An easy drive along Interstate 90 and a scenic ride up a gondola are all it takes to start making turns at Silver Mountain. From there, the resort's five lifts and 73 named runs send a clear message: Take your pick. Average snowfall here is around 340 inches per season, an amount that tends to make the season pretty darned long. A tubing hill and top-notch terrain park lend any day at Silver a healthy helping of variety, and 50 acres of night skiing give those super-amped skiers and snowboarders a chance to milk a little more fun out of their visit. The resort's Silver Rapids Indoor Water Park, nestled at the base of the gondola, add a family friendly vibe to the experience, as well as a chance to treat those weary muscles to a hot-tub soak.
What's new: This season will feature a new ski shop at Silver Mountain's base area, complete with equipment tuning, boot fitting and an expanded selection of ski accessories. General manager Jeff Colburn says the resort also purchased a new groomer in the off season, and crews have been hard at work glading the trees along the Moonshine and Terrible Edith runs. "We're expanding the beginning progression terrain park, too," Colburn adds. "That's been pretty popular for us, so we're expanding that, putting in some new features and some music."
Making the most of it: For Colburn, the best way to maximize a visit to Silver Mountain is to plan ahead. And a great way to do that is to use some of those vacation days and take advantage of the resort's midweek ski package. From Sunday nights through Thursday nights, visitors can get lodging and a ski ticket for $54 a person.
