Spirit Mountain / Duluth Ski Vacation Guide

Spirit Mountain, in the heart of Duluth, is amongst the very best ski resorts in the Midwest. Another strong plus is the view; the landscape at Spirit is truly beautiful. With night skiing available, you'll find yourself stopping halfway down the mountain to take in the cityscape and views of the distant shoreline lights. Duluth lends this alpine resort easy transportation and a bountiful aprés-ski as well. Visitors are consistently stoked, as the testimonials show. One fan wrote, “My favorite mountain in all of Minnesota!! Good atmosphere, nice people, & good terrain are what keep me coming back for more!!” The vibe is fun and friendly – exactly what you want in a resort area like this. Subsidized by the City of Deluth, it's like another guest says: “Spirit Mountain is a steal!”

Duluth and its Spirit Mountain are one sweet little ski town. Blessed with breathtaking views, this active, progressive city welcomes guests with wide open arms, inviting you to share their full-stoke ski experience. Is it worth it? Spirit is a lot more than that. Skiing in Duluth is a blast.

Ski Levels

Located at the shores of Lake Superior, the mountain's 700 vertical feet make it attractive in comparison to most of its neighbors. The terrain parks rate nearly a solid Five Stars, while the rest of the mountain is equally balanced between beginner, intermediate and advanced trails. Like any Midwest ski destination, what they don't have by nature, they build themselves, making for ideal skiscapes. The terrain park includes a superpipe, plenty of rails (flats, down-flats, a C-box and 6-footers,) a fun box, two pipes, and a pair of big-air jumps. At Spirit, they're always adding and improving, so there's no telling what new goodies they may have in store this coming season. One piece of news to share is that they've recently secured a contract with Sobe, so you can count on the terrain park just getting bigger and better.

First time skiers should always start with some lessons. Spirit has a ski carpet to start you off. Not to worry, your instructor will have you on the mountain in no time! Intermediate skiers can also benefit from a few tips, or pick up some Telemark techniques. You'll find very few places as devoted to snowsport education as Spirit Mountain. They pride themselves on guiding new skiers to excellence through proper professional instruction—and on making sure you're having maximum fun the whole time.

Après Ski

When you've finished your eight hours on the slope (yes, longer hours, too,) it's time for some aprés ski. The on-mountain cafes are fine sources of energy during the day, but you'll want to head down to Grandma's Saloon for pub & grub. If you're after a restaurant row, go on past Grandma's to Canal Park and pick from the many dining choices. More than a few know to head to Fitger's Brewhouse, another pub & grub house with a warm, happy vibe.

Some of the local attractions include a 50,000-square-foot indoor entertainment facility, with arcade games and big toys like their Tilt-A-Whirl, a Morphis motion simulator, Mini Golf, and Laser Tag. If you're a gambler, there's a casino with slots and live card games. If you're still in need of an adrenaline rush (what are you, a glutton for punishment?) there's a full-service indoor climbing facility offering lessons, and gear rentals.

Spirit Mountain / Duluth Snowboard Vacation Guide

Rider’s Guide

The Spirit Mountain snowboarding resort offers a mountain with a 700-foot vertical drop and a base elevation of 620 feet. With a summit of 1,320 feet, Spirit Mountain snowboarding also includes 22 runs. Six of these runs are labeled as easiest, while eight are listed as difficult, and five are listed as most difficult. In all, the resort includes 175 skiable acres. It also features one ski carpet, five chairlifts, one rope tow, and one handle tow. The average snowfall is 100 inches.

Parks and Pipes

There is one terrain feature area, which is the largest terrain park the Midwest has to offer. Here, you can enjoy one superpipe. The longest run is Four Pipe, which is 5,400 feet long.

Out of Bounds

The entire town of Duluth is great for winter activities. It is well known as a ski town, which means you will have plenty of skiing opportunities to explore when you visit.

Hangout & Hookup

When you hangout, you will be able to enjoy a number of amenities and events that lend themselves well to hooking up and hanging out. In fact, the resort offers a full calendar of events that are guaranteed to keep you busy. Couple this with the great views you get of the St. Louis Bay and of Lake Superior and you will have a snowboarding trip to remember.

You can also hang out at Carnival Thrills in Duluth, which features indoor family entertainment. Within the 500,000 square feet of the facility, you can enjoy mini golf, amusement rides, laser tag, and more. For a little culture, you might want to visit the museums such as the Duluth Depot or the Floating Maritime Museum. Or, if you enjoy gaming, the Fond-Du-Luth Casino in downtown Duluth is worth a visit. Here, you can play 750 slots, blackjack, and live poker.

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