Beyond the Slopes: North America’s Top Après-Ski Experiences
Picture this: you’ve just finished carving it up on the slopes, and you’ve still got the feeling of wind on your face and adrenaline in your veins. You’re spent, in the best way possible.
Time to kick off your boots, grab a drink, dive into something hot and hearty, and let the good times keep rolling. Let the après-ski begin!
From specialty restaurants and bars to luxurious spas and more off-slope adventures, different ski resorts have varying après-ski specialties and traditions. It’s essential to consider your après options when planning your trip, because the memories you make off the slope are just as important as the time you spend skiing.
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado: Family-Friendly Fun
With over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, an award-winning ski school, and three terrain parks, Aspen Snowmass is certainly a skier’s paradise. The resort includes four mountains in one: Aspen, Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass!
Snowmass Mountain and its village are ideal for families, with ski-in-ski-out lodging, a ski school, and a laid-back atmosphere. Activities anyone would enjoy include the alpine coaster, tubing park, and outdoor ice rink. If your après crew gets hungry, there are plenty of casual dining spots around Snowmass (and Aspen) to check out. Don't forget to indulge in the free s’mores served by the guest services carts at 3:30pm every day, located in the Snowmass Mall and Lower Village.
Traveling with your older or adult kids? For a slice of European heaven on Highlands Mountain, visit the Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro (21+) and dig into classics from the continent paired with fine wine and champagne. Visit them for lunch, or take a snowcat tour to the restaurant for a dinner you’ll never forget.
Northstar, California: Bubbles On the Mountain
Immersed in the beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and neighbouring Lake Tahoe, is the big and beautiful Northstar Resort. The California mountain boasts 350 inches of annual snowfall blanketing a large diversity of terrain, from beginner-friendly groomers to parks designed by Shaun White.
The après-ski scene at Northstar is similarly diverse. Kick it off at 2pm with Tōst at Northstar, Lake Tahoe’s only ski-up mountain-view bubbly experience. Then explore the vibrant village, grab a hot coaoa and take in the starry sky at the Village Skating Rink. It’s free with your own skates, and Northstar also rents skates next to the rink for $10.
Steamboat, Colorado: Hot Spring Destination
Steamboat Resort, AKA ‘Ski Town, U.S.A.,’ is the second-largest ski resort in Colorado. After skiing its famous “Champagne Powder” on over 3,700 acres of terrain, you’ve got many popular après-ski options to choose from.
The first? Is to keep skiing! One of the few Colorado resorts to offer night skiing, Steamboat lights up five groomed trails for a variety of skiing abilities on Christie’s Peak: Sitz, See Me, Vogue, Stampede and Lil’ Rodeo. Night skiing is open at Steamboat until 8:30pm from Thursdays to Sundays.
If you prefer to relax and take a load off, try going for a soak at the family-favourite Old Town Hot Springs. Located in downtown Steamboat Springs, just 25 minutes from the resort via free public transit, your most refreshing après-ski option features natural springs-fed pools, two waterslides, a climbing wall, and a fitness center, all tucked away in the beautiful forests of Steamboat. Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs is another popular attraction, located about 20 minutes outside of Steamboat Springs by car.
Whistler, British Columbia: Unique Mountainside Experiences
World-famous skiing, a lively village, and a plethora of après-ski options, all a two-hour drive from Vancouver: Welcome to Whistler Blackcomb!
Between runs on the two mountains’ 8,200 acres of terrain, you won’t want to miss the famous loaded buttermilk waffles at Crystal Hut, right at the top of Crystal Chair on Blackcomb. For a scenic après experience, drink in the 360° views and the beverages at the Umbrella Bar, located on what feels like the top of the world—Whistler Mountain peak. Open until 4:30pm, reach the Umbrella Bar right from the village with the Whistler Village Gondola.
If you’re looking for a more wellness-oriented après-ski activity, visit the luxurious Scandinave Spa and have a soak in the thermal pools surrounded by nature. Add a massage therapy session to your relaxation journey, to soothe your body and mind before another day on the slopes.
Big White Mountain, British Columbia: Free Fireworks
BC’s third-largest mountain, Big White Mountain is known for its relaxed atmosphere and wide range of family-friendly après-ski activities.
If you haven’t done enough zooming on the slopes, visit the high-speed all-ages Tube Park (open until 8pm every day, tickets required), or try climbing the 18-metre ice tower in the Big White Mountain Adventure area. From November 29th to April 4th, take in the free fireworks show every Saturday night at 7pm—you can watch them right from your cozy lodging!
Deer Valley Resort, Utah: Slopeside Luxury
A first-class experience from the slopes to the vacation rentals, Deer Valley Resort near Salt Lake City is renowned for its consistently top-notch conditions and for being one of only three ski-only mountain resorts in the USA.
And the luxury doesn’t end with the uniformed ski valets or complimentary Mountain Host Tours (offered daily throughout the ski season): cruise on down to The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge, Utah’s finest Forbes Five-Star spa, for a full-body pampering after your ski day (most treatments and many facilities are 18+).
A convenient après-ski option for guests staying at the lodge or the Stein Eriksen Residences, The Spa offers wellness classes, spa treatments, salon services, and more. Finish with a splash and take a cold plunge before sinking into its heated outdoor pools and hot tubs.
Keystone, Colorado: Snow Fort Fun
At 12,408 ft. of elevation amid the stunning landscapes of Summit County, and centered on the lively River Run Village, Keystone Ski Resort offers both an exciting ski and après-ski experience.
If you have young children, they’ll have a blast at the Kidtopia Snow Fort, the world’s largest mountaintop snow fort, complete with a themed castle and an all-ages tubing hill. Accessible via the River Run gondola, the snow fort is free and open from 9am to 4pm every day, with tubing open from 10:15am -3:30pm, and tickets available during those hours.
If you’re looking for nightlife, visit the Kickapoo Tavern, an après classic with a generous beer selection, then take in some live local music at the Snake River Saloon or the Goat Tavern.
Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado: Sweet Treat Time
Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and much less crowded than its neighboring Vail Resort, Beaver Creek is renowned for its variety of terrain, luxury vacation rentals, and fine dining options.
The ideal resort for anyone with a sweet tooth, Beaver Creek also offers two uniquely decadent après-ski experiences. At Cookie Time (every day at 3pm), guests can enjoy Beaver Creek’s famous freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies at the bottom of the Centennial Express in the village.
For those who have a sugar hankering earlier in the day, they can visit Candy Cabin, open from 10am to 3pm everyday, and known as ‘the sweetest place at 9,840 ft.’ for pick-me-up treats and gorgeous views at the top of a mountain.
The après-ski experience is about more than champagne showers and techno clubs: it’s the cultural experiences that elevate your ski vacation into something more. When you’re choosing your ski destination, it’s important to think about what you’ll be doing after you hit the slopes, as well as the slopes themselves.
At The Lodging Company, we help skiers plan trips that encompass the whole experience, for every visitor in the group. We’re experts in more than the skiable terrain and snowpack of a mountain—we craft unforgettable experiences that everyone can enjoy, from first lift to lights out.
About Marina Starck: Marina is a skier, adventurer, and professional writer living in Vancouver, BC. She fell in love with skiing at the age of 3, and hasn’t stopped since.