Best Snowboard & Ski Resorts near Chicago
Illinois may be the second flattest state in the US, but that doesn’t stop it from offering fun and exciting skiing and snowboarding. You won’t find any Vail-sized mountains, but there are plenty of entertaining hills, steep slopes and breathtaking vistas all around the Chicago area.
Where to Ski near Chicago
Enjoy a day on the slopes with these surprisingly good skiing and snowboarding destinations close to Chicago, Illinois.
Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports
Lisle, IL
What Four Lakes lacks in size it makes up for in location. Less than 30 miles from downtown Chicago, this resort has been the go-to suburban hill for more than 50 years. It backs a variety of slopes including two bunny hills, an intermediate trail and an advanced learn to race program as well as a terrain park into its meager 100 feet of elevation. Enjoy night skiing as well as a long season thanks to snowmaking.
Villa Olivia
Bartlett, IL
A bit bigger and not much farther, Villa Olivia measures up at 180 vertical feet and about 40 miles from downtown Chicago. It’s a local hill run by the Bartlett Park District that features seven downhill runs. A quad chair lift and six rope tows will take you to the two beginner, two intermediate and one advanced run, as well as a terrain park. Villa Olivia also offers tubing with a magic carpet lift.
Wilmot Mountain
Elkhorn, WI
If you are looking for a more traditional ski resort, Wilmot Mountain is the closest at about 65 miles from downtown Chicago. It’s just across the border into Wisconsin and features an expansive 120 acres with 25 runs. Enjoy long green and blue cruisers, challenging black-diamonds and a mogul field. For snowboarders, they offer a terrain park as well as a Snocross course featuring banked turns, jumps and lots of speed. There is a separate practice area for beginners as well as 22-lanes of snow tubing.
The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
Lake Geneva, WI
Another one of Wisconsin’s southern gems, The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is a 1,300-acre resort boasting some of the best hills and views in the Chicago area. Just 82 miles from Chicago, the resort offers 21 runs, a 211-foot vertical, a six acre terrain park, three chair lifts, two carpet lifts, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and sledding. Enjoy stunning accommodations at the Grand Geneva and Timber Ridge Lodge or grab something to eat or drink at the Leinenkugel’s Mountain Top Lodge.
Chestnut Mountain Resort
Galena, IL
Illinois’ top ski destination is easily Chestnut Mountain. This 220-acre resort features 19 trails with a 475-foot vertical drop. It’s located in the northwest part of Illinois, about 160 miles from Chicago, and offers an impressive array of rolling hills you won’t find anywhere else in the state. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Mississippi River and a variety of slopes with everything from bunny hills to black diamonds. The resort is also home to one of the biggest terrain parks in the Midwest. The resort has two conveyor lifts, two quad chair lifts, a surface lift and for triple chair lifts and nearby accommodations.
Chicago, IL Ski Storage
Make sure you have a nice, safe place to store and display your skis until your next Chicago skiing adventure. Log Ski Rack hand-crafts storage racks for skis and snowboards that are both beautiful and functional. The high-quality ski racks are made from 100% northern white cedar logs and provide excellent ski storage for homes, cabins and ski resorts. Shop our ski racks online now and get free shipping to the Chicago, IL metro or contact us for a custom ski rack designed to meet your unique storage needs.
