Tahoe area, Kirkwood has an impressively high base area, which helps it retain snowpack as the sun starts to show up a bit more. A base of 7,800 feet in elevation and 65% north-facing terrain make for holding snow pretty darn well through the month of February, especially in a dry spell. For February skiing, especially if it's been a while since a refresh, Kirkwood is your best bet in the Tahoe area.

6. Solitude, UT

Similar to Brighton, Solitude is another Big Cottonwood Canyon spot that has great annual snowfall and a solid amount of north-facing terrain that holds snow well as the sun shows up more. When storms come through, and the masses are racing to other spots in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, Solitude is a great spot to go get some February turns and take advantage of some of its amazing steep terrain, like Honeycomb Canyon.

7. Brighton, UT

Nestled at the end of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton picks up snow from most of the big storms that come through Utah. An annual snowpack of 504" means Brighton has good snow for most of the season in a good year. February is one of Brighton's snowiest months, with The combination of all that snow with a healthy elevation means Brighton is the spot to go for February skiing in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

8. Alta, UT

With some of the best snow in the country, it's no surprise that Alta is one of the best places to go skiing most months, but especially in February. A base elevation of 8,530 feet and 65% north-facing terrain means that Alta does an excellent job preserving some of its 517" annual inches of snowfall. While January is Alta's snowiest month, February isn't far behind with 81" of snowfall on average. We said it last month, but skiing Alta is a pretty good bet most times of the year.

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

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