Ohio is home to a number of skiing areas—without the lengthy lift lines you might encounter in other states. Whether you’re a novice or pro, there are plenty of ski resorts that offer slopes with varying levels of difficulty and all the amenities you need for a fun family ski trip. Here are the seven best ski destinations for families in Ohio.
Alpine Valley is a ski resort in the heart of Ohio’s snowbelt just 35 miles away from downtown Cleveland. The area is known to get more natural snowfall than other ski areas and it is also the only resort with wooded trails. Spanning across 72 acres, the resort features plenty of terrain and slopes. At the Alpine Valley ski resort, expert visitors can find a halfpipe, but there is also a snow tube park, three intermediate slopes, and six difficult slopes for all levels. Additionally, there is a cafeteria, lounge, and rental facilities.
The Boston Mills Ski Resort is located just five minutes from another popular ski resort, Brandywine. At Boston Mills, skiers can find plenty of slopes to enjoy, even at night. For the more advanced skiers, Boston Mills is also home to the steepest slope in the state, the Tiger run.
Brandywine is the sister ski area of Boston Mills and has one of the greatest lift capacities in the state, supporting 20,000 people per hour. Brandywine also features a tubing park named Polar Blast which features up to 20 lanes that stretch over three football fields in length. Polar Blast also has its own lifts so visitors do not have to walk back to the top of the hill.
Mad River Mountain is Ohio’s largest ski resort and located just a short drive from Columbus. The ski resort covers more than 144 acres with two terrain parks and a tubing park. The trails are also divided by difficulty, with four trails reserved for expert skiers only. The sheer size of Mad River Mountain allows for a number of programs and terrains that cannot be found anywhere else in the Midwest.
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The Snow Trails ski resort opened in 1961 as Ohio’s first ski resort ever. At 1,475 feet, it is also home to the highest elevation in the state. Snow Trails resort offers 60 acres of trails with varying degrees of difficulty. There’s also a tubing park if the three terrain parks aren’t for you. A ski shop and cafeteria are also on site for everything you need for a day on the slopes.
Clear Fork is a smaller ski resort with six chair lifts and two surface tows. Clear Fork features nine trails which are split evenly between novice, intermediate, and advanced levels of difficulty. Snowboarders will also find a terrain park at the complex.
As part of the Cleveland Ski Club , Big Creek is located just 35 minutes from downtown Cleveland and it is the only ski club in Ohio with its own hill. The club is family-oriented with free instructions for members’ children, a cozy chalet, and some non-skiing parties and festivities.
