Winter Excitement
Insiders have known for years that skiing and snowboarding in Juneau is special. The diverse terrain and snow conditions will challenge everyone from the first timer to the expert thrill seeker.
Located on Douglas Island just 12 miles from downtown, Juneau's community owned ski area features phenomenal alpine and Telemark skiing, snowboarding, and a terrain park full of rails, bumps and boxes. There are 640 acres of open-treed slopes offering a vertical drop of 1,400 feet. Two chairlifts and one beginner surface lift access 31 runs. For those interested in hiking for their turns, the ridges above Eaglecrest offer a wide variety of natural, ungroomed terrain. The area also includes eight kilometers of groomed Nordic trails perfect for either classic or skate skiing.
Backcountry skiers will find Juneau's numerous summer hiking trails convert nicely to cross-country tracks in the winter. The Mendenhall Glacier lake and adjacent campground offers flat terrain but jaw-dropping scenic views and is a favorite with locals.
Skiers and snowboarders who want bragging rights for untouched routes and challenging terrain can charter a helicopter to explore the mountains surrounding the Juneau Icefield. The best months for all types of skiing styles fall between January and late March.