The best ski resorts in the US for your next trip to the slopes

1 month ago 22

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information

Each year, as cool nights and changing leaves descend upon the northern hemisphere, skiers and riders head straight for their gear rooms, dusting off their skis or boards in anticipation of the impending ski season. Dreams of bottomless, untouched powder become the nightly norm while obsessively checking the long-range winter forecast and ski area opening dates fill the work day.

While forecasts can help narrow down your choices on where to go this winter, opting for destinations with flexible hotel bookings and airfare or waiting until the last minute (if that’s in the budget) will increase the odds of ending up in a snow globe rather than having to pick your way between mud patches on the slopes.

Forecasters are predicting a La Nina weather pattern ahead of the 2024-25 ski season, which tends to favor western resorts. During the last La Nina, during the 2022-23 ski season, ski areas across California and Utah smashed snowfall records. But that doesn’t necessarily mean destinations in the Northeast and Colorado should be written off just yet.

Knowing your priorities is important when considering the best ski resort. For some, the “best” ski resort is one where deep powder and steep slopes take center stage, even if the only nearby lodging option is the back of your car in the parking lot. Others might prioritize ski resorts with high-end hotels despite crowded lift lines that make it nearly impossible to get more than a handful of runs in during the day.

Regardless of where on this spectrum you fall, the United States has seemingly endless ski resorts to choose from. Below is a guide to some of the most popular and why each might be the best for you.

Aspen Snowmass Resort

From the expert runs of Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands to the expansive and family-friendly terrain of far larger Snowmass, this 5,500-acre complex encompasses four skiing and snowboarding areas. It lives up to its reputation as the definitive all-in-one ski destination and one of the best Colorado ski resorts. And thanks to the 2023 addition of a high-speed quad and a significant terrain expansion on Aspen Mountain, there will be plenty to explore this winter.

Despite its upscale image, there’s plenty of fun here. Go tubing and snow biking under the stars at Elk Camp or ice-karting around a frozen lake in nearby Roaring Fork Valley.

What to know

Each of the four Aspen Snowmass ski resorts has its own personality. Aspen Mountain is known for its challenging terrain and easy access to town and nightlife, while Aspen Highlands is famed for its expert runs. Families and beginners can’t do better than the gentle slopes of Buttermilk, especially the tot-friendly Panda Peak and the teenager favorite X Park.

Snowmass offers equally easy access while still pleasing thrill-seekers with its 4,400-foot rise. Speaking of thrills, no other resort offers an experience like the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, which whizzes through the forest on an elevated track.

Where to eat

Hit Aspen Public House for burgers and truffle potatoes or Spring Cafe for soups, salads and creative breakfast scrambles. Try the French bistro cuisine at Betula or the dry-aged prime rib at Catch Steak for something more celebratory.

Where to stay

Where you stay depends on your budget and the mountain resort you want to ski. There are plenty of choices; luckily, Aspen has some of the best ski hotels in the U.S.

The Mollie Aspen is a great option for those looking for a quieter, simple boutique hotel in the center of town. The St. Regis Aspen Resort is ideal if you’re hoping for a dose of luxury just a few steps from the lifts at Aspen Mountain.

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Rates start around $2,000 or 130,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during ski season on select midweek dates, although weekends can exceed $3,000 per night. Depending on the number of nights booked and specific dates, nights can be as low as 90,000 points early season.

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Rates start around $1,150 on select nights during ski season or from 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, all plus a $65-per-night resort fee.

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Rates start at $2,000 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at $550 per night during ski season, or 80,000 points per night during ski season, plus a $50 daily resort fee.

Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort

With the 2014 addition of the Canyons ski resort increasing its size to 7,300 acres, Park City arguably became the largest ski resort in the United States. It’s second only to Whistler Blackcomb in North America. And thanks to major snowmaking upgrades on some of Park City’s popular trails, they anticipate an earlier-than-usual opening date this season.

Deer Valley Resort, just 3 miles away, offers skiers a premium experience with high-touch service; snowboarders are still banned from the impeccably maintained slopes.

In 2023, Deer Valley’s parent company, Alterra Mountain Company, announced a historic expansion incorporating the Mayflower Mountain Resort into Deer Valley. This will double the skiable terrain and add 16 new lifts and a 10-passenger gondola to the slopes. Deer Valley will also debut 300 new skiable acres for the 2024-25 ski season.

What to know

A new eight-person gondola now connects Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons from peak to peak, making access easy. Snowboarders are out of luck at Deer Valley, one of the three last American resorts open only to skiers. Luckily, Park City and Canyons are snowboarders’ favorites.

Where to eat

As one of the best ski towns in the U.S., Park City has no shortage of terrific dining options. You’ll find plenty of chef-driven culinary haunts along Main Street, including Riverhorse on Main, Grappa and Chimayo. Though you’ll pay handsomely for the scenery and prime location, a younger crowd flocks to places like High West Saloon and No Name Saloon. Locals tend to frequent places off the tourist trail, such as Five5eeds, fresh, healthy fare purveyors, or Sammy’s Bistro, a local institution.

The Swiss Alps come to Utah at Deer Valley Resort’s Fireside Dining, where you can feast on warm raclette cheese and classic fondue after arriving by horse-drawn sleigh.

Where to stay

Plenty of fabulous lodges allow you to park your skis at the end of the day on the slopes. The big decision is whether to stay closer to Deer Valley or Park City. The decision is easy for snowboarders or families with snowboarders since they aren’t welcome at Deer Valley.

But for skiers, the decision is less straightforward. Regardless of where you’re skiing, staying close to Park City Mountain Resort or Canyons is an option. They are quite literally side by side and connected by the Quicksilver gondola once you are on the mountain.

Staying at Deer Valley is a better option for those looking for a more luxurious, secluded, high-end vibe, while Park City lends itself to a more laid-back, casual experience. If you want to walk from bar to bar or explore different restaurants on foot, staying closer to Park City is a better bet.

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Winter rates at the St. Regis Deer Valley start at just under $1,200 or 122,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

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Winter rates at the Montage Deer Valley start at around $1,550 per night.

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Rates start at $430 per night in low season, around $1,100 in high season or 110,000 Hilton Honors points.

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Rates start at around $600 per night or 29,000 World of Hyatt points during ski season and around $300 per night during the offseason. There is also a $40 daily resort fee.

Breckenridge, Colorado

A Western-chic vibe still pervades this historic 19th-century mining town. The resort’s Five Peaks frame a bustling main street lined with gingerbread-bedecked clapboard buildings.

An all-season destination known for mountain biking and hiking almost as much as it is for skiing, “Breck” hosts a year-round roster of festivals and events. This includes the International Snow Sculpture Championships, which turn the town into a magical fantasyland of ice during the last week of January every year.

The fun vibe continues in town which you can reach via the free BreckConnect gondola. From the top of the Imperial SuperChair — the highest chairlift in North America, which sits 12,840 feet above sea level — you can take the trails directly from the slopes into town.

What to know

At 9,600 feet above sea level, Breck is among the highest-altitude towns in the U.S. As such, it has become known for early fall color, snowfall and late snowmelt, with good snow conditions typical into late spring. And with such a wide variety of lodging around town, it’s no surprise that Breck has some of the best ski lodges in the U.S.

Where to eat

Dine on elk and buffalo while listening to jazz and blues at Blue River Bistro, known for its three-hour happy hour. Or, class it up at Legends Steak & Seafood, where the butcher’s cut of the day is reliably excellent. The restaurant at Breckenridge Distillery is almost as beloved for its celebratory atmosphere and eclectic menu of small plates as it is for its world-class whiskey.

Tip: Take a tour of the Breckenridge Distillery if you have time.

Where to stay

More casual than some of Colorado’s glitzy ski destinations, Breckenridge still has some wonderful places to stay. Hotels like the Residence Inn are perfect for enjoying the town; its location on Main Street makes it the perfect place to enjoy the nightlife after a long day of skiing or riding. And with the number of restaurants, shops and bars in Breck, it’s worth leaving the slopes and wandering around town.

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Rates from around $360 per night during ski season, or 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

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Rates from $389 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at $471 per night during ski season or 44,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (though they can be difficult to find).

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Jackson Hole is a bucket list destination for expert skiers looking to prove themselves on its craggy slopes and famously steep chutes like the infamous Corbet’s Couloir. Beginning and intermediate skiers will also find some gentler trails and recently expanded intermediate terrain.

What to know

It’s only a 15-minute ride up the mountain on the aerial tram affectionately dubbed Big Red, but get there early during peak times to avoid lines. Families and beginners will love the recently opened Solitude Station ski school and learning hub that offers lessons, rentals and fire pits to make waiting more pleasant.

Where to eat

There’s no lunch spot like Piste Mountain Bistro at the top of the Bridger gondola, where a glass wall showcases mountaintop views. Gather, a local favorite, serves up modern American comfort fare in an unusual round dining room surrounded by a spacious patio. The top-of-the-world waffles at Corbet’s Cabin are a must.

Where to stay

Rustic-chic is the name of the game when it comes to luxurious lodges in this former frontier town. Many lodging options, like the Caldera House and the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Teton Village, are higher-end properties that focus on the amenities and a luxurious off-slope experience. There are also more affordable options, like the Snake River Lodge and Spa, a luxury mountain resort slightly less high-end than other properties.

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Rates start at just over $500 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at around $1,360 per night in high season, plus a 10% occupancy fee.

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Rates start at around $3,000 per night in high season.

Palisades Tahoe

As you’d expect from a resort that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and trained 1998 gold medalist, Jonny Moseley, Palisades Tahoe is the resort of choice for expert skiers drawn to extra-steep runs, including several newly designated double black diamonds. But it might come as a surprise to learn that the terrain at today’s resort is almost evenly divided among beginner, intermediate and expert.

Palisades Tahoe has recently undergone several major improvements, including a multimillion-dollar Gold Coast midmountain lodge renovation.

What to know

Two base areas, the Village and Alpine (the former Alpine Meadows, now part of Palisades), are linked by a brand-new base-to-base gondola, making it possible to ski both in one day. Unlike most resorts, Palisades has beginner areas at the top of the mountain at the 8,200-foot High Camp, accessible by an aerial tram.

Where to eat

Take a lunch break with 8,200-foot views at High Camp’s Granite Bistro, which overlooks the pool and hot tub, or savor kebabs and other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare at Mogrog Cafe in the Alpine base camp. Off-resort on the banks of the Truckee River, the River Ranch Lodge serves elk ribs, bison chops, scallops, calamari and ahi poke alongside more conventional pub-style fare.

Where to stay

More casual and laid-back than other ski resorts, Palisades Tahoe has plenty of accommodation options for travelers of various inclinations.

Unlike destinations like Aspen — where luxurious rooms and top-notch spa treatments are just as (if not more) important than the skiing itself — the Tahoe area has accommodations perfect for winding down between long days of skiing. That’s not to say there aren’t some nice places to stay (like North Tahoe’s PlumpJack Inn), but they’re just a bit more casual than the hotels frequently found in some of the higher-end destinations.

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Rates start at $250 per night for a studio midweek during ski season.

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Rates start at around $400 per night during ski season.

Sun Valley Resort

Ernest Hemingway finished “For Whom the Bell Tolls” there; Tom Hanks, Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Lee Curtis own homes there; and so many Hollywood celebrities vacation there that it’s known as New Hollywood North. Yet Sun Valley, Idaho, has plenty to offer the rest of us, from the beginner terrain on Dollar Mountain to the pristine and well-groomed trails on Bald Mountain. It also gets more than 250 days of sunshine a year.

What to know

Dollar Mountain lures beginners with easy-to-navigate trails while experts head for Bald Mountain, or “Baldy,” for black diamond runs. Sunrise, a 380-acre terrain park that opened in 2020, expands the resort’s skiable acres by 20%. And in December of 2023, Sun Valley improved the Warm Springs part of the resort with several new lift installations and an additional 54 acres of gladed terrain.

Where to eat

Pub-style food and a convivial atmosphere make Warfield Distillery & Brewery a good place to chat with locals and catch the occasional live band.

Where to stay

While Sun Valley is no secret, it gets much less recognition than other major ski destinations throughout North America. Naturally, the accommodations will be much more laid-back and affordable than the higher-end inns and lodges at places like Breckenridge and Jackson Hole.

That said, Limelight does have a location in nearby Ketchum, which emulates its successful property in Aspen. And just because it gets less recognition (although that seems to be changing recently) doesn’t mean the skiing or lodging experiences are any less noteworthy.

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Rates start at around $600 per night.

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Rates start at around $559 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at $211 or from 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Steamboat, Colorado

In Colorado’s Yampa Valley, the town now known as Steamboat Springs served as an important hunting ground for the Ute tribe; the area’s natural springs were also culturally significant for the Yampatika Ute and Arapaho tribes. When a railroad was built in the early 20th century, the region became important for ranching, but it wouldn’t be long before skiing followed.

Today, the ski area pays tribute to its past with events like the Cowboy Downhill race, which is exactly what it sounds like: a rowdy time with professional rodeo cowboys competing in a race that includes slalom, a jump, lassos and horses.

What to know

The resort completed a $220 million, three-year development project for the 2023-24 ski season — the largest in resort history.

The project’s final phase adds 655 acres of skiable expert terrain, bumping Steamboat up to the second-largest resort in the state. The recently installed upper section of the Wild Blue gondola makes it the fastest and longest 10-person gondola in North America. Steamboat is approximately a four-hour drive from Denver, but there is nonstop flight service to nearby Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) from 16 major cities nationwide.

Where to eat

There are plenty of options for food around Steamboat. There are casual spots like TBar — set in an old ski patrol building and offers empanadas and sandwiches like a pork belly BLT — and higher-end culinary experiences like Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails, specializing in smoked and cured foods.

Where to stay

Steamboat has plenty of lodging options. Gravity Haus has a ski-in, ski-out location for those who don’t want to waste time before getting to the slopes in the morning. Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas is also an on-mountain hotel with great access to and views of the slopes.

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Rates start at around $350 per night during ski season, and Bonvoy points bookings are typically unavailable during high-demand times, like ski season. Rooms tend to get booked far in advance, so planning will help you lock in cheaper rates.

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Rates start at $350 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at around $330 per night during ski season.

Big Sky Resort

Halfway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone in Montana’s Madison Range, Big Sky is the out-of-the-way destination every skier dreams of.

The resort became another contender for one of the largest ski resorts in the U.S. with the 2013 addition of Moonlight Basin, bringing the total skiable acres to 5,850. There are even lifts and runs connecting Big Sky to the privately owned 2,200-acre Yellowstone Club, open only to those owning property or staying there.

Big Sky is also nearing the end of a 10-year upgrade project, which includes a new network of lifts, new food and beverage options, and a new Lone Peak tram with an all-glass viewing platform at the offload point (and glass floors in the tram itself).

What to know

Four connected mountains and seven terrain parks give Big Sky various runs and conditions. It also boasts the second-longest vertical drop in the U.S., an adrenaline-surging 4,350 feet from the top of Lone Peak.

Where to eat

Fuel up for the day at Blue Moon Bakery, serving a mean pizza. Celebrate a special occasion — or a successful day on the slopes — at Alpenglow, the Montage’s swanky brasserie.

Where to stay

Thanks to cozy town hotels and new over-the-top luxury lodges, Big Sky is quickly becoming one of the country’s premier ski resorts to visit. Despite Big Sky being less crowded and popular than some of North America’s megaresorts, there are still plenty of lodging options. Options range from high-end resorts like Montage Big Sky to the Summit Hotel, which has a bit more of a “standard” hotel feel.

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Rates start at around $1,300 per night.

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Rates start at around $560 per night.

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Rates start at $348 or 57,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during ski season.

Killington Resort

Living up to its nickname of the Beast of the East, Killington boasts the most trails and terrain parks of any resort in New England. The 3,000-acre resort in the Green Mountains also prides itself on being the first to open and last to close, often keeping the snow on at least one trail as late as June.

What to know

The Snowshed base area is the perfect starting point for beginners, while Ramshead is Killington’s playground, making it one of the best family ski resorts. Serious skiers head for Killington Peak, known as K-1, which has the resort’s most challenging terrain, including the second-largest vertical drop on the Eastern Seaboard.

Where to eat

Pizza and calzones from Domenic’s will fill up the family, while The Foundry is the local hot spot for a festive meal. Lookout Tavern is a lively spot for beer and the family basics, including a large, well-priced kids menu.

Where to stay

Even in a little ski destination like this, your hotel points could be handy at places like the Killington Mountain Lodge, a Hilton property. Killington is known for its lively nightlife (check out the Wobbly Barn for an iconic apres-ski scene), but since the town is relatively small, it’s pretty quick and easy to get around regardless of where you stay.

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Rates start at $400 per night during ski season.

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Rates start at around $200 per night during ski season, or 60,000 Hilton Honors Points.

Stowe Resort

Despite its location in northern Vermont, where the “big” ski destinations pale compared to the resorts out west, Stowe has diverse terrain, plenty of snow and an overall vibe comparable to any quintessential ski destination in the country.

At Stowe, skiers and riders are treated to 485 acres of mellow, groomed runs, exhilarating meadows and plenty of steep, natural terrain.

The resort is also located just minutes from Stowe’s downtown area, which is about as “New England” as it gets. Iconic white steeple churches sit in the foreground of Vermont’s rolling Green Mountains, and the streets are lined with cafes, restaurants and breweries, perfect for exploring after a day on the slopes.

What to know

Vail Resorts purchased Stowe in 2017, making it their first East Coast resort. Buying an Epic Pass provides huge cost savings when visiting Stowe, Breckenridge and any of Vail’s other resorts. Stowe also tends to get busy by East Coast standards, so visiting mid-week and avoiding vacation weeks is for the best. The resort is split between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, giving it the feel of two resorts in one. The Mansfield side is larger, with more expert terrain, but the Spruce Peak side still has its share of challenging runs.

Where to eat

Rural New England isn’t necessarily known for its culinary scene, but Stowe stands out against the rest of the region. Not only is it home to one of the best breweries around — The Alchemist (creator of Heady Topper, the first New England-style IPA) — but it has endless high-quality restaurants to choose from. Check out Doc Ponds, just up the road from the resort, with standard bar fare, like chicken sandwiches and burgers. For the beer lover in the family, their selection of local craft beers from famed breweries like Hill Farmstead is top-notch. Idyltime Brewing Company is another worthy option, with a rotating menu often featuring half-roasted chicken and Vermont mac and cheese.

Where to stay

You won’t find many big-name hotel brands around Stowe, which is part of the charm. Instead of luxury Marriott properties, the town has plenty of family-owned bed and breakfasts and lodges. But there are a few options for those looking to utilize and earn those points.

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Rates start at $400 per night plus a $45 nightly room fee or 45,000 World of Hyatt points during ski season.

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Rates start at around $200 per night during ski season.

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