Possibly Moving to Iowa... - Snowboarding Forum

Dix7 · 10-02-2011, 09:27 AM

Might have to move to Des Moines so sounds like Minnesota will be the closest thing. However I've never boarded there. Suggestions? Thanks.

wrathfuldeity · 10-02-2011, 11:24 AM

Iirc, des moines is pretty damm flat, there is something around council bluffs and maybe dubuque...otherwise maybe a garbage pile or some hay bales with snow and quad for a tow in.

Dix7 · 10-02-2011, 01:01 PM

ouch. well maybe just have to save up for some big trips to CO then.

JeffreyCH · 10-02-2011, 02:21 PM

Des Moines is pretty much in the middle of nowhere as far as places to ride. You have your choice between Sundown in Dubuque, or Mt. Cresant by Counsel bluffs. Sundown is on the far east side of the state and Cresant is on the far west side of the state. Cresant is a nice little place, but nothing special, it's ok to get a board fix. Sundown looks better, and both are about the same distance from DM. The good news is both places have pretty cheap lift tickets around 40 bucks. Both places are open late, depending on the day usually till 8-9pm. If you go to Cresant there are casino's a couple miles down the road if your into gambling.

slyder · 10-02-2011, 04:47 PM

Try Cascade and Devils Head just south of Wisconsin Dells, both are good hills. More north is Granite Peak best park in the Midwest per TW, I know we had a blast there. A much smaller hill Christmas Mountain just the north side of the dells.

Looks like a 5 hour ride. Not sure whats on the southern tip of Minnesota.

C.B. · 10-02-2011, 07:01 PM

your looking at a minimum of 3 1/2 hour drive to anyplace in mn.

Growing up in southern mn id recommend going to Welch Village and Afton Alps, everything else is so small you'll be bored after an hour or two.

ive heard good things about devils head over in wisconny but never made my way over there

slyder · 10-02-2011, 07:12 PM

Tyrol Basin is about 4 1/2 hours looks like the parks in MN are the closest but I don't know how they compare to each other, but Devils Head and Cascade are about the best we got with Granite Peak being the highest elevation hill and usually very good park, again for what the midwest has to offer.

Where are you moving from??? Did you have great hills there???

For a longer drive and maybe a long weekend the UP of Michigan offers some nice resorts. Looks like 8 1/2 hour drive for you give or take
Black Jack
Big Powderhorn

Dix7 · 10-03-2011, 02:46 AM

Thanks guys. I was thinking devil's head or welch were about it. Crescent is little more than a man made hill with no park. I'll check into the others. A 4 hour drive is nothing considering it takes me 8 to get to CO now.

Dix7 · 10-03-2011, 02:47 AM

Moving from Lincoln NE so no hills here. Have friends in CO so go there a lot during the season.

10-02-2011, 09:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dix7 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 11	Possibly Moving to Iowa... Might have to move to Des Moines so sounds like Minnesota will be the closest thing. However I've never boarded there. Suggestions? Thanks.

10-02-2011, 11:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
wrathfuldeity Resident poet Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bham Posts: 2,701	Iirc, des moines is pretty damm flat, there is something around council bluffs and maybe dubuque...otherwise maybe a garbage pile or some hay bales with snow and quad for a tow in. __________________

10-02-2011, 02:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
JeffreyCH -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,485	Des Moines is pretty much in the middle of nowhere as far as places to ride. You have your choice between Sundown in Dubuque, or Mt. Cresant by Counsel bluffs. Sundown is on the far east side of the state and Cresant is on the far west side of the state. Cresant is a nice little place, but nothing special, it's ok to get a board fix. Sundown looks better, and both are about the same distance from DM. The good news is both places have pretty cheap lift tickets around 40 bucks. Both places are open late, depending on the day usually till 8-9pm. If you go to Cresant there are casino's a couple miles down the road if your into gambling. __________________

10-02-2011, 04:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,922	Try Cascade and Devils Head just south of Wisconsin Dells, both are good hills. More north is Granite Peak best park in the Midwest per TW, I know we had a blast there. A much smaller hill Christmas Mountain just the north side of the dells. Looks like a 5 hour ride. Not sure whats on the southern tip of Minnesota. __________________ Thanks -Slyder

10-02-2011, 07:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,922	Tyrol Basin is about 4 1/2 hours looks like the parks in MN are the closest but I don't know how they compare to each other, but Devils Head and Cascade are about the best we got with Granite Peak being the highest elevation hill and usually very good park, again for what the midwest has to offer. Where are you moving from??? Did you have great hills there??? For a longer drive and maybe a long weekend the UP of Michigan offers some nice resorts. Looks like 8 1/2 hour drive for you give or take Black Jack Big Powderhorn __________________ Thanks -Slyder Last edited by slyder; 10-02-2011 at 07:18 PM.

10-02-2011, 01:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dix7 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 11	ouch. well maybe just have to save up for some big trips to CO then.

10-02-2011, 07:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
C.B. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern MN Posts: 303	your looking at a minimum of 3 1/2 hour drive to anyplace in mn. Growing up in southern mn id recommend going to Welch Village and Afton Alps, everything else is so small you'll be bored after an hour or two. ive heard good things about devils head over in wisconny but never made my way over there

10-03-2011, 02:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
Dix7 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 11	Thanks guys. I was thinking devil's head or welch were about it. Crescent is little more than a man made hill with no park. I'll check into the others. A 4 hour drive is nothing considering it takes me 8 to get to CO now.

10-03-2011, 02:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dix7 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 11	Moving from Lincoln NE so no hills here. Have friends in CO so go there a lot during the season.

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