Grab Your Skis to go to these top snowy getaways in March. Winter is ending. Skiers start to mourn the end of another great ski season. But don’t put away those skis just yet! If you know where to look, March still offers great snow conditions and outstanding spring skiing at world-class resorts across the world. Whether you crave endless snow runs down snow-covered slopes or scenic cross-country ski trails, plenty of wintry fun awaits hip snow chasers.
Whether you like amazing mountain rises blanketed in snowfall or miles of paved cross-country trails, known snowy places await this month. Continue reading for insider information on the best late-winter vacation destinations.
The Best Place To See Snow In March
The Rocky Mountains are a good place to see snow in March. Towns like Aspen, Colorado, get lots of snow all winter. Even in early spring, when it gets warmer in other places, there is still lots of snow on the tall mountain peaks. You can go skiing or snowboarding on the snowy slopes.
At night, you can sit by a warm fireplace in a lodge. During the day, you can bundle up in a thick coat, hat, gloves, and boots to play in the cold, powdery snow. The huge mountains all around make it one of the best places to see snow in March.
Where are the Rocky Mountains?
The Rocky Mountains are a tall mountain range that goes from English Columbia and Alberta in Canada down to New Mexico in the US. Some renowned Rough Mountain tops rise above fourteen thousand feet high! The Rough Mountains go through a few western US states like Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. Some popular Rough Mountain towns you could have known about before are Denver, Aspen, and Vail in Colorado.
Why the Rocky Mountains are Great for Snow
There are a few reasons why the Rocky Mountains are the best place to see snow in March:
- High Elevation: The mountains’ great height allows them to hold onto snow even when the lower levels begin to melt.
- Northern Location: Due to its northerly position, winter weather continues throughout the spring before temperatures begin to rise.
- Dry environment: The fine, powdery snowfall that results from the dry environment is ideal for wintertime sports!
- Ski towns: Skiers and snowboarders are offered to in several of the Rocky Mountain communities. To enjoy the snow, they provide restaurants, stores, hot tubs, cottages, and more.
Towns Made For Snowy Fun
1. Aspen, Colorado:
One of the best places to see snow in March is located at 8,000 feet in the Rockies west of Denver. Aspen has a storybook charm combined with famous steep ski runs like the Ajax Express lift. The town has blossomed as an alpine destination ever since hosting the World Ski Championships in 1950.
With four different mountains you can choose from, there’s terrain for all ability levels, from beginners to double-black diamonds. Off the slopes, you can explore unique shops and dine at cozy restaurants. Many accommodations conveniently include ski-in/ski-out access.
2. Breckenridge, Colorado:
Breckenridge built its first chairlift way back in 1961, and it has been popular with skiers ever since. Located south of Denver, right near the Continental Divide, Breckenridge Resort has one of Colorado’s longest ski seasons, averaging over 300 inches of snow per year.
The lower peaks have wide, gentle groomed runs for beginners, while advanced skiers can challenge steep chutes like Cirque Bowl or Horseshoe Bowl, plunging from 12,000 feet that offer hike-to terrain through March and beyond. The lively Victorian-era main street has a fun selection of bars, boutiques, and eateries to explore after a long day of powder turns.
3. Park City, Utah:
Under a half-hour east of Salt Lake City’s airport, Park City has the slogan “Largest Ski Resort in America” because you can access three massive interconnected resorts: Park City, Deer Valley, and The Canyons. Advanced skiers will love the challenging mogul runs and glade areas.
But there’s also plenty of wide intermediate terrain and long beginner cruisers. When you get tired, simply stop anywhere along the mountain’s home lift for a hot chocolate break, thanks to the Swiss-style service. Downtown Park City is a national historic district with over 100 establishments to enjoy after your day making tracks in Utah’s famous dry snow.
4. Alta Ski Area, Utah:
Another best place to see snow in March is Alta in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon. Alta is one of the most seasoned ski regions in the nation, having opened in 1938. It’s known for getting good amounts of snow – an average of five hundred fifty inches per year! The terrain is mostly advanced and expert, with plenty of steep bowls, channels, and glades to challenge even the most seasoned powder hounds.
And the snow tends to stick around well into April most years. One thing to keep in mind is that Alta is one of the few remaining ski areas that do not allow snowboarding. So this recommendation is for skiers only.
Coolest Northern Cities
A couple of cities with very cold climates and heavy winter snowfall also keep snow on the ground into March. Bismarck, North Dakota, gets over a few inches of snow each winter on average, so they have plenty of snow for sledding or building snowmen in March. Syracuse, New York, is the snowiest major U.S. city, getting over 120 inches of powder each winter. These cities have chilly weather and lake-effect snows that preserve the winter landscape into early spring.
Great Lake Snowiest Cities
1. Syracuse, NY
Gets the most yearly snow of any major US city, averaging around a hundred inches. All that snow can linger into early spring thanks to continued lake effect snows and cold air. Nearby ski resorts like Song, Labrador, and Toggenburg offer prime spring skiing into March.
2. Buffalo, NY
“City of Snow” thanks to its position on the eastern tip of Lake Erie. Cold winds whip powder snow on Buffalo through March for many years. Residents make the most of it with sledding hills and fun snowman competitions.
3. Cleveland, OH
Located right on Lake Erie, winter storms can dump incredible snow totals onto Cleveland (their record is almost eight feet!) Plenty accumulates through March, especially in years with late-season snowstorms swirling over the lakes to keep winter alive.
4. Marquette, MI
Found on Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Marquette’s average annual snow approaches a few inches. Its remote location and consistent lake effect snows maintain impressive snowpack into early spring – they once had almost hundred inches of snow on the ground in March!
Top-Rated Ski Resorts
1. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
- Location: Teton Village, Wyoming
- Snowfall Average: About 400 inches
In the dramatic shadows of the Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort soars 4,139 vertical feet – that’s well over three-quarters of a mile for those counting! With such crazy tall top-to-bottom elevation, you can ski from the peak down thousands of feet in a single run. Those thigh-burning descents let you experience conditions ranging from sunny groomed cruisers to wind-scoured cliffs holding their micro weather patterns!
March Snow Conditions:
In a typical year, March still sees good snow accumulation as winter storms make it over the Tetons before the weather warms too much. North-facing expert runs like Corbet’s Couloir cling to snow into summer, providing non-stop action under the main aerial tram for true diehards.
2. Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resorts
- Location: Whistler, British Columbia Canada
- Snowfall Average: Around four hundred inches
Spanning two massive interconnected mountain resorts, Whistler and Blackcomb combined form North America’s largest and most popular ski area, which is around eight thousand acres! With some of the highest lift-served vertical around, you can ride glass-walled gondolas and peak to creek chairs to access wide open bowls and glade terrain that seem to go on forever. The epic snowfall, backed up by state-of-the-art snowmaking, gave Whistler the honor of hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.
March Snow Conditions:
Throughout the winter, Pacific storms break over the two Coast Mountains that surround Ski. As a result, within the 300 permitted routes, you may still find acres and acres of snowy areas well into the season. March provides bright, sunny days and strong winds coming in off the ocean, sometimes all on the same day!
3. Breckenridge Ski Resort
- Location: Breckenridge, Colorado
- Snowfall Average: Around three hundred inches
One of the most popular resorts in Summit County, Colorado, Breckenridge spans five interconnected peaks covering large acres, including excellent beginner and intermediate terrain on Peak 8. The high alpine bowls hold snow late into the spring.
March Snow Condition:
On average, Breckenridge receives around thirty inches of snow in March. The snowpack is usually still deep, especially at higher elevations on Peak 6, Peak 7, and Peak 8. As spring approaches, there may be more variability in conditions, with the potential for spring snow storms as well as warmer sunny days.
4. Vail Ski Resort
- Location: Vail, Colorado
- Snowfall Average: Around three hundred fifty inches
From gentle groomed trails to scary steep channels like Riva Ridge, Vail offers something for everyone across its five thousand three hundred seventeen acres. The resort’s orientation and “back bowls” keep snow in play even during warm spring conditions.
March Snow Condition:
Despite quirks of spring skiing, overall coverage remains very good in March, thanks to Vail’s early storms and snowmaking efforts. Less trafficked zones away from the front sides are a good bet. Temperatures fluctuate more, and snow quality varies day to day, but tons of terrain and snow depth means you can still find epic skiing if you hit the right areas at the right time!
5. Telluride Ski Resort
- Location: Telluride, Colorado
- Snowfall Average: 309 inches per year
The charming historic town of Telluride sits tucked at the end of a box canyon surrounded by towering peaks. Getting dumped with over 300 inches a year, the slopes stay white late into spring – especially the north-facing runs.
March Snow Condition
There is typically a solid base layer built up from the 309-inch average snowfall. Like all resorts, though, conditions can vary from excellent powder to spring conditions depending on recent storms, temperatures, and skier traffic.
Popular March Snow Activities
Here are some suggested activities you can enjoy in the best snow places in March:
1. Hitting the Slopes
Of course, prime spring skiing and snowboarding are a huge draw to places like Vail, Aspen, Lake Tahoe, and Park City in March. The resorts still have plenty of snow cover but also enjoy more sunshine, warmer weather, longer days, and discounted rates compared to the peak winter months. The “corn snow” texture is perfect for carving turns.
2. Snowshoeing & Cross Country Skiing
Snowshoeing is a great way to explore snowy mountain wilderness areas and regional parks. Trekking across the snowpack on snowshoes gives you access to backcountry trails that are not reachable on skis. Cross-country skiing is another popular activity option. Cities and nature areas will groom cross-country trails for a classic ski experience.
3. Sledding & Tubing
Families with kids or playful adults can still enjoy classic winter activities like sledding, tubing, and building snowmen if enough snow base remains in March. Parks, golf courses, and other hills are prime sledding spots. Many ski resorts also operate dedicated tubing parks for casual sliding without needing fancy equipment.
4. Snowmobiling & Biking
Snowmobiling scenic mountain trails on high-powered machines capable of reaching remote areas is very popular in western snow regions. Some cities and areas in the Great Lakes snowbelt allow snowmobiling too. And fat biking has emerged for pedalling over the snow on bikes with ultra-wide tyres. Bike paths make for perfect winter fat biking routes.
5. Ice Fishing
What’s more, that implies prime ice fishing in amazing open doors, assuming you will overcome the cold. Popular fish catches include trout, walleye, and panfish. Late winter is also an excellent time to forage for edibles like maple syrup tapping mushrooms under the snow.
6. Soaking in Hot Springs
Let nature heal your sore muscles at nearby natural hot springs pools. Some feature access to outdoor pools where you can lounge in steaming water while gently falling snow surrounds you.
7. Massages & Spas
High-end spas concentrated around ski destinations offer a variety of luxury treatments like herbal wraps, aromatherapy steam rooms and deep tissue rub downs that will make you feel rejuvenated and ready to hit the slopes again.
Choices For Lodging & Dining
Whether you select luxury five-star accommodations or comfortable cottages, make sure to book early. Some options to consider:
1. Mountain Lodges
Stay right on the slopes in ski-in/ski-out lodges, and you just walk outside to catch the first lift up for fresh tracks in the morning snow. End your day soaking in front of a roaring fireplace, still wearing your ski boots.
2. Slope-side Rentals
Select from a variety of ski houses and villas grouped in lift-base locations, all with full kitchens and cozy mountain décor. Numerous have individual decks with outdoor hot tubs that look out over the trails.
3. Vacation Rentals
Book well in advance to get approved local homes often with game rooms, home gyms, and theatre rooms when you get tired of playing in the snow.
There are many hotel options available, regardless of budget, that have easy access to ski slopes without requiring a car. Try some foreign or regional cuisine at the end of the day, then have a few drinks at a well-liked local hangout before beginning over the next morning.
4. Nightlife & Casinos
Certain snowy locations, like Lake Tahoe or Flagstaff, Arizona, include nightclub districts and casinos to extend the celebrations into the early hours of the morning. Playing casino games like blackjack, slots, and poker is a fun wintertime indoor pastime. Alternatively, visit pubs and clubs that feature lively music and provide seasonal artisan beers.
Even when spring starts in March, some special spots still feel like winter wonderlands. The tall Rocky Mountains and a few snowy cities have enough cold weather and snow on the ground for winter fun.
The mountain ski towns are magical, with snow-covered peaks all around. You can swoosh through powdery snow as you ski or snowboard down the slopes. The trees sparkle with white snow, making the forests look extra beautiful when you snowshoe or cross-country ski through them.
The chilly northern cities also let you keep playing in the snow. You can sled super fast down steep hills and make giant snowmen that don’t melt right away.
So, if you don’t want winter to end yet, head to these snowy mountains and cities in March. Play in the snow in the cold, fresh air before spring takes the winter wonderlands away. Slide down slopes, make snow angels, and enjoy these white playgrounds while you still can!
Last Updated on March 9, 2024 by Akanksha Raj
