10 Exciting Summer Activities at Ski Resorts

While ski resorts see most of their action during the cooler months of the year, it doesn’t mean that these locations are not open for business during the warmer seasons. Most people automatically write off ski resorts and would never consider them as prime summertime destinations.

However, most ski resorts supplement their income through the spring, summer, and fall by offering visitors a number of exciting activities right on the mountain! Right now, we’re going to talk about 10 summer exciting activities found at ski resorts.

1. Ziplining

Ziplining is by far one of the most exhilarating and memorable experiences that you can have at any ski resort. If you thought that the terrain and view was beautiful while skiing down the mountain, just imagine what it looks like when you’re zipping through the air well above ground level.

It provides for a whole new perspective of the landscape, offering you views like you’ve never seen before, all while experiencing the rush of your life as you fly through the air at some pretty high speeds. Some of the most exciting ziplining adventures are those at ski resorts, they are usually extremely long thrill ziplines as a ski resort has so much more land to set up longer cables down the mountain.

Here are some examples of the best ziplines at ski resorts in the USA:

Catamount Mountain Resort – Catamount Zip Tour (Longest Zipline in the USA)
Ski Apache – Apache Wind Rider ZipTour
Camelback Resort – Poconos Zipline
Gunstock Mountain Resort – Adventure Park Zipline Tour
Sundance Mountain Resort – Sundance ZipTour

2. Gondola/Ski Lifts Rides

If you’d like an amazing view of the ground and scenery below, but you’d rather not be suspended from a zipline, you might be inclined to enjoy a more peaceful and relaxing gondola ride (cable car). Gondolas generally carry skiers up the mountain during the winter, but they can also be used as a form of entertainment on their own.

Sometimes there’s just nothing like looking down on a majestic landscape from potentially several hundred feet in the air, all while feeling safe in a secure gondola. It’s a great way to enjoy the world from a bird’s eye view, along with your favorite friends and family.

Sometimes at smaller ski resorts, if they don’t have a gondola, they will still offer scenic rides on the standard chair lifts. These rides are great to capture views you are unlikely to get in the off season, unless you plan to hike up these mountains!

3. Mountain Biking

mountain bike whistler ski resorts summer — Whistler Mountains – Mountain Biking. Photo by surangastock

For those who would rather keep their feet planted on the ground, something else worth trying is mountain biking. Those intense double black diamond ski runs and the winding slopes alike all make for some really good mountain biking.

If you thought racing down a mountainside on skis or snowboarding was fun, just wait until you feel the rush of flying down the same slope on a pair of wheels. While safety and caution are of course called for, if you’re a bit of a daredevil who likes to get your adrenaline pumping, doing some downhill mountain biking might be right for you.

Here are some of the best ski resorts in North America that offer mountain biking:

Ski/Bike Park Resort	Number of Trails
Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park, British Columbia, Canada	57
Crested Butte Mountain Resort Bike Park, Colorado	29
Trestle Mountain Bike Park At Winter Park Ski Resort, Colorado	31
Angel Fire Bike Park at Angel Fire Resort, New Mexico	32

4. Mountain Coasters

If you haven’t heard of mountain coasters before, it’s certainly something worth trying, particularly if you like feeling excited but also being safe. Mountain coasters are like little rollercoasters set on a track that travel down the side of a mountain.

These usually feature single seats that resemble bobsleds, affixed to a track, complete with a braking mechanism so you can slow down. It’s almost like a combination rollercoaster and bobsled.

Mountain coasters can travel at great speeds, but being on a set track and having a brake to slow down with adds a certain level of safety and control to the mix. It’s great for those who like feeling a bit risky but not too risky.

Here are some examples of mountain coasters at ski resorts:

5. Rock Climbing

Whereas most of the ski resort activities we’ve looked at so far involved traveling down the mountain, here we’re taking the opposite approach. If you are a person who wants to test their strength, endurance, skill, and courage, then there isn’t a better activity than rock climbing.

Certainly not for the faint of heart, rock climbing is a great activity for those who really want to get moving and put their physical fitness to the test. Although it might sound intimidating, there are rock climbing walls and courses for people of all skill levels, so even a total beginner can feel comfortable.

Ski resorts may offer amazing outdoor rock climbing opportunities, guided tours, and much more. It is also possible they offer indoor rock climbing for those looking for a safe environment for the whole family.

6. Water Parks

Although rarer than some of the other activities on the list, ski resorts occasionally play home to waterparks during the summer.

No, this doesn’t really involve the use of the mountain itself, but who says you have to lug yourself up a mountain or fly down it at breakneck speeds?

Sometimes all you need in the summer is a bit of relaxation, and a nice water park is the perfect place to do so. Enjoy a lazy river and wave pool, and get just enough excitement on those water slides to tickle your wild side.

Some offer indoor water parks where you can enjoy the water fun year-round.

Some ski resorts that offer water parks in the summer are:

The Camelback Resort Water Park has an awesome FlowRider, which is a surf simulator machine. These things are awesome! Check out my related post “20 Resorts with FlowRider Wave Machines” here!

7. ATV Tours

For those who enjoy motor vehicles, revving powerful engines, and driving fast over rough terrain, then going on some summertime ski resort ATV tours could be perfect for you. It’s a great activity for people who really want to challenge themselves while also not having to exercise too much.

This is certainly one of the riskier activities on the list, but most would also agree that it’s one of the most exhilarating too. The mountains are home to plenty of offroad ATV trails for riders of all skill levels, so it’s ideal for beginners and pros alike.

Examples of ski resorts that offer ATV Tours:

8. Offer Hiking Trails

If all of that adrenaline and excitement is a bit too much for you, enjoying some much slower paced hiking trails might just be the best summertime ski resort activity for you.

If you take a look at a big mountain from the bottom, you can just imagine the plethora of hiking trails and beautiful paths to be traversed.

Hiking is a great option because it’s something that the whole family can do, it’s great for a group friends, and couples can find some romantic quality time in the great outdoors too. Pack your hiking gear, a picnic, and start exploring!

9. Golf Courses

What is interesting to note about many ski resorts is that they are often home to golf courses during the summer. Of course, the golf courses aren’t located right on the mountain, although that would admittedly make for quite an interesting game!

For those who like a bit of friendly and relaxed competition, a good game of golf is the perfect option for any time of year when the ground isn’t covered in snow. Once you’re done with your 18 holes, head over to the ski chalet for a nice dinner!

Having a golf course on the resort makes it perfect for families where some family members want to relax on the golf course, while others can enjoy the water parks, ziplines, hiking trails, and anything with a little more physical demands.

Here are some of the best ski resorts with golf courses in North America:

10. Wildlife Viewings/Sanctuary

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable and natural things to do at a ski resort in the summertime is to take in everything that Mother Nature has to offer. Whether you venture out on your own or with a guided tour, there is so much wildlife to see on any mountain.

Mountains are home to some very diverse and truly breathtaking habitats and animals alike. Going on a wildlife viewing/sanctuary lets you see those animals in a way that you would otherwise never experience.

At Grouse Mountain, in Vancouver BC, they have a refuge for endangered wildlife. These are pretty cool experiences, they have 2 grizzly bears Grinder, and Coola that you can see up close. Anything similar to this at a ski resort is a unique experience that I highly recommend.

Jamie Penney

Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!