The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Cascade Mountain's summit reaches 1,280 feet, dropping roughly 460 vertical feet to a base at 820 feet across 47 runs spread over 175 acres near Portage, Wisconsin. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 38 per cent beginner, 21 per cent advanced and 1 per cent expert. Average annual snowfall is low at roughly 50 inches, meaning the resort depends heavily on snowmaking. Cascade Mountain carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation and remains independently, family-owned.
Eleven lifts, including four quads, two doubles, two triples and three surface lifts, serve the 47-run network, a dense lift count for a Wisconsin hill of this size. Night skiing runs alongside daytime operations, popular with visitors from the Madison area roughly 30 minutes away. A 2016 expansion added eight trails and two chairlifts, growing skiable terrain by roughly 30 per cent. The resort's beginner and intermediate-heavy terrain suits families and learning skiers.
Local developer Dewey Belton opened Cascade Mountain on 13 January 1962 as part of a planned recreational community near Portage. Financial difficulties in 1974 saw control pass briefly to North Carolina National Bank, which oversaw operations into the early 1980s. Phil and Adele Walz bought the ski operation in 1977, beginning continuous family ownership that passed to their children Rob and Vicky Walz in 2006, with a third generation now involved in daily operations. The Walz family's 2016 expansion added eight trails and two chairlifts, growing the resort's terrain by around 30 per cent to its current scale.
With no major pass affiliation, Cascade Mountain sells its own day tickets and season passes directly. Adult full-day tickets range from 65 to 99 US dollars depending on date, with night skiing available separately and a Platinum Season Pass at 599 dollars. The resort suits Madison-area families seeking accessible, learning-focused skiing roughly 30 minutes from the city. Its continuous Walz family ownership since 1977, now spanning three generations, sets it apart from larger corporate Midwest competitors.
459ft
Vertical
47
Runs
175 acres
Skiable
4ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
47 runs across 175 acres skiable
Cascade Mountain spreads 47 runs across 175 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 18 beginner runs to find your feet and 10 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
47
runs
47 runs across 4 grades
Beginner18 runs · 38%
Intermediate19 runs · 40%
Advanced10 runs · 21%
Expert0 runs · 1%
Time it right
When to visit Cascade Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Cascade Mountain ran from 6 December 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week window supported substantially by snowmaking. The resort's low natural snowfall means season length depends heavily on temperatures suitable for artificial snow production. Season dates can shift based on early and late-season weather. This is a comparatively long season given Cascade Mountain's modest natural snowfall totals.
Average annual snowfall of roughly 50 inches is low even by Midwest standards, meaning Cascade Mountain depends on snowmaking for nearly all of its season-long conditions rather than natural accumulation. This makes temperature, far more than storm cycles, the key variable in the resort's operating reliability. Base depth is maintained almost entirely through machine-made snow. Specific snowmaking coverage percentage is not confirmed in available resort information, though it is understood to be extensive given the low natural totals.
Midwinter, from late December through February, typically offers the most reliable conditions once snowmaking has built a consistent base. Night skiing sessions extend the useful hours of each day, particularly popular with Madison-area commuters. Weekend crowds are heavier than weekdays, given the resort's role serving day-trip visitors from Madison and surrounding communities. Late-season visits into April can be inconsistent as temperatures warm and snowmaking becomes less viable.
Cascade Mountain's calendar centres on family and learning-focused programming rather than festival events, consistent with its beginner and intermediate-heavy terrain. The Walz family's continuous ownership since 1977, now into a third generation, has shaped operating priorities toward steady, family-oriented growth rather than destination-style programming. Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. As a Madison-area day-trip resort, the calendar leans toward reliable, accessible conditions throughout the season.
Season 2026 - 2027
28 Nov 2026
Opens
14 Mar 2027
Closes
106
Days open
4 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Cascade Mountain, and where to stay
Cascade Mountain sits near Portage, Wisconsin, with a base elevation of 820 feet and a summit at 1,280 feet across a vertical drop of roughly 460 feet over 175 acres. This is south-central Wisconsin, a region of rolling hills and farmland rather than mountainous terrain. The resort was originally developed as part of a planned recreational community by developer Dewey Belton in the early 1960s. Portage itself is a small city along the Wisconsin River.
Portage is the nearest town of note, with Madison, Wisconsin's capital and second-largest city, roughly 30 minutes away by road and the resort's primary visitor source. The Wisconsin Dells, a well-known tourism destination, sits nearby, adding to the area's broader recreational profile. The region carries a mix of farmland and small-town character alongside its recreational draws. Milwaukee lies further east, a longer drive but still within reasonable day-trip range for some visitors.
Interstate 90/94 and local roads connect Portage and Cascade Mountain to the broader south-central Wisconsin highway network. The drive from Madison takes roughly 30 minutes under normal conditions, a key factor in the resort's popularity as an after-work and weekend destination. Winter driving on Wisconsin highways can include snow and ice, though major routes are generally well-maintained. No direct public transport service reaches the resort itself.
Dane County Regional Airport in Madison is the nearest airport with commercial service, roughly 30 to 40 minutes from the resort by road. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport offers a larger range of flight options but sits considerably further away. Most visitors reach Cascade Mountain by car directly from the Madison area rather than flying into a specific regional airport. No rail service reaches the resort directly.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Cascade Mountain, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Colorado Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: A-Basin and Keystone Race to Be First
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5 Oct 2026
Dolomiti Superski 2026-27: Four New Gondolas, New Reservoirs and an €89 Peak Day Pass
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4 Oct 2026
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4 Oct 2026
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4 Oct 2026
Vail Resorts Counts the Cost of a Thin Winter as Pass Sales Slide Further
A historically poor western winter cut Vail Resorts' annual net income from $280 million to $147.5 million and skier visits by 13.4 per cent. Now 2026-27 pass units are down 12 per cent as of 18 September, worse than the 10 per cent flagged in spring. Vail blames the weather and thinks some buyers are simply waiting, and it forecasts a rebound if the snow behaves.
3 Oct 2026
Arizona Snowbowl's $1 Lift Tickets Are Hard to Find, but $9 Days Are Not
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2 Oct 2026
Whitewater Brings Its Short Side Inbounds, With Six New Runs for 2026-27
For years, Whitewater's Short Side was where you ducked a rope and hoped for the best: unmapped, ungroomed and unpatrolled. This winter it's inbounds. Six new runs of glades and fall-line skiing add 190 acres (about 77 hectares), taking the resort past 1,400 acres in total. F2 Logging spent a month in the trees to make it happen, and opening day is pencilled in for 4 December. Bonanza now needs less snow to groom, too.
1 Oct 2026
September Dusting Hits Mammoth Mountain Six Weeks Before Opening Day
Mammoth got its first snow of 2026-27 on Monday 28 September - and promptly lost it by Tuesday morning. Barely an inch fell at McCoy Station, but with opening day pencilled in for Friday 13 November, it's the first sign the Sierra is waking up. Last year's date slipped from 14 November to 20 November, so nobody's booking flights on a dusting just yet. Here's where California's early openers stand.
1 Oct 2026
Cascade Mountain Lift Tickets
Cascade Mountain lift tickets & passes
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Nov 28, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Cascade Mountain typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Day passes start from US$45, with peak rates up to US$99.
9 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 18–64
Adult Full Day
US$79up to US$99 peak
Full day skiing at Cascade Mountain, Wisconsin's premier family ski destination. Features 48 runs across 160 acres with 11 lifts including two high-speed quads just 30 minutes north of Madison.
Buy passYouth 13–17
Youth Full Day
US$69up to US$85 peak
Youth daily ticket for Cascade Mountain in Portage, Wisconsin. Midwest skiing with varied terrain suitable for all skill levels and excellent snow conditions with artificial snow supplementation.
Buy passChild 7–12
Child Full Day
Free
Children's lift ticket at Cascade Mountain. Wisconsin family skiing with kids 12 and under ski free when accompanied by a paid adult - one of the Midwest's best family deals.
Buy passChild 0–6
Child (6 & Under)
Free
Free skiing for children 6 and under at Cascade Mountain. Wisconsin's best money-saving deals in winter sports with kids ski free program and manageable crowd sizes.
Buy passSenior 65–99
Senior Full Day
US$69up to US$85 peak
Senior lift ticket for Cascade Mountain in Wisconsin. Discounted access to the Midwest's premier skiing with day and night skiing options near Madison and Milwaukee.
Buy passChild 7–12
Junior Ticket (Unaccompanied)
US$59up to US$75 peak
Junior lift ticket for children skiing without an adult at Cascade Mountain. Safety-focused Wisconsin resort with excellent ski instruction and terrain for developing young skiers.
Buy passHalf-day passes
Adult 18–64
Half Day
US$59up to US$75 peak
Half day skiing at Cascade Mountain starting in the afternoon. Wisconsin skiing with limited daily capacity to keep wait times low and provide the best guest experience.
Buy passAdult 18–64
Night Skiing
US$45up to US$55 peak
Night skiing at Cascade Mountain with extensive lighted terrain. Wisconsin's best night skiing experience with well-groomed slopes and family-friendly atmosphere.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 18–64
Platinum Season Pass
US$599
Unlimited access to Cascade Mountain all season with no blackout dates. Wisconsin's premier season pass includes guest privileges and access to special events and programs.
Buy passLift tickets FAQ
How much does a Cascade Mountain day pass cost?
Cascade Mountain day passes range from US$45 to US$99 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Cascade Mountain lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Cascade Mountain lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Cascade Mountain, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Cascade Mountain lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Cascade Mountain - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Cascade Mountain lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Cascade Mountain offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Cascade Mountain directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Cascade Mountain.
More Cascade Mountain intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.