When it comes to skiing, the Midwest often gets overlooked for its meager vertical gains and skiable acres. That is, unless you’re a park and/or urban skier. Then the Midwest is actually considered a jibber’s haven or goldmine, if you will. To throw our flatlander audience a bone, we’ve rounded up some of the best terrain parks in the Midwest—from Minnesota to Wisconsin, Michigan and even Illinois. Judging criteria for this list includes but is not limited to: the number of parks, number of features and how much the ski area prioritizes building and maintaining a park.
Take this article as proof: No matter where you live in the United States, there’s no excuse not to shred this season. Keep scrolling for the full list below in no particular order.
Minnesota
Spirit Mountain
Known for being the second largest ski area in the entire state, Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minnesota, services skiers and riders off of Lake Superior. Fun fact: the only halfpipe worth hitting in the midwest calls Spirit Mountain home, and a rope tow keeps the hot-lapping momentum going no matter how cold it is outside.
Afton Alps
Less than a 30-minute drive from St. Paul, Minnesota, Afton Alps provides Minnesotans the Epic experience. Owned by Vail Resorts, Afton has benefited greatly since joining the Epic Pass, which includes three terrain park zones for all abilities and levels of riders.
Hyland Hills
Hyland Hills, located in the suburbs of Minneapolis, has been a terrain park haven for Minnesota snow sliders for decades, and the small ski area is up and running for the 2023-24 season. Two terrain parks serviced by a tow rope provide the opportunity to hot lap until your legs fall off.
Wisconsin
Trollhaugen
The terrain park that likely needs no introduction. You’ve probably already seen the Troll’s iconic yellow rail features all over the internet this early season. Located in Dresser, Wisconsin, Trollhaugen is the place to be for midwestern winters.
Cascade Mountain
With three terrain parks across the ski area, Cascade Mountain in Wisconsin lands on this list for its ratio of features to skiable acres. Currently, only the Mountain Top Park is up and running, but it’s lit for hot laps from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Michigan
Boyne Mountain
Boyne Mountain, tucked up in the northern part of Michigan, features five permanent terrain parks, a border-cross pump track and an early-season temporary park all across the mountain—making it one of the most diverse ski areas in the midwest. From jib features to big kickers, Boyne has something for everyone.
The Highlands
The largest ski resort in the mitten-shaped state, Highlands offers skiers and riders four parks throughout the northern Michigan mountain. With everything for complete beginners up to expert riders, the Highlands terrain parks have enough features to lap all day and never hit the same thing twice.
Illinois
Chestnut Mountain
The closest skiing to Chicago, Chestnut Mountain, lands on this list for its one-of-a-kind park that never disappoints. With everything from a jump line to a rail garden, Chestnut’s got the Windy City goods.
