Wyoming, Usa
Snowy Range
33 runs, 75 acres at 8,796ft base in Medicine Bow National Forest. Closest ski area to Laramie.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
7 Dec 2025
Closes
29 Mar 2026
Days open
112
Annual snow
19ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Snowy Range's summit reaches 9,633 feet, dropping 837 vertical feet to a base at 8,796 feet across 33 runs spread over 75 acres in the Medicine Bow National Forest. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent advanced and 30 per cent beginner, with no expert-rated runs. The 8,796-foot base is among the highest of any Wyoming ski area. Average annual snowfall reaches roughly 230 inches, and the resort carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation.
At 75 acres, Snowy Range is one of the smallest ski areas in Wyoming, with 33 runs packed into a compact footprint relative to its run count. The 837-foot vertical drop is modest, suiting the resort's intermediate-leaning terrain split. Three lifts serve the full mountain, keeping travel between runs short. The absence of expert-rated terrain makes this a more approachable mountain than nearby higher-vertical resorts.
Snowy Range sits within the Medicine Bow National Forest, an area used historically by the Northern Arapaho, Oglala Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, Eastern Shoshone and White River Ute peoples. The Snowy Range itself was named in 1871 for the high peaks that hold snow through summer. Nearby Snowy Range Lodge, built in 1919 and completed in 1924, predates the ski area and now sits on the National Register of Historic Places. The ski area's high-elevation forest setting gives it a more rugged, undeveloped character than Wyoming's larger destination resorts.
With no major pass affiliation, Snowy Range operates independently of the Ikon, Epic, Indy and Mountain Collective networks used by larger Wyoming resorts. Adult day tickets range from 54 to 74 US dollars depending on date and peak status, with a season pass priced at 399 dollars. A senior ticket for skiers 70 and over is free. The resort suits University of Wyoming students and Laramie-area locals seeking an accessible, affordable mountain over a destination resort experience.
837ft
Vertical
33
Runs
75 acres
Skiable
19ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
33 runs across 75 acres skiable
Snowy Range spreads 33 runs across 75 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 10 beginner runs to find your feet and 10 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
33
runs
33 runs across 4 grades
Beginner10 runs · 30%
Intermediate13 runs · 40%
Advanced10 runs · 30%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Snowy Range
The 2025-26 season at Snowy Range ran from 7 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, a roughly sixteen-week window. The resort's high base elevation of 8,796 feet supports a reasonably long season despite its small size and modest 837-foot vertical drop. Season dates shift year to year based on snowpack in the Medicine Bow National Forest. The late March close is typical for a mountain at this elevation without a major snowmaking investment.
Average annual snowfall of roughly 230 inches supports Snowy Range's season length, drawing on the Medicine Bow range's position to catch weather systems crossing southeastern Wyoming. The mountain's 8,796-foot base helps retain snow better than lower-elevation areas nearby. Specific snowmaking coverage is not confirmed in available resort information, suggesting a heavier reliance on natural snowfall than at larger, investment-backed resorts. Base depth and season totals vary year to year with Medicine Bow snowpack.
January and February typically offer the most reliable conditions once the season's snowpack has built up across the compact 75-acre terrain. The resort's proximity to Laramie, 32 miles away, makes it a practical option for University of Wyoming students and staff throughout the winter. Weekday visits are likely quieter than weekends, given the resort's role serving a local rather than destination market. Late-season conditions in March can vary with Medicine Bow's spring snowpack pattern.
Snowy Range does not appear to operate night skiing or a documented events calendar based on available resort information. The area's role as an accessible, affordable mountain for the Laramie region shapes its operating priorities more than event programming. The historic Snowy Range Lodge nearby, dating to 1924, offers a separate lodging and dining draw beyond the ski area itself. As one of Wyoming's smaller ski areas, the calendar centres on straightforward, reliable weekend and holiday operation.
Season 2025 - 2026
7 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
112
Days open
19 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Snowy Range, and where to stay
Snowy Range sits within the Medicine Bow National Forest in southeastern Wyoming, roughly five miles from the small town of Centennial. Base elevation is 8,796 feet, with the summit reaching 9,633 feet across an 837-foot vertical drop. The Snowy Range peaks themselves, visible from the ski area, hold snow through much of the summer, the source of the range's 1871 name. The surrounding forest is high-elevation and undeveloped rather than a built-up resort corridor.
Laramie, home to the University of Wyoming, lies 32 miles away, making Snowy Range the closest ski area to the university town. Centennial, the nearer of the two, offers a smaller service town directly on the approach route. The Medicine Bow National Forest carries deep historical significance, having been used by the Northern Arapaho, Oglala Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, Eastern Shoshone and White River Ute peoples. The historic Snowy Range Lodge, built in the 1920s, sits nearby as a separate lodging landmark.
Wyoming Highway 130, the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, provides the main access route from Laramie through Centennial to the ski area. The drive from Laramie takes under an hour under normal winter conditions, climbing steadily into the Medicine Bow range. Winter driving on the byway can include snowpack and closures during heavy storms, given the route's high-elevation forest crossing. No public transport service runs to the resort, making a car the only practical way to arrive.
Laramie Regional Airport offers limited commercial service and is the nearest airport, roughly 32 miles from the resort. Denver International Airport, around three hours south by road, offers substantially more flight options for visitors from further afield. Cheyenne Regional Airport provides a closer but more limited alternative to Denver. Most visitors drive to Snowy Range from Laramie or Denver rather than flying directly into a nearby regional airport.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Snowy Range, powered by Stay22.
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Lift system
Snowy Range runs three lifts: one double chair, one triple chair and one surface lift, serving 33 runs across the mountain's 75 acres. There is no quad chair, gondola or high-speed installation. This compact lift network suits the mountain's small footprint and moderate 837-foot vertical drop. The three lifts keep the entire run network within easy reach of a single base area.
The triple chair provides the highest capacity of the three lifts, reaching the upper mountain from the base. The double chair serves as a secondary route, covering a different sector of the mountain's 33 runs. The surface lift is dedicated to the beginner zone, matching the resort's 30 per cent beginner terrain share. None of the three lifts are modern high-speed detachable installations, consistent with the resort's small scale.
All three lifts return to a single base area within the Medicine Bow National Forest, with no mid-mountain facility separating sectors. The double and triple chairs together cover the bulk of the 837-foot vertical drop, while the surface lift handles only the lower learning zone. The compact 75-acre footprint means skiers can access most of the mountain's terrain without long traverses between lift-served zones. This simple layout suits a mountain built for accessible, affordable skiing rather than complex terrain navigation.
Snowy Range's lift infrastructure has remained a modest three-lift network through its operating history, without the major capacity upgrades seen at larger Wyoming resorts. No new lift installation has been documented in available resort information. The resort's affordability and accessible terrain, rather than lift infrastructure, appear to be its primary draw for the Laramie and University of Wyoming market. Investment priorities for this small, forest-based ski area are not detailed in available resort information.
3lifts across 3 types
1
Triple Chair
1
Double Chair
1
Surface Lift
Snowy Range lift system
Snowy Range is served by 3 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Snowy Range intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.