When skiers and snowboarders think of ski resorts in Wyoming, Jackson Hole often comes to mind, renowned for its challenging terrain, including the legendary Corbet’s Couloir. However, Wyoming offers a variety of ski areas, each with its unique charm and appeal. Among these is the Pine Creek Ski Area, more commonly known as the Cokeville Ski Area, a small resort in western Wyoming near the town of Cokeville, not far from the Idaho and Utah state lines.
Location of Cokeville in Wyoming
Overview of Cokeville Ski Area
Cokeville Ski Area offers a more intimate and accessible skiing experience. Generally open Friday to Sunday, the skiing is served by one quad chairlift which serves 32 runs of varying degrees of difficulty. The skiable terrain is 640 acres, and the skiing has a vertical drop of 1450 feet.
For comparison, here's a look at some other ski resorts in Wyoming:
Mountain Review: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Other Wyoming Ski Resorts
While Cokeville offers a unique experience, Wyoming is home to several other ski resorts, each with its own distinct characteristics:
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- Jackson Hole: Located near Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole is favored by advanced and expert skiers. It boasts a high annual snowfall, a vertical drop of well over 4000 feet, and some of the toughest on- and off-piste skiing around. The ski area offers 13 lifts, including one tram, two gondolas, and ten chairlifts, covering around 2500 acres, with another 3000 acres of back-country skiing.
- Grand Targhee Resort: Situated near the Wyoming-Idaho state line, Grand Targhee offers terrain suitable for all standards, with options for beginners through advanced skiers. The ski area offers 5 lifts, including four chairlifts, covering around 2600 acres with a further 1000 acres for cat skiing. The vertical drop here is 2270 feet from a top elevation of just under 10000 feet.
- Snow King Resort: Dating back to the 1930s, Snow King is located at the base of Snow King Mountain, close to downtown Jackson. The ski area offers one gondola, three chairlifts, and a number of magic carpets, covering around 400 acres with a vertical drop of just over 1500 feet.
- Sleeping Giant: Located in the Shoshone National Forest near Yellowstone's East Gate, Sleeping Giant offers Friday to Sunday skiing on two lifts and a magic carpet, serving 49 ski trails on 184 acres of skiable terrain.
- White Pine Ski Resort: Situated in the Wind River mountain range near Pinedale, White Pine is open Friday to Monday, with two chairlifts servicing 29 ski runs and a vertical drop of just over 1000 feet.
- Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation Area: Located in the Bighorn National Forest of northern Wyoming, Antelope Butte is run by a non-profit foundation and operates from Friday to Monday. The three lifts cover 28 trails on a 1000 feet vertical.
- Hogadon Basin: Located south of Casper, Hogadon Basin offers skiing served by a double chairlift and a magic carpet, running from Wednesday to Sunday. There are 28 mainly intermediate level ski runs on a vertical drop of just under 640 feet and terrain of 60 acres.
- Snowy Range: Situated in the south-east corner of Wyoming near Centennial, Snowy Range offers five ski lifts, four of them chairlifts, accessing 33 ski trails. There are 250 acres of skiable terrain with a vertical drop of just under 900 feet.
Vertical Drop Comparison
Here's a table comparing the vertical drops of several Wyoming ski resorts:
| Ski Resort | Vertical Drop (feet) |
|---|---|
| Jackson Hole | 4140 |
| Grand Targhee | 2270 |
| Snow King | 1500 |
| Cokeville (Pine Creek) | 1450 |
| White Pine | 1000 |
| Antelope Butte | 1000 |
| Snowy Range | 900 |
| Hogadon Basin | 640 |
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
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