The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Lutsen Mountains' summit reaches 1,686 feet, dropping 823 vertical feet to a base at 863 feet across 95 runs spread over 1,000 acres on Lake Superior's North Shore. Terrain splits 47 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent advanced, 18 per cent beginner and 10 per cent expert. Average annual snowfall reaches roughly 120 inches. The resort operates on the Indy Pass and is the largest ski area in the Midwest by acreage.
Four mountains, Eagle, Moose, Mystery and Ullr, make up the Lutsen terrain, connected by a network of lifts including an eight-passenger gondola. The resort's 823-foot vertical drop is the largest in the Midwest, giving it a reputation beyond its Minnesota location. Views over Lake Superior from the upper mountain are a signature feature not matched by other Midwest resorts. The mix of terrain across four peaks gives more variety than most regional hills of similar scale.
George Nelson, grandson of Swedish immigrant C.A.A. Nelson who homesteaded the site in 1885, founded Lutsen Mountains in 1948 as Minnesota's first downhill ski resort. The Nelson family's ski heritage produced Cindy Nelson, George's daughter, who became the first American to win a World Cup downhill race and won bronze in downhill at the 1976 Winter Olympics. In 1989, Lutsen installed the first gondola at a mid-American ski resort, a German-built PHB Hall system connecting the base to Moose Mountain. A new 7 million US dollar Doppelmayr eight-passenger gondola between Eagle and Moose Mountains opened in 2015.
Indy Pass holders get access to Lutsen alongside dozens of other independent resorts across North America. Adult full-day tickets range from 79 to 119 US dollars depending on date, with a season pass, the Legendary Gold Pass, priced at 699 dollars. The resort suits skiers seeking the Midwest's largest vertical and most varied terrain, combined with Lake Superior scenery unavailable at flatter regional hills. Its remote North Shore location makes it more of a multi-day destination than a quick day trip for most Minnesota skiers.
823ft
Vertical
95
Runs
1,000 acres
Skiable
10ft
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
95 runs across 1,000 acres skiable
Lutsen Mountain spreads 95 runs across 1,000 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 47%, with 17 beginner runs to find your feet and 34 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
95
runs
95 runs across 4 grades
Beginner17 runs · 18%
Intermediate45 runs · 47%
Advanced24 runs · 25%
Expert10 runs · 10%
Time it right
When to visit Lutsen Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Lutsen Mountains ran from 6 December 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week window, among the longer seasons of any Midwest resort. The resort's position on Lake Superior's North Shore and its snowmaking investment support a season length exceeding most other Minnesota and Wisconsin ski areas. Season dates can shift slightly year to year based on weather. The mid-April close is notably later than most regional competitors.
Average annual snowfall of roughly 120 inches benefits from Lake Superior's lake-effect influence, giving Lutsen more natural snow than many inland Midwest resorts. This lake-effect boost, combined with snowmaking, supports the resort's comparatively long season. Base depth and season totals vary year to year with Lake Superior storm activity. The North Shore's colder microclimate compared with southern Minnesota helps snow retention into spring.
January and February typically offer the most reliable conditions once lake-effect snow and snowmaking have built a consistent base. The resort's four-mountain layout means conditions can vary between peaks depending on aspect and exposure to Lake Superior weather. Late-season visits into March and April benefit from the extended operating window relative to other Midwest hills. Weekday visits are generally quieter than weekends, given the resort's role as a regional multi-day destination.
Lutsen's Olympic connection through Cindy Nelson adds to its identity within competitive Midwest skiing history, alongside its status as Minnesota's first downhill resort since 1948. Specific festival or event programming beyond standard season operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's North Shore location supports broader winter tourism beyond skiing, given the area's other Lake Superior attractions. As the Midwest's largest ski area, Lutsen's calendar centres on sustaining its four-mountain, multi-day destination role.
Season 2025 - 2026
6 Dec 2025
Opens
13 Apr 2026
Closes
128
Days open
10 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Lutsen Mountain, and where to stay
Lutsen Mountains sits on Lake Superior's North Shore in Cook County, Minnesota, with a base elevation of 863 feet. The summit reaches 1,686 feet across an 823-foot vertical drop, the largest in the Midwest. The resort spans four peaks, Eagle, Moose, Mystery and Ullr, within Lutsen Township. Lake Superior itself is visible from the upper mountain, a rare feature for a Midwest ski area.
Lutsen, the small township for which the resort is named, traces its origins to Swedish immigrant C.A.A. Nelson's 1885 homestead claim at the mouth of the Poplar River, which grew into Minnesota's first resort. Grand Marais, a larger North Shore town, sits further up the highway, providing additional lodging and services. The broader North Shore region carries a rugged, lake-focused identity distinct from the rest of Minnesota. Duluth, the nearest sizeable city, lies roughly 90 miles southwest.
Minnesota State Highway 61 runs the length of the North Shore, providing the main access route from Duluth and the Twin Cities. The drive from Duluth takes around two hours, while the Twin Cities are roughly four hours away by road. Winter driving along Highway 61 can include lake-effect snow squalls and icy conditions, typical of the North Shore corridor. No public transport service reaches Lutsen, making a car the standard way to arrive.
Duluth International Airport is the nearest airport with scheduled commercial service, roughly 90 miles southwest of the resort. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport offers substantially more flight options but sits around four hours away by road. Thunder Bay, Ontario, across the Canadian border, provides a further regional alternative for some travellers. Most visitors drive the full length of Highway 61 from Duluth or the Twin Cities rather than flying into a closer regional airport.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Lutsen Mountain, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Lutsen Mountain Webcams
1 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Lutsen Mountain's live webcams
Check live conditions across Lutsen Mountain with 1 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Lutsen Mountain Roundshot1,650ft
- Experience spectacular 360-degree panoramic views through this Lutsen Mountain webcam positioned at 503 meters elevation overlooking Lake Superior. This innovative Lutsen Mountain live cam delivers sweeping vistas across the Sawtooth Mountains and the world's largest freshwater lake. Essential for assessing conditions across the Midwest's largest ski resort, this live snow cam showcases the dramatic scenery and diverse terrain that makes Lutsen a premier Minnesota skiing destination on the North Shore.
Lutsen Mountain snow cams FAQ
How often do Lutsen Mountain snow cams update?
All Lutsen Mountain snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Lutsen Mountain.
Which Lutsen Mountain webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Lutsen Mountain Roundshot webcam at 503m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Lutsen Mountain webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Lutsen Mountain lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Lutsen Mountain snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Lutsen Mountain snow cams?
Check Lutsen Mountain webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Lutsen Mountain lift tickets?
Use our Lutsen Mountain webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Lutsen Mountain webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Lutsen Mountain snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Lutsen Mountain intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.