The city of Las Vegas is well-known for its luxurious hotels, casinos, and endless nightlife. In addition to popular activities outside of downtown vegas—day trips to the Grand Canyon, the thrills of the Stratosphere, fantastic performances, relaxing at luxury resorts, and Michelin-starred dining—Sin City also offers guests a unique opportunity to practice a winter sport: skiing.

Located about an hour outside Las Vegas downtown, Lee Canyon (previously The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort) is a skier's paradise and home to some of the state's best snow.

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Discover Lee Canyon And All It Has to Offer

Lee Canyon, located in the Spring Mountains, is owned and operated by Powdr Corporation, one of the major ski resort operators in North America, in collaboration with the United States Forest Service and under a special-use permit. Since its founding in 1964, the canyon has expanded to include 8,510 feet of vertical drop and three chair lifts (plus one surface lift).

Sometimes referred to as "Las Vegas' backyard hideaway," Lee Canyon is where people of all backgrounds and interests may enjoy the outdoors safely and carefully. By keeping its Play Forever promise to safeguard the environment and enable participants to enhance and preserve the adventure lifestyle for future generations, Lee Canyon is committed to being the best version of itself and operating responsibly.

Skiers and snowboarders can ride the Sherwood chair lift to an elevation of 9,310 feet or the Bluebird chair lift to gain an additional 60 feet in altitude. The resort's snowmaking facilities and 445 acres of terrain compliment the mountain's average yearly snowfall of 129 inches. There are 30 routes available to visitors in Lee Canyon, with 85 percent suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders and 15 percent for beginners.

Lee Canyon is home to some of the best trails and a regularly updated terrain park with features like rails and tabletop jumps. The resort's ski and snowboard programs are available to children of all ages and skill levels, from those just learning to those training for competitions. Depending on the conditions in the mountains, snow tubing, snowshoeing, and snow play areas may also be open.

The canyon also features a high-quality bar, lounge area, and a café and grill in the lodge's main building. The resort is forward-thinking in that it offers equipment and apparel rentals to guests who would rather spend their time on the slopes than in a bar.

The Weather At Lee Canyon And The Ideal Time To Visit

Compared to the Las Vegas desert, the climate at Lee Canyon is quite different. Along with nearby Mount Charleston, Lee Canyon is a part of the Spring Mountains and one of the most prominent mountains in Nevada, standing out dramatically against the Las Vegas Valley. From the valley to Lee Canyon, visitors will experience seven special temperate zones, the equivalent of driving from Mexico to the Canadian arctic in about twenty miles.

Throughout the year, the Spring Mountains draw in crowds of campers, hikers, and other outdoor adventurers; Lee Canyon gets snow from December to March. Summers in the Las Vegas area may get very hot, so getting away to higher elevations can be very refreshing. The cooler weather is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, equestrian riding, and wildlife viewing.

Weddings in Lee Canyon are held there throughout the summer months, from the end of May to the end of September, weather permitting, and the picturesque scenery entices guests to return for more.

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The Park For Downhill Mountain Biking In Lee Canyon

In 2022, a new downhill mountain bike park in Lee Canyon comes with year-round opportunities for outdoor fun. Lee Canyon Mountain Bike Park, designed and constructed by Gravity Logic, the same company responsible for the world-class bike parks at Mt. Bachelor and Killington, features a wide variety of trails for riders of all skill levels, from easy to expert, as well as jump trails and single track.

Lee Canyon Mountain Bike Park will gain more trails from winter 2022 to spring 2023. When completed, the downhill mountain bike paths will stretch for almost 13 miles. At the park's completion in 2023, riders of all skill levels will enjoy the wide range of trails, from easy to complex, broad to narrow, and excavated to jump trail to single track.

• How to get to Lee Canyon from Las Vegas: Driving costs $9 to $14 and takes 59 minutes from Las Vegas to Lee Canyon. There is no direct link between Las Vegas and Lee Canyon. Nonetheless, you can take the bus to NB Grand Montecito after Ace and then a taxi to the canyon.
• Lee Canyon opening hours: The hours of operation for Lee Canyon vary with the seasons. During the summer months (April to October), Lee Canyon is accessible daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. From December through March, Lee Canyon is accessible between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
• Admission: For the most up-to-date information on lift ticket prices and other pricing, contact Lee Canyon directly at (702) 645-2752.