By Ron Brohm

Contributing Writer

If you think about it, Urbana is positioned pretty well for access to ski resorts. Generally, when thinking about going skiing the first thing that comes to mind are places like Aspen and Park City, Utah and the steep price tag and long flights that go along with that.

But wait! Champaign County, believe it or not, is surrounded by plenty of ski areas including nearby resorts, Ohio snow-belt resorts and regional ski resorts, all of which are very drivable and can satisfy your need for speed and supply plenty of fun for ‘powder hounds’ of all ages.

These resorts offer first-class amenities such as dining, retail and entertainment options, diverse terrain, snow making machines, cozy fireplaces and verticals drops from 175 to over 400 feet. And best of all they are reasonably priced and are easy to get to. Just fill up the tank and hit the road.

Whether you like skiing, snowboarding or tubing, check of these ‘Ski Resort Roadtrip’ options for some gnarly good times. For current snow/ski conditions visit www.snow-forecast.com.

Take a roadtrip to one of these area ski-resorts:

NEARBY SKI-RESORT ROADTRIPS

Mad River Mountain

Take the short road-trip up to Zanesfield to visit Ohio’s largest ski and snowboard resort, Mad River Mountain. This ski resort has the largest snow making system in Ohio with more than 120 fan guns that are able to pump out 7,000 gallons of water per minute covering their entire 144-acre resort with snowpiling in as little as 72 hours.

Check out their impressive 46,000-square-foot grand resort lodge. It’s almost twice the size of the old lodge, which was destroyed by a fire in 2015 and is the largest ski lodge in Ohio.

The two-level lodge features a loft area on the second level with elevator access, bar, retail space, cafe, a live music stage, a slope side deck with impressive views of the mountain and seating for over 300 skiers and snowboarders. The first level dining area has double the seating of the previous lodge with over 800 seats.

Their popular Bubly Tubing Park is the largest in Ohio, and features 10 fast lanes and an automated carpet lift that carriers riders effortlessly to the top.

The resort hosts many popular events, festivals, parties, concerts, contests, ski tournaments and expos every year.

It’s just a short easy drive from Urbana. This resort is tops on the list as a local favorite with over 12 lifts, 20 trails, a 1,460—foot mountain elevation, 4 terrain parks, ski school, Ohio’s largest tubing park, 144 skiable acres and a 300-foot vertical drop. Check out their Mad Mountain Cams for conditions.

(Owned by Vail Resorts)

Perfect North Slopes

Located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, just outside of Cincinnati, this tri-state favorite is just around an hour and 30 minute drive from the Urbana area and has 20 lifts and over 80 trails for skiers and snowboarders. Check out their gigantic tubing park and the 70,000-square-foot lodge, with dining, retail and more. With a 400-foot vertical drop and a one-mile run you can’t go wrong here.

OHIO SNOW-BELT – SKI-RESORT ROADTRIPS

Snow Trails

Located near Mansfield, Snow Trails was Ohio’s first ski resort and the first resort to make man-made snow. This premier facility has over 80 acres with 12 slopes and 15 trails with a maximum 300-foot vertical drop, a tubing park, a terrain park and a ski school.

Boston Mills/Brandywine

These two previously separate resorts, are now owned by the same management company and are located just five minutes apart in Peninsula and Sagamore Hills, Ohio. These two resorts are now considered one and offer night skiing, a terrain park, a half pipe, 15 lifts and 18 trails. Lift tickets and passes are valid at both parks. Be sure to check out the Polar Blast tubing park at Brandywine for some great family fun.

(Owned by Vail Resorts)

Alpine Valley

This Chesterville, Ohio resort, located in the heart of Ohio’s snow belt, features an extreme park, 11 slopes, a tubing park, Ohio’s longest half pipe and a learning center and a chalet.

(Owned by Vail Resorts)

REGIONAL SKI RESORT – ROADTRIPS

Oglebay Resort

This 1,700-acre, year-round resort in Wheeling, West Virginia, is literally just over the Ohio state line off I-70 and offers great skiing and snow boarding with natural and man-made snow. Ski lessons are available on site. The resort features a 270-room luxurious lodge with multiple dining options, indoor pool, fitness center, specialty shops, a zoo and more.

Paoli Peaks

This popular resort, located in central Indiana, has a whopping 25 lifts, 75 trails, a beautiful ski lodge with all the amenities and a super tubing park. The resort boasts a snow-making system that can make 12 inches of snow in one night over the entire 65-acre resort. (Owned by Vail Resorts)

Ron Brohm is an Outdoors, Tourism, Parks, Automotive & Aviation Journalist/Author and writes for the Urbana Daily Citizen and other AIM Media Midwest newspapers and several national magazines. He is also a Certified Parks & Recreation Professional (CPRP), serves as the Park Commissioner for the City of Riverside & is the Executive Director of the Great Ohio Outback Wilderness Regional Authority.