Where are the Best Places to Go Skiing in the U.S.?
The U.S. is a treasure chest for ski enthusiasts. Whether you’re an adventure seeker looking for frosty mountains that challenge your advanced skiing skills, or you’re planning on taking the family or beginners on the slopes, there are many ski resorts across the U.S. that fit your needs.
Our List of the 13 Best Ski Resorts Across America.
We’ve selected a list of the best ski resorts in the U.S. Most of them are located on the West Coast, an area known for its mountainous terrain and ideal winter temperatures. Check out the list and discuss our selection in the comments below or head over to our Instagram page.
Telluride, Colorado
Where? Southwestern Colorado
Base elevation: 8,725 feet
Annual snowfall: 213 inches
Ski level: 16% beginner, 30% intermediate, 21% advanced, 34% expert runs.
Telluride is nestled in the San Juan Mountains (part of the Rocky Mountains) and offers 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. The terrain is fairly distributed across various ski levels, making it a great destination to experienced and beginner skiers. To heighten the experience even further, Telluride offers rich après-ski opportunities and a classic on-and-off mountain experience. This gives the entire ski resort a vibe that resembles the Swiss or French ski resorts. To sum it all up: a must-visit!
Alta, Utah
Where? Northern Utah
Base elevation: 8,525 feet
Annual snowfall: 405 inches
Ski level: 15% beginner, 30% intermediate, 55% advanced runs.
Alta is perched high in the Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Mountains. It’s only a short drive from Salt Lake City and is one of many nearby ski resorts, such as Snowbird, Park City and Deer Valley. The Alta ski resort offers 2,614 acres of skiable terrain and it’s known for receiving more snowfall than any other Utah ski resort.
Snowbird, Utah
Where? Northern Utah
Base elevation: 7,760 feet
Annual snowfall: 427 inches
Ski level: 8% beginner, 26% intermediate, 42% advanced, 25% expert runs
Snowbird is located in the Little Cottonwood Canyon, just a little further down from the aforementioned Alta ski resort. It offers 2,500 acres of skiable terrain, which is also fairly similar to the terrain at Alta. It is known for its alpine skiing and snowboarding opportunities.
The Brighton resort is another highlight in the area that deserves an honorable mention. The ski resort is located in the Big Cottonwood Canyon and was the first ski resort that opened in Utah. Coincidentally, it’s also Sage Kotsenburg’s happy place. The snowboarder and Db ambassador attributes the «strong whiff of the 1990s and early 2000s snowboarding culture» as a reason for it being one of his favorite ski resorts in the U.S.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Where? Western Wyoming
Base elevation: 6,311 feet
Annual snowfall: 424 inches
Ski level: 4% beginner, 41% intermediate, 38% advanced, 17% expert runs.
Jackson Hole is located in Teton Village, a bustling ski town, and is known for its rugged terrain and scenic surroundings. A part of the Rocky Mountains, the ski resort covers 2,500 acres of skiable terrain. Much of it is considered advanced or expert runs, making it a premium destination for adventurous journeys.
Big Sky, Montana
Where? Southern Montana
Base elevation: 7,500 feet
Annual snowfall: 265 inches
Ski level: 21% beginner, 29% intermediate, 31% advanced, 19% expert runs.
With 5,850 acres of skiable terrain, Big Sky offers a great place for beginners to develop their skills and for children to learn how to ski or snowboard. It’s hard not to fall madly in love with skiing or snowboarding if you start in Big Sky. Its raw nature and incredible terrain are a proven, great introduction to future skiers. You could say it’s like walking – or skiing rather – on a pink cloud.
Park City, Utah
Where? Northern Utah
Base elevation: 6,800 feet
Annual snowfall: 286 inches
Ski level: 8% beginner, 41% intermediate, 28% advanced, 23% expert runs.
Park City is located in the Wasatch Mountains and is one of the largest ski resorts in North America. It covers 7,300 acres of skiable terrain. Like Alta and Snowbird, this Utah ski resort is known for its diverse slopes and scenic surroundings.
Vail, Colorado
Where? Northwestern Colorado
Base elevation: 8,120 feet
Annual snowfall: 257 inches
Ski level: 23% beginner, 34% intermediate, 42% advanced, 2% expert runs
It’s one of the classics you’ve probably heard about in the news, on reality shows, or in other ski resort guides. And the reason is clear: Vail has 5,317 acres of skiable terrain that is mostly wide-open with all types of trails, in addition to awesome amenities catering to friend groups, families, and everyone in between.
From Vail, you could easily travel to nearby ski resorts such as Beaver Creek or Breckenridge. Did you also know that Vail ski resort is the third-largest single-mountain ski resort, closely following Big Sky and Park City?
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
Where? Western Colorado
Base elevation: 8,100 feet
Annual snowfall: 307 inches
Ski level: 6% beginner, 43% intermediate, 17% advanced, 34% expert runs.
Aspen is a known four-mountain playground consisting of Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. They are all located in the heart of the Roaring Fork Valley. Aspen Snowmass covers 5,700 acres of skiable terrain.
Buttermilk is an excellent place for beginners’ runs and it also offers a great ski school. Read more about the resort in our guide to the most family-friendly ski resorts in the U.S.
Alyeska, Alaska
Where? Southern Alaska
Base elevation: 250 feet
Annual snowfall: 209 inches
Ski level: 11% beginner, 52% intermediate, 37% expert runs.
The only Alaskan ski resort on the list, Alyeska ski resort is located in the Chugach State Park, in a glacier carved valley. As a result, it has become famous – or infamous – for its deep snowpack and steep, skiable terrain that covers 1,610 acres. It's known for its challenging runs, and compared to the other ski resorts on the list, this is the place for advanced or expert skiers and snowboarders.
Breckenridge, Colorado
Where? Northwestern Colorado
Base elevation: 9,600 feet
Annual snowfall: 304 inches
Ski level: 12% beginner, 21% intermediate, 27% advanced, 40% expert runs.
There are 2,908 acres of skiable terrain in Breckenridge across five different mountain peaks. This makes Breckenridge a preferred spot for alpine skiing. It has a unique, historic charm due its long history (it opened in 1961) and many people love it for group outings because its slopes cover a diverse range of ski levels.
Palisades Tahoe, California.
Where? Eastern California
Base elevation: 6,200 feet
Annual snowfall: 402 inches
Ski level: 25% beginner, 45% intermediate, 30% advanced runs.
The only Cali spot on the list, Palisades Tahoe, is located in the Olympic Valley in the Sierra Nevada range. It’s the state’s largest ski resort. In fact, there are 6,000 acres of skiable terrain in the ski resort. It’s set in the Lake Tahoe region, which is Luis Medearis’ happy place. The snowboarder learned how to snowboard here and has fond memories of fine tuning his skills in the Tahoe-based ski resorts. This can be you or one of your kids too. It’s only a journey away.
Deer Valley, Utah
Where? Northern Utah
Base elevation: 6,530 feet
Annual snowfall: 260 inches
Ski level: 29% beginner, 45% intermediate, 10% advanced, 17% expert runs.
Deer Valley is a ski-only resort that is located close to Park City in the Wasatch Range. It has 2,342 acres of skiable terrain, which is predominantly tailored to beginners or intermediate skiers. Similar to other Utah ski resorts, it’s known for its upscale amenities, making it a premium location for on-and-off mountain activities.
Winter Park, Colorado.
Where? Western Colorado
Base elevation: 9,000 feet
Annual snowfall: 329 inches
Ski level: 22% beginner, 20% intermediate, 51% advanced, 6% expert runs.
Winter Park, in the Rocky Mountains, offers 3,081 acres of skiable terrain. It’s an alpine resort and touted for its challenging runs. Over half the runs are considered advanced, making it a no-brainer destination for snow lovers.
Colorado is Top Tier.
As you might expect from reading through our list of the top ski resorts in the U.S., Colorado is a favorite destination for both beginners and ski enthusiasts. Are you interested in learning more about skiing in Colorado? Get our best tips on ski resorts, accommodations, activities and après ski in our guide to skiing in Colorado.
Choose the Right Ski Resorts for Your Level.
- The best beginner-friendly ski resorts
- The best intermediate ski resorts
- The best advanced ski resorts
Traveling with the fam? We’ve got you covered on where you should go – read our list and get our tips here.
Explore European Ski Resorts.
Are you traveling overseas and want to find equally – or better – skiing and snowboarding destinations? Get inspired for the journey by checking out our list of the best ski resorts in Europe.
