The U.S. is home to 472 ski resorts at last count, Statista.com reports. That’s a whole lot of options if you’re trying to decide where you want to go this year – of course, some are better than others, so if you want to head to the very best slopes, consider these great options.
Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado
The Rocky Mountain State is famous for its powder, home to some of the best resorts in the country, including Breckenridge Ski Resort. If you live in Colorado Springs, you can get there in about two-and-a-half hours bypassing the I-70 traffic via a more scenic route over US 24 west to CO 9 over Hoosier Pass. Otherwise, fly into Denver and you can hop on the shuttle bus. It’s home to four mountains and the highest chairlift in North America, the Imperial Express SuperChair which brings riders up to a nearly 13,000-feet-high peak. There are world-class slopes for all levels of skiers, and the picturesque town itself offers Old West charms and a wide range of shopping and dining venues.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is surely one of the most scenic destinations in the country, and it’s one of the most popular for extreme skiing as the home of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It hosts a legendary expert run that begins with a heart-pounding 30-foot drop and there are few other resorts, if any, that could say they provide more challenging terrain and variety. While as many as half the trails are expert runs, there are options for families and more casual skiers of all types too.
Sun Valley Ski Resort, Idaho
Enjoy a friendly small-town feel in Sun Valley, along with one of the nation’s top ski resorts. Sun Valley Ski Resort is home to Dollar Mountain which is known for its diverse terrain and 22-foot superpipe, while Bald Mountain provides a consistent vertical drop with slopes for skiers of all ski levels. Sun Valley itself is known for its excellent art scene, top-notch restaurants and spectacular ski lodges, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and frequent blue skies.
Park City Mountain Resort, Utah
Park City became well-known around the world after hosting the men’s and women’s alpine slalom events in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Not surprisingly it offers great powder and some of the best skiing on the planet. There are a variety of mountain zones too, making it ideal for families and groups of friends made up a different skill levels, as well as those who want to check out other fun options like snowmobiling in Gorgoza Park and whizzing down the Alpine Coaster in toboggan-style cars.
Sugarbush Mountain Ski Resort, Vermont
If you want to do some skiing in the northeast, Sugarbush Mountain is hard to beat. It offers something for all as one of the top spots in the region, including expert skiers with two mountain areas and six different peaks. Mount Ellen soars to over 4,000 feet and has an incredibly continual drop, plunging for 2,600 feet. There is plenty of terrain for non-experts too, including beginners, with over 100 trails.