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David O'Brien
St. Louis is a long way from the mountains, so options for partaking in snow sports are pretty slim. Powder seekers flock to Hidden Valley, the only resort that offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing in the area. Located in Wildwood—less than a 45-minute drive—this locals' hangout is a little slice of winter paradise not too far away.
About Hidden Valley Ski Resort
Hidden Valley is the largest ski resort in Missouri. It has 17 runs on about 65 acres of skiable terrain with a 310-foot vertical drop. Thirty percent of the runs are listed as beginner, 60 percent as intermediate, and the remaining 10 percent as advanced. There is also an off-run terrain park for expert skiers and snowboarders. Nine lifts (including five chair lifts), one rope tow, and three surface carpet lifts serve Hidden Valley skiers. To keep things white during the winter, the resort gets only a little help from Mother Nature. Almost all of the snow is made with snow machines.
Hidden Valley offers a Snow Sports Academy with lessons for all ages and abilities, a Polar Plunge tubing area, equipment rental, and a ski lodge featuring a bar, shop, and cafeteria. There are day lockers and vending machines available, too.
Location, Directions, and Hours
Hidden Valley Ski Resort is located at 17409 Hidden Valley Drive in Wildwood, St. Louis County. From the city, take I-44 West to the Eureka exit (no. 264), then exit onto Highway 109 and go north about two miles to Alt Road. Turn left on Alt Road and follow the signs to Hidden Valley Drive, where you'll find the resort.
Hidden Valley is open daily from mid-December to the end of February. Regular hours are Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Polar Plunge tubing park has different hours. It's closed Monday through Thursday, open on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Hidden Valley's Midnight Madness weekends—which typically begin after Christmas Day and end in late February—keep the park open until 1 a.m. On Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, there is special evening and overnight skiing.
Lift Tickets and Rental Fees
Daytime lift tickets and equipment rentals vary from day to day and the prices go up during busy times of the year. Most Sundays starting in January, Hidden Valley offers a Family Night Special from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. A group discount of up to 25 percent off is offered to parties of 15 or more. For more details on group rates and season passes, see the Hidden Valley website.
The Polar Plunge
In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Hidden Valley also has a snow tubing area called Polar Plunge. Visitors can ride an inner tube down a 1200-foot hill, then take a conveyor carpet back to the top and do it all over again. The Polar Plunge is open to guests of all ages. Tickets are $26 per person for three hours of tubing, which includes the tube. Many of the activities offered at Hidden Valley are impacted by the weather, so check snow conditions before you go.
