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Here’s something a lot of skiers in the Twin Cities don’t realize: Prescott is closer to some of the best hills in the area than most of the metro is. Afton Alps is about 25 minutes from our front door. Welch Village is under an hour. And two of the region’s most fun night-skiing hills, Trollhaugen and Wild Mountain, are an easy drive up the St. Croix.
So instead of driving home sore and sunburned after a day on the slopes, stay over. Ski all day, come back to a warm room on the river, have a big dinner on Broad Street and do it again tomorrow. Here’s my guide to the hills for the 2026–27 season.
Afton Alps is the largest ski area near the Twin Cities: 50 trails, 17 lifts, 300 skiable acres and three terrain parks spread across the bluffs above the St. Croix. Lights were added decades ago, and on most days you can ski until 9 p.m. It’s a Vail resort, so your Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass or Epic Day Pass works here.
Where to eat: There are several chalets, and each has its own feel. Paul’s Pub serves brunch, burgers and Bloody Marys. The Crest in the Highlands area has a full bar. And Paul’s T-Bar is an outdoor bar for sunny spring days. If you have kids, the Alps Chalet does burgers, fries and tenders, and the Landing Zone has donuts.
Insider tip: Lift tickets are priced dynamically, so buy online ahead of time to save. Last season, adult tickets ran around $88. Opening day is typically early December once the snowmaking catches up. Watch their site for the 2026–27 date.
Down near Red Wing on the Cannon River, Welch Village has a loyal following, and once you go, you’ll see why. It has 60 trails and 10 lifts on a compact hill with about 360 feet of vertical, plenty of green runs and a magic carpet for little ones, plus night skiing on about 100 acres. Lines are short, the vibe is relaxed, and there’s a real tailgating culture in the parking lot on weekends.
The secret is the Back Bowl, tucked away from the main face. Ask a local how to find it.
Insider tip: Last season, adult tickets were $74 on weekdays and $84 on weekends. After skiing, the drive home to Prescott through Red Wing or Hastings makes for an easy après-ski dinner stop.
Up the St. Croix in Dresser, Wisconsin, Trollhaugen has been family-owned by the Rochfords since 1967. It’s a smaller hill, with 30 runs, 8 lifts and about 260 feet of vertical, but it makes up for it with personality. Snowmaking covers the whole hill, there are four terrain parks and there’s a snow tubing park with 10 lanes.
The reason to go is Late Night Fridays. Starting at 9 p.m., the lifts keep running until 3 a.m. on Saturday morning, with live bands, a big crowd and late-night tickets that ran about $25 last season. It’s a tradition that dates back to the 1970s, and it regularly sells out with over a thousand skiers, so buy ahead.
Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls has been the first ski area in Minnesota to open for more than 40 years running, sometimes as early as mid-October with a terrain park and rope tow. It has 26 trails and 9 lifts on the bluffs of the St. Croix, with night skiing, and the views over the river valley from the top are worth the trip. Their snow tubing area, Wild Chutes, has evening sessions with colored lights and music.
Insider tip: Follow Wild Mountain’s social pages in October and November. When they announce opening day, it’s the official start of ski season around here.
Snow tubing is the perfect way to include everyone. Trollhaugen’s tubing park is $28 for all ages, with a conveyor lift, and reservations are required. Buck Hill in Burnsville has lit lanes, with prices that ran from $17 to $26 last season, and a Northern Lights Tubing event with lights synced to music in late February. Riders at most parks need to be at least 42 inches tall.
After a day on the hill, Prescott’s Broad Street is ready for you.
Make downtown Prescott your home base and book direct with us: The Port of Prescott for boutique king suites steps from the river, Port After Dark for romantic suites made for couples, The Harbor Hotel for themed rooms and extended stays, and The Cove Guest House for downtown condos and group getaways.
