Top-Rated Ski Resorts in North America
Planning a getaway to a snowy mountain resort entails finding a spot that offers terrain that everyone in your group can enjoy and a host of amenities that will make your ski vacation memorable. From the classic Rocky Mountain resorts to the more intimate, family-friendly ski areas to ski resorts teeming with double-black diamond runs, our list of top ski resorts in America can help you find your next favorite mountain to visit when you are ready to hit the slopes.
Alta, Utah
A lack of natural snow doesn’t appear to be one of the reasons you will ever shy away from Alta, one of America’s best ski resort areas. Known for its old-school resort feel and fantastic mountain runs, Alta doesn’t allow snowboarding from either of its two base areas. But there are plenty of ski activities to enjoy here, like heli-skiing, Saturday rec racing for all levels of skiers, and multiple experiences that combine skiing or snowshoeing with a naturalist guide to learn about Alta’s natural history.
What Makes Alta Special: Alta Ski Resort doesn’t own any of the lodgings on the mountain, but there are plenty of lodges, condos, hotels, and gorgeous mountain homes in this mountain town, many as ski-in/ski-out. Having graced us for over 85 years, Alta lets you experience the charm of an old-school ski area. It uses the mountain’s natural structure instead of carving out runs. Instead, skiers here use the Traverse, a high freeway that skiers join when exiting lifts leading to multiple run entrances or sidesteps that guide skiers to runs. Combined with the classic two-seater lifts peppered across Alta, skiers on the slopes here love all of the high-level skiing opportunities and Alta’s relaxed approach to the mountain sport of skiing.
Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado
Skiers that want the ultimate mountain choices choose Aspen/Snowmass since this sprawling ski area boasts access to four mountains on one ski pass. Aspen Mountain, or Ajax as locals call it, is accessible right in the middle of its namesake city, and skiers clamor for space in the iconic red gondola that is leaving town. Aspen Mountain is mostly steep verticals for experts, but Buttermilk has plenty of runs that are perfect for beginners. Finally, locals flock to Aspen Highland Mountain and the epic after-hours Snowcat Dinners offered at Cloud 9. More extensive than all of the others combined, Snowmass Mountain combines the best of all three mountains into a family-friendly ski resort area where 95% of all lodging is ski-in/ski-out.
What Makes Aspen/Snowmass Special: The upscale town of Aspen provides a shining backdrop for skiers who want the whole package for their winter vacation. This historic town got its roots in silver mining, and today’s attractions are no less shiny. From five-star dining to world-class shopping, ski-minded visitors to Aspen can do it all here.
Beaver Creek, Colorado
A beautiful little sister to larger and busier Vail, Beaver Creek offers skiers the ultimate experience in a ski resort that caters to your every need. Walkable, charming Beaver Creek Village has spots to rest your apres-ski boots and sip, dine, or shop in style between runs. The ski-in/ski-out accommodations in the village and surrounding Beaver Creek area range from moderate to luxury, making this ski resort a popular destination for singles as well as families who love the skiing entertainment and dining options here.
What Makes Beaver Creek Special: With over 2,000 acres of terrain to explore, skiers and snowboarders come to Beaver Creek for excellent downhill opportunities in an upscale setting. Not too crowded, Beaver Creek is also an ideal spot for beginners to enjoy since the mountain even has upper terrain that is perfect for those new to skiing and not just reserved for expert skiers.
Breckenridge, Colorado
One of the most popular ski resort destinations, Breckenridge offers impressive skiing and snowboarding opportunities for beginners and experts. Its proximity to the charming and picturesque old mining town of Breckenridge, which has become a hotspot in recent years, is always bustling with visitors who love to visit the many eateries and shops that line this quaint little town. Long known by locals for its spectacular skiing, Breck’s massive, almost 3,000 acres of terrain is spread over five peaks and is accessed by 35 lifts. This resort stays busy all season long, but skiers come here year after year for the excellent downhills, good grooming, and easy accessibility to the mountains with an efficient gondola and downhill run system.
What Makes Breckenridge Special: Ski-in/ski-out lodging at every base makes an all-in-one ski experience possible for Breck skiers. In addition, visitors here rave about the quaint mountain village feel of the town with its excellent restaurants, bars and shops.