Mount Kato - Mankato, Minnesota - Ski Resort

Mount Kato is a ski area located on Highway 66 one mile south of Mankato, Minnesota and is approximately 80 miles from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport via US-169 S. The resort is generally open for skiing and snowboarding seven days a week from December through to March. State of the art snow making equipment ensures that skiing can continue throughout the season.

There are 19 skiing trails here and a good mix of different challenges, with four trails at beginner level, eight intermediate and seven advanced. Eight chair lifts carry skiers to their required destination, five of which are quad lifts, three doubles and three handle tows. The resort also has a full service rental shop and a tech and accessory shop, where skiers can fine tune their equipment and purchase various items such as goggles, hats, gloves, pants, sunglasses and much more.

The increasingly popular snow tubing is also available here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday although there is a height requirement of at least 42 inches for participants. Various programs and ski lessons are offered by certified instructors at the resort including Friday or Sunday lessons for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders over 10 years of age. Younger children can also have lessons on Saturdays and Sundays as part of the Kato Kids Series including ski instruction for 6 to 12 year olds and snowboard lessons for 8 to 12 year olds.

Activities at Mount Kato are not limited to the winter season as mountain biking is also popular here between May and October. There are over seven miles of mountain bike trails here for people of all abilities from novice to expert, and riders can enjoy cycling here from sunrise to sunset. Cyclists are required to wear helmets at all times and must stay on the open trails only, taking care not to scare the animals.

There are several hotels and restaurants within five miles of the ski resort with the closest being the AmericInn at Stadium Road, which also has a conference center, swimming pool and fitness center. The Best Western Hotel and Restaurant is in Webster Avenue and has a whirlpool and sauna while Days Inn on Range Street has an indoor pool and spa and is just a few minutes away from Mount Kato. The Hilton Garden Inn also has an indoor pool and whirlpool and is located on Civic Center Plaza and Super 8 Motel is in the north of town next to the Happy Chef Restaurant.

The resort's main lodge offers skiers and snowboarders food and beverages including sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza, daily specials, snacks as well as hot and cold drinks. Should visitors decide to venture away from the resort there are other eateries nearby such as Applewood Restaurant in Tellmark Drive, which serves steaks and seafood amongst other things and is just three kilometers from Mount Kato. Another restaurant within about three kilometers of the ski resort is Neighbors Italian Bistro, while in South Front Street there is a coffeehouse.