Featured Image: Courtesy of Arapahoe Basin
Across America’s wild west, skiers have been reaping the benefits of this winter’s historical snowfall all the way into the summer months. A deep snowpack and recent storms have kept a healthy layer of white in the high country and the lifts running at various North American resorts. Here’s a list of the places you can ring in America’s Birthday on skis, including Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, Snowbird in Utah, Mammoth Mountain and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in California, Beartooth Basin in Montana, Timberline at Mt. Hood, Oregon and the Blackcomb Glacier at Whistler Blackcomb, BC.
Arapahoe Basin
For the first time since 2011, Arapahoe Basin will be open for top-to-bottom skiing on the Fourth of July from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with live music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the base of the resort from local Summit County funk band, The Frisco Funk Collective.
Snowbird
Nothing says ‘MERICA quite like summer skiing and an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet at Snowbird. Making this the longest ski season ever in Utah, Snowbird will have its lifts spinning from 8 a.m. to Noon on the Fourth of July.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
Squaw Alpine is ringing in America’s independence with a full day of skiing with the Funitel, Gold Coast, Big Blue and Shirley Lake lifts running from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Be one of the first 1,000 people up Funitel to get your hands on a free Freedom Fest t-shirt and enjoy on-mountain music from Grant Farm performing its Grateful Dead cover show, Grantful Dead Revue.
Mammoth Mountain
With 719 inches of total snowfall this year, Mammoth Mountain is still operating daily, which means the Fourth of July will be poppin’ off at the central California resort. You won’t want to miss North America’s highest fireworks display at the top of Mammoth Mountain on July 6.
Beartooth Basin
Beartooth Basin in Montana is a summer-only ski resort and with its lifts running until July 7th, it’s the perfect spot to celebrate America’s independence. Let your ski-freak flag fly from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at one of the greatest community ski hills in the U.S.A.
Timberline Lodge and Ski Area
Set atop Mt. Hood in Oregon, Timberline Lodge and Ski Area has been operating year-round for over 80 years. Make this year’s Fourth of July celebration a total blast by celebrating on top of an active volcano.
Blackcomb Glacier
The Blackcomb Glacier in Whistler, BC, offers summer skiing to the public from June 8 to July 15. If you find yourself in Canada for America’s Independence Day, celebrate on top of Whistler Blackcomb’s glacier from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nothing says Happy Birthday America like carving the letters U, S, A, into the Canadian slopes.
