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If you missed out on the big West Coast dumps, or just haven’t gotten your fill, you still have time. The plentiful snow that’s graced the western half of the country is leading to longer ski seasons and extended closing dates. Already, several Colorado resorts—including , Aspen, and Copper—have officially extended their ski season, as have several .

But the decision to stay open is more complicated than reviewing snowfall totals. According to Katherine Fuller, the senior communications manager at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area in Colorado, the decision to stay open is dependent on several factors.

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“Season length also depends on temperatures. Our super-high elevation plus north-facing terrain are very helpful, and so snowfall is not the only factor. If it stays cold in the spring, that helps the snow stick around longer,” she said. “Our season length also has to do with our snowmaking efforts that help set a solid, lasting base.”

With so many elements to consider, it’s no wonder many resorts wait until the last minute to announce a season extension. These ski areas, however, are renowned for their late closures—and a few got so much snow this year, we have a hard time believing spring skiing won’t turn into early summer turns.

Ski Areas Where You Can Ski Into Late Spring and Beyond

Timberline, Ore.

Timberline is legendary among skiers who can’t fulfill their turn quota in the standard 6-month ski season. The ski area regularly stays open until early September thanks to its location high on Mt. Hood, a volcano that is also Oregon’s tallest peak at 11,245 feet.

Historically, most of the mountain closes in late May, which is when the Palmer Express quad starts turning, providing ski access from early June through early September. The result is an impressive 10-month ski season.

Unlike many Western ski areas, Timberline is their historical snowfall average, but even if the ski season doesn’t extend further into September this year, it still boasts the longest ski season in North America.

• Expected closing date: early September

Palisades Tahoe, Calif.

It’s been a snowy year at Palisades Tahoe, with their website reporting so far and more on the way. That number is particularly impressive when you consider the mountain typically averages around 400 inches, a number they passed back in February.

Right now, Palisades Tahoe has a confirmed May 29 closing date, on their website that they “will likely extend the season beyond May,” explaining that “Our plan is to go as long as conditions allow and if that means skiing and riding into June and potentially through the 4th of July, then we’re in.”

• Expected closing date: May 29 officially, but likely later

Arapahoe Basin, Colo.

This year, Arapahoe Basin will likely hold the distinction of being both the first Colorado ski area to open and the last to close. The lifts , long before most Colorado resorts, and are expected to continue through June.

According to Fuller at Arapahoe Basin, “We are aiming to stay open until June 4, at least, but we usually don’t know when we’re going to close until a couple of weeks out. As always, we keep the season going as long as possible. We will take winter all the way down to one lift and one run,” she said, making it clear that “this is not looking like a July 4 year.” There have been seven in A Basin’s history. “But a lot depends on the snowfall we get this month and next because it will still contribute significantly to our base.”

In 2021 and 2022, the ski area closed on June 6 and 5, respectively.

• Expected closing date: June 4

Whistler Blackcomb, B.C.��

Historically, Whistler Blackcomb has one of the longest ski seasons in North America thanks to a northern coastal location that blesses the peaks with around 448 inches of snow a year. As of writing, they’re sitting pretty with 285 inches and are in the middle of what is historically a snowy month at Whistler Blackcomb.

Currently, Whistler Mountain is expected to close on April 16, while Blackcomb Mountain, which has a higher elevation and sits further east, is set to .

• Expected closing date: May 22

Mammoth Mountain, Calif.

It’s been a big year for Mammoth Mountain. At the time of writing, they have 634 inches of snow at Main Lodge and over 800 at the summit. And with each passing storm they’re inching closer to the 2010/2011 season snowfall record of 668 inches at the Main Lodge. No matter how this season pans out, they’ve had a banner year, easily surpassing their 400-inch annual average.

The ski area hasn’t released an official closing date, but it did announce today (March 21) that it plans to stay open through July. “We expect to be skiing and riding long into summer,” said Lauren Burke, the communications director for Mammoth Mountain. “We are sitting on a historic amount of snow right now—that, coupled with our high elevation, allows us to regularly stay open into summer.”

Burke said they hope to have a more concrete closing date in the next few weeks, but we’re expecting big things and some killer summer skiing from Mammoth.��

• Expected closing date: At least through July

Other Resorts That Have Extended Their Seasons (as of March 21)

• Steamboat, Colo.: April 16
• Mt. Ashland, Ore.: April 23
• Alta, Utah: April 23
• Aspen Mountain: April 23
• Park City, Utah: April 23
• Kirkwood, Calif.: April 30
• Copper Mountain, Colo.: May 7
• Snowbird, Utah: Daily through May 14, weekends through May 29
• Solitude, Utah: Daily through May, weekends through May 21

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As skiers, we put a lot of stock in certain resort attributes: snow, challenge, and lifts are among the top-three qualities that readers rank as most important when choosing a ski area. But terrain variety—the amount of different types of terrain—is also incredibly important, especially if you have skiers of various abilities in your crew. After all, it’s a vacation, and the overarching theme should be having fun. Getting stuck on runs that are too steep, or lapping low-angle groomers all day when you want to be bashing bumps, isn’t exactly fun.��

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Our advice: don’t overlook variety of terrain as a highly important metric when choosing a ski resort to visit. The following three ranked at the top of Ski magazine’s 2022 Reader Resort Survey for their varied terrain, so we asked around and identified some of the best runs and pods for every ability level at each. If you’re striving to satisfy a family or ski group with beginner-to-expert skiers, consider one of these for your next trip.

Top Three Resorts in the West for Terrain Variety

No. 3:

Known for some of the best views in skidom, as well as hike-to and backcountry access that attracts world-class skiers to the region, serves up a surprising amount of varied terrain throughout its 2,000-plus skiable acres. The best part? You don’t have to be a rippin’ skier to take in these San Juan vistas, thanks to lower-angle terrain that tops out at elevations as high as 12,000 feet. Here’s where to find the goods at Telluride.

Terrain-Variety Score: 9.27/10

What Readers Say

“Telluride is a skier’s mountain. There is terrain for beginners to experts, with amazing backcountry areas that will challenge the best and open horizons for newbies.”

Best Beginner Terrain at Telluride��

Sundance: Although upper Sundance is rated blue and lower Sundance is green, as a whole we’d call the run a wonderful advanced-beginner trail that’s long, wide, and boasts just enough pitch to help you get moving at a good clip. It’s also located in a pod comprised of all beginner terrain, so you needn’t worry about speeding yahoos taking you out. Chair: Sunshine Express

Best Intermediate Terrain at Telluride��

See Forever: Revelation Bowl is wide-open, usually groomed, and serves up views of the knife-tipped San Juans that are among the most scenic at the resort. The rest of Revelation Bowl is best for experts, but See Forever offers intermediates the chance to soak in the same vistas on an iconic run that’s a long, cruisey dream. Chair: Revelation��

Best Expert Terrain at Telluride��

Bushwacker: All the terrain off the Plunge chair will give experts a chance to strut their stuff, and Bushwacker, with its consistently steep, thigh-burning pitch, is one of the most classic black diamonds at the resort. More challenge? No problem. Double-black Power Line adds moguls to kick it up a notch. Chair: Plunge��

Best Extreme Terrain at Telluride��

Gold Hill Chutes: The hike-to terrain off Palmyra Peak may not be that much steeper than what you’ll find off Plunge, but add in a 15-to-30-minute hike at 13,000 feet, and exposed rocks and such, and this becomes an endeavor for only the fittest and strongest of skiers. The chutes themselves are technical, with rocks, stumps, cliffs, and hazards. But when the snow is good, there’s no better way to get the adrenaline pumping at Telluride. Chair: Revelation��

No. 2:

Most people think of the iconic Big Couloir when it comes to but this massive resort really does have all types of terrain—and lots of it. With an astounding 5,800 skiable acres that range from the mellow cruisers of Spanish Peaks to the triple blacks off the Lone Peak tram, Big Sky delivers in spades. Even beginners could spend a week here exploring the greens and not get bored. Here’s what Big Sky has to offer when it comes to terrain variety.

Terrain-Variety Score: 9.39/10

What Readers Say

“Big Sky is a large resort with an outstanding lift system that makes crowds almost nonexistent. There is a great variety of terrain for all abilities, and its grooming is both impeccable and there is lots of it. I would recommend Big Sky to almost all type of skiers, from families, couples and groups and to those seeking the most challenging steeps or those who are focused on cruising groomers.”��

Best Beginner Terrain at Big Sky

Jaywalk: The green runs off the Explorer chair are the most accessible beginner terrain on the mountain and just long enough to really get your ski legs under you. When you feel like you’ve got more stamina, ride the Swift Current six-pack and try Jaywalk, a cruisey green with great views. Chairs: Explorer and Swift Current��

Best Intermediate Terrain at Big Sky

�Ჹ�Բ�������’s: Just about anything off the Ramcharger eight-person chair will float any intermediate skier’s boat, but especially long groomers such as Hangman’s and Ambush. Chair: Ramcharger Express��

Best Expert Terrain at Big Sky

Liberty Bowl: It’s easy to become so enthralled with all the frontside terrain at Big Sky that the back side gets forgotten. Experts, don’t make that mistake. Liberty Bowl has some of the most fun, moderately angled terrain at the resort, and it funnels down into awesome glades to boot. Chair: Lone Peak��

Best Extreme Terrain at Big Sky

North Summit Snowfield: This wide-open, north-facing terrain empties into a series of seriously steep chutes. Sign out with ski patrol, and ask about conditions and where to find the best lines. Chair: Lone Peak

No. 1:

That ranks No. 1 in terrain variety in the Reader Resort Survey year after year speaks to its ability to serve all skiers and abilities on its 4,700 acres spread across two distinct peaks. Yes, there’s amazing above-tree-line bowls, chutes, and couloirs. But there’s also winding groomers and wide corduroy-plastered cruisers that seem to go on and on. With over 5,000 vertical feet, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Here’s a sampling of Whistler Blackcomb’s impressive terrain variety.

Terrain-Variety Score: 9.54/10

What Readers Say

“Spanky’s Ladder, long, sweet-pitch giant slalom runs, Secret Bowl, Symphony & Harmony Bowls, and Whistler’s double-black runs make for the most outstanding variety in skiing across the continent. Whistler Blackcomb is the granddaddy of skiing in North America.”

Best Beginner Terrain at Whistler Blackcomb

Green Line: Whistler offers incredible opportunities for novice skiers to get up off the bunny slopes and take in some of the Coast Range views. Green Line is the location of the famous Inukshuk stone structure, plus you can see the famous Black Tusk volcano in the distance. Chair: Seventh Heaven Express

Best Intermediate Terrain at Whistler Blackcomb

Symphony Bowl: More of a terrain pod than a trail, per se, Symphony Bowl is striped with blue cruisers, including main drag Adagio, the Glissando Glades—widely spaced, low-angle trees—and Encore Ridge. It’s truly a playground for intermediates and a testament to Whistler’s variety amid blue-rated terrain. Chair: Symphony Express

Best Expert Terrain at Whistler Blackcomb

Blackcomb Glacier: The Showcase T-bar is an experience in itself and something all high-intermediate to expert skiers should ride. Showcase Bowl is rated as blue, but it drops into a web of black-diamond trails and glades, including Dave’s Day Off and Overbite. Chair: Showcase

Best Extreme Terrain at Whistler Blackcomb

Saudan Couloir: Home to the Saudan Couloir Ski Race Extreme, this Blackcomb Mountain legend is steep, technical, and narrow, making it one of the premier spots on the mountain to test one’s skills. Chair: Seventh Heaven Express

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Cyclists who love the Dark Crystal Trail, located in Whistler, British Columbia, have Scott Veach to thank for its creation. Veach is a mountain biker who has been building trails for 20 years. With his as his mode of transport, he spends 40 days annually working on and improving Dark Crystal, which winds through old-growth forest and over moss-covered granite rocks. This film by ��shares Veach’s story.

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On Tuesday, March 30, Whistler Blackcomb, the��, closed for the season��eight weeks ahead of schedule. The decision was made��after the British Columbia government ordered the resort to shut down until April 19��to quell the spread of COVID-19. Originally, Whistler Mountain was scheduled to close April 18, and Blackcomb Peak was slated to stay open until May 24. Neither will reopen this season.

At a press conference on March 29, provincial health minister Dr. Bonnie Henry cited a surge in cases in the Whistler community��and the need to curb travel-related spread. New cases of COVID-19 in the Howe Sound area, where Whistler is located, rose from a total of����during��the first week of March to��. The worrisome Brazil P.1 variant, first discovered in January, is also on the rise throughout British Columbia. The Globe and Mail reported that it is the of the variant outside Brazil.��

P.1��is more contagious, can cause more severe symptoms, and, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control, may be able to reinfect people who’ve already had the virus. It also may not be as responsive to current treatments and vaccines as milder coronavirus strains. New cases of the variant identified in other regions of��Canada have been linked back to travelers spending time in the Whistler area. The surge has since��sparked other restrictions, including a three-week ban on indoor dining and drinking, indoor group fitness classes, and indoor worship services.

Whistler Blackcomb was the only ski resort ordered to close, but its decision to immediately end the season caused a domino effect. The next day,�� posted on Instagram that it was ceasing operations for the remainder of the season due to COVID-19.�� also announced that its��season would end early, on April 5 instead of April 11. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the province�� 1,013 new cases of the virus, its highest-ever single-day total.

The scenario is a replay of last March, when ski-resort towns like , became early COVID-19 hot spots. On March 10, 2020, after the World Health Organization officially declared the��pandemic, ski areas everywhere began shutting down early.��Whistler Blackcomb’s parent company, Vail Resorts,����last season, on March 15.��

The 2020–21 season was meant to be different, with in place for social distancing and sanitation, and restrictions on the number of people who could attend group ski lessons. Whistler Blackcomb was one of many large resorts (including ��and����in Colorado��and ��in Utah)��to implement a reservation system to manage mountain capacity. Skiers at Whistler Blackcomb were required to purchase lift tickets ahead of time online. Even season pass holders had to reserve ski days in advance. Masks were mandatory, regardless of a person’s vaccination status or the rules in their home state.��

The changes seemed to be working. In some instances, ski resorts were even praised for not contributing to an increase in COVID-19. In��January, for example, public-health officials in eight tourism-dependent communities of��Colorado’s high country ��that they had not linked any outbreaks to ski areas.��

“While the Provincial Health Order caught us all by surprise, we fully support the government’s direction and we’re doing our part to comply,” said Geoff Buchheister, vice president��and chief operating officer of Whistler Blackcomb, in a statement issued after business hours on Tuesday. “At this time, we believe the best thing we can do to support the order is to begin winding down winter operations. Our full attention will now turn to getting our resort ready to safely open for summer.” Summertime operations include downhill mountain biking, hiking, and skiing on Horstman Glacier.

Technically, Canadians aren’t supposed to be traveling outside of their communities, let alone provinces, to ski this year. But it’s a government recommendation, not a mandate, and it’s not enforced. “It’s a little bit confusing, from a provincial public-health standpoint,” says Robin Richardson, a Whistler Blackcomb season pass holder who drives 50 minutes from his home in Squamish to ski. “There’s no nonessential travel, but a major tourist hub is open.”

And there’s no doubt that tourists are there. “It’s busier than a lot of people expected,” says Mike Douglas, a professional skier and filmmaker who’s lived in Whistler for more than 30 years. “It feels like there have been people from everywhere here, but especially from eastern Canada.”

Still, locals were caught off guard by the province’s order. Whistler mayor Jack Crompton told�� that the community was in a state of shock. “No one was expecting it, because of how well Whistler Blackcomb was managing the mountain,” says Whistler resident and skier Hélène Castonguay, a retired nurse who was skiing Whistler Blackcomb on its final day in operation. “There’s always going to be some person not wearing a mask, but it was 99 percent safe.”��

Whistler already managed a spike in COVID-19 cases, in January. Officials attributed the numbers at that time to holiday travel and celebration. So for spring break in March, the province tried to be proactive, putting Whistler on a priority list for vaccinations. “They did a three-day vaccination blitz in town and vaccinated a ton of people in the community,” says Douglas. “Everyone was really jazzed for spring.” But the measures weren’t enough.��

Some locals have taken to the internet to express��, but the majority of the online responses have been supportive, thanking the resort for the four months they were able to operate.

Others are processing the situation with wry humor, like the Instagram account��. The order to close the resort was delivered on a perfect bluebird day, and the account�� of actor Michael Cera smiling brightly, with the words:��“It’s a great day…” Below, another photo of Cera looking off camera, suddenly despondent, continued the phrasing:��“to be sad.”��

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It’s not all that often that your accommodation��is the cheapest part of your ski weekend. But if you’ve never considered hostels to be an option, you’ve been overspending: boutique bunkhouses are multiplying in the United States, and they often offer many of the same amenities you’d find in a nice hotel at a fraction of the price.

These hostels in prime ski areas in the U.S. and Canada are all under $100 a night. That’s cheap enough to justify taking a vacation day to ski for a third day. Or call in sick—we won’t tell anyone.

Loge Camps

Mount Shasta, California

��is a small chain that buys old hotels and motels and renovates them into hipper spaces. Its Mount Shasta location, about 15 minutes from the slopes, offers traditional bunk-style hostel rooms as well as private, dog-friendly options (from $50). Expect to find a chill vibe here, where you might even make a few new friends at the��brand-new café and bar and��fire pit, to the sound of��occasional live music. Come spring, the property will also introduce a few campsites.��Cross-country skis��and snowshoes��will be available for rent on-site starting this month (from $15).

Park City Hostel

Park City, Utah

Stay minutes away from Park City’s ski resorts��for a tenth—or less—of the cost of staying at a local��on-mountain resort. ��(from $33)��is close to free public transportation that runs to all of the nearby ski areas, and it also runs its own trips to Snowbasin once a week. There are bunk rooms,��private rooms for couples and families, a spacious common room and kitchen with a fireplace and pool table, and plenty of areas to store your gear.

Homestyle Hostel Vermont

Ludlow, Vermont

��is just a mile from , and you’ll find amenities here you’re likely not used to from a hostel. All guests get complementary breakfast and can take a free shuttle from the property to the mountain. In addition to traditional bunk rooms, it��also offers a��variety of private accommodations for couples, families, and larger groups (from $55). Rooms are outfitted with white-noise machines to defend against snorers, and there’s an on-site restaurant, open on the weekends, so you can eat close to home after a long day of shredding.

The SnowMansion

Arroyo Seco, New Mexico

, in the artsy village of Arroyo Seco, has rooms varying from bunks for single travelers to private rooms for up to ten��people (from $38). It’s about 20 minutes from both Taos Ski Village��and the town of Taos—well worth an afternoon of exploration for its art galleries, incredible food, and historic homes. The hostel offers a particularly good deal for skiers who need to travel with pets: for��an extra $30 a day, you can leave your pet at the hostel while you’re skiing, and the staff will walk them and make sure they have fresh water.

Vail Bunkhouse

Minturn, Colorado

��is between Vail and Beaver Creek, about ten��minutes from each resort, in a small town with a lot of character and plenty of walkable dining options. Unlike a traditional bunk room, where privacy is at a minimum (if it exists at all), the beds here are a bit more podlike, with a wall that covers about two-thirds of the bed and a curtain to close it off entirely (from $52). This provides a bit of insulation from snorers and makes for��a super-cozy place to snuggle up with a book or journal. The property also offers a six-bunk room that can be rented in its entirety for a group of friends or family��and a four-bunk room that converts into two bunks and a king-size bed. Guests receive a 20 percent discount on��rentals from , which are brought right to the hostel.

Bivvi Hostel

Breckenridge, Colorado

is about as posh as it gets for a hostel. When you walk in and see the bright-blue antler chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling and the massive stone fireplace, you might wonder at first whether you’ve wandered into the wrong place. But you haven’t—for a fraction of the cost of other Breckenridge hotels, and just a ten-minute walk to downtown, you can snag a supercomfy twin bunk here, free homemade breakfasts,��and access to the hot tub (from $70). If you want to get fancy, the hostel also offers private rooms, including one with its own tub.

Whistler Pangea Pod

Whistler, British Columbia

��offers 88 spacious one- and two-person pods in eight��separate rooms, including one for women only (from $43). Pods have full-size beds—so two adults can share one—and lockable luggage storage. There’s also space to keep��skis and bikes��in the so-called Toy Box.��Pangea Pod has a rooftop patio to enjoy the��view, and an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails.

The Hostel

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

��undeniably boasts��the best location on this list and��a screaming deal at that—it’s right in Teton Village, about a one-minute walk to the gondola at Jackson Hole. Both private rooms and bunks are available, as well as an array of amusements to help you get to know your fellow skiers, like Ping-Pong, pool, shuffleboard, and foosball tables (from $32). The property��also has an area to wax your skis��and accommodates pets in private rooms for��an extra $10 a night.

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It’s no surprise that the best way to save money on a ski trip is to plan ahead. Way ahead. Wait until the last minute, and you’ll pay top dollar on lift tickets, flights, and lodging. Of course, booking ahead means you’ll take a gamble on snow conditions, since you won’t know if there will be fresh powder or week-old hardpack until closer to go-time. But the savings you’ll get from these simple tricks makes the toss-up worth it.��

Go Early or Late Season

Resorts give out the best deals if you’re willing to come at the very beginning or very end of the season. Those are also��the least-crowded months to visit, due to uncertain snowfall. , California, will sell�� throughout December, including weekends and holidays, as long as you buy them online at least two days ahead of time.

, Utah, is offering�� if you book a trip for two nights or more at participating accommodations from November 23 to��December 19 and March 27 to April 19. , in Colorado, has��—a $50 savings—plus deals on rentals and lessons if you come for spring break and purchase tickets online at least 48 hours ahead of time.

Get Free Kids’��Passes��

Going on ski trips as a family can be ridiculously expensive. Between lift tickets, ski lessons, hotels, flights, and hot chocolate breaks, it all adds up. These ski resorts make it easier to come as a family. At , Maine, between January 5 to 10, if you stay three nights or longer at a resort hotel, your��—including lessons, tickets, and gear rental. At Colorado’s or ��and New Mexico’s or ,��kids ages 10 and under get a —no fine print, no blackout dates.

The����program from Vail Resorts��offers four free days of skiing, including first-timer lessons and gear rental, at resorts across Colorado, Utah, and British Columbia, including , , , and��.��In New York, a�� grants free lift tickets and discounted lessons at more than 20 ski areas, like , , and , if you apply online in advance. At , Colorado, if you purchase an adult five-or-more-day lift ticket,��kids get . At , Colorado, if you stay two or more nights in resort lodging, you’ll get�� for the under-12 crowd. California’s ��guarantees free passes for the same age group any day of winter.

Don’t Forget��Discounted Lodging with Your Ikon or Epic Pass

If you bought an��Ikon or Epic Pass, you��already have a season pass to dozens of world-class ski areas. But remember that they’ll also get you more savings on the ground. Some of the best deals include��, Idaho, where Epic Pass holders����on lodging at resort properties like the����(from $299) if you come during select dates, and at least����at hotels like the����(from $277) and the����(from $50) in the village at��, BC.

Ikon Pass holders get����at��, Wyoming, if you travel during specific weeks. Stay at����(from $199), at the base of��, California, for��. Mountain Collective and Ikon Pass holders also get����at the����(from $450), near the base of��, Colorado, when you stay two or more nights.

Visit Midweek

Weekends are always the busiest and most expensive time to visit a ski area. If you can plan a midweek trip, you’ll save money and avoid crowds. , Vermont, sells�� to its Mount��Ellen terrain on Thursdays throughout the season. , in Nevada’s Tahoe National Forest,��has throwback Tuesdays and Thursdays for most of the winter, with��. And West Virginia’s����has a�� that’s $99 for two people per night, including lift tickets and overnight lodging.

At , in British Columbia, a includes a stay in downtown Nelson’s , plus lift tickets for $86 per��day, per person, if you stay for three or more nights.��

Save While Giving��Back

Since 2008, , Oregon, has held��. Visitors can buy deeply discounted $49 lift tickets in advance and��use them on select dates throughout winter. This season, the dates are January 6 to��9; January 13 to 16; and April 27 through the end of the season, which is usually sometime in May. Mount��Bachelor donates 100 percent of the money raised from the tickets to its partner nonprofits around central Oregon, like the , , the , and more. Tickets are limited, so get them while they last. Meanwhile, at , California,�� take place throughout the season. You get a lift ticket for $25, and $5 from each ticket is donated to the .

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Spearhead Ridge, a��horseshoe-shaped��traverse connecting Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains in British Columbia, is��a backcountry ski zone renowned for its easy access. But it’s just this access that makes��the skiers in this film from ��second-guess whether or not they’re loving it to death.

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From the filmmaking collective , Trail’s Alive is an all-female mountain-bike production featuring riders , , and many others, showcasing their talent on two wheels.

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It doesn’t matter if you’re a longtime rider or a total newbie��at these��bike festivals,��the perks of being there are numerous—you can stock up on the latest gear (many festivals offer bike demos as part of the entry fee), learn critical skills,��join group rides, or grab a map and head out on your own. When you’re done riding, return��to the grounds for what��good festivals do best: music, food, and beer.

Sedona Mountain Bike Festival

Sedona, Arizona

Every March, the�� brings together thousands of singletrack fans for a laid-back gathering of riding, beer drinking, and gear testing. Its��three-day event pass grants access to demo fleets from more than 90 top mountain-bike brands, shuttled drop-offs to the area’s best trails, skills clinics, live music, food-truck fare, and craft beer. Riders get to traverse the scenic trail system within the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest, and proceeds from the event go toward��its maintenance.�� (from $169), a 20-minute shuttle ride from next year’s��event location at Posse Grounds Park,��has nine A-frame chalets that sleep up to five��and five two-person studios, plus an outdoor pool and private entry��to trailheads like Bell Rock and Slim Shady.

Sea Otter Classic

Monterey, California

As one of the oldest and most well-attended festivals in the country, the annual , held on the Pacific��coast in April, is a sight to behold. Started in 1991, the four-day gathering has a massive gear expo with over a thousand brands, as well as stunt shows, kids’ programs, and road and mountain-bike races for elites and recreational riders, who show up in numbers nearing 10,000. The competitions��cover almost every discipline, from cross-country and downhill to dual slalom, plus noncompetitive races for all ages. Camp on-site (from $70) or rent an RV from nearby ��(from $150) for the full festival experience. In 2017, the event expanded to Europe, too, with the still growing taking place every May in Costa Brava, Spain.

Crankworx

Whistler, British Columbia

is the ten-day mountain-bike party that has taken over this resort town��every August since 2004. Watch as the pros battle it out in downhill or best-trick contests, sign up for a women’s or adaptive group ride, get the family involved through Kidsworx, or check out the accompanying photo and film competitions. The centrally located�� (from $225) has 192 modern��rooms and a valet bike service. The event has also gone global: you’ll now find Crankworx in New Zealand and Austria, too.

Pedalpalooza��

Portland, Oregon

,��the monthlong tradition that takes place every June,��is as much a worthy bike festival as it is a way to experience the true spirit of Portland. It's��wacky collection of free, volunteer-organized events and gatherings includes��galactic disco rides, a banh mi–powered bike tour of the city, and the notorious local version of World Naked Bike Ride, which sees upward��of 10,000 participants. In true Portland style, there are group rides for every sector of the community, from vegans and��remote workers to human-rights activists and bookstore enthusiasts. The recently opened�� (from $179) has 179 design-forward rooms, plus bikes and film cameras to rent from an on-site gear shed.

Virginia Trail Festival

Stokesville, Virginia

Held over Memorial Day weekend, the����takes place within the 200,000-acre Shenandoah National Park, which is an easy 90-minute��drive from Washington, D.C.��Organized by local bike-touring outfitter Shenandoah Mountain Touring, it’s a family-friendly campout at the����(from $50), where you’ll have access to up to 500 miles of purpose-built mountain-bike trails from your tent and group meals prepared by volunteer cooks. After your ride, take a plunge in the North River, which flows through the campground. At night, post up around the campfire or stargaze from the on-site observatory.

Alyeska Bike Festival

Girdwood, Alaska

More and more��ski resorts are realizing they need to attract summertime visitors—and what better way to do that than by throwing a killer bike festival? Alyeska Ski Resort, located an hour by car from Anchorage, hosts the����at the start of��September to mark the final weekend of its summertime��bike park. Participants can ride lift-accessed downhill mountain-bike trails, sign up for dirt-jump contests and enduro races, or enter more lighthearted events like a tractor pull or pond crossing. Stay at the 300-room, château-style�� (from $299) so you can hop on the aerial tram at��sunset and soak in the saltwater pool at the end of the day.

Rebecca’s Private Idaho��

Ketchum, Idaho

Join professional cyclist Rebecca Rusch in her hometown of Ketchum for��, a bike festival over Labor Day weekend that features gravel races of varying lengths, from 18 miles to a four-day stage race. The event raises funds for bike and trail-building organizations. To counter its growing popularity, Rusch limits��the number of registrants to around 1,000��in order��to keep the vibe more low-key. That said, the festival ends with a raucous beer-guzzling, gelande-quaffing��contest. Many of the group rides start from the�� (from $385), which has 93 rooms and��six suites, and Four Mountain Sports, an on-site��bike shop that offers��demos and rentals from the brands Giant and Norco.

Fruita Fat Tire Festival

Fruita, Colorado

The trail-heavy town of Fruita is a verified mountain-biker’s hub in Colorado. Many of those knobby-tire enthusiasts unite for one weekend in May every year for the fun-loving��. You can test out new bikes from the demo fleet, listen to live bluegrass from a central beer garden, and join skill camps and guided group rides through��wine country and��Colorado National Monument��and over Douglas Pass. The company�� has a number of vacation rentals, from downtown bungalows to a teardrop camper.

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