April's Solar Eclipse: A Rare Opportunity for North American Skiers — Here’s Where to Catch It on the Slopes

If you've ever skied at twilight, you understand the beauty of watching the sunset over mountain peaks while squeezing in a few last runs. On Monday, April 8, 2024, you can enjoy this stunning view twice within a few hours as a total solar eclipse envelops North America, casting darkness over numerous ski resorts.

Most of the top ski areas in North America will experience only a partial solar eclipse that day, with Colorado seeing about 65 percent, Utah around 50 percent, California close to 35 percent, and British Columbia roughly 20 percent in the moon's outer shadow. Only within the 115-mile-wide path of totality will darkness fall, allowing the sun's stunning corona — its spiky white outer layer — to be visible to the naked eye.

This revered route will span the entire continent, traversing areas in Mexico, 15 U.S. states, and five Canadian provinces, culminating at Newfoundland. The northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada will experience over three minutes of totality—when the moon entirely obscures the sun, casting an eerie twilight. Ski resorts in these regions provide a spectacular vantage point for enjoying a panoramic sunset that bathes the horizon in shades of pink. Being in the mountains also offers a unique perspective to observe the moon's shadow as it approaches or departs.

"The eclipse will travel from southwest to northeast, crossing ski resorts in states and provinces such as Quebec, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine, along with lesser-known ski areas like Ohio," explains ski travel expert Patrick 'Snowhunter' Thorne, author of "Around The World in 50 Slopes" and creator of a comprehensive database of over 6,000 ski destinations. "The timing is perfect, starting in the mid-afternoon with totality around 15:20 EST, coinciding with the end of the ski day." While some ski areas may close by early April, others remain open well into spring, as Thorne plans a trip to Mont Sutton in Quebec during the eclipse.

Before planning a similar adventure, consider the weather conditions. An extensive climatology guide can help identify locations along the path of totality with the highest likelihood of clear skies. In short, Mexico and Texas present better odds compared to the (potentially snowy) mountains in the U.S. and Canada, where cloud cover is estimated at around 60 percent. However, as with any event, the weather can be unpredictable on the day itself.

Here are some ski resorts located along the path of totality that are worth considering—not only for the possibility of skiing during totality, provided conditions permit, but also for the stunning mountain vistas during this celestial spectacle.

Ohio

As the moon moves from west to east, Ohio's ski slopes—the westernmost among the discussed locations—will witness totality first. The sole resort along the path of totality is Mad River Mountain, Ohio’s leading ski area, which will experience the moon's shadow for 3 minutes and 36 seconds at 15:10 EDT, the longest duration of any ski resort.

New York

Upstate New York will be bustling on eclipse day, with Rochester and Buffalo emerging as favored spots for eclipse enthusiasts. For a more elevated view, consider a boutique ski area on the path, such as Kissing Bridge (3 minutes 31 seconds at 15:18 EDT), Brantling (3 minutes 21 seconds at 15:20 EDT), and Bristol Mountain Ski Resort (2 minutes 32 seconds at 15:20 EDT). Further east, near Lake Placid, New York Ski Resort on Whiteface Mountain (3 minutes 25 seconds at 15:25 EDT) is hosting a special event featuring music for $40. 

Pennsylvania

The path of totality only lightly grazes the Keystone State, crossing through its northwestern region adjacent to Lake Erie. However, it includes Mount Pleasant of Edinboro (3 minutes 11 seconds at 15:16 EDT) and the Peek’n Peak ski resorts within its shadow. 

Vermont

With a totality duration of 3 minutes 32 seconds at 15:26 EDT, Jay Peak Resort in Vermont will enjoy the longest period of darkness. To celebrate, they are hosting The Whiteout, featuring Pink Talking Fish performing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. The cost is $365 per night for two people or $516 per night for a family of four. Just south of Jay Peak is Stowe Mountain Resort (3 minutes 3 seconds totality at 15:26 EDT), and further south is Mad River Glen ski area (2 minutes 2 seconds at 15:27 EDT). 

Quebec, Canada

With Montreal situated right at the edge of the path of totality, many Canadian eclipse enthusiasts will head to the Eastern Townships. Highlights include Parc national du Mont-Mégantic featuring its astrolab, and Mont-Orford Ski Resort (3 minutes 22 seconds at 15:27 EDT). Even closer to the centerline is the charming alpine village ski resort of Mont Sutton (3 minutes 29 seconds at 15:36 EDT).

Maine

As the path of totality re-enters the U.S., it will cast its shadow over the Pine Tree State's largest ski resort, Sugarloaf, located in Carrabassett Valley (2 minutes 25 seconds totality at 15:29 EDT).  

Ski resorts experiencing a significant partial eclipse

To witness totality, you need to be within the designated path. Outside this area, all you can see—through solar filter glasses—is a partial eclipse of the sun. Some ski resorts are frustratingly close, about 50 miles from the path, missing out on totality, including Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, Killington in Vermont, Sunday River in Maine, and Mont Tremblant in Quebec. These resorts will not see complete darkness during the day, but will experience a slight reduction in light and a drop in temperature (around 10ºF). Nonetheless, Loon Mountain is preparing for the event by restricting foot traffic and limiting lift access exclusively to skiing and snowboarding guests. Passholders need to reserve their spots, and day tickets must be purchased in advance. 

How rare is this total solar eclipse?

Experiencing a total solar eclipse in the same location is exceedingly rare. In fact, you can expect a wait of about 375 years to witness totality twice in the exact same spot. History will repeat when totality returns to North America in 2044, plunging Banff National Park and the Lake Louise ski area into darkness. Unfortunately, this will occur in August, making April’s total solar eclipse a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for skiers in North America.