My father was, should I say, a frustrated skier. When I was a young kid, he shared to me his ski experiences and how he wanted to become a professional skier. Then he told me that I do something for him that he had never done and achieved. And that is to visit the best ski resorts in the country when I become an adult. Years passed and I fulfilled his request as a way to honor him.
So, here is my list of the most beautiful and glorious ski resorts in the United States and North America.
10. STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT (Vermont) – This resort offers East Coast residents and tourists named trails spread out all over the terrain, much of it created for intermediate and advanced skiers.
9. ASPEN SNOWMASS (Colorado) – It boasts four ski areas in one. The mountain side with no green terrain is a favorite by intermediate and expert skiers. And area called Buttermilk is appealing to freestyle riders built with terrain parks and pipes.
8. WHISTLER BLACKCOMB (British Columbia) – Known for being massive and diverse, Whistler is the largest ski resort in North America with more than 8,000 acres of skiable terrain. The famous gondola called PEAK 2 PEAK connects Whistler and Blackcomb in a single lift ticket.
7. TAOS SKI VALLEY (New Mexico) – A guide their told me that this valley was ski-only until 2008 and is now attracting a lot of skiers because of its challenging terrain. What makes Taos a paradise for skiers is the yearly 300 inches of dry snowfall with 300 days of sunshine.
6. MT. BACHELOR (Oregon) – This is located in the Central Cascades of Oregon. Mt. Bachelor has some of the highest elevation skiable terrain in the Pacific Northwest with 3,700 acres. Moreover, this resort experiences an average of 460 inches of annual snowfall which makes it reliable and long ski season.
5. GRAND TARGHEE SKI RESORT (Wyoming) – Situated over Wyoming’s Teton slopes, this resort boasts itself for having 500 inches of snowfall. The ever changing terrain parks give freestylers a challenge, not matter what their skill level is.
4. DEER VALLEY RESORT (Utah) – This resort is a ski-only mountain near Park City and offers more than 2,000 acres of skiable terrain spread across 6 different areas. Deer valley is somewhat appealing to laid-back skiers who like a hassle-free experience. Furthermore, its terrain is rated for beginner or intermediate skiers, making it the best choice for newbies and families.
3. BIG SKY RESORT (Montana) – This resort in Montana is proclaiming to itself that it is the Biggest Skiing in America which is undeniably true. It has 300 named runs connected across to four mountains. Freestylers can choose between seven terrain parks.
2. SQUAW VALLEY RESORT (California) – It is situated between Truckee and Tahoe City. It was once hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and began to look beautiful since then. A quarter of the terrain is suitable for beginners while almost 50% is for intermediates.
1. ALTA SKI RESORT (Utah) – There might be some sense of bias in here but Alta Ski Resort, from where I am an instructor, is most definitely the best ski resort in North America. With its more than 500 inches of annual snowfall and 2,200 acres skiable terrain, it became famous for its challenging and deep-powder slope. Alta’s 116-plus runs are serviced by seven lifts, including two quads. If you want to enjoy Alta’s offerings, you’ll have to do so on skis.
