North America's Best Spots for Lift-Powered Turns in May

Featured Image: Matt Roebke | Skier: Sämi Ortlieb | Location: Mt. Hood, Oregon

The summer sunshine is beaming down. Your friends have packed up the planks and picked up the bike, skateboard, fly rod... or whatever other activity they use to convince themselves they don't need to ski. But you're not done just yet, dear reader, and we salute you.

In years past, we've had little trouble compiling a list of this variety in May. Spring skiing is usually going strong from coast to coast at select resorts. But this winter was tough in the American West, and very few ski areas have been lucky enough to host turns this month. Few, but not none. There are still a couple of places where you can score park laps and groomer turns. If your winter hunger isn't satisfied, these are the resorts where you can scratch that insatiable itch.

Editor's Note: The high peaks of Montana, Idaho and British Columbia have seen consistent cold weather and occasional snow over the last 14 days. There's plenty of skiing to be had in the alpine if you're willing to work for it!

Timberline Lodge

Mt. Hood, Oregon

Momma Hood beckons. A spring staple, Mt. Hood has acquired quite the reputation over the years, and for good reason. The weather has been variable over the last week, with Timberline reporting nearly 20 inches of snow from May 15-17. The heroes of the park crew and lift ops made good use of Mother Nature's gifts, though.

The public park has been moved up to Palmer (the upper-most lift on the mountain) with a mean selection of rails and jumps. The Magic Mile lift is operating from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Palmer is scheduled to operate from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Get it while you can!

Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth, California

The Sierra Nevada Mountains didn't have the winter they're used to, but a chilly April provided just the kick Mammoth needed to keep the season going strong through the end of May. The mountain has been skiing great, offering some of the most diverse terrain you'll find anywhere in North America this spring.

The new park built off of Chair 3 offers four jibs and one medium jump. Not too shabby for the last few days of the season. This Memorial Day Weekend, you'll find a proper celebration complete with music, races, and $5 hot dogs at McCoy Station. OpenSnow is calling for favorable weather over the coming weeks, with mixed storms rolling in on occasion, so be sure to check conditions before heading up.

Beartooth Basin Ski Area

Beartooth Mountains, Montana

High on the Montana-Wyoming border, the Beartooth Highway shepherds travelers from Cooke City to Red Lodge, Montana. At the summit, you'll find one of the hidden gems of America's ski scene: Beartooth Basin Ski Area. The summer-only ski area has been operating on and off for decades, and with a cold spring in the region, they're ready to fire up the Poma lifts again.

Opening day is projected for Memorial Day Weekend, with tickets currently available on the website from May 27 to June 10. Time seems to slow down at Beartooth Basin, creating an indescribable experience that every skier should see once in their life, from the diesel engines and parking lot stoke, to laps down the headwall. Conditions can be volatile here, so be sure to check operations updates and weather before heading up to the roof of the world.

Honorable Mentions

Palisades Tahoe, California

Palisades will be going out with a bang on Sunday, May 24. The self-proclaimed Spring Skiing Capital had a great run, keeping the Gold Coast Park firing well into spring with a stellar selection of jumps and features. Late April storms kept the mountain running and the people happy. Head on out to the Sierras for one final hoorah this weekend. The weather looks prime, with OpenSnow calling for sun and 60°F temps.

Killington, Vermont

The Beast has enjoyed a solid winter, and per usual, they've milked every ounce of snow they've received. The Superstar Glacier has been in prime form, with the Superstar Showdown bringing out some of the best mogul munching we've ever seen the other week. Killington doesn't set a firm closing day, but they've said Saturday is likely the end of the line. They'll reopen on Saturday, May 23, potentially spinning lifts again on Sunday, May 24.