If you haven’t hit the slopes as much as you were hoping to this season, now is the time as winter’s window is quickly coming to a close. For the most authentic outdoor sojourn, spend your après-ski time at a campground. Tons of popular world-class ski destinations have year-round campgrounds nearby with lodging options ranging from RV sites, cabins and cottages to tiny houses and even yurts! Make your plans now, before wintertime’s playground melts away.
1. South Lake Tahoe, CA
Where to ski: Heavenly Ski Resort
Where to stay: Tahoe Valley RV Campground
Straddling the California–Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe, the aptly-named Heavenly Ski Resort is one of the most lauded ski areas in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. You can literally ski in either state – or both – on the same day. With aerial views of Lake Tahoe, this is a spectacularly unique destination, and nearby Tahoe Valley RV Campground is equally enthralling. Roll in with your RV or reserve one of the cozy on-site cabins and cottages surrounded by soaring snow-dusted pines. After spending the day hiking the trails of nearby Fallen Leaf and taking in the stunning snow-capped summits, relax on the front porch of your cabin with a cold one. And if you make s’mores in the fire pits, be sure to leave no morsel as there are plenty of beautiful bears in these parts!
2. Government Camp, OR
Where to ski: Timberline Lodge
Where to stay: Mt. Hood Village RV Resort
Unbelievable skiing and snowboarding aren’t the only reasons to come play at historic Timberline Lodge. In fact, you can have a wild adventure with literally no slope experience. Just catch a ride on the Palmer Snowcat and sit back as you climb 8,540 feet up the flanks of Mt. Hood for a view you won’t soon forget. In the summer months, this place is just as captivating. Take a ride on the Magic Mile Chair Lift to the mountain’s 7000′ level where Mt. Hood, Palmer Snowfield and Mt. Jefferson will be waiting. No matter what time of year, relaxing Mt. Hood Village RV Resort is the idyllic place to unwind after your adventures. While traditionalists might gravitate to a log cabin rental (those covered porches are pretty amazing), the curious traveler should consider one of the many minimal modern tiny houses. “Savannah” is the most compact at just 175-square feet yet lacks for nothing with every creature comfort at your fingertips. For more spacious yet still interesting digs, yurts can accommodate two to five.
3. Skykomish, WA
Where to ski: Stevens Pass
Where to stay: Leavenworth RV Campground
Stevens Pass, located on the crest of the Cascade Range, offers 1,125 incredible acres of skiable terrain. This is pure Pacific Northwest at its best, with the idyllic alpine setting of the Thousand Trails Leavenworth RV Camping Preserve embodying everything this region celebrates. You’ll find nearly 300 sites here surrounded by 300 acres of forest and meadows with cross country ski, snowshoe, and sledding hills on site, and if you have a snowmobile, be sure to tow it behind your rig as you can easily access hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails. No RV? No problem. For a more private stay, the cottage rentals here are nestled in cozy, quiet, wooded settings with a snowy mountain backdrop. And for a close-quarters stay, five individually themed tiny houses are simply irresistible, including “Belle,” a petite retreat with French village vibes and subtle nods to the famous fairy tale that sleeps up to six.
4. Bend, OR
Where to ski: Mt. Bachelor
Where to stay: Bend-Sunriver RV Campground
With 4,300 skiable acres, 3,365 feet of vertical drop, and 121 unique runs, Mt. Bachelor makes an impression as the sixth largest ski resort in North America. Experienced skiers and snowboarders shouldn’t miss the Summit Chair which provides 360-degree views and the opportunity to ski all 360 degrees off the top of the mountain — the only place in the U.S. where you can do so. Nordic skiers and snowshoe-ers, meanwhile, will appreciate a well-planned network of 21 groomed trails covering 35 miles of pristine alpine country. Nearby, Bend-Sunriver RV Campground on the Little Deschutes River is the ideal aprés ski – or sunny summertime – locale. Located on 283 bucolic acres, this Central Oregon gem offers cottages and cabins, but the true standouts here are the superstar yurts. Half dozen yurts for slumbering range from the cozy (sans kitchen or bathroom) to the expansive with a spacious kitchenette with standard refrigerator, three-burner stove top and microwave.
5. Yosemite National Park, CA
Where to ski: Badger Pass
Where to stay: Yosemite Lakes RV Resort
Badger Pass Ski Area proves good things come in small packages. Compared to other major ski resorts, Badger Pass is decidedly more compact (and more affordable!), but it’s also a classic – it’s the oldest ski resort in California. Plus, it offers some amazing perks. First and foremost, Badger Pass is located within the borders of Yosemite National Park. Also, it’s exceptionally family-friendly, offering Badger Pass Ski School since 1928 where both novices and those who need improvement can sharpen their skills. Oh, and don’t miss the opportunity to slide down the mountain snow tubing! Yosemite Lakes RV Campground is just five miles from the west gate of Yosemite National Park on 400 pastoral acres. There are a host of lodging rental options including single bed rentals in the on-site hostel that start at just $39 and just-the-basics bunkhouses containing a double bed and twin bunk beds, then there’s the rustic cabins that sleep two to four with a full bathroom and kitchen featuring a gas cooktop, microwave, toaster, refrigerator, pots and pans, and, for your java-Jonesing, a coffee maker. Cottages offer a more spacious stay with a private bedroom with a queen size bed, private bunk beds, high ceilings, a stocked kitchenette and comfy living space. But the crème de la crème’ accommodations are the River Yurts with stunning views of the South Fork of the Tuolumne River. Sleeping five, you’ll want for nothing with a full kitchen, private baths, and amenities including satellite TV, gas stove heat and a swamp cooler for air conditioning, plus gas barbecue grills on the deck, fire rings and picnic tables.
