We've all been there – you make plans to hit the slopes during winter, you blink, and suddenly spring is at your doorstep. Warmer weather and longer days are no doubt ahead of us, but that doesn't mean that blustery ski hills are being imminently shut down. You may have to look a little harder or drive a bit farther, but there are still excellent deals to be had when visiting high-elevation ski resorts that keep the powder flowing right on through April. Here are some of our favorites.
Stevens Pass sits just two hours from Seattle, but the 4,000 base elevation means that winter hangs around here longer than usual. The 2013 season is scheduled to last until April 14, giving you plenty of time to make the drive if you're in the Pacific Northwest, or schedule a flight into Seattle-Tacoma International with your ski gear in tow. The closer it gets to April, the cheaper lodging rates will be, plus you'll find fewer crowds on the slopes.
Whitefish Mountain is one of the most conveniently positioned ski resorts that you've probably never heard of it, and thanks to ample natural snowfall, it'll be open to skiers and snowboards alike until April 7. Flights into Glacier Park International Airport are ample and reasonably affordable, and it's just a quick 15 minute drive from there. The extra bonus? Whitefish is just a half hour from Glacier National Park, which is partly open in the winter in order to provide motorists with a stunning, uncrowded look at Lake McDonald.
Grand Targhee Resort might not be the most advertised resort within sight of Jackson Hole Airport, but it's the better one of the two if you're looking for late-season skiing with minimal tourists and maximum savings. The Alta, Wyoming-based resort is open until April 21 this year, and lodging rates in the area tend to sink in April as the snow begins to melt at lower elevations. An added bonus, those who time it right can also enjoy sections of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks while they're in the area.
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