Vail Resorts has announced a 20% decrease in their Epic season passes for the 2021-22 ski season, and that also includes their Epic local passes at all their Midwest ski areas. A little bit of good news for those skiers that like to mainly ski local.

Lower Midwest ski areas in Indiana and Missouri attract southern skiers from Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama.

Most Heartland ski areas and resorts are not planning on requiring reservations for daily access to the slopes, but are saying if you wait you may run into sold-out periods. Season pass holders will have priority access through reservations.

For Midwestern skiers that like to get in a lot of slope time around the country outside the Heartland, a few new options are available for this season.

The Midwest has 116 ski areas scattered across the Heartland and just under half of them offer snow tubing, especially across the lower Midwest. It’s relatively safe, and something easy to do. Just sit and let gravity do the work.

Several ski areas located near Midwest major cities are hosting female ski clinics over the next month. Enjoy that slope time even more with improved form and confidence.

Good news for St. Louis snowsports lovers. Missouri’s Hidden Valley Ski Area has settled its dispute with the city of Wildwood and will be allowed to build a zipline, which will open next spring. The resort had initially threatened to close the ski area if the zipline had not been approved.

Grabbing some air at Hidden Valley. (Hidden Valley/Facebook)

Missouri’s Hidden Valley Ski Area is once again in a dispute with the city of Wildwood in which it operates and once again is threatening to close the ski area after this season.

Midwest ski areas are getting an early jump on the spring carnival season with family events, cardboard sled races, pond skims, family events and live music. It’s never too early to have some fun on the slopes.

Lower Midwest ski areas in Indiana and Missouri attract Dixie State snowsports enthusiasts from Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama.

Midwest skiers and riders get some nice perks when purchasing a season pass at any of the six Heartland ski areas. Pass holders from Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri and Paoli Peaks in Indiana receive half-off daily lift ticket rates at all of the Midwest locations, and eastern ski areas Jack Frost/Big Boulder and Crotched Mountain. All you have to do is present your season pass and photo ID.