Is your little one ready to hit the slopes? With skiing suitable for children steady on their feet and snowboarding starting around ages 6-7, these venues near Milwaukee offer the perfect snowy playground for your family.
Check out these fantastic ski and snowboard spots:
- Alpine Valley Resort (W2501 County Road D, Elkhorn) – Boasting one of the Midwest’s largest beginner areas and a new 1,400-foot scenic trail, Snowdrift.
- Little Switzerland (105 Cedar Creek Rd., Slinger) – A historic ski hill offering 18 trails, 3 terrain parks, and complete snowmaking.
- Sunburst Winter Sports Park (8355 Prospect Dr., Kewaskum) – Enjoy two terrain parks and the world’s largest tubing park.
- The Mountaintop at Grand Geneva (7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva) – Features 18 slopes, cross-country trails, and night skiing/snowboarding.
- Crystal Ridge (7900B W Crystal Ridge Rd., Franklin) – Closest to Milwaukee, offering skiing, snowboarding, and glow tubing.
- Wilmot Mountain (11931 Fox River Rd., Wilmot) – A reimagined resort experience with advanced snow making capabilities.
Dive into each location’s unique offerings, including terrain details, facilities, and special events:
Alpine Valley Resort
W2501 County Road D, Elkhorn, WI 53121
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Located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Alpine Valley offers skiing and snowboarding with one of the largest beginner areas in the Midwest.
In the 2021 seasons, they added a new trail called Snowdrift that is 1,400 feet in length. It’s a scenic run great for the entire family.
Little Switzerland
105 Cedar Creek Rd., Slinger, WI 53086
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Founded in 1941, Little Switz is one of the oldest ski hills in Wisconsin. With a skiable vertical of 200 feet, 18 runs, and 3 terrain parks, there’s something for everyone.
Beginners can start in the dedicated area with a conveyor belt and handle tow, progressing to trails like Easy Cheesy.
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders have a wide selection of blue runs, mostly on the back side, accessible via Chairlift 4.
Advanced enthusiasts can challenge themselves on black diamond runs such as Big Deal and Shorty’s, with caution advised in slow zones.
Park riders can enjoy the Switz 41 Park with large features, Expedition Supply Park for medium features, and the Progression Park for beginners.
Plus, the resort boasts 100% snowmaking capability, ensuring groomed snow throughout the season.
Sunburst Winter Sports Park
8355 Prospect Dr., Kewaskum, WI 53040
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You’ll find two terrain parks for skiing and snowboarding, plus the World’s Largest Tubing Park at Sunburst in Kewaskum.
Reader Reviews:
“At Sunburst there are ropes to hold into connect two or even more tubes. So one parent and one or two kids could ride hooked together. There were toddlers going down. My 9 year old was very nervous but needed up loving it.” -Instagram follower, 2023.
“I noticed Sunburst does not allow kids to go down with a parent in a tube.” – Instagram follower, 2023.
The Mountaintop at Grand Geneva
7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
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The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, located in the scenic countryside of Lake Geneva, is renowned as one of southern Wisconsin’s premier ski destinations.
This resort, situated just an hour from Milwaukee and Chicago, features 20 downhill ski runs and diverse terrain catering to all ages and skill levels. Its proximity to these cities makes it a convenient yet adventurous getaway for families.
Equipped with advanced snowmaking capabilities, The Mountain Top ensures consistent ski conditions throughout the season, regardless of natural snowfall.
The resort offers a range of amenities, including ski and snowboard rentals, trolley transportation from nearby accommodations, three chairlifts, two carpet lifts, and a six-acre terrain park.
Additionally, guests can enjoy night skiing and a variety of other winter activities like ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Leinenkugel’s Mountain Top Lodge provides food and beverage options, enhancing the overall experience. The resort’s Learn to Ride program caters to those without ski equipment.
Crystal Ridge
7900B W Crystal Ridge Rd., Franklin, WI
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Crystal Ridge is a winter enthusiast’s playground located just a short drive from downtown Milwaukee. Featuring a variety of runs to suit every level of skier and snowboarder, it boasts the blend of challenge and fun.
For beginners, the resort offers the convenience of a Beginner Conveyor 1 and a dedicated beginner area.
Intermediate skiers can enjoy a selection of blue runs like Ridge Runner and Pebble Park, while advanced adventurers can tackle the steeper inclines of The Drop and Whitnall Way.
Snow tubing enthusiasts are not forgotten, with dedicated tubing conveyor belts ensuring endless fun without the hike back up.
The Progression Snow Park caters to those looking to improve their skills with a mix of terrain park features.
Services like ticketing, first aid, restrooms, and food are conveniently located near the Main Lodge.
For a twist on traditional snow tubing, check out their glow tubing on select Saturday nights!
Reader Reviews:
“The tubing at the Ridge is great for all ages! My son did it when he was 2 and was just fine.” – Instagram follower, 2023.
“The incline of Crystal Ridge is substantially less steep as Sunburst has a far greater incline and run length making sometimes much faster. I speak from experience of having worked at both locations.” – Instagram follower, 2023.
“We went to Crystal Ridge in January with my then 6 and 4 year olds: it was great. The kids couldn’t ride with use, but we linked up the tubes, which worked fine (though my older often preferred to go alone). There is a conveyer belt that takes you from the bottom of the hill back up to the top, which I definitely appreciated.” -Instagram follower, 2023.
“Crystal Ridge has a great bunny hill for beginners!” – Instagram follower, 2023
“We have only been to Crystal Ridge. While you can’t ride in the same tube, you can link the rubes together. That is what we did and put my daughter in a tube between me and my husband. Still a little scarce even for mom. But fun in the end. I think my daughter was 8 the first tie we went.” -Instagram follower, 2023
Wilmot Mountain
11931 Fox River Rd., Wilmot, WI 53192
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Wilmot Mountain, a cherished winter retreat since 1938, is gearing up for an unforgettable season filled with exciting updates and classic favorites.
Conveniently located on the state line, close to both Chicago and Milwaukee, Wilmot continues to deliver a premier skiing experience across its 120 acres of skiable terrain.
Wilmot offers 25 diverse trails catering to all skill levels—36% beginner, 32% intermediate, and the rest dedicated to advanced terrain shaped by the area’s unique glacial history.
The mountain’s 10 lifts, including three modern quad chairlifts and two surface conveyor lifts, ensure smooth and quick access to the slopes.
This season, the popular Rope Terrain Park has been regraded, making it less dependent on natural snowfall and ready for action earlier than ever before.
Night skiing enthusiasts will appreciate the 100% snowmaking coverage that guarantees consistent conditions, while the double high-speed rope tow in the Terrain Park keeps the adrenaline pumping.
Non-skiers can enjoy the tubing area with 22 lanes and conveyor lifts for an effortless return to the top.
Exciting news for guests this season: the historic Main Lodge Bar is reopening! This beloved Wilmot landmark will once again welcome guests with bar service and convenient grab-and-go snacks.
Walt’s Tavern, a family favorite, will be open on weekends and during holiday periods.
The resort’s base lodge has been revamped with 400 additional seats and upgraded dining options, making it easier than ever to enjoy a meal or warm up between runs.
Wilmot’s state-of-the-art ski and snowboard school, complete with regraded learning terrain and beginner conveyor lifts, continues to support an accessible, family-friendly winter getaway.
The resort’s snowmaking capabilities have been vastly expanded, ensuring more terrain is open earlier in the season and quick recovery of slopes throughout the winter.
Get ready for a season packed with fun events, including:
- Kringle Time: Join every Saturday and Sunday for some sweet weekend fun!
- Sliding Through the Decades: A tubing event series that’s a blast from the past, brought to you by bubly™.
- Dew After Dark: Night skiing just got even better with a sponsored music series.
Related Posts:
3 Best Snow Tubing Hills Near Milwaukee
10 Best Places to Ice Skate Around Milwaukee
In 2013, Calie Herbst, a former teacher with three little ones, saw a need for a “One Stop Shop” for family fun in Milwaukee. So she founded Milwaukee With Kids. Her goal was to find the best this city has to offer families and share it with other parents. In one place.
In 2019, she published “Exploring Milwaukee WIth Kids”, a comprehensive Milwaukee travel guide for families and kids.
She appears regularly on WISN News, Fox 6’s ‘Real Milwaukee’, B93.3, and Wisconsin Morning News. She has been featured in Medium, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, NPR, the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, and on CBS 58 News.
Calie is available for hosting, moderating and media appearances.
