Snowy Range
33 runs, 75 acres at 8,796ft base in Medicine Bow National Forest. Closest ski area to Laramie.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
11 Dec 2026
Closes
28 Mar 2027
Days open
107
Annual snow
230in
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
230in
Annual snow
The Terrain
33 runs across 75 acres skiable
Snowy Range is a small, family-oriented ski area in the Medicine Bow National Forest, covering just 75 acres (30 hectares). Its base sits at 8,800 ft (2,681 m), among the highest in Wyoming, rising to 9,630 ft (2,936 m) for a vertical of 840 ft (255 m). The 33 runs divide into 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced, with no expert-rated terrain. A double chair, a triple chair and a surface lift handle uphill traffic, and annual snowfall is reported at about 230 inches. It is a compact mountain where nothing is far from the base.
Runs are short, so the appeal is repeat laps and an easy day rather than big descents. Intermediate cruisers make up the largest share, advanced skiers have some steeper pitches, and a terrain park gives riders something to practise on. Beyond skiing, night tubing and child care are offered on weekends, which makes it simple for families to spend a full day here. Snowy Range suits learners, families and University of Wyoming students based in Laramie, about 32 miles away, who want a friendly, affordable local hill with high-elevation snow and none of the queues found at bigger areas.
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 2026 - 2027
11 Dec 2026
Opens
28 Mar 2027
Closes
107
Days open
230 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Snowy Range
Daily snow reports at Snowy Range go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
6 in
Snowiest day
28 Dec 2025
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
49 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
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
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Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Snowy Range Webcams
4 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Snowy Range's live webcams
Check live conditions across Snowy Range with 4 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
- Base8,835ft
- This Snowy Range web cam overlooks the base area operations from the heart of Medicine Bow National Forest. Perfect for checking morning conditions and activity at the resort's main hub.
- Sundance Lift9,350ft
- Looking out over one of the resort's primary lifts, this Snowy Range web cam monitors the Sundance area and surrounding terrain. Essential for checking conditions on the mountain's intermediate runs.
- Chute Lift12,008ft
- Located at the Chute lift area, this Snowy Range web cam provides views of the resort's more challenging terrain. Ideal for advanced riders checking conditions before heading to the steeper sections of the mountain.
- Colt Carpet8,835ft
- This Snowy Range web cam surveys the beginner learning area and magic carpet lift. Perfect for families and newcomers monitoring conditions in the resort's dedicated learning zone.
Snowy Range snow cams FAQ
How often do Snowy Range snow cams update?
All Snowy Range 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 Snowy Range.
Which Snowy Range webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Chute Lift webcam at 3,660m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Snowy Range webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Snowy Range lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Snowy Range 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 Snowy Range snow cams?
Check Snowy Range 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 Snowy Range lift tickets?
Use our Snowy Range 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 Snowy Range webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Snowy Range snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Snowy Range intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.