Dubuque’s Downhill Season Starts With a Ski Swap at Sundown Mountain

You can feel it in the air. That familiar shift when the wind gets a little sharper, the mornings a little crisper, and the first frost hits the grass. That’s when every skier and snowboarder starts to get that feeling; the one that says winter is almost here, and it’s time to get back on the slopes. And, trust me, I'm ready for the fresh powder!

Now in Dubuque County, the start of winter isn’t marked on a calendar. Rather, it begins with the Annual Sundown Ski Patrol Ski & Snowboard Swap at Sundown Mountain Resort. As the first chair turns, before the first lessons of the year and that coat of fresh powder, downhill enthusiasts gather for the Swap. It’s the official unofficial start of the season.

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The Ski Swap: Where the Season Really Begins

Whether you’re outfitting your kids for another year (because somehow, they grew three shoe sizes since March, trust me I get it), looking to upgrade your own gear, or just wanting to browse and reconnect with your winter crew, the Ski Swap and open house is where the local downhill community comes back to life.

This is no small sale. The Ski Patrol has been hosting the Swap for 54 years. It’s lasted because it works for Dubuque. It makes skiing more affordable, more accessible, and more community-driven. Owner/Operator Mark Gordon explained it best, “It’s like a big community garage sale. Kids grow, gear changes, and this lets families keep skiing. But it’s also about everyone just being back on the mountain together again.”

How It Works

• Drop off your gear to sell:
  Saturday, November 8 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Handling fee: $5 for up to 5 items; $2 each additional
• You set the price — Ski Patrol handles the selling
• Payout / pickup:
  Sunday, November 9 | 3:00–5:00 PM (15% of sales supports Ski Patrol training)
• Option to donate unsold items

For those of you wondering, yes, the chairlift will be running for free scenic rides.
With fall colors in the valley? It’s worth the trip on its own.

Sundown Mountain: Where Winter Feels Like Coming Home

Speaking of Mark Gordon, I got to chat with him about not only the swap, but about what makes what we have here in Dubuque so special. We also chatted about when those snow-makers get fired up. Well, if you’ve ever skied at Sundown, you know it’s not just the runs that bring people back. It’s the people, the atmosphere, and the memories made on the hill. Check out the interview below:

Sundown Mountain Resort features:

• 85 acres of skiable terrain
• 21 trails from beginner to expert
• A valley layout that holds cold air for early snowmaking
• And three brand-new snow guns this season to get the slopes ready faster

Mark shared one of his favorite reminders of what Sundown really is; “One of the owners is 92 and still skis. And a kid who just learned here was 2. That’s the full circle.”

Add in beginner specials, family lesson packages, season passes, and the legendary Tips Up Food & Spirits (yes, the Reuben is still undefeated in my book), and Sundown Mountain Resort continues to be the place to make winter memories close to home. And there's more to come...

Other Events This Season at Sundown Mountain

• WIJARA Junior Alpine Racing Weekend — January 24-25, 2026
• Iowa Winter Games – Alpine Racing — January 31, 2026
• Winter Arts Festival — February 7–8, 2026

Before all that, this Saturday, November 1st, stop in for a film premier as Sundown Park Presents: "Pressure Drop." This event and screening takes place from 5 to 8 PM at the mountain center. Tickets are $10 online or $15 at the door. Here's what "Pressure Drop" is all about:

Teton Gravity Research’s ‘Pressure Drop.’ Their 30th annual ski and snowboard film. From Norway to Jackson Hole, Pressure Drop follows the world’s top skiers and snowboarders through deep powder, huge cliffs, and iconic lines. Born from a dream and forged on the edge, this isn’t just our 30th annual film, it’s a tribute to the fleeting moment when breath slows, gravity takes over, and everything else fades.

I'm getting ready for another season on the slopes at Sundown Mountain and you can to. Drop by the swap meet and get fitted for a season of fun without all the driving. We truly have a mountain of possibilities available to us in Dubuque.