Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

Due to public health guidelines and an increased demand for outdoor recreation, Como Park Ski Center has made modifications and adjustments to our facility and programs. Please read the following before registering for lessons, reserving rental equipment, or arriving at Como Park Ski Center: 

• The chalet will not be available as a warming house this season. The chalet will only be available for limited use, including pre-registered program participants to pick-up their equipment 30 minutes before the start of a class, for a pre-registered equipment fitting, or for purchase of rope tow tickets.  
• Some amenities will not be available, including concessions, drinking fountains, and indoor bathrooms. 
• Outdoor portable toilets will be available. 
• Guests will be required to wear cloth face coverings when in the chalet and on the hill/course when physical distancing cannot be maintained. 
• Equipment will be sanitized per CDC and MN Department of Health standards. 
• Guests will be required to maintain a 6ft distance from those outside their household at all times, including while outdoors. 
• All program participants will be subject to a health screening questionnaire. 
• Facility and program capacities will be limited.  
• Guest will be required to follow verbal and posted guidelines, rules and procedures. 

Lesson participants: 

• To avoid overcrowding in the chalet, advance equipment fittings are required for all 5-week lesson participants who plan to use rental equipment. As part of the registration process, participants will be prompted to select a fitting time.  

Non-lesson participants:  

• If you are renting equipment but not taking part in lessons, you must reserve a 2-hour time-block in advance online or by calling 651-266-6400. 
  • Individuals may pick up and use equipment from the chalet anytime during their 2-hour reservation window. 
  • Equipment must be returned to the chalet by the end of the 2-hour window. 
• If you are planning to use your own downhill skis or snowboard, you may purchase a tow rope ticket in person (card only, no cash) in the chalet up to 1 hour before close. Tow rope tickets are valid all day.  
• A ticket is not required for cross country skiers using their own equipment. 

January 7 Update: Registration for ski and snowboard lessons is now closed for the season. Public health guidelines required a reduction to our participant to instructor ratio. To allow for more participants, we expanded our ski program to a seven days a week. However, all classes are now filled and we do not have capacity to further expand our 2021 ski and snowboard program. You may still visit the hill without participating in lessons. Tow rope tickets are available in the chalet for those who wish to come ski or snowboard with their own gear and ski and snowboard rental equipment time slots must be reserved online. Please note, there are NO equipment rentals on Saturdays and Sundays due to lessons and public health capacity limits. 

Como Park Ski Center has lessons for all ski and snowboard levels. Students are grouped by ability for a more enjoyable experience.  In order to pass to the next level, students must demonstrate the skills taught at their current level. The program prioritizes safety, fun and learning. Como Park Ski and Snowboard School recommends helmets for all students. For more information, please contact Parks Customer Service via phone at 651-266-6400 or email at ParksCustomerService@ci.stpaul.mn.us. 

• To avoid overcrowding in the chalet, advance equipment fittings are required for all 5-week lesson participants who plan to use rental equipment. As part of the registration process, participants will be prompted to select a fitting time. Please only arrive during your selected time, as drop-in fittings will not be allowed.  

Rental equipment and tow rope tickets are also available to visitors who wish to recreate at Como Park Ski Center without participating in our lesson programs or clinics. 

• All equipment rentals must be reserved in advance online or by calling 651-266-6400. 

• There are NO equipment rentals on Saturdays and Sundays due to lessons and public health capacity limits. 

• Individuals may pick up and use equipment from the chalet anytime during their 2-hour reservation window. 

• Equipment must be returned by the end of the 2-hour window. 

• If you are planning to use your own downhill skis or snowboard, you may purchase a tow rope ticket in person (card only, no cash) in the chalet up to 1 hour before close. 

• Tow rope tickets are valid all day.  

• The front hill is closed to the public during lesson times (Monday-Thursday 4pm-9pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 8am-3pm).  The back hill will be available.

• A ticket is not required for cross country skiers using their own equipment. Visit the Cross Country Skiing page for more information on cross country trails at Como Park Ski Center and other Saint Paul cross country skiing locations.  

Reserve Rental Equipment 

Safety is our number one priority. Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department reserves the right to cancel, postpone or move indoors any outdoor activity, should the forecasted temperature reach any combination of wind and temperature that is -25 degrees or colder. For more information, view our Severe Weather Policy.

All hours are weather permitting. Ticket sales end one hour before the hill closes. Please note, the front hill is closed to the public during lesson times (Monday-Thursday 4pm-9pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 8am-3pm).  The back hill will be available. There are NO equipment rentals on Saturdays and Sundays due to lessons and public health capacity limits. 

Holiday Hours

Regular Season Hours 

For information on renting the Como Park Ski Chalet for weddings or events, call the Como Golf Course at (651) 488-9673.

We are now hiring ski and snowboard instructors for the 2020-21 season. If you are experienced in downhill skiing, snowboarding, or cross-country skiing and want to share your skills with the community, consider working at Como Park Ski Center this winter! Lessons typically take place December through February on weekends and Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Training is scheduled to begin in November and salary will be dependent on experience. For more information, contact Amanda Smith at 651-266-6488 or amanda.smith@stpaul.gov.

• Ski & Snowboard Instructor Application
• Ski & Snowboard Instructor Description

For information about cross country skiing in Saint Paul, visit the Cross Country Skiing webpage.