Cascade Mountain, Portage

Perched on a long ridge overlooking busy I-90/I-94, Cascade is considered the top day trip area in the Midwest. Chicago is three hours away, Milwaukee less than two, and Madison just a scant 30 minutes. Weekend crowds can be big, but the ski area is equipped to handle them. With 10 lifts including a high-speed, detachable quad, they can move a lot of skiers uphill quickly. Cascade is a pure ski hill. The 460-foot ski hill offers 34 trails, four terrain parks and two halfpipes. Cascades bump runs are legendary. They’ll make you wish for a teenager’s knees again. Mogul Monster, with Volkswagen-sized bumps, is open to expert skiers only. The ski area used to have a tough reputation, but over the years Cascade has added several new beginner and intermediate runs to help soften that image. ActivitiesSnowboarding: Cascade Mountain has four Terrain Parks, 15+ rails and jibs, and 5-10 jumps that are available for both skiers and boarders to enjoy. Each of the 4 terrain parks feature different jumps and rails that change from day to day. All trails open to riding.Cross Country Profile: Devil's Lake State Park is nearby with spectacular cross country terrain, and Palfrey Glen, Wisconsin's first natural area, is also nearby.LodgingAccommodation locations range from two to 25 miles away, from luxurious condominiums and resorts to economy motels. There are 1,500 beds in nearby Portage and Wisconsin Dells. Winter RecreationSkiing, snowboarding, and snowtubing. Ice skating, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, and movie theater nearby.