18 Best Ski Resorts in the USA, 2024/25

Written by Lana Law and Michael Law
Updated Dec 12, 2024

The United States has some of the best ski resorts in the world. If you want to create the ultimate skiing bucket list, this is the place to start. Most of the world-class ski resorts are found in the West, but if your travel plans take you to the eastern states, you can still find fantastic places to ski and board.

In the West, the towering Rocky Mountains and surrounding ranges create a veritable playground of snow-covered slopes, offering skiing opportunities for every level of skier. Endless runs and frequent powder days make this a skier's dream destination.

Colorado and Utah each have a large concentration of top resorts to choose from, but you can also find incredible skiing in Wyoming's Tetons, home to Jackson Hole; the Sierra Nevada Range around Lake Tahoe, where you'll find Palisades Tahoe; and the Sawtooth Range in Idaho, home of Sun Valley. Head farther north to Montana and set your sights on Big Sky. And these are just some of the possibilities for skiing in the West.

When it comes to skiing in the East, you'll find plenty of choices, but a couple of ski resorts stand out above the others. Vermont is one of the top choices for skiing in the eastern United States.

Most skiers will agree that the skiing and snow conditions are the most important factors when planning a ski vacation. But the towns or ski villages at the base of the mountains are where you'll spend your time off the slopes and this is also an important consideration when it comes to deciding on a destination. The après-ski opportunities, atmosphere, and customer service at the resorts have been taken into consideration when compiling this list.

While all these resorts have expert terrain, they were selected based on their ability to accommodate a range of skiing and snowboarding levels, not just experts. For an overview of our top picks, see our list of the best ski resorts in the United States.

On This Page:

Vail Ski Resort, CO
Aspen/Snowmass, CO
Snowbird, UT
Park City Mountain Resort, UT
Telluride Ski Resort, CO
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY
Beaver Creek, CO
Breckenridge Ski Resort, CO
Deer Valley, UT
Steamboat, CO
Big Sky Resort, MT
Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, CA
Sun Valley, ID
Taos Ski Valley, NM
Keystone, CO
Purgatory Mountain Resort
Stowe, VT
Sugarbush Resort, VT
Map of Ski Resorts in the USA

Vail Ski Resort, CO

The largest ski resort in Colorado (5,317 acres)
7 Back Bowls
Base elevation of 8,120 feet

The Mountain:

Long reigning as one of the top resorts in America, Vail is what most skiers dream of when they think of skiing in America. If you're looking for bowls, glades, groomed runs, fresh powder, and extensive terrain, Vail is the place to come. Spread out over 5,317 acres and with nearly 30 feet of snow each year, Vail is a must-visit ski resort.

The ski area sprawls over several mountains and provides whatever type of challenge you're looking for. Wide-open groomers, endless moguls, and seven big bowls where you can create your own tracks entice you to try something new.

Vail is ideally positioned to catch snow on a regular basis, leading to a deep base. When Pacific storms roll through, the snow falls fast and furious creating beautiful powder days.

The resort continues to invest in lift infrastructure with good results. The recent installation of the Sundown and High Noon Express has significantly reduced bottlenecks, especially on busy days. The 50% increase in capacity on the Game Creek Bowl lift has also gone a long way towards moving more people uphill and increasing skier happiness.

The Town:

At the base, you'll find the thriving and lively town of Vail, packed with restaurants, shops, and a range of entertainment options, from an ice-skating rink to live music. Vail is known for its posh hotels and high-end boutiques, but it's more than just a destination for wealthy skiers and boarders. This is a great place for families, groups, couples, or solo skiers and boarders.

Vail is less than a two-hour drive from Denver and there are several ways to get from Denver to Vail.

Vail is part of the EPIC pass program. For the 2024/25 season, Vail Resorts will limit the number of day tickets sold at the resorts. This is an effort to reduce overcrowding on the hills on the most popular days. EPIC Season Pass and EPIC Day Pass holders are exempt from these limits, as are guests enrolled in Ski School programs. Daily tickets available for purchase will be visible on Vail Resort's website.

Official site: https://www.vail.com/

Aspen/Snowmass, CO

Four separate ski areas
A base elevation of approximately 8,000 feet depending on the mountain

The Mountains:

Aspen has been drawing an international jet set of skiers for decades. Although people talk about the scene in town, the real action is on the mountains. Aspen has four ski areas: Snowmass, Buttermilk, Aspen Mountain, and Aspen Highlands. At the base of the mountains are the towns of Aspen and Snowmass Village.

Each of these mountains has its own base. The largest ski area is Snowmass. This is where many people who come to ski choose to base themselves. It has a massive amount of terrain and runs for all abilities. The base area has a renewed vibe with several new restaurants and a facelift that has spruced up the formerly aging buildings.

For the 2024/25 ski season, Snowmass will be debuting the Coney Express high-speed quad chair. This new equipment replaces the old Coney Glade chair but it will be longer. The new loading area for this chair is at the Snowmass Mall, and it makes getting up the hill from this area significantly easier.

Aspen Mountain is a smaller mountain and geared toward intermediate and advanced levels. There are no beginner runs. This is the mountain found right in the town of Aspen. Last season Aspen got its own brand-new chairlift, the first new lift in nearly 40 years!. The Hero Chair, a high-speed quad, opened up 153 acres of virgin terrain, and skiers everywhere have been loving the new descents.

Buttermilk is also a small mountain but it is geared towards beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders.

Aspen Highlands has a range of runs that can accommodate everyone but is popular with advanced and expert skiers.

These resorts provide an incredible number of runs across a massive area of skiable terrain, and the area receives roughly 25 feet of annual snowfall. First-class amenities and an impressive assortment of lifts will make your ski day one to remember.

Aspen/Snowmass is part of the IKON and Mountain Collective pass programs (number of day and blackout restrictions in effect on both passes)

Getting to Aspen:

The regional airport servicing Aspen/Snowmass has over 150 flights a week in ski season across the major carriers. The airport is five minutes from town, and many hotels provide free airport pickup. Denver International Airport is less than four hours away by car but there are several ways of getting from Denver to Aspen.

Official site: https://www.aspensnowmass.com/

Snowbird, UT

Snowbird connects with and can be skied in combination with Alta
Known for great snow conditions (approximately 500 inches per year)
30 minutes from Salt Lake City
Base elevation of 8,100 feet

The Wasatch Valley is one of the best places in the US for consistently light, dry snow, and it's where you'll find Snowbird and Alta. Moist air gets funneled up this valley, and more than 41 feet of snow falls here annually, on average. The jagged peaks and alpine scenery at Snowbird also make this the most scenic resort in Utah.

Snowbird offers 2,500 skiable acres of outstanding terrain, great conditions, and is perfect for families looking to accommodate both skiers and snowboarders. Alta does not allow snowboarding. Snowbird also has the only ski tunnel in North America, allowing you to ski through the mountain and emerge on the other side.

Snowbird is upgrading the old Wilbere Lift, transforming it from a historic double to a fixed-grip quad for the 2024/25 season.

Snowbird and Alta operate as separate resorts but it's easy to ski from one to the other. A combined ticket is a good idea if you are spending several days skiing in the area or if you are here for spring skiing. Between the two resorts, you can usually find good conditions at any time of day in the spring.

To cap it off, Snowbird is only 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. Many people stay in the city where the evening scene is livelier and there are more things to do when you are not skiing.

Snowbird is part of both the IKON and Mountain Collective Pass programs (number of days and blackout restrictions in effect on both passes).

Within an hour of Salt Lake City, you can find several of Utah's best ski resorts. And if you want to expand that by another 30 minutes, you can hit even more. Given the amount of snow that falls in this area, don't rule any of these out. If you have time and want to experience some other resorts, have a look at Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, and Solitude.

Official site: https://www.snowbird.com/

Park City Mountain Resort, UT

The largest ski resort in the United States (7,300 acres)
Two base areas
The town of Park City is an added bonus of skiing here
Base elevation of 6,800 feet

Park City is the largest ski resort in the United States. Spread over an incredible 7,300 acres and 17 peaks, this behemoth of a ski resort has almost unlimited options. Although you can easily find expert terrain here, the skiing skews towards intermediate and beginner. If you love long, rolling groomed runs, you've come to the right place.

Park City has two base areas: Park City Mountain Village and Canyons Village. These used to be two separate ski resorts and still have the feel of two distinctly different resorts. Each area still has its own character, and if you are planning a multi-day trip, plan to try both areas.

The town of Park City is also an added bonus to skiing here. A real town, dating from 1884, with a historic main street packed with restaurants and shops provides a laundry list of options for après ski activities. If you are taking a day off from skiing, you will have no trouble finding things to do in Park City.

Park City is less than an hour from Salt Lake City. If you are on a budget, consider staying in Salt Lake City, where the accommodation is plentiful and cheap, and commute to the ski resort.

Park City Mountain Resort is part of the EPIC Pass program, and the mountain is owned by Vail Resorts. As a result, they will also be following the new policy of limiting day lift ticket sales. EPIC Pass holders are exempt from these limits, as are EPIC Day Pass guests, along with ski school customers. The number of day lift tickets available will be posted on the Park City website.

Official site: https://www.parkcitymountain.com/

Telluride Ski Resort, CO

Skiers at Telluride Ski Resort | Photo Copyright: Lana Law

The distance from major cities means fewer crowds
Guests can stay in the town of Telluride or on the mountain at Mountain Village
Base elevation of 8,725 feet

Telluride wins one of the top spots for its diverse terrain, great selection of lodging on and off the mountain, and the charming ski town of Telluride right at the base of the mountain. You can ski down at the end of the day and not have to worry about driving to a nearby town.

Telluride is tucked off on its own at the end of a valley in southwest Colorado. This works as an advantage and a disadvantage. The great part is short lift lines and fewer crowds, but it takes a while to get here, and accommodation is expensive. It's worth the effort if you've got the budget.

Telluride gets about 23 feet of snow each year. If you time it right, you can expect some great powder days. This is also a wonderful place for a family ski vacation, as roughly 60 percent of the 2,000 skiable acres is targeted towards beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders.

The resort offers ski-in/ski-out accommodation. The gondola is free and is open to skiers and non-skiers. Telluride is part of the EPIC pass program; however, daily tickets are not limited like they are at Vail and Park City because Telluride is not owned by Vail Resorts. Only resorts wholly owned by Vail Resorts have this limitation.

About two hours away is the town of Durango and Purgatory Resort, another fun ski resort in this part of Colorado. Purgatory offers a smaller ski mountain experience and is very family-oriented. Prices here are lower, both on the mountain and at the hotels.

Official site: https://www.tellurideskiresort.com/

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY

Best for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders
Base elevation of 6,311 feet

Jackson Hole is a true skier's mountain. The mountain is heavily skewed towards intermediate and advanced skiers, with very little beginner terrain, and the most challenging terrain will test the skills of even expert skiers.

As you ride the tram to the top with 100 of your new friends, you'll feel a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement looking out at the runs beneath your feet. Be on the lookout for Corbet's Couloir on the ride up. This extreme double black diamond run is a rite of passage for expert skiers.

Skiing at Jackson Hole has been significantly improved with the replacement of the 28-year-old Thunder Chair in 2023. The Leitner-Poma quad chair has cut the ride time in half, from seven minutes to 3.6, doubling the uphill capacity.

In recent years, Jackson Hole has averaged about 38 feet of snow annually. The resort has 2,500 acres of terrain and 133 named runs, as well as multiple terrain parks. Among the infrastructure improvements in the last number of years is the impressive Solitude Station mid-mountain facility, housing two restaurants and the Mountain Sports School.

The ski resort is located 20 minutes from the Western-themed town of Jackson. Here, you'll find air connections from across the states, and excellent, albeit expensive, accommodation options.

Jackson Hole is part of the IKON and Mountain Collective pass programs. Note that in order to manage ski hill capacity, reservations are now required in advance to use these passes. Jackson Hole will also limit the total number of lift tickets sold to non-pass holders.

Official site: https://www.jacksonhole.com/

Beaver Creek, CO

View from the slopes at Beaver Creek | Photo Copyright: Lana Law

Known for extensive grooming and excellent customer service
Base elevation of 8,100 feet

Miles of groomed corduroy are what you'll find each morning at Beaver Creek. This luxurious ski resort takes grooming to the next level. Each night, a massive team of snowcats takes to the mountain and shapes it into a cruiser's dream. After skiing hours of beautiful corduroy, you may start to wonder if chasing powder is only for fools.

Beaver Creek is not all about manicured runs. On Grouse Mountain, the moguls and steeps will push any skier to their limits. This is a mountain the entire family can enjoy. Last season Beaver Creek installed two quad chairs. These lifts service the McCoy area of the mountain and provide quicker access to high-altitude terrain for intermediate and beginner skiers.

Customer service is paramount at Beaver Creek, and this includes things like having resort personnel ready to carry your skis for you at the base when you come off the last run of the day and free fresh-baked cookies every day at 3pm.

Beaver Creek is part of the EPIC pass program and is owned by Vail Resorts. As a result, they will be limiting day lift ticket sales; EPIC Pass holders and EPIC Day Passholders, and clients of the Ski School are exempt. Tickets available by day will be posted on the Beaver Creek website.

Official site: https://www.beavercreek.com/

Breckenridge Ski Resort, CO

Has a long ski season due to its high elevation
Home to the highest chairlift in the USA
Base elevation of 9,600 feet

Breckenridge gets an average of about 30 feet of snow annually and keeps much of it until late in the season due to its high elevation. You can expect this resort to be open well into May. Home to the highest chairlift in the USA at 12,840 feet, this resort will literally take your breath away.

The lower parts of the ski resort are perfect for beginners and families. The gentle inclines of the wide runs provide plenty of space to move. The open bowls at the top of the peaks offer awesome opportunities for more advanced skiers. In April and May, while skiers are enjoying spring skiing conditions near the bottom, the peaks are still enjoying full winter conditions.

The historical town of Breckenridge at the base is an enjoyable mountain town with fun après-ski options. It has a wonderful assortment of restaurants and shops along with a picturesque main street, perfect for strolling. You'll also find a wide assortment of places to stay in Breckenridge, from large resorts right through to small BnBs and condos for rent.

Denver International Airport is just under two hours away. Several options exist for transport between Denver and Breckenridge.

Breckenridge is part of the EPIC pass program and is owned by Vail Resorts. As a result, they will be limiting day lift ticket sales, EPIC Pass holders and EPIC Day Pass holders and clients of the Ski School are exempt. Tickets available by day will be posted on the Breckenridge website.

Official site: https://www.breckenridge.com/

Deer Valley, UT

A skiers-only resort (no snowboarders)
Known for excellent customer service
Base elevation of 6,570 feet

If you want to experience true luxury skiing, head to Deer Valley, but be aware that this mountain resort does not allow snowboarders. Just up the road from Park City, this high-end resort is definitely worth a visit. Beautiful lodges, fantastic food, modern lifts, and uncrowded slopes are what you can expect to find here.

To enhance the guest experience, Deer Valley limits the number of skiers on the mountain to ensure the lift lines never get too long. Deer Valley is spread out over six mountains and if there's a dump of snow, head to this resort. Powder stashes and untracked descents remain here longer than at other resorts.

Sixteen million dollars of recent improvements have made skiing easier for beginners. The Burns Express now operates in the Wide West area and provides access to Deer Valley's gentlest slopes. This lift has automatically lowering safety bars, a first in North America.

It was just recently announced that Deer Valley will be part of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. Other great news that skiers will be pleased to learn is that for the 2024/25 season, the resort is opening three new chairlifts and 300 acres of new skiable terrain. This is just the beginning, the resort has a multi year plan called Expanded Excellence that will see the skiable terrain double in size along with new hotels, a new base area, additional retail, and more parking.

In addition to all that, the Snowflake chairlift has recently been upgraded and extended, and the entire ski school and beginner area graded and surface lifts reconfigured.

Deer Valley is part of the IKON pass program.

Official site: https://www.deervalley.com/

Steamboat, CO

Known for great powder snow
Base elevation of 6,900 feet

Steamboat is located north of most of the main ski resorts in Colorado and is about a 3.5-hour drive from Denver. As a result, it's off the radar of many skiers who focus on the closer resorts, like Breckenridge, Vail, or Beaver Creek. The upside of this is fewer crowds and more time spent skiing or boarding.

On average, roughly 26 feet of snow falls yearly, creating great conditions across the 165 trails. Steamboat is where the term "champagne powder" originated.

The resort boasts 3,741 acres. Uphill capacity is comparable to other major resorts with 19 lifts, including a ten-passenger gondola. The resort has recently opened an additional 1,010 acres of new terrain in its Pioneer Ridge and Mahogany Ridge areas. The famous Hazie's restaurant has been completely overhauled and upgraded.

Steamboat Square has been reimagined, and now has a skating rink called Skeeters, new retail shops and a stage for concerts and events. The Wild Blue gondola is now operational all the way to the Sunshine Peak station, a distance of just over three miles. The Christie Peak Express Lift base has been moved, and the mini golf and mountain coaster ride have been permanently removed.

A bit farther up the mountain, the 14-acre Greenhorn Ranch Learning Center is now open with a chairlift, four magic carpet surface lifts, and its own dedicated snowmaking guns.

The Mahogany Ridge Chairlift is up and running and has opened up 650 acres of advanced to expert terrain. This bump-up in terrain makes Steamboat the second-largest resort in Colorado.

All that additional uphill capacity means more skiing and as a result, more effort expended and more hunger! Fortunately, Steamboat has opened The Range Food and Drink Hall. Home to four different restaurants across the culinary spectrum, you'll have no trouble finding something to eat and drink to fuel additional shredding.

The town of Steamboat Springs is what makes a visit here extra enjoyable. The real cowboy culture and friendly locals in this small town make you feel instantly welcome.

Not far from town is Strawberry Hot Springs. These natural outdoor pools are a delight to visit on days when you're giving your legs a break.

Steamboat is part of the IKON pass program.

Official site: https://www.steamboat.com/

Big Sky Resort, MT

More than 5,800 acres of skiable terrain
A great mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain

Big Sky Resort is Montana's premier ski area. Everything about this place is big: big mountains; big lifts, including a tram; big snowfall at 33 feet; and big, wide-open spaces. In fact, the only thing small here are the lift lines.

The resort does not see big crowds. Big Sky is spread out over 5,850 acres, and that means even on the busiest of ski days, you'll likely have over two acres of snow-covered bliss all to yourself.

One advantage of skiing at Big Sky Resort over the ski areas farther south is related to elevation. Here, you'll ski at lower elevations. For those coming from sea level, the effects of high altitude (headaches, tiredness, shortness of breath) are less. You can hit the slopes for longer and feel stronger!

You'll need that additional stamina to keep your legs pumping because of the recent installation of an eight-passenger, heated high-speed lift, called the Big Sky Blue Bubble. It's the fastest chairlift in North America and the world's longest eight-seater, meaning you'll be back at the top in no time flat.

In the winter, daily direct flights arrive at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport from approximately twenty major population centers across the USA.

Big Sky is part of the IKON pass program.

Official site: https://bigskyresort.com/

Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, CA

Approximately 70% of the terrain is beginner and intermediate
Base elevation of 6,200 feet
3,600 skiable acres

This iconic ski resort at Lake Tahoe was home to the 1960 Winter Olympics (then known as Squaw Valley) and is one of California's top ski resorts.

Now, both resorts have finally realized a dream: they are now connected by the Base to Base Gondola. This 2.4-mile-long gondola goes up 2,000 vertical feet to the top of Mount KT-22 and makes going from one base area to another easy. The ride takes 16 minutes and has four stops along the way. In addition to this, the Red Dog chairlift is being completely replaced with a six-passenger chair.

The great thing about skiing at Palisades is the sun. This area gets over 267 days of clear blue skies, and the view from the slopes is amazing. But don't let that fool you. The resort typically receives over 37 feet of snow each year and you can expect some incredible powder days if you time it right.

Palisades Tahoe is an ideal family resort, with 70 percent of the terrain classified as either beginner or intermediate, and certain areas designated as beginner only. Despite this, experts will have no trouble entertaining themselves on the chutes, couloirs, and bowls.

Access from San Francisco is along Interstate 80, and the resort is just over a three-hour drive from San Francisco International Airport.

Palisades Tahoe is part of the Mountain Collective and IKON pass programs.

Official site: https://www.palisadestahoe.com/

Sun Valley, ID

Over 2,000 skiable acres
Popular family ski resort

Sun Valley, Idaho is an ideal destination for those looking for a good all-around mid-size resort. Here, you'll find 121 runs spread across Bald and Dollar Mountains. The views from the top are spectacular, looking out to fields of snow covering the mountains.

On average, Sun Valley receives about 18 feet of snow each year but also has extensive snow-making capabilities. It's a good family destination, with runs skewed more towards beginner and intermediate levels. They also do extensive grooming and with the resort being off the radar of many people, the corduroy lasts longer into the day.

Sun Valley has recently undertaken some of the most significant expansions in the resort's history. Be sure to try the Broadway lift, a high-speed quad chair that has opened up 380 acres of spectacular new terrain in the Sunrise zone. In addition to this, the Challenger lift has been replaced with a six-seater high-speed chairlift complete with mid-lift unloading at the site of the former Greyhawk chair. This new lift is 35% faster than the former version.

After losing the Flying Squirrel lift to a devastating fire in 2014, it was finally replaced last season with a bigger and better quad version. New for 2024/25 is the opening of the new and improved Seattle Ridge chair. This version is a high-speed six-pack chair and will move 20% more people uphill.

Sun Valley is known as the haunt of some big-name celebrities. Also of interest, it opened the world's first chairlift way back in 1936.

Sun Valley is part of the Epic Pass program; however, day lift tickets are not limited because Sun Valley is not owned by Vail Resorts.

Official site: https://www.sunvalley.com/

Taos Ski Valley, NM

Best for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders
Base elevation of 9,200 feet

Located a couple of hours from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Taos is an old-school ski resort that has slowly been modernizing. It was taken over by a multimillionaire, who has invested $300 million in upgrades over the past several years. The changes have been a source of controversy, but the resort is now more focused on skier experience and customer service.

Taos currently offers a great mix of old school with touches of the 21^st century here and there. But regardless of these changes, the terrain is still the terrain and the skiing is fantastic, particularly for more experienced skiers looking for challenges.

Novice skiers are sometimes intimidated by the mountain they see before them at the base in front of the main lodge. But this is just one area of the resort, and if you talk to staff, they will direct you to the areas designed for beginners and intermediate skiers.

A base area gondola has made getting around easier, and The Blake at Taos Ski Valley, a new hotel, provides modern accommodation within walking distance of the lifts.

Taos is less than a two-hour drive from Santa Fe Regional Airport and just under three hours from Albuquerque International Sunport.

Taos is part of both the IKON and Mountain Collective pass programs.

Terrain spread across 6 different mountains
Base elevation of 9,280 feet
3,149 skiable acres

As you drive up Interstate 17 from Denver, one of the major turns is at Silverthorne. Up this road are two incredible resorts: Arapahoe Basin and Keystone.

The first of the two is Keystone, and you will be sorely tested not to veer off and try it out. Take your choice of runs from a smorgasbord of 128 green, blue, black, and double-black runs spread out over six different mountains. A good rule of thumb is that the farther back you go, the more difficult the runs and terrain become. Keystone is a family-friendly resort with a great ski school and reasonably priced condo accommodation nearby.

Keystone receives nearly 20 feet of snow each year, and approximately 20 percent of the mountain is covered by an impressive snowmaking operation. As with other nearby resorts, the base area of Keystone is set at a high elevation, in this case 9,280 feet. This helps ensure a long season but can also be a challenge for those coming from sea level.

The mountain is spread out over 3,148 acres, and the vertical drop of 3,128 feet is serviced by an incredible 20 lifts. Last season the resort dramatically expanded the skiable area in the Bergman and Erickson Bowls with the installation of the new high-speed Bergman Express six-passenger lift. The lift opened up 550 new acres and 16 new trails.

Keystone has also expanded and renovated the Timber Lodge, try and grab a seat by huge windows offering 360-degree views.

Keystone is part of the EPIC pass program and is owned by Vail Resorts. As a result, they will be limiting day lift ticket sales. EPIC Pass holders and EPIC Day Passholders and clients of the Ski School are exempt. Tickets available by day will be posted on the Keystone website.

Official site: https://www.keystoneresort.com/

Purgatory Mountain Resort

A popular family resort
1,600 acres of skiable terrain
Base elevation of 8,793 feet

For a bit of skiing action in the San Juans, head to the southwest corner of Colorado and the family-friendly Purgatory Mountain Resort. Known locally as "Purg," this low-key ski resort has a wide variety of terrain suitable for skiers of all abilities.

More affordable than many of the other larger Colorado resorts, Purgatory is one of the best cheap ski resorts in Colorado. It has reasonably priced lift tickets, plus, kids under 12 ski free (and can mountain bike in the summer for free, too!) Adding to the value allure is the cheap accommodation in Durango, a fun mountain town just down the road.

The resort has been busy during the offseason and has a gift for skiers who love skiing in the trees. Six glade runs (Who, Mark's Park, When, What, Hoody's, and McCormack's Maze) have been cleaned up with debris removal, dead trees removed, and safety concerns addressed, ensuring that the fall lines are safe and sweet for those big snowfall days.

Beyond Purgatory is Silverton Mountain. This old-school and somewhat rustic resort is legendary for its untracked powder snow.

Official site: https://www.purgatory.ski/

Stowe, VT

485 skiable acres
Vertical drop of 2,360 feet

Stowe is located on Mount Mansfield, New England's highest mountain, and catches approximately 26 feet of snow each year. If Mother Nature needs a bit of help, Stowe has snowmaking capabilities on 83 percent of the ski hill.

Getting up the hill is easier this season with the Sunrise high-speed six-pack installed last season, the long lines that used to form at the base of the old triple chair are a thing of the past.

Uphill capacity is up to the task of handling the crowds. About 15,516 people can be whisked up to the top on 12 lifts, including two gondolas. The small resort town of Stowe is a lovely place to stay, with stellar restaurants, cozy inns, and good shopping.

The only downside to skiing at Stowe is the charge for parking on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which is substantial at $30/day. If you have four people in your car, it's free.

Stowe is part of the EPIC pass program, and day lift tickets will be limited, except for EPIC Pass holders, EPIC day pass holders, and guests of the Ski School. Ticket availability will be posted on the Stowe website.

Official site: https://www.stowe.com/

Sugarbush Resort, VT

Vertical drop of 2,400 feet
2 mountains
2 terrain parks

Sugarbush Resort, in Vermont, has 111 ski runs spread over 4,000 acres. The runs wind their way down through the trees on two mountains to multiple base areas. Just jump on any one of the 16 lifts and head back up to the top to tackle the varied terrain.

Skiers will notice one big change, the 40-year-old Heaven's Gate triple chair has been replaced by a fixed-grip quad chair.

Should you wish for a bit of out-of-bounds fun, CAT skiing is available on a per-person basis, minimum of six people required.

You'll find a quaint village at the bottom of Lincoln Peak, with a pedestrian-only area lined with restaurants, spas, and retail shops.

Sugarbush is part of the IKON pass programs.

Official site: https://www.sugarbush.com/