Granite Peak Ski Area in Wausau feels like the kind of winter getaway you promise yourself you will finally take this year. With long, rolling ski runs, modern lifts, and impressive snowmaking capabilities, it’s no wonder Granite Peak continues to stand out among the best ski resorts in Wisconsin. Whether you are carving confident turns on steeper terrain or easing into the day on gentler slopes, Granite Peak Ski Area promises a memorable winter trip, especially if a place with fresh snow, great energy, and a relaxed but elevated vibe is what you’re after.
Of course, a winter getaway in Wausau is about more than just time on the slopes. When you are ready for a break from the ski hills in Wisconsin, you’ll find plenty more things to do in Wausau. From art galleries, cozy coffee shops, excellent restaurants, and a surprisingly robust arts scene to fabulous boutique shopping, local craft breweries, and luxury Wausau hotels like the Stewart Inn at your fingertips, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy your winter getaways.
Then, when you’re ready, return to the mountain for another round of runs under the lights. There are also plenty of other classic winter activities in Wausau, like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, curling, and snowmobiling, which will complete your cold-weather escape. To make the most of your time at Granite Peak Ski Area, you will want a stay that matches the quality of your days on the slopes, and that is where the Stewart Inn comes in.
Often considered the best hotel in Wausau, the Stewart Inn blends historic architecture with thoughtful, modern amenities, creating a refined home base that feels genuinely welcoming. After a full day at Granite Peak Wisconsin, return to luxurious guest rooms, inviting common spaces, and attentive hospitality that anticipates what you need before you have to ask. Pairing one of the top ski resorts in Wisconsin with one of the finest places to stay in the state quickly turns your winter getaway into the highlight of the season. Book your stay today!
Your Guide to Granite Peak Ski Area
There are plenty of ski resorts and ski hills in Wisconsin and across the Midwest, but few of them compare to the elevated ski experience at Granite Peak Ski Area in Wausau. Granite Peak Ski Area delivers serious vertical that you don’t often find in the Midwest, not to mention a pretty great variety of ski runs and terrain parks.
Sitting in Rib Mountain State Park just south of downtown Wausau, Granite Peak Ski Area rises to about 1,950 feet, with a vertical drop of roughly 700 feet, giving you a legit top-to-bottom run that feels long and satisfying by any regional standard. You will find around 68 trails spread across more than 400 combined skiable acres, along with three progressive terrain parks and extensive snowmaking that covers essentially the entire mountain.
Thanks to Granite Peak’s modern snowmaking capabilities, skiing here is dependable from the season opening in late November/early December through spring. A large percentage of the runs are also lit for night skiing, so you can keep lapping the hill long after sunset and squeeze every bit of fun out of your winter getaway.
Trail variety is one of the biggest perks at Granite Peak Ski Area, especially if your group includes a mix of abilities or you simply like to change things up during the day. The trail network blends long, cruising blues, dedicated beginner terrain, glades, bump runs, and a few legitimately steep pitches that will challenge advanced skiers, which is precisely what many people look for when they compare ski hills in Wisconsin. Freestyle skiers and riders gravitate toward the four progressive terrain parks, where you can work your way up from smaller features to more technical lines under the lights.
The mountain is served by seven lifts, including modern high-speed chairlifts that move people quickly and reduce wait times on busy weekends. These modern improvements give Granite Peak Ski Area a more destination-style feel than many other ski resorts in Wisconsin. The resort uses dynamic pricing, and the best value usually shows up when you purchase Granite Peak Ski Area tickets online in advance, rather than walking up the day you want to ski. Tickets are date-specific, and capacity is sometimes limited on peak days.
It’s just a quick drive from downtown Wausau to the hill, which makes it easy to stay in the city at a place like the Stewart Inn, enjoy dinner and drinks in town, then be on the first chair in the morning. You’ll find incredible energy at Granite Peak, making it one of the best places to go skiing in Wisconsin this winter.
The Most Luxurious Among Hotels in Wausau, WI
If you want to elevate your ski weekend at Granite Peak Ski Area, choose lodging that rates as the best in town. The Stewart Inn, the leading luxury boutique hotel in Wausau, WI, is housed in an extraordinary Prairie-style mansion designed by George Maher, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright. It combines a serious architectural pedigree with the warmth of a boutique hotel experience. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and consistently ranks among the very best hotels in Wausau, as well as among the leading small lodging properties in Wisconsin. We’ve been repeatedly recognized with awards like TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best.
There’s a lot to love about our unique hotel in Wausau. Each of the five luxury guest rooms features a king or queen bed, fine linens, and a private bath, many with indulgent steam showers and inviting fireplaces that feel amazing after a full day at Granite Peak Ski Area. Mornings begin with a thoughtful, gourmet breakfast that changes daily, and evenings include a relaxed wine-and-cheese reception that makes the inn feel more like a private club than a typical hotel. Small touches and luxury amenities, like a generous pillow menu, high-speed wifi, quality television and audio in the rooms, and complimentary beverages throughout your stay, create the sense that every detail has been considered so you can simply relax into your winter getaway.
The centralized location of our hotel in Wausau, WI, is hard to beat, especially for a ski-focused trip to Granite Peak Ski Area. Our Boutique Hotel sits in Wausau’s Andrew Warren Historic District and the downtown River District, an easy walk from many of the city’s best restaurants, galleries, museums, and breweries, so you can enjoy a night out without moving your car. When it is time to ski, Granite Peak is only a short drive away in Rib Mountain State Park. For added convenience and savings, bundle your stay and ski experience together with our Granite Peak Package this winter.Â
With a rare mix of design-forward historic charm, attentive hospitality, and a location that keeps you close to both downtown Wausau and Granite Peak, the Stewart Inn truly stands out as one of the best places to stay for a winter getaway in this part of Wisconsin. Book your ski getaways in Wisconsin today!
