USA
The Country
Ski resorts in North America tend to be private enterprises and many of today's greatest resorts have been built over decades from nothing to multi-million dollar businesses. Some, like Stowe or Sun Valley, have been famous for almost as long as skiing has been a recreational sport, while others like Sunday River or Deer Valley, have shot to fame within the past decade or so.
There are over 500 ski centres, rivalling Austria and Japan, and the USA has the second largest number of chair lifts in the world (surpassed only by Japan). The best known resorts are either on the East or West Coasts, with a few large centres offering small verticals in the Midwest. Many warm states, such as Tennessee, also have a resort and even Hawaii has skiing facilities.
The East Coast resorts are generally at low altitudes with most of their runs floodlit for night skiing. They are often covered by snowmaking equipment, which, as technology improves, creates snow at increasingly warmer temperatures during seasons which reach back to early October and, in some centres, extend to June.
On the West coast, the mountains are high and some ski centres are becoming increasingly affluent, growing like fantasy lands on desolate mountain landscapes. The skiing and facilities available at resorts like Aspen are truly staggering. Most remarkable of all are the huge falls of light, dry powder snow which fall annually, almost without fail.
The emphasis in virtually all North American ski centres is on quality and service, regardless of their individual distinguishing features. This attitude predominates in all aspects of skiing-friendly and attentive staff, comfortable and fast lifts ascending from points to which you can ski (rather than have to climb an incline to reach) and leading to runs which have been immaculately groomed so that you don't have to worry about hitting any obstacle.
Off the slopes, restaurants with delivery service proliferate, accommodations at all levels are of a high standard and the range of après-ski options can be huge. The fact that in terms of the complete ski holiday, North American resorts can offer skiers more than any other resorts in the world has not been lost on the marketing teams, and the top resorts now actively court skiers world-wide. After all, if people will drive for hours across States to get to the slopes, what's a 6-8 hour flight from another continent?
North American resorts tend to measure skiing in terms of area rather than length, a European preference, and the grading system works slightly differently, although on a similar colour coding principal. Pistes are ‘trails’, trails are named not numbered and machines 'groom' trails rather than 'bash' pistes. Insurance is absolutely paramount in the USA, but ,surprisingly, chair lifts rarely have safety bars, leaving Europeans clinging nervously to the sides. There is also something of an obsession with the 'vertical drop' - perhaps because this figure is common from the East to the West coast, regardless of the actual height of the mountain.
Good Points
High value skiing - quality and space in accommodation and on the slopes for a reasonable price. Large meals at comparatively low prices on and off the mountain.
Extensive snowmaking in many resorts ensures snow cover throughout long seasons.
Unlike many European resorts, US ones are less frequently hampered by areas where queues are likely to develop.
Incredible snow falls, particularly in the West, with fantastically light powder snow.
Bad Points
Lifts tend to close early in the day by European standards, sometimes by 3pm.
Lift pass prices are some of the highest in the world at top American resorts.
Poor or non-existent public transport between most resorts
Resorts in USA
Afton AlpsHeight: 360m
Alpine Meadows
Height: 2,083m
Alpine Meadows ski resort spans two mountains and boasts an average of 1080cm / 425 inches of sno...
Alpine Valley
Height: 277m
South East Michigan's largest ski area has 25 scenic tree-lined slopes. Located on the M59,12 mi...
Alpine Valley
Height: 277m
in 1999 - 2000 Alpine Valley installed 'The Valley Flyer', the first high speed detachable quad i...
Alta
Height: 2,599m
Legendary ski resort with legendary snowfalls, just over a mile from Snowbird, long established w...
Alyeska
Height: 76m
The largest of the existing resorts in Alaska, which has potentially more skiable terrain than th...
Angel Fire Resort
Height: 2,621m
A year round resort offering skiing, snowboarding, golf, mountain biking, hiking, riding and othe...
Arapahoe Basin
Height: 3,285m
The third-highest ski area in North America (and eleventh highest lift-served skiing on Earth, pi...
Arizona Snowbowl
Height: 2,804m
Marketed as skiing on the 'active volcano in Arizona' (it's long extinct, the skiers are active.....
Aspen
Height: 2,422m
Few can agree on the world's greatest ski resort, but most would have Aspen in their top five, li...
Aspen Highlands
Height: 2,451m
Few can agree on the world's greatest ski resort, but most would have Aspen in their top five, li...
Attitash
Height: 183m
Go ahead resort incorporating arguably the world's most advanced lift ticketing system and the ex...
Bear Mountain
Height: 2,176m
Largest and most diverse winter sports centre near to the Southern Californian metropolitan area ...
Bear Valley
Height: 2,346m
Beaver Creek
Height: 2,468m
Built by Vail, 16km (10 miles) away to the East, to be "America's most elegant resort". They have...
Belleayre
Height: 623m
A family ski centre offering free ' unlimited-duration' first ski lesson with any lift ticket pur...
Big Boulder
Height: 518m
Pennsylvania's first Commercial Ski area opened more than half a century ago by Big Boulder Lake....
Big Powderhorn Mountain
Height: 371m
There's an incredible 3200km/2000 miles of snowmobiling trails in the region.
Big Sky
Height: 2,072m
A new tram into the top of Lone Peak gave Big Sky the biggest lift-served vertical in the USA in ...
Bittersweet Ski Area
Black Mountain
Height: 381m
A traditional New England ski resort with a variety of terrain and affordable prices. Warm famil...
Blue Mountain
Height: 140m
Skiing on the resort with the biggest vertical in Pennsylvania, protected by 100% snow making.
Bogus Basin
Height: 1,767m
Bolton Valley
Height: 456m
New owners since the 1999 - 2000 season have spent $2 million on renovations and improvements . ...
Boreal Ski Area
Height: 2,195m
Popular centre well known in particular for its consistent night skiing up to 9pm every day of th...
Boston Mills / Brandywine
Height: 128m
Two ski areas 5km (3 miles) apart and under joint ownership since 1990, Boston Mills and Brandywi...
Boyne Highlands
Height: 227m
One of two Boyne resorts that competed for years but now operate under common ownership and with ...
Boyne Mountain
Height: 189m
One of two neighbouring ski areas named Boyne (the other, Boyne Highlands), both under common own...
Breckenridge
Height: 2,926m
One of Colorado's most popular resorts, with expert skiing up to 12,998 feet if you want to hike ...
Brian Head
Height: 2,905m
Boasting Utah's highest base and one of the world's highest ski resorts with slope-side accommod...
Bridger Bowl
Height: 859m
Known for grooming quality and mogul cutting. Wide variety of terrain, and ultra-light snow.
Brighton
Height: 2,670m
Historic ski area, modernised and extended in the 1990s, offers $2 off tickets to skiers who 'car...
Bromley Mountain
Height: 594m
Brundage Mountain
Height: 1,829m
Brundage participates in a season ticket lift pass exchange scheme in Idaho which gives Brundage ...
Buck Hill Ski Area
Height: 280m
Buttermilk
Height: 2,399m
Buttermilk is one of Aspen's four ski areas. Not lift-linked to the other three, it is a short d...
Caberfae Peaks
Height: 323m
Camelback
Height: 378m
The largest resort in the Pocono mountains, expanding rapidly during the 1990s. Most of the trail...
Cannon Mountain
Height: 609m
The biggest ski mountain in New Hampshire, actually owned by the State, and boasting a long and i...
Cascade Mountain
Height: 249m
One of Wisconsin's largest ski areas. Good selection of on-mountain castering options and the opp...
Copper Mountain
Height: 2,926m
One of the world's highest (and best) ski resorts (with North America's highest golf course in th...
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Height: 2,856m
One of the few US resorts with a reputation for expert standard descents including the steepest l...
Crystal Mountain
Height: 1,189m
Best known and largest of Washington's ski areas and a favourite of die-hard skiers who rate the ...
Crystal Mountain Resort
Height: 345m
Deer Valley
Height: 2,002m
Promoted with Park City and one of the venues for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The slalom, aerial a...
Devil's Head
Height: 150m
Devil's Head is marketed as the Midwest's number one ski area, with the best snow making capabili...
Diamond Peak
Height: 2,042m
Diamond Peak is regarded as one of Lake Tahoe's best family ski centres, offering good value and ...
Dodge Ridge Ski Area
Height: 2,011m
Donner Ski Area Tahoe
Height: 2,143m
One of the first Californian ski areas to open, along with nearby Sugarbowl and Badger Pass in Yo...
Durango Mountain Resort
Height: 2,680m
Marketed as the biggest surprise in Colorado skiing. Jean-Claude Killy is a fan of the local scen...
Eldora Mountain Resort
Height: 2,804m
A major high altitude ski centre an easy hour's drive from Denver.
Elk Mountain
Height: 530m
Establihed more than 40 years ago and now one of the leading ski centres in Pennsylvania, Elk Mou...
Gore Mountain
Height: 457m
A pioneering resort from New York State's ski history. Originally a popular ski train destinatio...
Grand Targhee
Height: 2,438m
Located 45 minutes drive from the historic town of Jackson,Grand Targhee has two mountains for a ...
Greek Peak
Height: 365m
Learn to ski guarantee, free video ski lessons.
Gunstock
Height: 274m
Operates the only 'noon groom' in the North American ski industry.
Heavenly
Height: 1,993m
One of the largest ski areas in the United States and one of the few North American ski areas wit...
Hidden Valley
Height: 728m
Holiday Valley
Height: 457m
A complete ski resort noted for its variety of terrain, snow quality, friendly staff and the near...
HoliMont
Height: 472m
The largest private ski area in Eastern North America, open to anyone from Mondays to Fridays.
Homewood
Height: 1,899m
Great views of Lake Tahoe from 90% of Homewood's trails. Lifts service over 1260 acres (510 hect...
Hunter Mountain
Height: 487m
Marketed as the Snowmaking Capital of the world, Hunter is the closest major resort to New York C...
Indianhead Mountain Resort
Height: 395m
Unusual in having its base lodge at the top of the slopes, Indianhead also has Michigan's biggest...
Jack Frost
Height: 426m
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Height: 3,185m
One of the world's best known resorts, thanks to its adventurous skiing, 'real West' atmosphere a...
Jay Peak
Height: 533m
With a huge amount of 'glade' (gently wooded) ski areas and recording some of the best natural an...
Jiminy Peak The Mountain Resort
Height: 381m
Based on a first-rate mountain-side hotel, a three star condo-suite establishment - and expandin...
Keystone
Height: 2,834m
Under same ownership as Breckenridge and aquired in 1997 by Vail Resorts INC., Keystone has the ...
Killington
Height: 355m
The largest ski resort in Eastern USA, Killington boasts North America's largest single-mountain...
King Pine
Height: 153m
Kirkwood
Height: 2,377m
With the highest base area in northern California, Kirkwood has a European feel. All of the acco...
Kissing Bridge
Height: 365m
Open to midnight on Fridays in main season.
Liberty Mountain
Height: 178m
Liberty Mountain is a well managed, service oriented, high quality ski area with modern uplift, s...
Loon
Height: 290m
Nestled within the White Mountain National Forest, Loon Mountain shares its heritage with the har...
Loveland Ski Area
Height: 3,231m
The tenth largest resort in Colorado and one of the highest in the world. A bigger mountain than...
Lutsen Mountains
Height: 268m
Four mountain resort on the shores of Lake Superior with the biggest vertical in Minnesota. Luts...
Mad River Mountain
Height: 356m
Mad River is the biggest of Ohio's ski areas with varied terrain to suit all abilities. On the s...
Mammoth Mountain
Height: 2,424m
One of the world's top resorts, established and until recently owned by legendary Dave McCoy, Mam...
Massanutten
Height: 540m
A four season resort with 100% snowmaking and all slopes floodlit for night skiing. Accommodatio...
Mission Ridge
Mission Ridge skiers and 'boarders have great views from the summit of the major peaks in Washing...
Mohawk Mountain
Height: 487m
Created by Walt Schoenknecht in the mid 1940s who is credited with inventing snow making in 1949.
Monarch Mountain
Height: 3,288m
One of the world's highest ski areas (19th highest to be precise) and a classic Colorado ski cent...
Moonlight Basin
Height: 2,133m
First major new US destination resort for 20 years when it opened in 2003. Located approximately...
Mount Baker
Height: 1,079m
Mount Baker boasts one of the world's best snowfall records. Skiing takes place on a volcano. ...
Mount Brighton
Height: 335m
Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort
Height: 1,379m
The largest resort on Mount Hood (and on the sunny side!), currently undergoing a period of expan...
Mount Hood Ski Bowl
Height: 1,087m
The largest night skiing area in the United States, with 34 illuminated trails. Also the closest...
Mount Kato
Mount Snow
Height: 579m
One of Eastern USA's largest resorts and Vermont's closest big mountain to the major metropolitan...
Mountain Creek
Height: 134m
Year round resort with slopeside spa centre (Stay there and ski for free) and an off-season actio...
Mountain High Resort
Height: 2,011m
Mountain High is southern California's most popular winter resort with 3 separate mountains, 61 t...
Mt Bachelor
Height: 1,920m
Arguably the leading North Western American resort with seven express quad chairs, a huge 3700 ac...
Mt Baldy
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
Height: 2,517m
The closest ski area to Reno and the highest based ski area in the Tahoe Lake region. The Northw...
Nashoba Valley
Height: 61m
Known for 'Ultragroom quality of trails' Skiing from 0900 - 2200 daily except Christmas.
Northstar - at - Tahoe
Height: 1,929m
Family self-contained destination resort. Highly rated by media skier surveys. Also known for t...
Nub's Nob Ski Area
Height: 277m
Nub's Nob underwent major expansion for the '98 season, with twelve new runs and a new quad chair...
Ober Gatlinburg
Height: 823m
100% snow making. Numerous non-ski alternatives including ice skating and an Alpine slide. Faci...
Okemo Mountain
Height: 348m
Rapidly expanding Okemo Mountain boasts the biggest vertical in Southern Vermont and has one of t...
Paoli Peaks
Height: 183m
Ever fancied lift-served skiing at 3am but thought you'd have to go to Japan? Paoli Peak's 'roun...
Park City Mountain Resort
Height: 2,103m
Park City has trademarked 'The Greatest Snow on Earth' to describe the light abundant powder foun...
Pats Peak
Height: 210m
Popular family resort, designed, built and operated by the Patenaude Family.
Peek 'n Peak
Height: 426m
A four-seasons resort with a distinctive Tudor-style hotel as well as suites, condominimums, thre...
Perfect North
Height: 122m
Open 1000 to 2130 week days with all slopes illuminated at night, from 1000 to 0300 in the mornin...
Pico
Height: 610m
Pico is one of Vermont's largest mountains with more vertical drop than 80% of the downhill ski a...
Pine Knob Ski Resort
Height: 304m
Ragged Mountain
Height: 304m
A classic New Hampshire resort with spectacular views of the White Mountains. All skiing is on p...
Sandia Peak Ski Area
Height: 2,621m
Popular ski centre 20 minutes east of Albuquwerque via scenic route I-40 and highway N14. Facili...
Santa Fe Ski Area
Santa Fe's Ski Area's high altitude base and vertical rise of another 1650 feet is located 16 mil...
Schweitzer
Height: 1,219m
Popular for its wide open slopes, friendly atmosphere, challenging terrain and lack of lift queue...
Seven Springs
Height: 682m
The largest resort in Pennsylvania with probably one of the largest base lodges in the world - co...
Shanty Creek
Height: 205m
Shanty Creek added glade skiing for the 2000-2001 season.
Shawnee Mountain Ski Area
Height: 198m
Marketed as the Pocono's favourite ski resort, Shawnee Mountain has an excellent lift capacity to...
Sierra - at - Tahoe
Height: 2,024m
One of the closest ski areas to the major West Coast conurbations with no mountain passes to nego...
Sierra Summit
Height: 2,142m
Silver Mountain
Height: 1,250m
Silver Mountain has the only gondola in Idaho State. Accommodation and facilities are in the tow...
Ski Apache
Height: 2,956m
One of the most southerly ski centres in North America, with New Mexico's only gondola. Ski Apac...
Ski Beech Mountain
Height: 1,424m
The highest ski area in Eastern North America, Beech mountain offers tubing and outdoor ice skati...
Ski Butternut
Height: 243m
Ski Butternut is a mid-size ski area with a reputation for excellent grooming and snow-making as ...
Ski Roundtop
Height: 230m
Known for excellent snowmaking system and north facing slopes which both give it a boost against ...
Smugglers' Notch
Height: 314m
Compact New England condominium-only resort with reputation for excellent child-care, whilst also...
Snow King Resort
Height: 1,901m
The only one of the three 'Jackson' Ski areas that is actually in the historic town itself, with ...
Snow Summit Ski Area
Height: 2,133m
Snow Trails
Height: 358m
Ohio's "first and finest" ski centre, dating back to 1961, has six chair lifts meaning no lift qu...
Snow Valley
Height: 2,073m
Snowbasin
Height: 1,950m
The location for downhill and Super G events in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Snowbasin has the same...
Snowbird
Height: 2,469m
Major year-round luxury purpose-built centre with excellent health, leisure and ski facilities. ...
Snowmass
Height: 2,473m
Located 12 miles (18km) from Aspen and sharing its lift pass, Snowmass offers 95% ski-in lodging ...
Snowshoe
Height: 1,020m
Rapidly expanding and improving Intrawest owned resort (the same company which operates other win...
Solitude
Height: 2,438m
The only Utah resort catering for both cross country and Alpine skiers (prepared trails). Constr...
Spirit Mountain
Height: 189m
Spirit Mountain believes itself to be the best family ski area in the US Midwest, with excellent ...
Squaw Valley USA
Height: 1,890m
The site of the 1960 Winter Olympics and internationally recognised world-class ski resort. Squa...
Steamboat
Height: 2,103m
Steamboat, nicknamed "Ski Town USA" offers a large ski area, great off-the-slopes activities and ...
Stevens Pass
Height: 1,237m
One of Washington State's top ski areas, an easy day trip through Alpine country from Seattle. La...
Stowe
Height: 475m
With skiing on Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, Stowe is one of the best known resor...
Stratton
Height: 571m
Owned by the Intra West Company (which owns Tremblant and Whistler in Canada amongst others) Stra...
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
Height: 2,097m
The site of California's first chairlift. The closest major Tahoe resort to Northern California'...
Sugar Mountain
Height: 1,249m
The largest ski and snowvboard area in North Carolina since opening in 1969, Sugar also operates ...
Sugarbush
Height: 453m
Skiing over two mountain areas (taking in New England's three highest peaks), now linked (since '...
Sugarloaf / USA
Height: 426m
Award-winning on-mountain village beneath Maine's second highest peak, regarded by many as the to...
Sun Valley
Height: 1,752m
The original Sun Valley (there are now three others, two in Japan and one in Cyprus) is the oldes...
Sundance
Height: 1,859m
Created by Robert Redford. who bought the site from the Stewart family in 1969. The emphasis is ...
Sunday River
Height: 243m
Friendly, lively, award winning and rapidly expanding ski area in the far North East of the Unite...
Sunrise Park
Height: 2,835m
The largest ski area in Arizona, located on an Apache Indian Reservation, and one of the World's ...
Tamarack
Height: 1,493m
Tamarack is one of the world's few new ski resoryts of the 21st century. It opened with two Lei...
Taos
Height: 2,806m
A legendary ski centre created in the 1950s by Ernie Blake. Over 50% of the terrain is 'expert' ...
Telluride
Height: 2,659m
One of the world's top resorts, and least full of hype, based on an old gold mining town. As Diz...
The Balsams Wilderness
Height: 535m
Exceptionally historic, atmospheric and luxurious 15,000 acre private estate. Hotel guests recei...
The Canyons
Height: 1,887m
Formerly Park West and for a brief period Wolf Mountain, The Canyons was re-christened in 1997 ad...
The Granby Ranch
Height: 2,500m
All lifts radiate from the same base area. There's a learn to ski guarantee. Accommodation is i...
The Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods
Height: 488m
Popular family ski centre with loyal following. Lovely long tree-lined trails with excellent lif...
The Summit - at - Snoqualmie
Height: 774m
Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central and Summit East are neighbours under joint management. Tog...
Timber Ridge
Located in Southwestern Michigan near Kalamazoo.
Timberline
Height: 1,524m
One of less than a dozen US ski areas with a 1000m+ vertical ( although the top lift does not ope...
Vail
Height: 2,475m
The largest single ski area in the USA with the most high-speed detachable quads on one mountain....
Wachusett Mountain
Height: 306m
Founded by Ralph Crowley, innovative and enhanced snow-making covering all trails. The closest m...
Waterville Valley
Height: 553m
Founded by US Olympic skier Tom Corcoran, in the heart of the white mountain National Forest. Ch...
Welch Village
Height: 221m
Sister resort to Winter Park in Colorado and Grand Targhee in Wyoming, one of the biggest resorts...
Whitecap Mountains
Height: 411m
Located in northern Wisconsin, just west of Ironwood, Michigan, Whitecap added a large lodge comp...
Whiteface Mountain
Height: 372m
The biggest vertical in Eastern North America, tantalisingly close to the magic 1000m mark for th...
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Height: 1,371m
One of the largest resorts in North America with a surprisingly limited international reputation...
Wild Mountain
Height: 247m
Normal closing 10pm, open to 3am some Friday night-Saturday mornings.
Willamette Pass
Height: 1,560m
A wide variety of trails include some of Oregon's most challenging, with pitches of up to 52°. S...
Wilmot Mountain
Located close to the town of Wilmot, once a stage coach stop, now an attractive village with full...
Windham Mountain
Height: 457m
Winter Park Resort
Height: 2,743m
A world-class but unpretentious resort offering excellent skiing for all abilities. Excels in ki...
Wisp
Height: 753m
The only ski area in Maryland is within easy driving diistance of Washington DC. It boasts a sub...