Granite Peak
58 runs, 700ft vertical, 155 acres on Rib Mountain near Wausau. Wisconsin's steepest, largest ski area.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
27 Nov 2026
Closes
4 Apr 2027
Days open
128
Annual snow
65in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Granite Peak's summit reaches 1,943 feet, dropping 700 vertical feet to a base at 1,243 feet across 58 runs spread over 155 acres on Rib Mountain near Wausau, Wisconsin. Terrain splits 45 per cent advanced, 24 per cent each beginner and intermediate, and 7 per cent expert, a notably steep mix for a Midwest resort. Average annual snowfall is low at roughly 65 inches, so the resort depends heavily on snowmaking. Granite Peak operates its own Legendary Pass, shared with Lutsen Mountains and other affiliated areas.
Ten lifts, including four quads, one six-pack and two triples, serve the 58-run network, giving Granite Peak the largest lift count of any Wisconsin ski area. The 700-foot vertical drop and steep terrain mix make it Wisconsin's largest and most advanced-leaning resort. The mountain sits within Rib Mountain State Park, one of the oldest ski areas in North America. Night skiing runs alongside daytime operations.
The Wausau Kiwanis Club donated land on Rib Mountain to the state in 1924, with the state acquiring further acreage soon after. The ski area opened in 1937, among the first in North America, with the Civilian Conservation Corps building the first downhill runs and tow ropes during the 1930s. A shelter house opened in 1939, described at the time as among the finest structures of its kind in the Midwest, hosting the Wausau Ski Club's first official function. Night skiing arrived in 1955 with 28 spotlights, and snowmaking followed in 1958, decades before it became standard at most competitors.
Granite Peak's Legendary Pass gives access alongside Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota and other affiliated areas under the same network. Adult full-day tickets range from 65 to 109 US dollars depending on date and time, with a discounted Wisconsin Wednesdays rate at 20 dollars and a Legendary Plus season pass at 699 dollars. The resort suits Wausau and central Wisconsin skiers seeking the state's largest and steepest terrain. Its operation on state park land under a private lease with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is a distinctive arrangement among Midwest resorts.
699ft
Vertical
58
Runs
155 acres
Skiable
65in
Annual snow
The Terrain
58 runs across 155 acres skiable
Granite Peak, on Rib Mountain beside Wausau in central Wisconsin, is a compact but busy hill with 58 runs across about 155 acres (63 hectares). The base is 1,240 ft (379 m) and the summit 1,940 ft (592 m), a vertical drop of 700 ft (213 m). Advanced runs lead at 45%, with 24% beginner, 24% intermediate and 7% expert, which makes it steeper than most Midwest hills. Four quads, a six-person chair, two triples and three surface lifts keep skiers moving, and the high-capacity lift line-up makes the best use of a small footprint on the hill.
Rib Mountain rises abruptly from the surrounding plain, so the runs are short but fairly steep, with seven tree areas, four mogul runs and several terrain parks adding variety. Groomed runs fan out from the top, and the short pitches make for quick, repeatable laps. Granite Peak suits advanced skiers wanting a quick, steep fix, along with park riders, learners and families from across Wisconsin. It is honest to call it a local hill, but the quality of grooming and the lift system give it a bigger feel than the acreage implies.
Terrain split
58
runs
58 runs across 4 grades
Beginner14 runs · 24%
Intermediate14 runs · 24%
Advanced26 runs · 45%
Expert4 runs · 7%
Time it right
When to visit Granite Peak
The 2025-26 season at Granite Peak 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 Granite Peak's modest natural snowfall totals.
Average annual snowfall of roughly 65 inches is low even by Midwest standards, meaning Granite Peak depends on snowmaking for nearly all of its season-long conditions. This makes temperature, far more than storm cycles, the key variable in operating reliability. Base depth is maintained largely through machine-made snow, a practice the resort has followed since adopting snowmaking in 1958. Specific current snowmaking coverage percentage is not confirmed in available resort information.
Midwinter, from late December through February, typically offers the most reliable conditions once snowmaking has built a consistent base across the resort's advanced-leaning terrain. Night skiing sessions, a Granite Peak tradition dating to 1955, extend the useful hours of each day throughout the season. Weekend crowds are heavier than weekdays, given the resort's role as Wisconsin's largest ski area. Late-season visits into April can be inconsistent as temperatures warm.
Granite Peak's calendar centres on serving skiers seeking the state's steepest terrain rather than festival programming. The resort's Legendary Pass connection to Lutsen Mountains and other affiliated areas ties its calendar loosely to a broader regional network. Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. As Wisconsin's largest and most advanced-leaning resort, the calendar leans toward serving committed skiers over beginner-focused programming.
Season 2026 - 2027
27 Nov 2026
Opens
4 Apr 2027
Closes
128
Days open
65 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Granite Peak
Daily snow reports at Granite Peak go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
0 in
Snowiest day
19 Dec 2025
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
0 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Granite Peak, and where to stay
Granite Peak sits on Rib Mountain, within Rib Mountain State Park, in the Town of Rib Mountain, Marathon County, Wisconsin, just south of Wausau. Base elevation is 1,243 feet, with the summit reaching 1,943 feet across a 700-foot vertical drop over 155 acres. This is central Wisconsin, with Rib Mountain itself a well-known local landmark and one of the oldest ski areas in North America. The surrounding state park adds hiking and other recreation beyond the ski area.
Wausau is the nearest city of size, providing the bulk of lodging, dining and services beyond the resort itself. The Wausau Kiwanis Club's 1924 land donation to the state set the stage for the ski area's development on what was already public park land. The broader central Wisconsin region carries a mix of small-city and rural character. Green Bay and the Fox Valley lie a reasonable drive to the east.
US Highway 51 and Interstate 39 provide the main access route from Wausau and the broader central Wisconsin highway network. The drive from Wausau takes only a few minutes given the resort's position just south of the city. Milwaukee and Madison lie roughly two to three hours south by road. Winter driving conditions in central Wisconsin can include snow and ice, though major routes are generally well-maintained.
Central Wisconsin Airport, serving the Wausau area, is the nearest airport with limited commercial service. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport both offer substantially more flight options but sit two to three hours away by road. Most visitors reach Granite Peak by car directly from the Wausau area or drive up from Milwaukee or Madison. No rail service reaches the resort directly.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Granite Peak, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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30 Oct 2026
Granite Peak Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 3 Nov 2026
1,942ft
summit
+0in
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast45°F / 61°F · S 12mph
Snowfall
24 hours
0in
48 hours
0in
7 days
0in
Base depth
0in
Season total
0in
Total lifts10
Live open status isn’t available right now.
27 Nov 2026 - 4 Apr 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 44 hours· Updated Nov 4, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
1,801 ftUpdated Nov 4, 2026 at 4:02 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0"
Days 8–14
0.0"
Wed, Nov 4
Drizzle
Temp61° / 45°°F
Snow0.0"(39%)
Wind12 mph S
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Granite Peak snow report
Get the latest Granite Peak snow report — real-time snowfall, snow depth, and mountain weather for this Wisconsin resort, spanning 379m to 592m in elevation.
Snow measurements
Snow depth at Granite Peak is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 213m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.
Weather conditions
Current weather conditions affect snow quality. Cold temperatures with low wind typically preserve snow quality, while warm temperatures or rain can impact conditions negatively — something worth watching closely at Granite Peak's 379m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.
Data sources
Snowfall and depth figures for Granite Peak come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 10 lifts, including 4 quad chairlifts and a 6-person chairlift.
When to check
Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.