Skiing in America is as diverse as the continent. Most states have slopes and ski resorts, some small, some gigantic, others unknown even outside state borders and some world-renowned.
Anyone who thinks of skiing in the United States of America immediately thinks of the Rocky Mountains – probably the most famous mountain range in North America. Starting in Canada, they stretch far into the American Midwest.
The US states Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming are considered the Rocky Mountains States and are among the most popular vacation destinations in America. Every year, millions of tourists travel to the Rockys, either to enjoy the landscape or to do sports.
Of all the states bordering the Rockies, Colorado is one of the most visited and illustrious names line up here like the gondolas of a cable car. In the charming and historically grown Aspen, the American St. Moritz, the beautiful and the rich give each other the door handle. Four completely different ski areas around Aspen form a superlative ski circuit that leaves nothing to be desired.
Vail, just a few miles from Aspen, is North America’s largest contiguous ski area with 193 runs, the majority of which cater to experts and pros. For years, Vail has consistently been voted America’s Best Ski Resort for variety of terrain, snow conditions and slope difficulty. Well-groomed pistes, great deep snow slopes and a lively apres-ski scene are convincing.
As a venue for the Alpine World Cup and Alpine World Championships Beaver Creek familiar to many. One of the more swanky ski resorts where well-heeled guests wede and carve, Beaver Creek was specifically designed as a luxury resort to complement Vail. For ski experts, the FIS “Birds of Prey” course alone should be reason enough to come to Beaver Creek. For families and beginners, especially in the Arrowhead area, there is a large selection of easy slopes.
Breckenridge has made a very good name for itself among winter sports enthusiasts worldwide in recent years and is now the most visited ski area in the USA. In particular, it is recommended for advanced skiers, professionals and snowboarders, while beginners will not find much easier slopes.
Other well-known and popular ski areas in Colorado are Crested Butte, Copper Mountain, Steamboat SpringsDurango, Telluride or Winter Park.
Utah, another country bordering the Rocky Mountains, has Salt Lake City a very special draft horse. It has achieved global fame as the venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is known for its dust-dry powder snow, “The Greatest Snow on Earth”, which is the result of the unique climatic conditions. In the largest ski area in Utah, 13 meters of it fall every year. Guaranteed snow, great pistes, well-groomed pistes and a lively night scene are what characterize the Salt Lake City ski area the end.
Not far away is Park City, the second most popular name in the US state. With its Wild West charm, the old silver mining town of Park City is now one of the most visited winter sports resorts in Utah and the United States. The slopes in Park City are extremely diverse and varied, ranging from flat beginner slopes to mogul and powder slopes to steep devil rides.
Other well-known and attractive ski areas in Utah are Alta, Snowbasin, Sundance and Snowbird.
Cowboy flair and western ambience are not lacking in Wyoming, which markets itself with the appropriate slogan “Forever West”. With Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee, it has two aces up its sleeve, both of which are in the more than 4000 m high, majestic Teton Range Jackson Hole boasts one of the longest runs in North America and most of the extremely challenging slopes will challenge even experts.Here you’ll find the best off-helicopter powder skiing in North America.
In the west of the Tetons, in the Grand Targhee Ski Resort, an average of more than 12.6 meters of the finest powdered snow falls every year. Beautiful forest runs, countless runs for deep snow freaks and an unforgettable apres-ski scene make Wyoming extremely attractive.
The jewel state Idaho (nickname: The Gem State) in the north offers some of the most beautiful ski areas in North America, because Idaho is known for bone-dry powder and glamorous resorts. The traditional and exclusive Sun Valley has the most modern ski lifts, bright blue skies, sunny days en masse and 85 slopes.
Just 90 km from the famous Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky ski area is located in southwest Montana. Well-kept slopes, a great panorama, 145 km of slopes and hardly any other skiers with whom you have to share this dream in white are what make Big Sky what it is. Other popular ski resorts in Montana include Whitefish, Blacktail Mountain and Bridger Bowl.
In New Mexico, the last riparian state of the Rocky Mountains, lies Taos, one of America’s best-kept secrets. Small but fine – that’s how you might sum it up – with its cozy, relaxed atmosphere and lots of powder snow, it’s ideal for families and relaxed professionals. Here, the tradition of the Indian culture is combined with American modernity and makes a skiing holiday an unforgettable experience.
Other ski areas in New Mexico are Angel Fire, Red River, Ski Apache or Ski Santa Fe.
Most people associate sun, sand and sea with the Golden State of California. Because the spectacular mountain range of the Sierra Nevada in the east of the US state can score with 4000 m high peaks, it is home to the most attractive ski areas in North America, including Mammoth Mountain, which is one of the largest ski areas in North America with 150 runs. Another winter highlight is the deep blue Lake Tahoe, which California shares with Nevada, because nowhere else is the concentration of ski areas higher than here.
Due to the short distances to each other, you might theoretically try out a different ski area every day. If HeavenlySquaw Valley, Palisades Tahoe, Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl or Northstar – from everywhere the deep blue lake glitters in the background in the sun. The panorama is unsurpassed and the proximity to cosmopolitan cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego makes it more attractive than almost any other ski area in America.
Numerous other states have great ski areas. Mt. Hood Meadows, Timberline or Skibowl are located in the beautiful Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. Lake Placid, the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics in New York State, fascinates winter sports enthusiasts year following year, as does adventurous Alaska (Alyeska) or the Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont on the east coast.
Skiing in the United States is particularly attractive for European guests, as skiing is not as important to the population as it is in Central Europe. In plain language, this means deserted pistes, hardly any queues at the lifts, plenty of room for extensive turns and, due to the variety of terrain, endless opportunities for off-piste skiing and freeriding.
There are a few tour operators in Europe that specialize in skiing in the American mountains, but it’s also very easy to explore the snowy mountains on your own. Most of the ski areas are easy to get to, because not only is the network of international and national airports densely woven, but in the land of automobiles at least one highway leads to every remote area.