What is the number one ski resort in the United States?
Ask anyone and you'll get more opinions than you thought existed. But, readers see at OnTheSnow.com have chosen Aspen-Snowmass as Number One. And, yes, we agree.
How many ski resorts are in United States?
There are 331 ski resorts in United States, which we inform about on OnTheSnow.com. You can see the names of all the resorts above.
What state has the best ski resorts?
That's a toss-up between Colorado and Utah with perhaps just a slight edge to Colorado. But, just slight. Vermont tops the list in the East while Michigan wins in the Midwest.
Which U.S. ski resorts areas get the most snow?
Mt. Baker in Washington comes in at 680 inches a year and actually received over 1,000 inches a while back. Alyeska,in where else but Alaska, comes close at 670 inches. Others that fare well include Sugar Bowl in California at 500 inches; Brighton in Utah at the same level and Sierra-at-Tahoe just under at 480 inches.
Which U.S. resort has the best snow?
That's debatable of course, but our pick is Alta, high atop Little. Cottonwood Canyon in Utah.
Which U.S. ski resort has the largest vertical drop?
The biggest vertical can be found at Snowmass in Aspen, Colorado at 4,406 feet. Big Sky resort, Montana checks in at 4,350 feet.
Which resort has the best ski-in, ski-out lodging?
Deer Valley resort in Park City, Utah and Beaver Creek both let you walk out the door and ski. The lodging at both is upscale, not inexpensive, but well worth it for the convenience.
What is the best on-mountain restaurant in the U.S.?
Our pick is The Roundhouse at Sun Valley, Idaho. It's like;y the very first on-mountain restaurant and it still retails the atmosphere and quality at this terrific ski resort.
What resort has the best apres-ski?
Call this one a toss-up for apres-ski opportunities between Aspen-Snowmass and Breckenridge, both in Colorado.
What U.S. ski resort has the highest elevation?
Breckenridge, Colo. takes that honor at 12,989 feet at the summit. Bring along an aspirin as that can give you the infamous Rocky Mountain splitter.
What is the most expensive resort in the U.S.?
It’s Aspen, but well worth your second mortgage. OnTheSnow visitors ranked it Number One in the Country for the 2021-22 season.
What was the first U.S. ski resort?
Sun Valley, Idaho, opened in 1936, making it the first ski resort in the states.
The coolest ski towns in America
Here’s a look at some of the icon places at or near popular ski resorts. Remember all vacation life is not on the slopes.
East: Stowe, Vermont is a 200-year-old village with a quaint main street and two ski resorts: Stowe Mountain Resort, and Smugglers' Notch Resort. Vermont charm and a historic flavor.
Lake Placid, the nearby Adirondack town of Whiteface Ski Resort, was the site of the 1980 and 1932 Winter Olympics. The town is full of superb dining and entertainment options. North Conway, N.H. was named one of the best ski towns in the world byNational Geographic, as it is close to seven ski resorts fromCranmoretoBretton Woods.
Midwest:Take a ski break from Boyne Mountain (40 miles), Boyne Highlands (9 miles) or Nub’s Nob (12 miles) and head to Bar Harbor in Northern Michigan. The town is situated on 5 miles of Lake Michigan waterfront.
Rockies: Breckenridge has a Victorian core to the former mining town. Look for colorfully painted buildings from the 1880s and '90s now home to shops, galleries, restaurants and bars.Fun Fact: There are over 100 bars and restaurants in the town, one of which – Gold Pan Saloon – has the longest continuous liquor license west of the Mississippi.
Steamboat Springs is a ski town that is also an authentic ranching center, more down home than glitzy. Crested Butte often refers to itself as “the last great Colorado ski town,” and for good reason. The town, which is just minutes from the base area, has streets lined with boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
Vail Village and nearby Lionshead offer diverse shops, a lively bar and restaurant scene, luxurious accommodations, friendly neighborhoods and breath-taking mountain views. Vail Village is modeled onBavarianvillage styles with pedestrian streets. There’s there’s Aspen – a ski town and resort like no other. This is John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a true Western town. Check out the funky, nearly 30,000-square- foot Mangy Moose building, a one-stop dining, musical entertainment and food shopping tradition.
Ketchum, Idaho, home to Sun Valley Ski Resort, is "America's First Destination Ski Resort." Celebrities flocked to the area to see America's new grand dame of ski resorts when it opened.
Park City, Utah is one of the best preserved mining towns in the U.S., and you'll see historic shops built during a 19thcentury silver mining boom turned into vibrant art galleries, independent boutiques, and inventive restaurants as you explore Historic Main Street. It’s home to the annual Sundance Film Festival each January.
Red River, New Mexico, is an authentic ski town built by miners, not developers. It islocated in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, 36 miles from Taos. Whitefish, Montana is located on the shores of Whitefish Lake and at the base of Big Mountain, home to Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Stateline, Nevada straddles both California and Nevada and boasts 5 casinos, including its famous Harveys Wagonwheel. Lake Tahoe is the largest Alpine lake in North America, and is surrounded by 15 ski areas.
How do we get there?
The best way to reach the destination resorts of the Far West, if you don’t live within at least a day or two’s drive, is via the silver bird. Major airports such as Denver International are within 2-4 hours of many of the world-class mega-resorts. Be sure to check how to either connect there or in a number of cities for direct flights into small airports in Aspen, Vail (Eagle), Gunnison, Steamboat (Yampa Valley) and others. You also can pick up van shuttles from DIA as well as all types of car rentals.
A fun way to visit Winter Park is to take the Ski Train from Denver’s Union Station directly to the resort.
Another great airport hub is in Salt Lake City where you can land in the morning and ski or ride all afternoon as the major destination resorts such as Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, Snowbird and Alta are under an hour’s drive. Rent a car or take a quick shuttle.
Boston’s Logan Airport is a several hour drive to the Vermont, N.H. and Maine resorts and if you plan it right, flying into Albany, N.Y., Hartford, Conn. or Lebanon, N.H. can get you even closer depending on the destination. Fly into Burlington, Vt. for Stowe and other Northern Vermont ski resorts.
San Francisco International Airport is your best bet when heading to the multi-resort mecca surrounding beautiful Lake Tahoe. Then, it’s about a 3-hour drive to the lake. Your choice in the Midwest if flying in will be Detroit, Chicago’s O’Hare, Minneapolis or Milwaukee, though there are some small airports scattered around for connections. Most Midwesterners, however, hop in the family car.
