Giants Ridge in Minnesota is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Giants Ridge, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
Located in the mountains on the cusp of the city of Biwabik, Minn.,
rests an hour from the
(or about three hours north of the Twin Cities) and offers skiers and snowboarders 35 pristine alpine runs. Equipped with six lifts, the resort's longest trail -- "Easy Way" -- measures approximately 4,000 feet. For adult skiers, there are a number of rigorous runs, and children can sled on the mountain side of
(sleds are provided). The resort also attracts vacationgoers year-round with 60 kilometers of groomed and well-tracked cross-country trails, complete with a newly improved lighting system.
The Mountain
At its highest peak, Giants Ridge's
reaches 1,972 feet. The mountain also offers a
. The winter season spans from December to the end of March, with a snow tubing park and packed snowshoe trails available during the cool months. An intermediate and beginner's terrain park are situated among the park's 35 trails. Its snow is mostly powdery, but conditions depend on the time of year. For added valued, the ridge packs 23 million cubic feet of man-made snow atop the
, coating the 202 mountain acres in a beautiful bed of white.
Trails and Lifts
run the gamut in terms of their difficulty; 32 percent are beginner courses (12 trails), 44 percent are intermediate runs (15 trails) and 25 percent are what the Ridge categorizes as expert level (8 trails). The two most popular trails, Helsinki and Innsbruck, both feature speeds of up to 450 feet per mile (or 2.28 miles per second), with racecourses typically set up on Innsbruck. Six total lifts -- two triple chair, three double chair and one surface lift -- provide easy access to the mountain. For those seeking a little after-dark fun, night skiing is available.
In The News
Giants Ridge topped the charts in
Ski
magazine's
survey in 2002, landing it among the nation's most acclaimed ski resorts. The survey gauged winter sports enthusiasts' interests, and the results positioned Giants Ridge at the top of the heap. Resort guests can enjoy a weekend of fun at Giants Ridge's annual
, which features ski and snowboard competitions, live music and costume contests. The mountain also plays host to a number of national competitions, including the annual
, which usually draws around 500 to 600 skiers who participate in the 50K and 25K classic races.
Cost
for adults during prime season (Jan. 2 to March 18) cost $39 for a full day, $29 per half day, and $16 a night, with senior citizens receiving a $10 discount off full days. Tickets in the spring (March 19 to close), meanwhile, are $39 for a full day (not including night skiing) and $29 per half day. Holiday tickets (Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, Feb. 20) are $48 per full day, $43 per half day and $16 for a night session.
for adults start at $240; for children 7 to 12 it's $140 (not including rent pack); for college students it's $169; and kids 6 and under are free. Private alpine ski lessons and private snowboarding lessons for adults 6 and up start at $47 per person for a one-and-a-half-hour session.
Apres-Ski
Looking for a good time after you've hit the slopes? Wintertime
include hiking, pontoon and fishing boating, restaurants and bars, an indoor pool and a full-service spa. Apres-ski dining options include the Mountainside Bar & Grill, which serves up homemade pizza, wraps and salads; Friday Night Walleye Fish Fry; and Saturday Rib Night. Guests can also sip on a hot cup of coffee from the Coffee Shop to warm up from their icy ventures.
WATCH: Giants Ridge
Skiers race down the slopes at the Pepsi Challenge at Giants Ridge.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.