Alpine Slides in the Northern Rockies and Black Hills

Three alpine slides in Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota share something special: each sits near a landmark that draws travelers from around the world. Ride in Jackson within sight of the Tetons, in Whitefish on the way to Glacier National Park, or in Keystone a couple of miles from Mount Rushmore.

Snow King Mountain, Jackson, Wyoming

Snow King Mountain rises right behind the town of Jackson, and it calls its slide Jackson's only Alpine Slide. The ride zooms, dips, and curves around the mountain with views of the Tetons and the town below. Snow King describes a half-mile track with 350 vertical feet and speeds up to 25 miles per hour, with banked turns and hairpins on one of two parallel tracks. The ride begins and ends at the base of the Rafferty Lift, and Snow King estimates the whole experience at about 15 minutes, depending on rider speed and conditions.

Snow King's summer lineup goes well beyond the slide. The resort also runs the Cowboy Coaster, which it describes as a year-round mountain coaster, a scenic gondola, and an observatory and planetarium on the mountain.

Rules to know: Riders must sign an all-activity waiver and have a lift ticket. Children must be 2 or older, and every child from 2 to 6 rides with an adult. No dogs are allowed. Rain can close the Alpine Slide, which reopens once it dries. The resort recommends comfortable outdoor clothing, secure footwear, and layers for changing mountain weather.

Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana

Whitefish Mountain Resort, on Big Mountain above the town of Whitefish, runs Alpine Slides in summer. Riders take a personal, hand-braked sled down one of two banked slides, and Chair 6 carries them back to the top. No prior experience is needed, and staff help first-timers. The resort describes itself as the ultimate base camp for visiting Glacier National Park, just 35 miles from the park's West Glacier entrance.

A Whitefish summer day can also include zip line tours, an aerial adventure park, a scenic lift ride to the top of Big Mountain, and lunch at the Summit House with views of Glacier's peaks.

Rules to know: Children under 48 inches ride tandem with an adult. The maximum combined rider weight per sled is 300 pounds. The Alpine Slides close temporarily for lightning, rain, or wet track conditions.

Rushmore Tramway Adventures, Keystone, South Dakota

Rushmore Tramway Adventures is in Keystone, the Black Hills town closest to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which the National Park Service places about two miles southwest of Keystone. Its 2,000-foot Alpine Slide is, in the operator's words, a fan favorite. Riders descend two parallel tracks on wheeled sleds through dips and high-banked turns, controlling speed with a hand brake: push it forward to go, pull it back to slow down and stop. The operator says riders can reach up to 40 miles per hour if they choose, and every slide ticket includes the chairlift ride to the top.

Rules to know: Riders must be 6 to ride alone. Children from 2 to 5 ride as passengers with an adult 18 or older. Riders must ride safely, sober, and in control, obey all signs, and not race. The slide does not run in wet conditions, and the operator offers rain checks if weather closes it.

Around Jackson

Jackson is the gateway to Grand Teton National Park. The National Park Service's Moose Entrance Station, near the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, sits north of town along the highway toward the park. Keep driving north through Grand Teton and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway and you reach Yellowstone National Park's South Entrance. Separate entrance fees apply to the two parks, though the National Park Service notes that a combined pass is available. Many families pair a morning in the Tetons with afternoon laps on Snow King's slide.

Around Whitefish

Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the great scenic drives in the country, and the West Glacier entrance is the one closest to Whitefish. Whitefish Mountain Resort suggests a day of hiking and sightseeing in Glacier, perhaps with a boat tour on a glacial lake, followed by a return to the resort for the Alpine Slides. Check the park's website for current road status and any vehicle reservation rules before you go.

Around Keystone and the Black Hills

The Black Hills are packed with national park sites. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is the obvious first stop. Wind Cave National Park's visitor center is 11 miles north of Hot Springs, according to the National Park Service, and the park protects one of the longest caves in the world along with bison and other wildlife that roam the surface. Custer State Park lies between them, and Badlands National Park is a longer drive east. A slide session at Rushmore Tramway Adventures fits neatly between sightseeing stops.

Planning a northern Rockies slide trip

All three slides run in the warm months, and all close for wet tracks. Mountain weather here can change quickly: pack layers, rain gear, and sunscreen, and plan slide time for dry stretches of the day. These are also big-distance regions. Jackson to Whitefish is a long drive, and the Black Hills are farther still, so most travelers focus on one area per trip.

Summer is the busiest season in all three towns, especially near the national parks. Book lodging early, start sightseeing days early, and use the slide as a flexible afternoon activity rather than a fixed appointment. See national parks near alpine slides for more detail and riding with kids for a side-by-side look at operator rules.

Sources

• Snow King Mountain, Alpine Slide
• Snow King Mountain, Cowboy Coaster
• Whitefish Mountain Resort, Alpine Slides
• Whitefish Mountain Resort, Glacier National Park
• Rushmore Tramway Adventures, Alpine Slide
• National Park Service, Mount Rushmore geodiversity atlas
• National Park Service, Moose Entrance Station
• National Park Service, Yellowstone South Entrance
• National Park Service, Glacier National Park
• National Park Service, Wind Cave basic information