Best Ski Resort (2020)

Skiers and snowboarders at Sunshine Village in Banff are treated to Canada’s only heated chairlift. The resort’s three mountains – Goat’s Eye, Lookout and Mount Standish – offer more than 3,500 acres of skiable terrain.
Photo courtesy of Sunshine Village

This independently-owned resort in Central Idaho gets more than 320 inches of snow at its base each year. That means skiers and snowboarders enjoy powdery glades and wide groomed runs along 46 named trails, as well as 18,000 acres of backcountry terrain. The resort’s progressive terrain parks help riders hone their skills and try new stunts.
Photo courtesy of Brundage Mountain Ski Resort

Copper Mountain offers 140 trails serviced by 23 lifts covering 2,490 acres of skiable terrain. The parks and pipes at Copper Mountain put their focus on progression, allowing newbie freestylers to move from easy features to larger, more difficult ones. March is typically the snowiest month – perfect for some spring skiing.
Photo courtesy of Copper Mountain

Michigan might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think skiing, but Mount Bohemia is a hidden gem for extreme mountain sports. Located on the Upper Peninsula, this resort features some of the longest runs, highest verticals and deepest powder in the Midwest, with 273 inches of average annual snowfall.
Photo courtesy of Joey Wallis / Mount Bohemia

At Kirkwood, skiers and boarders enjoy 2,000 feet of vertical drop and more than 2,300 acres of terrain with something for every ability level. The mountain receives an annual average of 354 inches of snowfall, creating excellent conditions throughout the season. The resort’s five peaks all top out at over 9,000 feet.
Photo courtesy of Kirkwood Mountain Resort

Ski Land hosts the Most Northern Chairlift in North America and is just north of Fairbanks, Alaska and about 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Known by locals for its tree and glade skiing, they also have 1027' of vertical, 530 acres and a variety of beginner to advance runs. Views of the White Mountains and the Alaskan Range are everywhere, and at night, the Northern Lights come out offering one of the best shows nature can put on.
Photo courtesy of Ski Land Ski Resort

Cannon Mountain offers 97 trails and glades serviced by 11 lifts. With a summit at 4,080 feet, it’s the highest ski area in New Hampshire (it also has the longest vertical drop at 2,180 feet). Visitors enjoy 25 miles of trails spread across 285 skiable acres.
Photo courtesy of Ski NH

The biggest ski resort in the Canadian Rockies boasts 4,200 acres of skiable terrain, 145 marked runs and back bowls, 10 lifts (including one gondola) and a 3,250-foot vertical drop. The vast and varied terrain is all easily accessible, with runs for all levels from every chair.
Photo courtesy of Lake Louise Ski Resort

Once Colorado's hidden gem, the secret is out about Telluride Ski Resort, where 18 lifts service more than 2,000 acres of terrain and 148 trails with a good variety in difficulty level. A 3,790-foot lift-serviced vertical drop means there are plenty of steeps, yet beginners and intermediates have lots of long groomers to enjoy.
Photo courtesy of Telluride Ski Resort

Well known for its excellent cross-country skiing, SilverStar also appeals to downhill enthusiasts with 132 runs, 12 gladed areas, 100-percent natural snow, 3,282 skiable acres and a ski-in ski-out village. Two terrain parks feature a wide variety of jumps and features to help visitors progress their skills.
Photo courtesy of Blake Jorgenson / SilverStar Mountain Resort