Skiers & Snowboarders All Agree.  Vertical Drop Matters . . . Bigger Is Better Whether You Are A Crazy, Out Of Control Beginner Or A Snobby Expert Elitest.

    On this page, I'd like to take your on a tour of Coffee Mill and explain in further detail why our 425 ft. vertical drop is important to you - regardless of your current ability.

Advanced & Expert Runs: ♦
    Now of course, calling you snobby and elitest was uncalled for.  Please accept my apologies.  A bigger, longer vertical drop means that our steeper runs are longer than 3 quick turns and your done. 

• O'Chute - ♦♦  One of the Midwest's 5 steepest runs.  Wide enough to make GS turns if you like and steep enough to cause even a few advanced skiers and boarders to take off their gear and literally walk down the run after looking over the head wall - this is an adreline rush waiting to happen.  Almost too steep to groom, in the past one of Coffee Mill's groomers lost control trying to maneuver down the face and its 425 vertical feet and T-Boned a tree.
  
• Auggies Chute - ♦  Slightly less than "scary" steep, this run can be home to some great bumps.  At the end of the run, look to your right and if the coast is clear - put it in the tuck and hold on as you vere left onto the Barnstomer run.
  
• Dick's Dive - ♦  The perfect steep pitch to lay em' down and smack em' yack em'.  An amazing run for the best slalom and giant slalom racers around.  Not only does Coffee Mill's race team rip it up here - but we even have teams from other areas train on this hill. 
  
• Fall Line - ♦ The trail map indicates that you're about to ski or ride a black run and while that's true - I know you can handle it.  The locals love it and for good reason - it rocks.  The run begins by a quick descent and sharp right hand turn.  Now you're on the run and it's a swift straight shot to the bottom.  Southern exposure makes for grippy snow.  Put your skis on edge and let them do the work.  The last segment of this run is fun.  On the right side you can catch some sweet air and sail for 25 feet off the ledge.  When you at the bottom turn to the right and enjoy the smooth runout back to the Barnstormer Chairlift.  
  

Runs Left To Right 
Chippewa, O'Chute, Run Of The Mill, Off Chute

Intermediate To Advanced Runs ¤

• Run Of The Mill - ¤ A Midwest Classic.  The view all the way down is stunning.  If every ski area had a run like our "Run Of The Mill", then I'd be worried.  But no fears - they don't.  Push off and immediately the beautiful pitch grabs you and propels you down the first part portion of the run just before you reach a 90 degree turn to the right.  For one thousand feet, the middle portion is amazing for sweeping long turns or on-and-off-your-edges-again short turns.  Grab a breath over a short transition, check out the Monster Big Air Jump to your left and then you've got one pitch left yet to show off your styles.  Set up a top to bottom slalom run and you're talking about World Cup times of over 1 minute in length. 
   
• Off Chute - ¤ Come worship with the boarders/twin tips at Southern Minnesota's Terrain Park Shrine.  Full of jumps, rails, boxes and a lot of nature to jib on - everyday is a funday at our park.  The run begins with a rail, then a series of moderate sized jumps.  Next up is a crazy ice wall that you can ride up and down to ride it up to the ledge that overlooks the run.  After a slight bend to the right, the run steps you up for a Monster Big Air Jump just like our "Big Brothers" have out West.  Stomp your landing and sweep your way back to the speedy Run Of The Mill Chairlift.  
    
• Barnstormer - ¤ Keep your ski tips up and after exiting the Barnstormer chair head to your left.  Bask in your surroundings as your wind your way down Nellie's Pass.  A sweeping, banked left turn will help you to gain some speed as you drop into Barnstomer.  A smoothly groomed run awaits as you cruise down and wind around to your left and back to the base where The Barnstomer Lift stands ready to rocket you up to the top again.  The cool thing about Barnstomer is all the fun trails that get made through the trees.  A little "Off Piste" Skiing for your Europeans or "In-Bounds Back Country Adventure" for your Westerners. 
   
• Wind Down - ¤ Newly opened for 2009/2010 season.  After a sweet trip down the upper portion of either Fall Line or Dick's Dive, hang a right about 3/4 down the hill and you'll sweep to your right and back to your left as you head down one last chute before arriving at the midway station of the Barnstormer Chair. 
   

Beginner to Intermediate Runs •

• Chippewa - • At one point in our history, this run was over 5,000 ft. long.  Since then its been shortened a bit and it's still as much fun as ever.  To enjoy this buttery run, take The Barnstormer run to the top.  Some beginners may be apprehensive and scared to go all the way up to the top.  If you feel this way, relax and ski/ride a few more times down Midway or The Bunny Slope.  You've got all day here at Coffee Mill so take your time and feel confident as your work your way up.  To get to Chippewa, take a right off the Barnstormer Lift and you'll soon find Chippewa Connect.  This short run will get you ready for the fun.  After you finish this run, turn to your right and Chippewa is all yours.  This wide run invites you to take a deep breath and ease your way down.  Chippewa has a moderate pitch which is perfect to learn on.  When Mother Nature send us some natural snow, boarders and twin tips love to hit the rocky cliffs found on the right side of Chippewa.
   
• Kitty Walk - • This run is a blast.  Begin on Chippewa Connect and start down the beginning of Chippewa.  Now look to your left and there is Kitty Walk.  Immediately after you begin on this run, you get to go up and over a small bump.  For beginners, as you go over this bump, you skis or snowboard may temporarily leave the snow for a moment.  Don't worry, you're not going to float away.  You've just experienced your 1st jump and even if you scream, you're going to love it.  This trail is somewhat narrower than Coffee Mill's other runs and it ultimately spills out at the bottom of the mountain.
   
• Chippewa Connect - • Chippewa Connect is a short run that leads you to The Chippewa run.  Although it is a short run, it's perfect to prepare you for the fun of our longest run - Chippewa. 
  
• Singing Hill - • Located at the base of the Chalet, you'll see this run when you first arrive.  Served by a quick handle tow lift, this is a fabulous place to learn and be inspired by the snowboarders and twin tips jibing off man-made objects, boxes, rails and snow throughout this run.  It's also right next to the Chalet so you can get inside and get some great food and drinks in no time flat. 
  
• Midway - • So you're learning to ski or snowboard for the 1st time, or you're just getting reacquainted again after the long summer - this run is designed with you in mind.  First of all, you get to ride The Barnstormer Lift which is cool and gives you a minutes rest between runs.  This gentle slope runs right under the lift so you can wave at your friends, and even yell, "hi mom, look at me".  Because it's right under the lift, if you crash, all your friends get to watch, but that just makes for more laughs. 
  

Runs Left To Right
Fall Line, Dick's Dive, Chippewa, Kitty Walk, O'Chute

Terrain Parks

Hey We're Into Big Air & Rails Here At Coffee Mill.  

• Off Chute - ¤ Come worship with the boarders/twin tips at Southern Minnesota's Terrain Park Shrine.  Full of jumps, rails, boxes and a lot of nature to jib on - everyday is a funday at our park.  The run begins with a rail, then a series of moderate sized jumps.  Next up is a crazy ice wall that you can ride up and down to ride it up to the ledge that overlooks the run.  After a slight bend to the right, the run steps you up for a Monster Big Air Jump just like our "Big Brothers" have out West.  Stomp your landing and sweep your way back to the speedy Run Of The Mill Chairlift.  
• Singing Hill - • Located at the base of the Chalet, you'll see this run when you first arrive.  Served by a quick handle tow lift, this is a fabulous place to learn and be inspired by the snowboarders and twin tips jibing off man-made objects, boxes, rails and snow throughout this run.  It's also right next to the Chalet so you can get inside and get some great food and drinks in no time flat. 
• Quarter Pipe - •  Although we currently don't maintain our quarterpipe, nevertheless, this area is great for self made jumps and fun.  Located at the bottom of O'Chute, you can access it from Kitty Walk, O'Chute or Run Of The Mill.  
  
• Chippewa - • When the natural falls, there is an amazing cliff area on the right side of Chippewa which is tons of fun for riding off natural features.  It's rocky so you need to check it out thoroughly first.