Ski resorts aren’t just for winter fun.
Summer in the mountains is just as action-packed and fun-filled as it is when blanketed in winter’s white stuff. For this reason, an increased number of ski resorts are investing in providing a venue for and access to warm-weather mountain activities. To help you experience the cream of the crop, we compiled a list of the best mountain resorts in North America for summer activities. Resorts that made this list offer a staggering amount to experience and some of the most breathtaking mountain views in all of North America.
9. Snowmass, Colorado
The summer season in Aspen Snowmass is a time to take in the abundant Colorado sunshine, and to enjoy the fresh mountain air in the great outdoors. Some of the best summer activities include biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, camp for the kids and a number of other fun outdoor activities.
8. Crested Butte, Colorado
Take a deep breath. The crisp, clear mountain air fills your lungs. The sun warms your skin. The sweet scent of wildflowers can be detected. It’s time to play outdoors. This is a typical scenario you’ll be greeted with on Crested Butte summer days. The question is how should you best enjoy this mountain paradise?
7. Lake Tahoe, California
Sure, Lake Tahoe is a pretty sight in the winter, but you can stay warm and enjoy its picturesque outdoors in the summer with Lake Tahoe activities. Lake Tahoe things to do in the summer lets you take advantage of what its mountain and beach environments offer. Stay active by trying some water sports like SUPing, Jet skiing, parasailing, boating and rafting in South Lake Tahoe. Or if you prefer sports that keep you (mostly) dry, Lake Tahoe things to do include hiking, running, biking and triathlons. And why miss the opportunity to get some of the best views in Lake Tahoe? Lake Tahoe summer activities, like bungee jumping or a hang-gliding excursion in Incline Village, let you experience a bird’s eye view of the area.
6. Vail, Colorado
Colorado’s Cinderella ski village, Vail has come of age swiftly since it was staked out in 1962. German hoteliers, French restaurateurs, and celebrity skiers have transformed it from a one-industry town into a year-round international resort. Beaver Creek, Vail’s young and glitzy sister resort 10 miles west, sprang up in 1980, but simple mountain life is alive and well in the other valley towns of Minturn, Edwards, and Eagle. Until recently, locals claimed there were two seasons in the Vail Valley: winter and construction. Now, with new resorts, biking trails, and golf courses, the secret is out. Summer– with blissful weather and a list of activities that far outnumber winter’s snowy occupations– is stealing the show.
5. Breckenridge, Colorado
In the summer months, most Breckenridge guests stay outdoors from sunrise to sunset. Whether playing golf, sightseeing, hiking, biking, rafting, fishing, horseback riding, or even glissading down a mountain glacier, there are endless options for everyone.
4. Whistler, British Columbia
Lounge by a sparkling lake. Wander through a rainforest. Feast on new cuisine and culture every night. Located two hours north of Vancouver, Whistler in summer is a fusion of big adventures and perfect little moments. With endless combinations of escape and adventure, you’ll need more than a weekend to take it all in.
3. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
There are plenty of outdoor things to do in Jackson Hole in the summer months: hiking in the Grand Teton National Park or Yellowstone National Park, horseback riding and covered wagon outings, canoeing, white water rafting, fly fishing, and kayaking on the winding Snake River. For the very adventurous there are exciting Jackson Hole activities like rock climbing to scale these incredible mountains or just try your hand and take a class to learn the ropes. There are two championship 18-hole golf courses and numerous tennis courts for the more traditional sports enthusiast.
2. Banff, British Columbia
Banff, Canada and the surrounding Banff National Park are among the premiere summer vacation destinations in North America, if not the world. Its high latitudes coupled with its mountain elevations make this part of the Canadian Rockies ideal for summer fun – scenic alpine vistas, sparkling blue lakes, verdant forests and mountain meadows filled with wildflowers – all under a crystal Albertan sky.
1. Aspen, Colorado
Those who know Aspen well can often be heard saying what has become the town’s unofficial mantra: “You come for the winter and stay for the summer.” That may be hard to believe, considering the Aspen/Snowmass area boasts four mountains (Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk), world-class skiing and snowboarding, and a thriving après-ski scene, but all of that still comes in second (albeit a close second) to what the short and sweet summer months offer: countless outdoor activities, music festivals, lecture series, delicious outdoor dining, and so much more.
