Mountain Review: Lutsen
MOUNTAIN SCORE
Lutsen, MN
54
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN
See our criteria
4
Snow:
5
Resiliency:
3
Size:
5
Terrain Diversity:
4
Challenge:
6
Lifts:
8
Crowd Flow:
6
Facilities:
6
Navigation:
7
Mountain Aesthetic:
GOOD TO KNOW
1-Day Ticket: $94-$128
Pass Affiliation: Indy Pass
On-site Lodging: Yes
Après-Ski: Moderate
Nearest Cities: Duluth (1.5 hrs), Minneapolis (4 hrs)
Recommended Ability Level:
+ Pros
Expansive views of Lake Superior
Great blue groomed terrain
Extensive ski-in-ski-out lodging
Modern lifts in popular mountain areas
– Cons
Limited beginner and expert terrain
Lower snowfall that areas on the other side of Lake Superior
Exaggerated mountain statistics
Fickle opening schedule in some mountain areas
MOUNTAIN STATS
Lifts: 7
Trails: 95
Beginner: 18%
Intermediate: 47%
Advanced/Expert: 35%
VIDEO
Mountain Review
Located on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Northern Minnesota, Lutsen isn’t what you’d call a typical Midwest hill. Claiming over 1,000 acres and around 1,000 vertical feet, Lutsen Mountains—yes, the “Mountains” is plural—focuses its marketing on comparing itself to trips out to the Rocky Mountains rather than against other Midwest ski areas. But is Lutsen good enough to justify driving north rather than heading out West on your next ski trip?
Many of Lutsen’s runs overlook the vast Lake Superior, giving it above-average views for the Midwest.
Standouts
What stands out most about Lutsen is probably the views. Namely, the resort overlooks Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world, making for some awe-inspiring views its Midwest location wouldn’t suggest to an unassuming visitor. The other side of the lake is barely visible even on the clearest of days, so most of the time, the view is just endless water. Lake Superior rarely freezes over, but during the coldest winters, the view could be of a massive sheet of ice.
Size
On paper, one of Lutsen’s greatest strengths is its size. But while Lutsen claims over 1,000 skiable acres, our measurements have found that to be greatly exaggerated. Our independent measuring returned less than 500 acres, which is still quite large by Midwest standards, but one of the most inaccurate claims we’ve found for any mountain. Perhaps even more confounding is the claimed vertical rise of Lutsen, which is 1,088 feet. That is the same elevation difference between the highest elevation at the resort and the elevation of Lake Superior, so unless you’re skiing across a golf course, over a highway, and into the icy water, you’re not going to be skiing all that vertical. The resort also claims a separate “Lift Served Vertical” of 825 feet, so we’re fairly confident they know the 1,000-foot claim isn’t accurate and is only for marketing purposes.
Via the Midwest’s only gondola, one can get between the multiple distinct areas of the resort.
Terrain Layout
While the resort’s skiable acreage and vertical drop metrics may not be quite what they claim, one thing there’s no denying is that Lutsen has an incredibly unique terrain layout for the Midwest. The resort sprawls over four mountains (though Westerners would call them hills), one of which is accessed through the Midwest’s only gondola. This varied layout can make Lutsen feel a lot larger than the 500-acre footprint, and it might be a good reason why the resort has gotten away with their size claims for so long.
The four mountains include Ullr, which is a beginner focused mountain right next to the main base, Mystery Mountain, which has some intermediate groomers and glades and is accessed right below the main base, Eagle Mountain, an intermediate and advanced-focused area that hosts the main base and has the resort's highest concentration of black runs on its north side, and the largest mountain, Moose Mountain, which is home to some of the longest blue runs and black rated glades in the Midwest—and can be accessed via the gondola from the base or a long catwalk. Ullr and Mystery are each served by a single double chair, Eagle is served by a high speed six pack, and Moose mountain is served by a high speed six pack and a double chair.
This setup allows for multiple terrain aspects, with sunny, south-facing slopes on Moose Mountain and colder, north-facing terrain on Eagle Mountain that can stay open later in the year. One unique aspect of the terrain of Lutsen is that trails go over and below a road on Eagle Mountain, which creates a little bit of a chokepoint, but a unique-feeling experience at that. On the way up Eagle Mountain, the lift goes over the road as well (and is quite high above the pavement), so those afraid of heights will definitely appreciate the bar on that lift.
TRAIL MAP
Lift Infrastructure
Lutsen’s lift infrastructure is more impressive than not, although it does have some drawbacks. Perhaps most notably, Lutsen has the only gondola at a Midwest ski resort, with this eight-passenger lift providing a direct link from the main base to the middle of the Moose Mountain area. This can especially come in handy on cold and frigid days, which Minnesota sees quite a few of. In addition, the two main Moose and Eagle Mountains are each served by top-to-bottom high-speed six-pack chairlifts called Caribou Express and Raptor Express, respectively. These two workhorse lifts keep lines moving and allow for fast laps. However, the other two mountains, Mystery and Ullr, are each served by much older centerpole double lifts. Not only are these lifts slow, but their antiquated design means some skiers and riders may find them hard to load.
Crowds
Even though its lifts aren’t perfect, crowds at Lutsen are rarely a problem during the ski season, with the new six-pack chair on Eagle Mountain addressing one of the main chokepoints on the mountain. While the resort does see an influx of visitors during the busy fall foliage season, during the winter, lines of even five minutes are rare.
On the whole, trails themselves are rarely too crowded, although there are a handful of issues. First off, some of the lower runs on Eagle Mountain can feel a bit congested, as trails of varying ability levels funnel into just two runs towards the bottom. In addition, the aptly-named Bridge Run also crosses a pair of slightly narrow bridges on its way to the lift, which can create occasional skier and rider bottlenecks.
Beginner trails at Lutsen are limited to the Ullr Mountain section of the resort.
Beginner Terrain
Lutsen offers a little bit of beginner terrain, but it’s lacking in how extensive that terrain is. All true beginner trails are located in the Ullr Mountain pod, which keeps them separated from busier areas but can make the mountain feel smaller for those just starting out or hoping to progress to intermediate runs. A few beginner-focused glades here add some variety, and certain blue trails in other pods, such as those off Eagle Mountain, may be approachable for some beginners, though they could prove challenging for others. Eagle Mountain does feature one green run, but it doesn’t connect top-to-bottom; to complete a lap, you’ll need to navigate a blue trail. There’s also a bunny hill with a magic carpet at the main base, well isolated from faster skiers and riders, making it a good option for first-timers.
Intermediate Terrain
What Lutsen stands out the most for is its intermediate terrain, with all mountain areas being ideal for this ability level. The groomed blue runs off Moose Mountain are Lutsen’s standout trails, with fantastic views of Lake Superior and wide slopes perfect for making generous turns. Runs off the south side of Eagle Mountain also offer varied intermediate terrain, with some great glade terrain for those wanting to try out the trees, and runs that go over or below a road for a little bit of variety. Mystery Mountain also offers some longer intermediate runs and glades, though Mystery Mountain has a fickle opening schedule, as snowmaking is lacking in that terrain pod.
Lutsen has numerous glade areas not just for advanced or expert visitors, but for intermediates as well.
Advanced Terrain
Lutsen's terrain offerings are a bit more limited for advanced skiers and riders, but there’s still plenty to explore. The north side of Eagle Mountain features several steeper, typically groomed runs that are great for high-speed laps, though they all funnel onto the same blue runout, which can get a bit busy and repetitive over time. The glades to skier’s left on Moose Mountain also stand out for experienced skiers and riders, offering some of the longest tree runs in the Midwest. For those who like ungroomed terrain, a number of runs on Eagle Mountain are left to bump up naturally, and in the spring, moguls are built on Hari Kari—a run that’s directly visible from the base, making it a great spot for spectating when the sun comes out and the snow softens.
Expert Terrain
For experts, there isn’t much at Lutsen. A few trails are marked as double blacks, but they are similar in difficulty to single-black trails at destination ski areas in the West or East. Additionally, these trails suffer from limited opening schedules, requiring a lot of natural snow for the resort to drop the rope. These trails do offer steep sections, but nothing in the way of expert features such as cliffs or no-fall zones. Cliffs do exist outside of marked trails, but these rarely see the snow needed to be sendable and are not recommended.
Terrain Park
While the Midwest region as a whole is known for its extensive freestyle builds, Lutsen’s terrain parks are surprisingly lacking. There are a few marked freestyle areas, but they aren’t a priority for the mountain and may not be fully built out depending on when you visit. When they are, expect small to medium features like boxes, rails, and jumps. Those looking for a more dedicated park experience will be better off at other Midwest spots like Spirit Mountain or Hyland Hills.
RECOMMENDED SKIS FOR LUTSEN
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Recommended intermediate ski
Recommended advanced ski
Recommended glade ski
Recommended powder ski
Snow Quality and Resiliency
Being in the Midwest, you might expect Lutsen to be a bit lacking in the snow department. But Lutsen does border one of the Great Lakes, helping to create an above-average accumulation environment for the region. And while snow totals are lower than what you’d find in Utah or Vermont, the region’s typically cold weather helps snow stick around for quite a while. Powder days aren’t frequent here, but with seasonal snowfall often topping 100 inches, they do happen from time to time.
That said, while Lutsen sees consistent snowfall for the Midwest and boasts a strong snowmaking system in key areas, there are a few areas where its on-mountain resiliency falls short. Mystery Mountain lacks snowmaking entirely, leaving it fully reliant on natural snow, which can be hit or miss. In addition, extremely cold weather or wind holds, though not common, can shut down the gondola and the Moose Mountain side of the resort, taking the best intermediate terrain offline when it happens.
Lutsen’s main base area is not at the bottom, but instead halfway up the Eagle Mountain side of the resort. The gondola provides direct service to the other side.
Navigation
Given that Lutsen spans four mountains across a somewhat complex layout, it was never going to be the most straightforward resort in the world to get around. That said, things are more simple than one might expect in many ways. The main base sits midway up Eagle Mountain at the bottom of the Ullr lift, with the Mystery Mountain chair easily accessible just below. Getting to Moose Mountain is simple as well thanks to the gondola, which runs directly to the Summit Lodge on Moose and offers two-way loading. There’s technically a long cat track connecting Eagle to Moose, but it is flat and slow, so taking the gondola is by far the easier option. There used to be a trail back from Moose to Eagle, but it crossed a bridge that was washed out in recent years and has not yet been rebuilt. Thankfully, the old divided and discontinuous trail map has been replaced with a more intuitive one.
It's also worth noting that returning to the resort base can be a bit tricky for those coming from Mystery or Eagle Mountains, as you need to take the Raptor Express up Eagle to get back once you arrive at the bottom of these terrain pods, and you don’t want to miss the cutoff to the mid-mountain base when you make it back to the top. The same could be said for Moose Mountain, as the loading area for the gondola is midway up and you have to make sure to take the Ridgeline trail to get there. This all being said, signage across the resort is clear and plentiful, especially when guiding you back to the lodges, and the compact size of the mountain makes it tough to get truly lost.
Facilities
For those looking to go in for a break, Lutsen has a decent on-mountain facility setup. The base area typically has two high capacity lodges with food and drinks; for the 2024-25 season it was down to one after the Papa Charlie’s restaurant was destroyed by a fire, though this building is being reconstructed and should be back up and running for the 2025-26 season. Papa Charlie’s is also typically home to live music most nights of the winter, but until that lodge is back up and running, this entertainment has been moved to the top floor of the Scandinavian Chalet. On the mountain outside of the base, there is one place to stop at: the Summit Chalet at Moose Mountain. This lodge offers fantastic views of the lake and is at the other end of the gondola. It’s worth highlighting that both facility complexes are in the middle of the mountain, rather than the bottom, meaning they are easier to reach from the tops of many slopes, but can be a little annoying if you just completed a top-to-bottom run and want to go in for a break, and also require some advance planning to reach depending on what runs you want to ski. Prices for food and drink aren’t cheap, but they’re still more reasonable than that of many destinations out West.
RECOMMENDED SNOWBOARDS FOR LUTSEN
NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.
Recommended intermediate board
Recommended advanced board
Recommended expert board
Recommended powder board
Getting There and Parking
Lutsen is located around an hour and a half northeast of Duluth, Minnesota, and four hours north of Minneapolis. The nearest airport is in Duluth, but the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport has many more options for flights. Lutsen is also around two hours from Thunder Bay, Ontario, though you do have to deal with the border crossing. For those willing to stretch their driving, Lutsen is about eight-and-a-half hours from the Chicago metropolitan area.
Parking at Lutsen can be a bit tight near the base, and can fill up on busy days. There is an overflow lot down the road and shuttles run from that lot when it is used, though all parking is free.
Lodging
One of Lutsen’s standout features, at least compared to other Midwest mountains, is its wide array of lodging options. There are multiple condo and hotel options for ski-in/ski-out lodging, and other options can be found within a few miles of the resort. In comparison with resorts out West, costs for ski-in/ski-out lodging are quite reasonable, though if you want true budget options, you’ll need to look at least a short drive from the mountain.
Après-Ski
When it comes to après, Lutsen doesn’t deliver the rowdy nightlife of major Western resorts, but it does provide a laid-back and enjoyable evening atmosphere. Guests can catch live music or DJs most nights during ski season at Papa Charlie’s or Lofty Gondola, both located near the base area. These venues offer a tavern-style vibe rather than a full-fledged party scene, making them ideal for winding down after a day on the slopes but not going especially crazy.
For those looking for more options beyond the resort and hotel bars, the small town of Grand Marais is around 30 minutes away and has a brewery and other food and drink options.
There are multiple ski-in, ski-out lodging options located right next to the trails at Lutsen.
Verdict
Lutsen may not measure up to the major resorts out West or even in the East, but for those in the Upper Midwest seeking a drive-to ski destination, it’s a compelling option, especially if you’re looking for stunning lake views and wide blue groomers. Despite a few navigation and snow resiliency quirks that hurt its overall appeal—and the fact that it’s nowhere near as big as advertised—it’s still really hard to beat within the region.
Pricing
Day tickets for Lutsen are some of the most expensive in the Midwest, with adult holiday tickets topping out at $128 (with a core-season range of $94-$128) and kids holiday tickets topping out at $70 (with a core-season range of $48-$70). This is incredibly expensive for Midwest skiing or riding, though buying in advance and multi-day tickets can make it a lot more palatable for the wallet. Lutsen is also a two-day partner on the Indy Pass, albeit with a few blackout days on the Base Pass and advance reservations required. Lutsen also has a pass offering called the Legendary Pass, which gives unlimited skiing or riding at Lutsen and the other resorts owned by Midwest Family Resorts, which include Granite Peak in Wisconsin and Snowriver in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
