Winter is winding down here in the Buckeye State and for many of us spring is on our minds. A fresh snowfall this morning, reminded me that winter isn’t done with us yet and I turned my attention toward enjoying the few weeks we have left. If you, like me, are looking for a unique way to drain the last drop of winter fun you might consider Ohio snow skiing.
Ohio Snow Skiing
Chances are you’ve watched a bit of the skiing events in the Olympics. And no, Ohio doesn’t have anything to match the intensity of those venues. It’s also not the Swiss alps or even Colorado. But if you’re a beginning to moderate level skier, you can have a great day on Ohio’s slopes.
A quick search online turned up four ski resorts in the state. Alpine Valley is located in the Cleveland area as is the Boston Mills-Brandywine Resort. The latter of the two is just five minutes from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You may want to pair your visit with some winter hiking activities at the park.
Snow Trails is located in the Mansfield area, about half-way between Columbus and Cleveland. And Mad River Mountain is located near Bellefontaine, less than an hour northwest of Columbus. A fifth option, the Big Creek Ski Area is located in the Cleveland area. It looks, however, as if it might be members only.
Ohio Snow Skiing at Mad River Mountain
With an unexpected free day in their schedules, the girls wanted an adventure. Amanda had been skiing one time before, the previous year with Trevor. Natalie, however, had never been. At first she was leaning toward snowboarding, but decided at the last minute to ski with the group.
Natalie and Amanda are both college students (as is Trevor) and are both on a pretty tight budget, especially with recreational costs. They found that Ohio snow skiing is perfect for the cost conscious beginner.
They booked their lift tickets online. Because it was a weekend, the tickets were $55 each. Had they had an open day they could have saved some money. On most weekdays, the lift tickets are only $35 each for a . Ski rentals, which includes skis, boots, poles and a helmet was $37 booked online.
Mad River does have food options available at the resort. Be sure to check the website ahead of time for information and COVID restrictions. Natalie, on the other hand, decided to save the group some money. She packed a cooler with sandwiches, chips and drinks for their lunch break at the car. Not gourmet, but it was a good lunch for some broke college students.
A quick check through the other resorts in the state, led me to the conclusions that the prices are all comparable. If you’re willing to pack a lunch, you can enjoy a day of Ohio snow skiing or boarding for between $70 and $100 each.
Snow Tubing
If you want to get out and enjoy the season on a smaller budget, you might consider snow tubing. Most of the parks offer tubing, but it looks like for the remainder of this season only Snow Trails tubing hill is open.
At $28 per person for a two-hour session, a family of four can enjoy some time on the snow for just over $100. Depending on the temperature and ages of participants, this two-hour introduction to winter sports might be a better fit for your family.
Several years ago, when the girls were all little, we received an afternoon of snow tubing at Snow Trails as a Christmas gift from my dad. It was a great afternoon and the girls really enjoyed it. Because our schedules at that time were busy with their sports and our work commitments, the two-hour time frame was ideal and gave us plenty of time to get home and have a little downtime before bed.
Plans for Next Year
Both girls reported they had a blast. And Trevor, who is a more experienced skier, was able to provide video proof of the experience. Both girls say they would definitely go again, although Natalie reports that she will definitely try the snowboard next time. They are already planning next year’s trip and plan to include Natalie’s boyfriend in the fun for next time.
FindingOhio
Summer’s heat or winter’s cold (okay, I stole that line from Carmen Ohio), we’re glad you’re experiencing the Buckeye State with us. Ohio is full of so many great experiences, some that are old favorites and some, like the ski trip for the girls, that are brand new. At FindingOhio, we hope to remind you of the great places and wonderful people from our state.
If you’re looking for more winter’s fun, you can check out our winter hike to the top of Mount Pleasant in Lancaster, Ohio. Winter is also a great time to explore the trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park or in the Hocking Hills. Share with us some of your favorite Ohio winter activities. And, as always, we appreciate you sharing our message to your social media.
