Lutsen Mountains ski trip planner

Lutsen Mountains is a ski resort with 95 runs across four mountains, about 1,000 acres and an 825-foot lift-served vertical, on the North Shore of Lake Superior about 265 miles from Minneapolis. The 2026-27 season opens November 26, 2026, and lifts run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An adult (31 to 79) day ticket is $79 to $134 at the window depending on the date, or $71 to $121 when bought at least 10 days ahead.

Lutsen describes its terrain as "four interconnected peaks." The two largest, Eagle and Moose, are connected by the Summit Express Gondola, per the resort's history page. The same page dates the founding of the original Lutsen Resort to 1885 and says skiing began there in 1948. It describes itself as best known for "wide-open, groomed cruisers," with 60 acres of tree skiing as its "best-kept secret."

Most trips are planned around three things: which rate period your dates fall in (an adult window ticket costs $55 more on a Holiday day than on a Saver day), whether you can book 10 or more days out, and where to sleep, since the closest towns are small. The stats page lists no terrain parks, and the FAQ says there is no night skiing, so plan on a daytime ski day.

Mountain stats

Figures are from Lutsen's trail map and mountain stats page, read November 13, 2026.

Lutsen's own pages do not all agree. The Winter at Lutsen page lists 81 runs, 1,100 total acres and 500 skiable acres, against 95 runs and 1,000 acres on the stats page and the First Timer's Guide. The live mountain report on those pages counts 58 primary trails and 29 sidecountry trails. Use the larger numbers as the resort's headline figures and the mountain report for what is open on the day.

Lifts

The stats page lists seven lifts:

• Summit Express Gondola, which the Winter at Lutsen page calls the Midwest's only gondola. A regular lift ticket includes it, per the FAQ.
• Two six-passenger high-speed chairs: Caribou Express and Raptor Express.
• Three double chairs: Ullr, Mystery and Timberwolf.
• A magic carpet at the Snow Sports Center.

The resort's history page says the first high-speed six-pack, on Moose Mountain, went in in 2009, and a second high-speed six-pack was added in 2023.

2026-27 lift ticket prices

Prices are from Lutsen's lift tickets page, read November 13, 2026. Every date in the season falls into one of four rate periods: Saver, Value, Prime and Holiday. The page labels Saver as about 35% off Prime, Value as about 20% off and Holiday as about 10% above. The day-by-day calendar showing which dates fall in which period did not load as readable text, so check it on the ticket page before you price a trip.

Window, or bought 0 to 9 days ahead

Bought 10 or more days ahead (10% off)

Lutsen says online rates are not available at the ticket windows. The First Timer's Guide adds that buying three or more days saves 50% on each additional day. Lutsen's rentals page says all purchases are subject to applicable state and local taxes.

As a worked example from the window prices: two adults and two children aged 5 to 12 pay $386 for one Prime day, or $308 on a Value day, before tax. Booking that Prime day 10 or more days ahead brings it to $348.

Discounts and policies

• 25% off Prime: college students, military and immediate household, ski industry workers, and locals with a state ID showing a qualifying zip code (55601 to 55607, 55609, 55612 to 55616). These are sold only in person at the ticket window with proof.
• Cancellations: more than 30 days out, changes or refunds by phone by 5 p.m. with a 5% fee. Inside 30 days, tickets are final unless you bought the optional Spot Refund Guarantee, which refunds 90% up to 72 hours before arrival. Lutsen says weather does not change the policy.
• Waivers: every guest needs a new liability waiver each season, completed before getting in the ticket line.
• Pick-up boxes: online orders print at pick-up boxes by scanning the barcode in your confirmation email.

Rentals and lessons

Lutsen's rentals page lists these standard daily rates (the page does not label them by season; checked November 13, 2026):

Helmets are $14 a day and snowshoes $22, on site only. Boots come only as part of a package. The standard rate applies at the window on the day; booking 10 or more days ahead takes 10% off, and bundling rentals into a Ski and Stay package takes 10% to 25% off depending on timing. Payment is due in full at the time of reservation.

The FAQ says the rental shop opens at 8:30 a.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. on weekends and holiday periods, and that multi-day renters keep their gear for the whole visit. Private lessons run daily, group lessons on Saturdays and holiday periods, and every lesson needs a separate lift ticket except the Adult First Timers Ski Package.

Season passes, Ikon and Nordic

Legendary season passes

Lutsen's season pass page sells four Legendary pass tiers, each good at Lutsen, Granite Peak and Snowriver Mountain Resort. The pricing table lists adult (31 to 79) prices of $1,199 (Platinum), $1,049 (Gold), $779 (Silver) and $629 (Bronze). The same page's FAQ quotes a lower $529 adult figure that does not match the table, so confirm before buying. Platinum and Gold have no blackouts; Silver is blacked out 12/28 to 1/2, 1/16 to 1/17 and 2/13 to 2/14; Bronze is weekdays only and blacked out 12/28 to 1/1. Lutsen says pass prices go off sale December 10.

Ikon Pass

Lutsen's Ikon Pass page lists 7 days at each of the three resorts with no blackouts on the Ikon Pass, and 5 days at each with blackouts (12/26 to 12/30, 1/16 to 1/17, 2/13 to 2/14) on the Ikon Base Pass. Lutsen also sells Ikon add-ons ($299 Base, $799 full) to Legendary Platinum holders, bought at the same time.

Cross-country skiing

The Lutsen Nordic Center has 3 kilometers of cross-country trails on Ullr Mountain; a $15 all-ages pass includes one chairlift ride. For longer trail days, Lutsen's Why Lutsen page points to more than 400 miles of cross-country ski trails across Cook County.

Hours, payment and parking

Lutsen's hours page lists daily operations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the 2026-27 winter. The two sources disagree on evenings: the hours page also lists Family Fest night skiing on Ullr from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., without naming the dates, while the FAQ says "We do not offer night skiing at Lutsen Mountains." Call the resort if a later run matters to your plans. The lift tickets page gives an estimated closing day of May 2, 2027. Lutsen says all operations are subject to weather and conditions.

• Cashless: Lutsen does not take cash, except for tips and at vendors the resort does not own. The First Timer's Guide says a reverse ATM in the Scandinavian Chalet dispenses Mastercard gift cards.
• Where things are: the FAQ puts the ticket office at the base of the Summit Express Gondola, and the First Timer's Guide puts the ticket office and rental shop to the right of the base area. The Scandinavian Chalet has lockers, The Mountain Shop and Rosie's Cafe; the Summit Chalet sits at the top of Moose Mountain.
• Parking: on weekends and peak dates, the FAQ says to expect the overflow lot across from Caribou Highlands Lodge, with a shuttle to the gondola base.
• Non-skiers: sightseeing gondola tickets are sold for the ski season; see the Lutsen gondola guide for what is at the top.

Getting there

Lutsen is at 467 Ski Hill Rd, off Highway 61. Visit Cook County, the county tourism office, gives approximate one-way distances to Lutsen Mountains:

The route is Duluth, then Highway 61 north along the lake. Lutsen's own site calls it about four hours from the Twin Cities. Lutsen's First Timer's Guide says to check road conditions and leave plenty of travel time. The Duluth to Grand Marais drive guide lists the stops on the way, and Grand Marais is the nearest larger town for meals: see Grand Marais restaurants and things to do in Grand Marais.

Before you go

1. Find your rate period. Check the calendar on the lift tickets page; a Holiday day costs $55 more per adult than a Saver day.
2. Buy 10 or more days out for 10% off tickets and rentals, but read the cancellation rules first.
3. Do the waiver for every skier before you reach the ticket line.
4. Bring a card. The resort is cashless.
5. Plan for the overflow lot on weekends and holidays.
6. Check early-season terrain. The mountain report shows how many of the 58 primary trails and lifts are open.
7. Call with questions: 218-663-7281 or ski@lutsen.com.

For the rest of a winter trip up the shore, see the North Shore in winter. Closer to home, Spirit Mountain in Duluth is the smaller city hill on the way.

Related guides: All North Shore guides · Minnesota in winter · Lutsen gondola · North Shore in winter · Spirit Mountain in Duluth

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Sources

• Lutsen Mountains, Lift Tickets (2026-27 prices, rate periods, discounts, policies): https://www.lutsen.com/node/1065
• Lutsen Mountains, Lift Tickets and Passes (opening day, Ikon add-ons, 10-day savings): https://www.lutsen.com/plan-purchase/tickets-passes
• Lutsen Mountains, Trail Map and Mountain Stats: https://www.lutsen.com/mountain-info/trail-map-mountain-stats
• Lutsen Mountains, Winter at Lutsen: https://www.lutsen.com/discover/winter-at-lutsen
• Lutsen Mountains, First Timer's Guide: https://www.lutsen.com/mountain-info/first-timers-guide
• Lutsen Mountains, Rentals: https://www.lutsen.com/plan-purchase/rentals
• Lutsen Mountains, Legendary Midwest Season Passes 2026-27: https://www.lutsen.com/season-passes
• Lutsen Mountains, Ikon Pass: https://www.lutsen.com/ikon-pass
• Lutsen Mountains, Lutsen Nordic Center: https://www.lutsen.com/things-to-do/lutsen-nordic-center
• Lutsen Mountains, Hours of Operation (2026-2027 winter): https://www.lutsen.com/mountain-info/hours-of-operation
• Lutsen Mountains, FAQs: https://www.lutsen.com/faqs
• Lutsen Mountains, History and Improvements: https://www.lutsen.com/discover/history-improvements
• Lutsen Mountains, Why Lutsen: https://www.lutsen.com/discover/why-lutsen
• Visit Cook County, How Far Is Cook County? A Road Trip Guide: https://www.visitcookcounty.com/blog/post/how-far-is-cook-county-a-road-trip-guide-to-minnesotas-best-kept-secrets/