Skiing & Snowboarding
They stand tall, these two mountains just southwest of Lead-Deadwood, S.D. Up to 7,076 feet — tall enough to gather in the pure Western snows from the storm clouds blowing from Wyoming.
On average, about 150 inches of snow falls at the Black Hills’ ski mountains annually. That’s about 13 feet of “white gold.” With a little luck, we’re skiing by Thanksgiving at Deer Mountain Ski Resort and nearby Terry Peak Ski Area. The snowpack continues to deepen until March or early April.
Among the appeal which draws customers from a seven-state region is the mild weather. Average daytime high temp for winter days is 26 degrees. Other draws to the Black Hills include the big verticals … some of the highest skiing you’ll find between the Rockies and New England. Third, they’re uncrowded. The lifts can move thousands of skiers per hour so there’s seldom much waiting in a lift line.
Price is also a very important factor. All-day, all-area lift tickets at Terry Peak cost $35 for adults. Over at Deer Mountain, you’ll pay $27 for a day or $17 for a night session.
Deer Mountain Ski Area
Deer Mountain markets itself as a family resort, with over 200 acres of skiing and 45 trails. Deer Mountain has an 850-foot vertical drop.
The ski area has developed a 5-acre snowboard terrain park, full of spines and box jumps. The park is set up for all levels of snowboarders’ skills.
The resort offers a 3,000 foot triple chairlift and two poma-lifts to take less-skilled skiers to the tops of the novice trails. The West Ridge area, a 70-acre expansion served by a new chairlift, opened in 2002. Skiers get off the area’s main chairlift and ski through a tunnel to new ski terrain with its own 2,500 foot double chair and runs to accommodate the novice or expert skier.
The Deer has snowmaking capabilities covering 30% of the skiable terrain to help Mother Nature when necessary.
Deer Mountain is open for night skiing every weekend from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For those who enjoy their fun in the snow without being strapped to anything, try Deer Mountain’s RoughRider Tubing Park.
A rental department and retail shop, lessons, cafeteria and bar are offered on site.
Terry Peak Ski Area
Terry Peak Ski Area boasts a 1,100-foot vertical drop and more than 20 miles of ski trails spread out over 400 acres of ski terrain.
Terry Peak offers five chairlifts, including two high-speed detachable quads that provide a four-minute ride to the top and let guests ski or ride over 80% of the mountain.
Man-made snow can cover 60% of the mountain since Terry Peak installed its original air and water snowmaking system in 1978. They have continued to upgrade the system over the years and now have some of the best snowmaking capabilities in the Midwest region.
The Stewart Day Lodge at the base of the novice slope incorporates basic ski services including a ticket office and rental department, ski school headquarters, retail store, cafeteria and lounge.
Links to Consider:
Terry Peak Ski Resort
Deer Mountain Ski Resort
Calendar of Events
Winter Fun
Special Events
Gaming
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