Narrowing down the ski resorts in the United States to a top five is a pretty difficult task, being there are at least seven just in the state of Colorado labeled world-class resorts, all offering almost unbeatable terrain and powder. But, if it had to be done, these are the top five resorts as measured by overall experience mixed with terrain and snow quality.
Aleyeska, Alaska
Who doesn’t have Alaska on their bucket list? Skiing in Aleyeska promises some views you won’t see in any other mountain range. The mountain’s base dips into surrounding water leaving you with spectacular views, many times over the clouds. If you don’t get your daily fill, night skiing is available.
© Richard Gunion | Dreamstime
Telluride, Colo.
Telluride is known for its challenging terrain with incredibly steep vertical drops sprinkled throughout the 2,000 acres of in-bound skiing — 41 percent of which is expert terrain. For friends off skis, coming just to check out the town famous for its yearly film festival, there’s a free gondola ride with incredible views of the town.
© Zach Dischner | Flickr
Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Another resort notorious for steep terrain and spectacular views is Jackson Hole. With 2,500 acres of in-bound skiing (3,000 including backcountry), this resort draws in big mountain skiers from all over the world. A look down from the famous drop Corberts Couloir might make you faint.
© Brett Pelletier | Dreamstime
Snowbird, Utah
Snowbird is for the snowbirds getting an average of more than 500 inches of snowfall a year. Its close vicinity to the Great Salt Lake helps that cause, making it the second snowiest resort in the United States.
Mammoth Mountain, California © Falcon1708 | Dreamstime
Mammoth, Calif.
Mammoth Mountain is a gem of the Sierra Nevadas with more than 3,500 acres of skiable terrain. For the experts, there’s a variety of challenging chutes and moguls near the top and the beginners and intermediate still have 65 percent of the mountain to play on. For the park rats, there are eight terrain parks to enjoy on the mountain. It has something for everyone.
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