The United States of America is home to many, many fantastic ski resorts. You’ll find the atmosphere quite different from what you’d find in Europe and a bit more expensive, but fun. If you like to ride park then you’ll find some of the best terrain parks out there in the USA and it does feel more commercial. But with it comes well groomed trails, gladed ski areas and the all American breakfast. You’ll find the ski villages friendly and fun, with a different après ski atmosphere than what you would find in Europe.
To rate ski resorts in the USA, it’s best to go by state. Taking the top spot in terms of overall terrain, atmosphere and conditions the state of Colorado takes the win. Resorts like Vail, Aspen, Snowmass, Breckenridge, and Telluride get great amounts of powdery snow, feature excellent ski resorts with terrain to suit everyone in your group.
Vail is perhaps the best ski resort in all of the USA. Known for its powder bowls Vail provides fun excitement for those who love to sail through deep snow. More than two thirds of the mountain is dedicated to intermediate and beginner skiers and snowboarders though advanced riders will find more than enough places to ride. For those who are stoked on tricks, there are four terrain parks. Fly Zone is one of the best in all of the USA with over 40 features. Vail and Aspen are sometimes considered sister resorts though Aspen’s been around longer. Geared to the more advanced rider Aspen features 673 acres of skiable terrain and more than three thousand feet in vertical. Visitors can join celebrities shredding the slopes and enjoy great dining and après fun afterwards.
Breckenridge is four resorts in one. The village’s Victorian appeal features over 200 restaurants, and is located only 85 miles from Denver, Colorado. The four peaks of Breckenridge offer four unique skiing experiences with Peak 10 being the more difficult.
California and Utah also offer excellent skiing. In Utah you’ll find Snowbird, Deer Valley, Alta and Park City, famous for their fluffy powder and steep chutes. California’s Squaw Valley, Mammoth, and Heavenly take the top spots for the Sunshine State. Mammoth’s award-winning terrain parks and fun cruisers are a favourite with many.
One ski resort in the USA deserves special mention: Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The vertical drop at 4, 166 ft is the biggest in the USA, and provides breathtaking scenery in the Teton mountain range. Intermediates and expert skiers and snowboarders will love the varied, fun terrain here including the famous Corbet’s Couloir.
In the Eastern USA you’ll find some great ski resorts in the states of Vermont, Maine and New York. Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont receives an average annual snowfall of 333 inches and features both an intermediate and advanced terrain park. It’s a great family resort with good beginner and intermediate terrain, as well as a developed snow school.
Lake Placid in the state of New York is located in the Adirondacks mountain range, and is an absolutely beautiful mountain resort. It’s been host to the Winter Olympics and features the highest vertical drop east of the Rockies. Sugarloaf is Maine’s main appeal, a great hill with all the features. You’ll find powder bowls, groomed cruisers, terrain parks and be sure to take the chairlift up to the Timberline Summit where you can take in the views from the top of the world and enjoy above-the-treeline skiing.
Sometimes forgotten is the fact that the United States also has a northerly section: Alaska. This rugged wilderness state is famous for its backcountry skiing and snowboarding, having been featured in countless ski and snowboard films. There a quite a few smaller, great ski resorts in Alaska though the best one would be Alyeska Resort. Located 40 minutes south of Anchorage this resort has the lowest base elevation of any mountain resort in the USA. This is due to the fact that they get tons of snow! Alyeska reports to receive an average annual snowfall of 782 inches. There is 1,000 acres of terrain to be explored and with all that snow you’re sure to find fresh lines all over the place.
The United States is a great place for a ski vacation due to the accessibility of resorts, good variety of accommodations and boundless choices of where to go. Just follow the snow report! Visit our USA resort links to learn more about the skiing and snowboarding opportunities here.
