Andes Tower Hills Ski Resort - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Address:Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tel: (320) 965-2455

Cross-country tracks, downhill skiing and snowboarding, or just careening down in a snow tube – Andes Tower Hills is the epicenter for family fun this winter. Located in Kensington, Minnesota, this small but friendly ski area has alpine trails suitable for any range of skill sets, and offers 800 acres of wooded trails to make fresh tracks in on your cross-country skis.

Fifteen downhill trails spread over forty-five acres make up the bulk of Andes Tower Hills ski coverage and is broken down into four beginners', four intermediate, and seven advanced trails. The length of the trails are not very long, so it is suggested you take the time to view the surrounding scenery and work on perfecting your carving technique. There are 3 chairlifts and 1 surface lift to facilitate getting around on the mountain. Snowboarders have a small but very functional terrain park that features various rail and funbox setups on which to spend the day, and caters to everyone from beginning riders to those more experienced.

Andes Tower Hill's season runs from around Thanksgiving to late March, and it's open daily from 12am to 9pm, with the exception of Friday when they stay open until 10pm for longer night skiing.

Reservations are required if guests would like lessons at the mountain. There are a multitude of lesson choices available, from specialized kids programs straight up to adults in either alpine skiing, snowboarding, or Nordic skiing. Andes Tower Hills Peewee program for 4 to 6 year old children is offered on weekends. It includes the lift pass, rental equipment, lesson, and a sweet treat at the end of the day. Learn to ski or snowboard lessons are not offered on holidays, so make sure to take this into consideration if you're planning to come during the holiday season. Rental equipment is limited, so it may be wise to get to the mountain early or rent from an off-site ski shop.

Many discounts can be found daily and weekly at Andes Tower Hills, such as their "Wild Card Wednesdays" or "Ten Buck Tuesdays". Children under the age of 6 ski or ride free with a paying adult, and there is a choice of all day passes, or evening passes which start at 3:30pm.

Guests who'd rather a non-alpine winter break have ample room to try out cross-country skiing on Andes Tower Hill's 15km network of trails that are tiller groomed nightly. There is 1km that is lit for night time usage, and rentals and lessons are offered at the resort. Try the snowshoeing at "Joseph Moo's Loop," however be aware that there are only 4 sets of rentals available at any given time. There is also a snow tubing park which has plenty of chutes for both singles and families in their own tubes to fly down. Tubing park time is sold in 2 hour blocks.

Riders will be please to know that when their stomachs start to growl, Whispering Pines Restaurant, located onsite, serves up charbroiled hamburgers, savory soups, and delicious drinks both hot and cold. Cross-country skiers are invited on Saturday mornings to a warming hut, where they'll find a hearty breakfast and warm fire waiting for them, as part of the ambiance at Andes Tower Hills. Lodging is available onsite at the Andes Condos, which are 2 and 3 bedroom units. They are located slopeside, and have a living room, dining room, full kitchen, and parking available. Reservations and a deposit are required for these beautiful condos, which can house up to 15 guests at a time.

After the lights shut off, skiers and riders can head into nearby Kensington (9 miles away) or Alexandria (15 miles away) for other lodging options or après ski activities. Pay a visit to the Carlos Creek Winery, the largest vineyard in Minnesota. You can take a tour there and top it off with tasting their many delicious wines. Many national franchised hotels, motels, and privately owned B&Bs are around to provide lodging, as is the Ice Fish House Resort. There are five ski and stay packages available within Alexandria, which maybe a great option for long weekends. Some of the facilities mentioned have pools and saunas, and most offer a free full breakfast or, at the very least, a continental one.

Families and guests no matter what their age will be sure to have a ball when coming to Andes Tower Hills. It truly is winter fun for everyone!

Let us give you a lift to the top of our hills by one of our two triple chair lifts or our quad chair lift. Choose from one of 15 runs, ranging from Easiest to Most Difficult. For the snowboarding fan, check out our Half Pipe and Terrain Park. Don't like to downhill ski or snowboard? Then check out our cross country trails. We have over 15k of classical or skating trails. We even have 1.0km lighted for night skiing. Even if you're a first-timer, you can attend our ski school and let us teach you how to ski or snowboard. For those who don't ski or snowboard, there is the tubing park. With over 150 tubes and many runs to choose from, there truly is... Winter fun for everyone!