Featured Image: Sarah McLear | Skier: Zach Ryan
In a time when the country seems so divided, there's still one thing that can unite us: skiing on the Fourth of July. What could be more American than using our public land to climb high into the alpine with your own two feet, or perhaps purchasing a lift ticket at one of the few ski areas still running?
Your options are limited in North America when the summer sun is beaming down, but that doesn't mean they're null. For this list, we've rounded up the remaining ski areas that are spinning lifts or offering some form of skiing. Since there are still lots of foot-powered options throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon and beyond, we've elected to leave those up to you, since local zones and snow conditions vary greatly this time of the year.
Either way, if you're hunting for snow this year on America's birthday, you're in the right place. Here are a few options to score turns this Fourth of July.
Timberline
Mt. Hood, Oregon
Momma Hood always provides, especially since a fresh layer of snow just fell above 6,000 feet on June 28. While snow has been more limited than in the past, there's still plenty of skiing to be had on the Palmer Lift. Timberline's highest lift, Palmer, services both public skiers and campers from Windells and High Cascade.
The weather is shaping up to be ideal at Hood on the Fourth, with sunshine in the forecast. A day ticket costs $124 and gives you access to the Palmer Lift and the public terrain park. With operations projected to continue through July 11, now is the time to snag some turns on the volcano!
Nick Goepper takes flight at Mt. Hood earlier this month | Photo: Courtesy of Windells Camp
Nick Goepper takes flight at Mt. Hood earlier this month | Photo: Courtesy of Windells Camp
Woodward Copper
Copper Mountain, Colorado
Look left as you head west on Interstate 70 and you're sure to see the Woodward Copper hike park sprawled against the green backdrop. Both the summer camp setup and the hike park are staples of Colorado's summer ski scene, with the hike park welcoming any and all riders as long as conditions last. Features will change as the summer goes on, but you can expect a selection of rails, tubes and boxes to persist.
This year, Woodward Copper decided to extend the park's operating hours, adding extra days to the weekly schedule. It's now open Thursday through Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. The best part? A day ticket is just $25. You can spin a few laps, cruise over the nearby Fremont Pass and even catch dinner and the sunset in Leadville. Not a bad way to spend a holiday, especially with sunny skies in store for the weekend.
The Woodward Copper hike park, a staple of summer turns in Colorado | Photo: Steven Berg
The Woodward Copper hike park, a staple of summer turns in Colorado | Photo: Steven Berg
Banff Sunshine Village
Alberta, Canada
Did you know that ski resorts will reopen in the middle of summer? Neither did we, until Banff Sunshine Village pulled this heroic stunt two weeks ago. A record-setting winter allowed the Canadian ski area to fire up its lifts once again for 16 days of summer shredding, operating from June 20 to July 5.
Both the Strawberry Express and Standish Express are open, with several runs available off each and a terrain park with some tasty features. An adult day ticket runs $80, with free tickets to anyone with a 2026/27 Sunshine Pass, SkiBig3 Season Pass, Rocky Mountain Passport or anyone staying at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge.
A true American celebrates the Fourth in Canada; everyone knows that. With just a few more days of summer riding left, now is the time to head north.
Get your (rare) Banff Sunshine July turns while you can | Photo: Colin Daily
Honorable Mentions
Beartooth Basin
Sadly, Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area ceased operations for 2026 just last weekend, on June 28. But cold temperatures have swept through Montana and Wyoming over the last few days, even dropping over a foot of snow on Bridger Bowl... in late June! If the weather is good, hopefully skiers will surely be able to find turns off the Beartooth Highway and throughout the Beartooth Absaroka Mountains.
Fourth of July Bowl
Breckenridge, Colorado, has been home to one of the longest-standing Fourth of July ski traditions around. The Peak 10 Classic celebrated the Fourth in Colorado's high country with a gaggle of passionate riders around. But times change, and unfortunately, this year marks the first time in nearly a decade that skiers will not rendezvous beneath Breck's Peak 10 in the (fittingly named) Fourth of July Bowl.
Many people poured their hearts into The Classic for years, and FREESKIER deeply thanks them for all of the blood, sweat and tears that it took to pull it off. Of course, this tradition had been around long before any formal group was formed, and it will surely live on in some form. We can confirm that there is indeed a patch of snow still viable in the bowl as of late June, so for the most dedicated among us, turns await...
