6 Best Wyoming Ski Resorts For Families
While Wyoming may not have as many options for ski resorts as some nearby states -- there are still quite a few great options available for families. I found the top 6 ski areas that are well-suited to families looking to hone their skills on the mountain.
There are large amounts of natural snow at Jackson Hole and snowmobiling at Meadowlark — both of which make for a fun mountain experience. Snow King Mountain also has an alpine coaster, making it a kid favorite. These are the best resorts when it comes to skiing in Wyoming!
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Our Top Picks
6. Snowy Range
Snowy Range is a popular ski area for the locals and for good reason. With many quaint amenities at the smaller ski resort, it provides a great location for people to hit the slopes on a quick weekend getaway. They offer a range of options for beginners all the way to experts — so no need to worry about somebody getting bored.
Fun for Kids
Kids can learn how to ski safely with one of Snowy Range's qualified instructors. They offer group lessons (for adults and children) and private lessons at an extra cost. In the group lessons, children ages 5 to 6-years-old will be grouped together and ages 7 to 12-years-old will be in another group.
Family Skiing
After brushing up on their skiing skills during one of the many lessons available, families can hit the slopes together to practice what they learned that day. If somebody doesn't have their own gear, Snowy Range offers equipment rentals and you can pick up skis, boots, poles, and even a helmet for that extra safety precaution!
Off the Slopes
Once families are done skiing for the day, there are quite a few tempting dining options available in close proximity to the slopes. Libby Creek Bar and Grill offers delicious burgers and craft brews for the adults. Happy Jack is a popular choice with pizza and chicken strips for the young children and Snowy Joe is a must for that morning pick-me-up of coffee or hot chocolate.
What We Love About Snowy Range:
- Tune-ups for your gear are available at the rental store
- Instructors divide children up by ability level — so nobody gets left behind
- One-on-one lessons available for a more personalized experience
- Delicious dining options to choose from
Snowy Range Stats
Summit Elevation: | 9663 ft / 2945 metres |
Skiable terrain: | 75 acres |
Lifts: | 5 |
Runs: | 33 |
5. Meadowlark Ski Lodge
Meadowlark Ski Lodge is a hidden gem within the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. It's sometimes referred t as the "little Jackson Hole" of the Bighorns and it's not hard to see why — with the beautiful views and high-quality amenities offered to guests.
Fun for Kids
Kids will enjoy the many options available to them at this ski resort — including the longest zip line found in the lower 48! Children will love heading back to the lodge after a long day of ski lessons and sipping on a rich cup of hot cocoa while they tell their parents everything they learned that day.
Family Skiing
Families have over 300 skiable acres to explore during their time at Meadowlark, so it's unlikely that anyone will get bored. If someone is in need of rentals or not ready to commit to purchasing their own gear quite yet — the rental shop offers full-day rentals for adults starting at $25 and at $20 for the kids.
Off the Slopes
If your family is looking to do something adventurous, there are snowmobiles available for rent at the nearby Deer Haven Lodge. This can be a fun and unique way to explore the area and it gives the children something to brag to their friends about when they get back to school. There are many miles of groomed snowmobile trails available to guests.
What We Love About Meadowlark Ski Lodge:
- Reasonably priced lessons ($20/hour)
- A quick drive from Buffalo, Wyoming
- Over 30 trails for guests to explore
- Snowmobile rentals available for guests
Meadowlark Ski Lodge Stats
Summit Elevation: | 9500 ft / 2896 metres |
Skiable terrain: | 300 acres |
Lifts: | 2 |
Runs: | 14 |
4. Hogadon Ski Area
Hogadon truly has something for everyone — including skiing, snowboarding, and even snowshoeing! Their lessons are in-depth and led by qualified instructors who care to make winter sports fun for the kiddos. They are also one of the few ski areas that offer night skiing in Wyoming, which can be a big draw with the younger crowd.
Fun for Kids
Kids will enjoy exploring the beginner trails at Hogadon — especially if they're still unsure of themselves on the mountain. If they need a confidence boost, there are lessons available in 2-hour blocks or even full-day programs. For nearby residents, Hogadon offers after-school programs for ages 3 to 16-year-olds that last for four weeks.
Family Skiing
Regardless of your family's experience level with skiing, there are trails that are guaranteed to accommodate you. There is even a terrain park on location for those who want to try out their new moves with some style!
Off the Slopes
Parents will love the quick drive to Casper, Wyoming from the ski area and also the reasonably priced season passes. Once your family is a season ticket holder — you can gain discounted rates at other ski resorts around the state and even in South Dakota via the partnership program available.
What We Love About Hogadon Ski Area:
- Night skiing on Fridays and Saturdays (3-8 pm)
- After school programs available for children and teens
- Food court on the property with grab-and-go options and hot meals
- Mountain Sports rentals available for any equipment needs
Hogadon Ski Area Stats
Summit Elevation: | 8000 ft / 2438 metres |
Skiable terrain: | 92 acres |
Lifts: | 2 |
Runs: | 28 |
3. Antelope Butte
With 28 trails — Antelope Butte has something for every skill level to enjoy and participate in. This ski area is a hidden gem and many of the skiers who go every year don't want it to become overly saturated with guests! The non-existent lift lines are a key feature that you won't find at some of the more popular resorts in the area.
Fun for Kids
Kids will love taking lessons at Antelope Butte as it's away from the high pressure found at other ski resorts. Nobody will be there trying to "one-up" anybody and your child can learn in peace and may even develop a lifelong love of skiing and snowboarding!
Family Skiing
Antelope Butte offers equipment rentals to its guests and it's a great way to practice skiing before you make an initial investment into the sport. After operating for nearly 40 years, the ski area closed down before reopening with a new mission to become a great place for families to come ski in a smaller environment.
Off the Slopes
After lessons are over, families can grab a bite to eat before hitting the slopes again to show off what they learned that day. Lodging can be found nearby but Antelope Butte makes a great day trip from nearby cities and can be properly explored within a day or a weekend.
What We Love About Antelope Butte:
- Peaceful and quiet area for guests to enjoy nature
- Great place for beginners to hone their skills without the pressure
- Reopened with a revitalized mission to become a destination for families
- A surprising amount of varied terrain for a smaller resort
Antelope Butte Stats
Summit Elevation: | 1000ft ft / 309 metres |
Skiable terrain: | 500 acres |
Lifts: | 3 |
Runs: | 27 |
2. Snow King Mountain — Jackson
Snow King Mountain has fewer crowds than nearby Jackson Hole and it also has plenty of beginner terrain, making it a great place for your family to learn to ski. The resort also offers the least expensive lift tickets in the area, which parents are sure to appreciate.
Fun for Kids
Snow King Mountain boasts an alpine coaster, which is a big hit with the young kids. There is tubing available as well if your kids haven't met their need for speed yet.
As far as lessons go, Snow King Mountain has season-long lessons lasting for 10 weeks as well as after-school programs for the children. If your child responds better to one-on-one instruction, private lessons are available with a customized lesson plan depending on what skills your child already had under their belt, if any.
Family Skiing
With such a great ski school, every member of the family can brush up on their skills if they need to. There is also a rental shop on the property if anyone needs some skis or they just forgot their helmet at home and don't want to hit the slopes without one.
Off the Slopes
The mountain is close enough that families are able to walk into downtown Jackson for breakfast or dinner at the end of a day of skiing. There is shopping and lodging available too in the area — so families can stay nearby and have easy access to and from the mountain.
What We Love About Snow King Mountain — Jackson:
- Night skiing available on certain days
- Private lessons with instructors who specialize in teaching young children
- Two-hour lessons include rentals and the Magic Carpet lift
- Free parking at the base area
Snow King Mountain — Jackson Stats
Summit Elevation: | 7808 ft / 2380 metres |
Skiable terrain: | 400 acres |
Lifts: | 4 |
Runs: | 34 |
1. Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole Ski Resort has no shortage of varied terrain that is well suited for beginner skiers all the way to expert-level skiers. No matter who you're bringing along on your winter ski vacation, there's something for everyone — guaranteed. The snow quality is generally considered to be excellent at Jackson Hole and they get plenty of it every winter.
Fun for Kids
Mountain Sports School at Jackson Hole has more amenities than most ski schools and your children (or adult) family members will get thorough lessons on how to safely hit the slopes. They offer both private or group lessons, depending on your preference. Skiers must be 7 years old and above and kiddos will be grouped together according to ability level in the group classes.
Family Skiing
If your family is new to the whole skiing routine — you'll want to check out the beginner runs via the Teewinot or Eagle's Rest lifts. Luckily, there's no need to worry about accidentally finding yourself on a black diamond run as all of the trails from these lifts are beginner-friendly.
Jackson Hole provides lift tickets for beginner terrain only if you don't think that your family will be ready for the next level quite yet. If you need gear, head on over to one of the local outfitters in town to get fitted and suited up.
Your family can also try out cross country skiing, wildlife spotting, ice skating, and tubing all from the comfort of the resort.
Off the Slopes
If you're looking to have a down day on your ski trip, why not head over to nearby Yellowstone National Park? Your family can check out the beautiful and stunning geysers while resting up for the next full day of hitting the slopes.
Teton Village is at the base of the slopes and it has several options for lodging, including hotels and condos that are ski-in and ski-out. If you're looking for a wider range of stays per your budget — nearby Jackson will be your best bet. They have plenty of shopping, nightlife, and restaurants to keep you busy in the evenings.
What We Love About Jackson Hole:
- The unique character of Teton Village (not a cookie-cutter ski village)
- Some of the best expert terrain while keeping beginner options available
- Close to Yellowstone — beautiful views and plenty of wildlife
- Many options for lodging that are suitable for all budgets
Jackson Hole Stats
Summit Elevation: | 10450 ft / 3185 metres |
Skiable terrain: | 2500 acres |
Lifts: | 13 |
Runs: | 131 |
Why Choose Wyoming for Skiing
With such high-quality options to choose from in Wyoming, your family won't be disappointed at any of the above ski areas. Many provide lessons specially designed for young beginners who want to ski more confidently.
Our overall top pick for the best Wyoming ski resort for families has to be Jackson Hole. Being the largest ski resort in the state, it has many amenities that will make your experience one to remember. Checking out nearby Yellowstone is also highly recommended for a truly unforgettable winter vacation.
How Did We Order This List?
To help rank our top selection of ski resorts for this list we compared the following ranking factors:
👨👩👦 Ranking Factor | 📈 Power to affect Rank | |||
Amount of Beginner Trails (Mi) | 4x | |||
Amount of Skiing Area (Mi) | 3x | |||
Cost of two adult tickets + child ticket | 1x | |||
How many magic carpet lifts | 1x |
We gave each factor its own weighting depending on how important we feel it is for family fun across all ages. For example, a resort with more beginner trails is higher ranked than a resort with a lower-priced family ticket - with all else being equal. That's because while cost is a factor, it's not a primary one. We may also use our editorial judgment to remove or add resorts that we believe should make the list.
When taking all of this into account, it gives us our awesome list above. We hope it was helpful in planning your next family ski vacation.