Now that winter has arrived and enough snow is on the ground, there is no better way to spend your night or weekend than at Buck Hill Snow and Ski. Buck Hill is the best place to go if you live near the south metro area. Buck Hill might not be the biggest ski hill, but it is definitely one of the most fun and offers a variety of activities. 

According to the Buck Hill website, Buck Hill gets its name from when early settlers had observed the Dakota people sitting at the top of the hill watching bucks (male deer) as they would feed and drink below at Crystal Lake.

Buck Hill was founded by Chuck Stone and his wife Nancy. The Stones leased the land in 1954 and created the ski hill, starting with a simple tow operation and growing it into a three lift, four tow, and 16 run ski hill. 

Buck Hill has something for everyone. For those who like competitive skiing, it has ski, slalom, and mogul racing training programs. Over the years, these programs have produced several World Cup and Olympic ski racers like Lindsey Vonn, who won an Olympic gold medal in the downhill event at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

For those skiers and snowboarders who enjoy freestyle riding, Buck Hill also has a few terrain parks. Little Jibber mostly has rails. Redtail Ridge is one big jump. Rail Yard has a jump line for most of the season. The Knob is a mixture of all the other parks plus rails and jumps. They even have Halfpipe run.

Sometimes, it is nice to just get some runs in. Buck Hill has a variety of runs from beginner to expert and even offers moguls for most of the season on the black diamond run.

If you enjoy sledding, then you will want to give Buck Hill’s snowtubing a try. Buck Hill has the largest snowtubing area in Minnesota, and it is a fun activity to do with family and friends. After you have finished racing down the hill in your tube, everyone can warm up by the bonfire nearby. 

Skiing, snowboarding, and tubing can sure work up an appetite, so when you are ready to refuel, Buck Hill has a restaurant, Buck ‘54 Bar and Grill, serving American dishes and home-style meals.

If you are looking for something quicker, the Hutch Chalet offers cafeteria à la carte-style foods such as cheeseburgers, fries, pizza, and soft pretzels. The chalet also has a made-to-order waffle bar with many toppings to choose from.

The chalet has a homey vibe and is also a great place to warm up, eat, hang out, and have fun with friends. 

Buck Hill is a great place for kids to go after school to hang out with friends, get some runs in, learn new tricks on the terrain parks, race down the slopes, and hang out at the chalet. It is a place for families to go and make memories. It is a place for little ones to begin their ski or snowboard journey and maybe even become the next Olympian.

The variety of runs and activities that Buck Hill has to offer makes it a great place to go without having to travel too far.

I’m lucky to live close to Buck Hill. I have spent my childhood winters there skiing and snowboarding and have made many memories there myself. I love going to Buck Hill, and I am confident you will too.