Best Ski Resorts in United States
156 published ski resorts in United States, grouped by region and sorted by vertical drop within each. Compare side-by-side stats on snowfall, trails, lifts, and terrain mix to find the resort that matches your skiing style and experience level.
Click any resort for full stats and comparisons, or use the links below to compare two resorts head to head.
Colorado 25
View region →The largest of the four Aspen mountains, offering the most family-friendly terrain and longest vertical in Colorado.
A stunning historic mining town turned luxury ski destination, known for dramatic scenery and challenging terrain.
An exclusive Colorado resort with heated walkways, mountainside cookies, and the Birds of Prey World Cup downhill course.
Highest ski resort in the US with five peaks, a charming Victorian main street, and exceptional expert terrain.
One of the largest ski resorts in North America, famous for its Back Bowls and legendary terrain variety.
Home of Highland Bowl — a hike-to expert paradise with some of the most thrilling in-bounds terrain in the country.
The original Aspen mountain — no beginner runs, all intermediate and expert terrain, world-class après-ski.
Colorado's longest continually operating ski resort, accessible by ski train from Denver, with the legendary Mary Jane mogul terrain.
America's most extreme lift-served terrain — guided-only, single-chair, all expert. Pure backcountry feel inbounds.
Naturally divided mountain terrain with beginner, intermediate, and expert zones on different faces.
Family-friendly resort near Summit County with night skiing, tubing, and good beginner programs.
Birthplace of extreme skiing in North America with a charming Victorian town and some of the most challenging in-bounds terrain in the US.
Famous for Champagne Powder and a laid-back Western vibe, great for families and intermediates.
A no-frills Colorado favourite at the top of the Continental Divide, with cheap lift tickets, deep snow, and minimal lift lines.
The highest lift-served skiing in the US. Known for expert terrain, late season skiing, and a legendary beach party vibe.
Friendly, locally-owned mountain near Glenwood Springs — affordable, uncrowded, and perfect for families.
Aspen's gentlest mountain and home of the X Games — a beginner haven with a world-class superpipe.
Southwest Colorado's biggest resort, with sunny intermediate cruising near historic Durango and easy family access.
The snowiest resort in Colorado — a no-frills, family-owned mountain known for early openings and deep powder.
A locals' hill close to Boulder with no overnight lodging, valued for its accessibility and Front Range community vibe.
Western Slope local favorite on the Grand Mesa, with wide intermediate cruisers and Grand Junction views.
A throwback Colorado ski hill above Leadville — cheap tickets, no crowds, plus cat skiing on Chicago Ridge.
All-natural-snow mountain on the Continental Divide with high elevation, deep snow, and old-school Colorado vibes.
Small, low-key family resort near Winter Park with two faces, learning-friendly terrain, and a relaxed pace.
Colorado's oldest continuously operating ski area and an Olympian-producing ski-jumping training ground in downtown Steamboat.
California 17
View region →Straddling California and Nevada with breathtaking views over Lake Tahoe and one of the longest gondolas in North America.
Formerly Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, now united as one of the largest Lake Tahoe ski destinations.
California's premier ski resort with a long season, reliable snow, and one of the highest base areas in the US.
Mammoth's quieter sister mountain — uncrowded, kid-friendly, and free for kids 12 and under.
A polished Lake Tahoe resort with a pedestrian village, ice rink, s'mores fires, and excellent intermediate tree skiing.
South Lake Tahoe local favorite known for tree skiing, big snowfall, and a long history of producing pro freestylers.
South Tahoe's snowiest resort, beloved by locals for steep chutes, chair-served bowls, and an off-the-grid mountain feel.
Family-owned Stanislaus Forest mountain three hours from the Bay Area — a relaxed, reasonably priced classic.
West Shore Tahoe with the best lake views of any resort and a low-key, locals-only atmosphere.
SoCal's freestyle headquarters — every run is essentially a terrain park, with the West's biggest jib scene.
The closest ski resort to LA — three connected mountains with night skiing and a major snowmaking system.
Founded by Walt Disney in 1939 — four peaks of classic Sierra terrain with deep snow and historic charm.
On the slopes of Mt. Shasta — far-northern California's only resort, with dramatic volcano views and night skiing.
The traditional skier's side of Big Bear, with cruising terrain, night skiing, and a quick LA drive.
Old-school Donner Summit hill above the historic pass — wallet-friendly, family-run, and gloriously unfussy.
Truckee's true beginner mountain, intentionally small, gentle, and friendly — a no-pressure place to learn.
Donner Summit park-rat headquarters — Tahoe's freestyle proving grounds with night skiing and easy I-80 access.
Utah 13
View region →Legendary powder and challenging terrain just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City. The tram to Hidden Peak is iconic.
Utah's most luxurious ski resort, known for immaculate grooming, exceptional service, and no snowboarding.
Host of the 2002 Olympic downhill, with luxurious lodges, immaculate grooming, and uncrowded terrain just outside Ogden.
A skiing-only legend in Utah's Wasatch Range, receiving some of the deepest and lightest powder on earth.
The largest ski resort in the US, offering enormous terrain variety and easy access from Salt Lake City.
The largest skiable area in the United States, capping ticket sales daily to keep the deep Utah powder fresh and uncrowded.
Robert Redford's intimate mountain at the foot of Mount Timpanogos — art, nature, and uncrowded tree skiing.
True to its name, the quietest resort in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon with deep powder days and excellent intermediate cruising.
Utah's locals' favourite with night skiing, learners' programs, and easily the friendliest snowboard scene in the Wasatch.
Family-owned for over 80 years — Utah's oldest resort, with deep Cache Valley powder and zero crowds.
Quiet southern Utah resort with great tree skiing — open Friday through Sunday for a relaxed weekend feel.
Utah's highest base elevation, a sunny southern location, and rare red-rock vistas next to Cedar Breaks.
Northern Utah's newest ski area — small, cheap, and night-ski friendly, just east of Logan.
Vermont 13
View region →America's most family-friendly resort, with three connected mountains, the only triple black diamond in the East, and award-winning ski school.
Two mountains in Vermont's Mad River Valley with classic New England character and challenging terrain.
The Beast of the East — the largest ski resort in the Northeast with the longest season in the region.
The ski capital of the East, with charming Vermont character, diverse terrain, and excellent grooming.
A family-focused Vermont resort known for immaculate grooming, six terrain parks, and one of the longest seasons in the East.
Easternmost Vermont mountain that catches the legendary Jay Cloud — by far the snowiest resort east of the Rockies.
Quiet Northeast Kingdom mountain home of Burke Mountain Academy — long, empty trails and serious race pedigree.
Skier-owned cooperative famous for its single chair and 'Ski It If You Can' attitude — no snowboarding, all attitude.
The birthplace of snowboarding and Southern Vermont's highest peak, with an upscale Tyrolean village and excellent intermediate skiing.
Killington's quieter sister, with classic New England trails and a fraction of the crowds.
Southern Vermont's biggest resort, easily reached from Boston and New York, known for the Carinthia terrain park and reliable snowmaking.
Burlington's local mountain — affordable, kid-friendly, with night skiing and a thriving backcountry scene.
South-facing 'Sun Mountain' in southern Vermont — warm, sunny, and the friendliest beginner-family hill in the region.
New Hampshire 12
View region →Pinkham Notch classic facing Mount Washington — windswept, steep, and offering New England's best view.
A state-owned New Hampshire classic in Franconia Notch State Park, with a 1938 aerial tramway and notoriously challenging icy New England terrain.
Self-contained pedestrian village in the White Mountains — the East's most family-friendly resort experience.
Two connected peaks in the Mount Washington Valley with classic New England trail skiing and Bear Peak glades.
State-park mountain south of the White Mountains with reliable snowmaking and rolling intermediate runs.
New Hampshire's largest ski area, set below the historic Mount Washington Hotel, with gentle terrain ideal for families and learners.
Lakes Region county-owned mountain with sweeping Lake Winnipesaukee views and a wide intermediate spread.
Two peaks in central New Hampshire — uncrowded, well-groomed, and home of the Mission Pass.
A popular New Hampshire resort known for consistent snowmaking and family-friendly amenities.
Classic Jackson, NH old-school mountain with a Tyrolean feel, friendly prices, and a renewed community focus.
Southern New Hampshire night-skiing favorite, famous for its 'Midnight Madness' weekend sessions until 3 a.m.
Family-owned hill near Concord — the perfect introductory mountain for southern New Hampshire skiers.
Idaho 11
View region →America's first destination ski resort, still exuding old-world charm with excellent intermediate and beginner terrain.
Modern four-season resort on Lake Cascade with big vertical and wide groomers across two main faces.
Accessed by North America's longest gondola, with two peaks of varied terrain above historic Kellogg.
Big vertical at small-town prices outside Pocatello — a steep, often-overlooked southeast Idaho gem.
Northern Idaho's largest ski resort with panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille and uncrowded slopes.
Idaho's friendliest mountain near McCall with light dry powder, panoramic views over Payette Lake, and minimal lift lines.
Boise's nonprofit local hill, with night skiing, two faces, and big terrain at small-town prices.
Friendly nonprofit hill near Sun Valley with renowned cat skiing terrain and a no-frills local feel.
Straddling the Idaho-Montana border at the top of I-90, with abundant inland Northwest snowfall and free kids' lessons.
South-central Idaho's high-elevation hill with reliable snow, night skiing, and easy beginner terrain.
Eastern Idaho's local hill near Idaho Falls — night skiing, low prices, and a friendly community feel.
Montana 9
View region →The Biggest Skiing in America — over 5,800 acres and the longest vertical in the US with famously uncrowded slopes.
Affordable Montana classic with great gladed terrain and big vertical, near the Beartooth Pass.
A charming Montana resort near Glacier National Park with a wide variety of terrain and friendly small-town vibe.
A non-profit ski hill above Bozeman famed for the Ridge — hike-to expert-only terrain — and Montana's iconic cold smoke powder.
Helena's local hill spreads across three peaks with surprising amounts of expert terrain and excellent value.
Top-down ski area with the parking lot above the lifts — sweeping Flathead Lake views and quiet glades.
Montana's oldest continuously operating ski area in the Little Belt Mountains — small-town vibe and reliable snow.
Three-faced Montana mountain with serious double-black backside terrain and a friendly main face — a hidden expert gem.
On the Idaho-Montana border with rare Wednesday-Sunday-only operation, deep cold-smoke powder, and zero crowds.
New York 9
View region →Host of the 1980 Olympic downhill near Lake Placid, with the greatest vertical drop in the Northeast and authentic New York mountain heritage.
Adirondack state mountain with massive vertical for the East and four interconnected peaks.
The Catskills' biggest ski area and the closest serious mountain to New York City, famous for its loud weekends and broad snowmaking coverage.
An upscale Catskills alternative to Hunter, with smaller crowds, modern lifts, and a country-club vibe close to NYC.
State-owned Catskills mountain with stratified terrain — beginners on the bottom, experts on the upper.
Finger Lakes mountain with the highest vertical in New York and Pennsylvania between the Catskills and Rockies.
Family-owned Catskills steep — open weekends and holidays, famed for its expert terrain and powder days.
Central New York's largest ski area near Cortland with night skiing and a cozy resort village.
Western New York's biggest resort outside Ellicottville — lake-effect snow and a charming alpine village.
Washington 9
View region →On the dry side of the Cascades near Wenatchee — bluebird days, cold smoke when it falls, and steep Bomber Bowl.
Washington's largest ski area with stunning views of Mount Rainier and excellent Pacific Northwest powder.
Spokane's home hill — a nonprofit state-park ski area with seven lifts, night skiing, and a friendly local crowd.
Eastern Washington's biggest mountain with two faces, deep glade skiing, and inland-Northwest dryness.
A Washington Cascades resort with night skiing, deep maritime snowpacks, and easy access from Seattle along Highway 2.
Wide, uncrowded terrain in the southern Cascades — long groomers, glades, and views of Mount Rainier.
Holds the world record for most snowfall in a single season. A cult powder paradise near the Canadian border.
Tiny southeastern Washington hill in the Blue Mountains with surprising powder and a tight-knit local feel.
Four base areas straight off I-90, just an hour from Seattle — the Northwest's most accessible ski day.
New Mexico 6
View region →A cult favorite in northern New Mexico with legendary steeps, light powder, and a unique Southwestern character.
Family-focused New Mexico resort with the largest night-skiing operation in the Southwest and gentle cruisers.
High-elevation, sunny New Mexico mountain in the Sangre de Cristos with great expert glades and quick Santa Fe access.
Old-mining town turned ski village — lifts depart from Main Street, with a relaxed western vibe.
Los Alamos's local hill, open weekends only — steep, uncrowded, and a hidden expert favorite.
New Mexico's most affordable resort, often the first to open and last to close — a genuine learner's mountain.
Oregon 6
View region →North America's only year-round ski area thanks to the Palmer glacier, set below the historic WPA-era Timberline Lodge.
A volcano-shaped Oregon resort with 360-degree skiing from a summit cone, the longest season in the Pacific Northwest, and uncrowded glades.
Oregon's largest ski area on the slopes of Mount Hood, with Heather Canyon's expert terrain and dramatic glaciated views.
Southern Oregon's only ski area, nonprofit and community-run with steep bowls and Siskiyou ridgeline views.
Cascade Crest local hill at Santiam Pass with deep snow, night skiing, and a family-friendly Oregon vibe.
Eastern Oregon's high-elevation single-chair experience — dry champagne snow in the remote Elkhorn Mountains.
Maine 5
View region →Maine's largest ski resort and the only mountain in the East with above-tree-line skiing.
Eight peaks of varied terrain, top-tier snowmaking, and one of the largest ski resorts in the East.
Reborn in 2020 with a new high-speed quad, this remote Maine mountain offers wide-open glades and an authentic backcountry feel.
Western Maine ski hill (formerly Shawnee Peak) with night skiing and friendly Lake Region views.
Cooperatively owned mountain near Sunday River — lower prices, smaller crowds, and a strong family focus.
Michigan 5
View region →Upper Peninsula mountain near Lake Superior with deep lake-effect snow and one of Michigan's biggest verticals.
Northern Michigan's most refined ski resort (formerly Boyne Highlands), with night skiing, gentle terrain, and a luxurious base lodge.
Michigan's largest ski resort with the Midwest's most extensive snowmaking, an indoor waterpark, and well-tuned beginner programs.
Family-owned Harbor Springs hill known for the Midwest's best snowmaking and consistent grooming.
Northern Michigan four-season resort with night skiing, a legit village, and lake-effect powder days.
Minnesota 4
View region →The Midwest's biggest ski area on Lake Superior's North Shore, with four interconnected mountains and dramatic Sawtooth views.
Duluth's hometown mountain on the shore of Lake Superior, with the biggest vertical in the Midwest.
Iron Range resort north of Duluth with two peaks, golf-course condos, and a true northwoods feel.
Twin Cities' closest big ski hill in a Mississippi River valley — night skiing five nights a week.
Wyoming 4
View region →America's most vertical resort with legendary steep terrain, Corbet's Couloir, and stunning Teton scenery.
Hidden side of the Tetons with jaw-dropping snowfall and uncrowded intermediate powder runs through the trees.
Town Hill — Jackson's original ski area rises straight from downtown, with steep north-facing runs and night skiing.
Wyoming's friendliest local hill near Pinedale — uncrowded, affordable, and surrounded by Wind River wilderness.
Nevada 3
View region →Incline Village's lake-view ski hill on the Nevada side of Tahoe — uncrowded with stunning panoramic vistas.
Tahoe's highest base elevation, with steep Chutes terrain and clear-day views down to Reno and the Sierras.
Closest skiing to Las Vegas, just 47 minutes from the Strip — a small Spring Mountains escape for desert dwellers.
Wisconsin 3
View region →Wisconsin's biggest resort on Rib Mountain near Wausau — long runs, modern lifts, and reliable Midwest snowmaking.
Madison-area hill with night skiing, big terrain parks, and easy access from Chicago.
Three peaks of lake-effect snow in northern Wisconsin's snowbelt — the largest skiing in the Midwest.
Alaska 2
View region →Alaska's largest ski resort south of Anchorage, with massive snowfall, ocean views, and easy access to world-class heli-skiing.
Juneau's nonprofit, city-owned ski hill on Douglas Island, with maritime snow and rare ocean-edge skiing.
About Skiing in United States
United States has 156 published ski resorts in the SkiGrade database. The largest by vertical drop is Snowmass with 1352m of vertical drop. Use the resort cards above to quickly compare key stats across all United States resorts, or click through to any resort for a full breakdown including terrain mix, elevation profile, and head-to-head comparisons.
All stats shown are based on published resort data. Vertical drop is the most reliable indicator of overall mountain size — it tells you how long a top-to-bottom run actually is. Snowfall figures are annual averages and can vary significantly year to year. Terrain percentages (beginner, intermediate, advanced) reflect how each resort categorises its own marked trails.