Skiing near Anchorage from the Hillside
Four lift-served ski areas, two of the best city Nordic trail systems in North America, and some of the world's best-known heli skiing are all within a day's drive of the house. Here is how they compare.
Last reviewed October 22, 2026. Season dates are projections; confirm with each area.
Where should we ski on an Anchorage winter trip? Go to Alyeska in Girdwood (about 45 minutes) for big-mountain skiing and the tram. Use Hilltop (about 15 minutes) for kids, beginners and night laps. Add Arctic Valley on a weekend for views and fewer people, and Skeetawk in Hatcher Pass for drier snow. Cross-country skiers have about 30 km of groomed trail on the Hillside and 50 km at Kincaid Park. Experts can book cat or heli skiing with Chugach Powder Guides from Girdwood.
Downhill areas compared
| Area | Drive | Best for | Terrain | When open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilltop Ski Area | 15min | Families, beginners, night skiing | 30 acres, 12 trails, triple chair, about 300 ft vertical, all lit | Projected Nov 28 to mid-April. Weekday afternoons and evenings, full days on weekends |
| Arctic Valley Ski Area | 40min | Intermediate and advanced, views, uncrowded | About 1,400 ft vertical, two chairs and a T-bar, plus a tubing park | Weekends from early winter; Thursdays and Fridays added in spring. Daily ticket limits |
| Alyeska Resort | 45min | Big-mountain days, steeps, tram, ski school | 1,610 acres, 76 trails, about 2,500 ft vertical, aerial tram, night skiing | Projected late Nov 2026 to late April 2027 |
| Skeetawk Ski Area (Hatcher Pass) | 1:45hr | Dry snow, small-hill feel, backcountry access | Roughly 30 acres on a triple chair, mostly intermediate and expert | Friday to Sunday, late November to late April |
Terrain figures are rounded from published resort data. All four rent equipment or partner with local shops; check ahead for Skeetawk.
Closest to the house
Hilltop Ski Area with kids
Hilltop is the reason many families pick the Hillside. It is small (about 30 acres and 12 runs on a triple chair and surface lifts) and roughly 80% of the terrain is beginner-friendly, so kids can ski on their own without getting lost. Every run is lit, which matters when the sun sets mid-afternoon.
Last winter's hours were Monday to Thursday 3 to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 9 am to 8 pm, and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm. Confirm the 2026–27 schedule before you go.
How a Hilltop day can work
- Breakfast at the house, then a 15-minute drive. Parking is at the base.
- Book lessons or rentals online ahead of weekends and school holidays.
- Non-skiers can walk or ski the Hillside Nordic trails from the same parking area.
- Head home for lunch and a nap, then come back for lit evening laps.
Big mountain
Alyeska Resort, Girdwood
Alaska's largest ski area rises from near sea level above Turnagain Arm: 1,610 acres, 76 named trails, a 60-passenger aerial tram and lit night skiing on part of the mountain. It is known for steep terrain and heavy coastal snowfall, though there is plenty of intermediate cruising and a ski school for beginners.
The drive is about 45 minutes down the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm, one of the prettiest roads in the state. Leave early on powder days. For non-skiers, the Alyeska Nordic Spa sits next to the tram with hot and cold pools and saunas.
Arctic Valley and Skeetawk
Arctic Valley is a nonprofit run by the Anchorage Ski Club since 1949, high in Chugach State Park on the north side of town. It limits daily tickets to keep it uncrowded, so buy in advance. Kids love the tubing park.
Skeetawk, opened in 2020 at Hatcher Pass, is a community ski area in the Talkeetna Mountains where the snow tends to be drier than on the coast. Combine it with a stop in Palmer.
Cross-country skiing near the Hillside
Anchorage is one of the best Nordic ski towns anywhere, and the Hillside is at the center of it. Grooming is done by the volunteer-supported Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, and trail use is free.
- Hillside trail system (15 min): around 30 km of groomed classic and skate trails between Service High School and Chugach State Park, with lighted loops. Best access is the trailhead at 7011 Abbott Road, next to Hilltop.
- Tour of Anchorage trail: a lit, mostly downhill multi-use route from Service High School through Far North Bicentennial Park.
- Kincaid Park (30 min): about 50 km of rolling coastal trails, with long lighted loops and views across the inlet.
- Girdwood and Hatcher Pass have groomed Nordic trails too, and Hatcher Pass often has the earliest snow.
Ski shops in Anchorage rent classic and skate gear by the day.
Cat and heli skiing
The Chugach Mountains around Anchorage are famous for heli skiing. These trips are for strong intermediate to expert skiers, are fully guided, and depend on weather and snowpack.
- Chugach Powder Guides (45 min) flies from Girdwood, roughly February 1 to mid-April. It sells multi-day packages and single heli days (on weekends, and on weekdays booked within 30 days). Snowcat skiing near Alyeska runs only in seasons with enough low-elevation snow.
- Majestic Heli Ski (2 hr 35 min) runs all-inclusive weeks from a lodge on the Glenn Highway near the Matanuska Glacier, roughly February to May. It is a lodge stay rather than a day trip, but Hillside Haven works well for the nights before and after.
Backcountry safety. Avalanches are a serious hazard in the Chugach and Talkeetna ranges, and fatal accidents have occurred on guided trips. If you tour on your own, carry rescue gear, know how to use it and read the daily forecast from the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center or the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center.
A ski house for the whole group
After a day on the hill: the washer and dryer for wet layers, a jetted tub upstairs, the fireplace and a table for ten. Hillside Haven sleeps up to 13 in six bedrooms.