How to Go Skiing in Steeplechase, Minnesota

Plan a ski trip to Steeplechase, Minnesota. It is one of the newest ski areas in the state and it offers new snowmaking and grooming technologies that are designed to improve the quality of your skiing experience. This resort is open from November through March.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Credit card
• Computer with Internet access

Book Your Ski Trip Accommodations

1. Book your lodging through the Explore Minnesota Tourism Web site (see Resources below). Book by phone at 1-888-TOURISM.

2. Find cheap accommodations in nearby Rochester. National tourist-class chains are readily available in downtown Rochester and are quite inexpensive. Budget motels and independent inns are located farther from the town center, but you'll pay less, too.

3. Reserve rooms at a local bed and breakfast. You may have to venture into the countryside, but you'll find spacious accommodations at prices that range from inexpensive to moderate. Curl up in front of your host's blazing fireplace; few bed and breakfasts in Minnesota are without them.

Research Travel Options for Your Ski Trip

4. Fly to the Rochester International Airport. This is the closest commercial airport to the ski area. The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport offers a wider variety of carriers and arrival times, and is located about 55 miles from the resort.

5. Arrange local transportation from the airport to the ski resort. Call 1-507-282-2222 to reserve your Yellow Cab, Taxicabs, shuttle services or private sedans.

6. Book a rental car from one of the local car rental agencies at your arrival airport. The car rental companies that serve the Rochester area include: AVIS, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz. Most major agencies are available at the larger Minneapolis/St. Paul airport.

Budget for Lift Tickets, Ski Lessons and Equipment Rentals

7. Decide whether you're bringing your own equipment or renting from Steeplechase. Renters can choose from shaped skis, standard skis or snowboards.

8. Investigate the resort's diverse trail offerings. Choose among alpine skiing, night skiing, snowboarding, terrain park conditions and half pipe formations.

9. Try all 5 ski lifts, including 1 surface tow, 2 double chair lifts and 2 triple chair lifts. Ticket prices range from inexpensive to moderately priced.

10. Enroll in lessons through the Steeplechase Snow Sports School. Group lessons are approximately half the price of private lessons, but all are reasonably priced.

Tips & Warnings

• Many credit card companies offer bonus or 'thank you' points for booking accommodations online.
• For the most up-to-date information about pricing, snow conditions and services offered by Steeplechase, call 1-507-843-3000. You can also view weather and snow conditions at the resort's Web site. Click 'Snow Report' for new snow measurements.