100 Best Ski Resorts in North America | '24-'25 Season Ski Destination Guide

100 Best Ski Resorts in North America | '24-'25 Season Ski Destination Guide

Why North America is a World-Class Ski Destination

North America is renowned for its world-class ski destinations, attracting shredders from around the globe. But what makes this region stand out on the world stage of skiing?

Abundance of Ski Resorts

North America has a vast array of ski resorts, offering diverse terrain and experiences for skiers of all levels. From the iconic slopes of Aspen, Colorado to the picturesque trails of Whistler, British Columbia, there is no shortage of options for avid skiers and snowboarders.

Quality of Snow

One of the key factors that sets North America apart as a top ski destination is the quality of its snow. Many resorts see over 300" seasonally and many now make snow to extend the season and provide coverage in high traffic areas. Not all areas in North America have great snow and that isn't the only consideration for putting it on our top 100 map.

Long Ski Season

North America offers a long ski season, with some resorts open from as early as November until late April. This extended season allows skiers to enjoy their favorite winter sport for an extended period, making it an attractive destination for those looking for travel flexibility. 

Varied Amenities

Many North American ski resorts are known for their world-class amenities, including luxury accommodations, fine dining options, and top-notch ski schools. Other resorts, which we will call "ski areas", focus on good prices, good operations, and good vibes instead of charging $15 for a beer.

Not saying either is better! If you only go once a year and have the means, staying slope side at a big resort is great. If you are a humble ski bum and just want to shred some pow, those things are probably less important than snow quality and prices. 

Varied Terrain

From steep chutes to endless glades to gentle groomers, North America resorts offers a wide range of terrain for skiers and boarders. Whether you prefer the adrenaline rush of a massive straight line into a mogled runout or the scenic beauty of tree-lined groomers, you can find it all on this list!

With its abundance of ski resorts, quality snow, long ski season, world-class amenities, and varied terrain, North America truly stands out as a world-class ski destination. Whether you are a seasoned skier or a novice looking to hit the slopes for the first time, North America has something to offer for everyone.

How do you choose what resort to visit?

With somewhere around 500 resorts in North America, choosing where to go can be quite an undertaking. Its a massive balance of travel arrangements, lodging availability, pass prices, storm cycles, resort size, busy season and more! Its a lot to think about. But DON'T PANIC, we already made a huge list and compiled some key stats. In fact, we even made a map to showcase them all! 

In many ways, the best resort for you to visit is a highly personal choice but we will give you a great grasp on what the best options are. In this guide, we've chosen resorts based on annual snowfall, size (acreage and vertical drop), popularity and location.

Remember, there is no such thing as a definitive guide on the "best ski areas" - this is my best assessment - so don't get mad if your resort isn't on the map. There are certainly many gems out there and bigger resorts that didn't make it on the list due to lack of exposure (we don't like hot spotting), travel difficulty, or maybe it gets a ton of snow but only has short lifts. These elements unfortunately or fortunately kept those places of my list, so they will be left to the locals.

Best Ski Map to Plan Your Ski Trip

This blog post comes after a large effort to put together the best map of North American Skiing. This map was made for a few reasons:

  1. At TopoGarden, we love maps because we love outdoor recreation. I.E. we love to ski!
  2. We wanted something on our wall to keep us stoked! Often times, I find my mind wandering toward things like "taxes", "work", "politics" etc....yuck.  My resorts map help keep my head in a better place.
  3. We make educational art; this map informs us and keeps our eyes open to all the possibilities out there for a ski holiday.
  4. On top of that, I know how hard it can be to shop for skiers and boarders. We generally have very specific preferences and needs and its to easy to get something not quite perfect...until this map was made! It makes a meaningful gift for the shredder in your life.

Top Ski Resorts in the Lower 48 States and Canada | Best Ski Resorts in America

Okay, no more chitchat. Here is the full list, organized by location and ranked by snowfall:

100 of the best ski resorts in North America photo with the annual snowfall, skiable area and vertical drop data organized by location then snowfall amount. Resort Annual Snowfall Size Vertical Drop State Whitewater 470 in 2,370 ac 2,000 ft BC Fernie 450 in 2,500 ac 3,550 ft BC Whistler-Blackcomb 450 in 8,170 ac 5,300 ft BC Revelstoke 410 in 3,120 ac 5,600 ft BC Banff Sunshine 360 in 3,360 ac 3,500 ft AB Red Mountain 300 in 3,850 ac 2,900 ft BC Kicking Horse 290 in 3,500 ac 4,300 ft BC Lake Louise 180 in 4,200 ac 3,250 ft BC Kimberly 150 in 1,800 ac 2,460 ft BC Sugarbowl 500 in 1,650 ac 1,500 ft CA Sierra-at-Tahoe 460 in 2,000 ac 2,212 ft CA Homewood 450 in 1,260 ac 1,650 ft CA Palisades Tahoe 450 in 6,000 ac 2,850 ft CA Mammoth Mountain 400 in 3,500 ac 3,100 ft CA Heavenly 360 in 4,800 ac 3,500 ft CA Bear Valley 359 in 100 ac 795 ft CA Kirkwood 354 in 2,300 ac 2,000 ft CA Dodge Ridge 350 in 852 ac 1,600 ft CA Northstar California 350 in 3,170 ac 2,280 ft CA China Peak 300 in 1,400 ac 1,679 ft CA June Mountain 250 in 1,500 ac 2,590 ft CA Big Bear Lake 100 in 438 ac 1,041 ft CA Snow Valley 100 in 240 ac 1,040 ft CA Wolf Creek 430 in 1,600 ac 1,600 ft CO Loveland 422 in 1,800 ac 2,210 ft CO Breckenridge 355 in 2,908 ac 3,398 ft CO Arapahoe Basin 350 in 1,428 ac 5,230 ft CO Vail 350 in 5,300 ac 3,450 ft CO Winter Park 350 in 3,081 ac 3,060 ft CO Steamboat Springs 335 in 3,740 ac 3,668 ft CO Beaver Creek 323 in 2,082 ac 3,340 ft CO Eldora Mountain 311 in 680 ac 1,400 ft CO Aspen Highlands 300 in 1,010 ac 3,638 ft CO Aspen Mountain 300 in 673 ac 3,267 ft CO Copper Mountain 300 in 2,738 ac 2,500 ft CO Snowmass 300 in 3,332 ac 4,406 ft CO Telluride 280 in 2,000 ac 4,425 ft CO Purgatory 260 in 1,128 ac 2,030 ft CO Powderhorn, CO 250 in 1,600 ac 1,650 ft CO Keystone 235 in 3,148 ac 3,128 ft CO Crested Butte 234 in 1,500 ac 3,062 ft CO Brundage 300 in 1,500 ac 1,800 ft ID Schweitzer 300 in 2,900 ac 2,400 ft ID Silver Mountain 300 in 1,600 ac 2,200 ft ID Tamarack 300 in 1,100 ac 2,800 ft ID Sun Valley 220 in 5,460 ac 3,400 ft ID Bogus Basin 200 in 2,600 ac 1,800 ft ID Sugarloaf 200 in 1,360 ac 2,820 ft MA Sunday River 165 in 880 ac 2,340 ft MA Mount Bohemia 270 in 620 ac 900 ft MI Big Sky Resort 400 in 5,800 ac 4,350 ft MT Lost Trail 325 in 1,800 ac 1,800 ft MT Bridger Bowl 300 in 2,000 ac 2,700 ft MT Montana Snowbowl 300 in 2,000 ac 2,600 ft MT Whitefish Mountain 300 in 3,000 ac 2,350 ft MT Blacktail Mountain 250 in 1,000 ac 1,440 ft MT Red Lodge Mountain 250 in 1,635 ac 2,400 ft MT Showdown 250 in 640 ac 1,400 ft MT Discovery 225 in 2,400 ac 2,380 ft MT Cannon Mountain 160 in 285 ac 2,180 ft NH Loon Mountain 160 in 403 ac 2,100 ft NH Gunstock 120 in 227 ac 1,400 ft NH Taos 300 in 1,294 ac 3,280 ft NM Santa Fe 225 in 660 ac 1,725 ft NM Angel Fire 210 in 560 ac 2,077 ft NM Diamond Peak 300 in 655 ac 1,840 ft NV Whiteface Mountain 170 in 287 ac 3,430 ft NY Hunter Mountain 120 in 320 ac 1,600 ft NY Timberline Lodge 550 in 1,415 ac 3,690 ft OR Mt. Bachelor 460 in 4,323 ac 3,365 ft OR Mt. Hood Meadows 430 in 2,150 ac 2,777 ft OR Hoodoo Ski Area 350 in 806 ac 1,035 ft OR Tremblant 180 in 750 ac 2,100 ft QC Alta 540 in 2,614 ac 2,538 ft UT Snowbird 500 in 2,500 ac 3,240 ft UT Solitude Mountain 500 in 1,200 ac 2,500 ft UT Brighton Resort 420 in 1,050 ac 1,750 ft UT Beaver Mountain 400 in 828 ac 1,700 ft UT Powder Mountain 400 in 8,464 ac 2,520 ft UT Brian Head 360 in 650 ac 1,548 ft UT Park City 350 in 7,300 ac 3,200 ft UT Sundance Mountain 320 in 540 ac 2,150 ft UT Deer Valley 300 in 2,026 ac 3,000 ft UT Snowbasin 300 in 3,000 ac 2,900 ft UT Wintergreen Resort 35 in 130 ac 1,000 ft VA Jay Peak 349 in 385 ac 2,153 ft VT Stowe Mountain 315 in 545 ac 2,360 ft VT Smuggler's Notch 280 in 1,000 ac 2,610 ft VT Killington 250 in 1,526 ac 3,050 ft VT Pico 250 in 267 ac 1,970 ft VT Sugarbush 250 in 485 ac 2,600 ft VT Mad River Glen 230 in 115 ac 2,040 ft VT Crystal Mountain 486 in 2,600 ac 3,100 ft WA Steven's Pass 460 in 1,125 ac 1,800 ft WA The Summit at Snoqualmie 430 in 1,995 ac 1,025 ft WA White Pass 400 in 1,400 ac 2,050 ft WA 49 north 300 in 2,325 ac 1,871 ft WA Mission Ridge 200 in 2,000 ac 2,250 ft WA Grand Targhee 500 in 2,602 ac 2,270 ft WY Jackson Hole 459 in 2,500 ac 4,139 ft WY Data compiled by TopGarden, using official measurements and stats when available. © TopoGarden

There you have it.

There is a lot of great skiing in North America and this has been a very fun project to make. I am quite happy how the map turned out and really enjoyed having it on my wall during the first snow of the 24-25 season today!

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