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Best snow destinations in North America

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Whistler
Alpine Adventure, Epic Views, Year-Round Fun
8.8
Skiers ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for 2.7 miles between the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The two mountains have more than 8,000 acres of terrain and about 450 inches of snow, while the car free village at the base is lit for evening strolls.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike to Garibaldi Lake’s turquoise waters
  • 🚠 Ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for alpine views
  • 🎿 Ski or snowboard the legendary Whistler Blackcomb slopes
Park City (Utah)
Where Olympic dreams meet culture
8.2
Like a mining camp that kept its main street, the old silver town has 19th century buildings along Main Street and more than 7,000 acres of skiing on Park City Mountain. Utah Olympic Park, built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, has bobsled rides open to visitors and ski jumps still used for training.
Highlights:
  • 🎢 Ride the thrilling Alpine Coaster at Park City Mountain
  • 🏘️ Stroll Historic Main Street’s shops, galleries, and cafes
  • 🎿 Ski or snowboard at Deer Valley Resort, world-class slopes
Killington
Snowy slopes and cozy alpine charm
8.5
The hum of snow guns on cold October nights is the sound of an early start, since the ski area often opens before most others in the East. Skiers get seven mountains and more than 150 trails in the Green Mountains of Vermont with the season often running into May.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Enjoy a sunset hike to the top of Mount Mansfield
  • 🏘️ Stroll through historic Killington Village shops
  • ⛷️ Explore scenic Mount Snow ski slopes
Sun Valley
Alpine charm meets world‑class downhill thrills
8.8
The air is cold and dry and the sun is bright on most winter days on Bald Mountain in central Idaho, where runs drop 3,400 feet from the top. The resort was built in 1936 by the Union Pacific Railroad and had the first chairlifts in the world.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Enjoy sunset over the Sawtooth Mountains from Brundage Peak
  • 🥾 Hike the scenic trails of White River Canyon
  • ⛷️ Explore Sun Valley ski slopes during winter season
Banff National Park
Majestic Peaks and Turquoise Lakes
9.2
Powder squeaks under ski boots in the cold dry air of the Canadian Rockies while steam rises from the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Three ski areas, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Mount Norquay, are inside the park and Sunshine Village often has snow into May while elk wander the valley roads.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Explore the scenic Johnston Canyon waterfalls trail
  • 🏞️ Hike to Lake Louise and admire turquoise waters
  • 🚡 Ride the Banff Gondola for spectacular mountain views
Jasper National Park
Untamed Wilderness and Starry Skies
8.8
In winter Maligne Canyon, a narrow limestone gorge, has frozen waterfalls that guided walkers reach on ice cleats along the canyon floor. Skiers go to Marmot Basin for runs with views of the Rockies while the Dark Sky Preserve overhead has clear nights for stargazing and sometimes the northern lights.
Highlights:
  • 🧊 Walk on the Athabasca Glacier with a guided tour
  • 🐻 Spot elk, moose, and bears along Icefields Parkway
  • 🛶 Cruise Maligne Lake and marvel at Spirit Island
Lake Louise
Turquoise Gem of the Canadian Rockies
8.9
Across the valley from a frozen lake, the ski area has about 4,200 acres of terrain in the Canadian Rockies, including the Back Bowls, wide open slopes with deep powder. At the lake below, skaters circle a cleared rink under Victoria Glacier while ice carvers shape sculptures during the Ice Magic Festival in January.
Highlights:
  • 🚡 Ride the Lake Louise Gondola for panoramic alpine scenery
  • 🥾 Hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House for stunning mountain views
  • 🛶 Canoe on the iconic turquoise waters of Lake Louise
Vail
Alpine Adventure with Luxe Charm
8.3
Après ski, the social hour after the lifts close, is a daily ritual in this Tyrolean style village built in 1962 where skiers gather for hot drinks and live music. The Back Bowls, seven wide open bowls with about 3,000 acres of terrain, have light powder on the days after a storm.
Highlights:
  • 🚡 Ride the scenic Vail Gondola for panoramic views
  • 🌺 Stroll through the colorful Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
  • ⛷️ Ski or snowboard on Vail’s renowned mountain slopes
Revelstoke
Big Mountain Adventure, Small Town Soul
8.0
Railway workers built the town along the Columbia River in the 1880s and a resort opened on Mount Mackenzie in 2007 with 5,620 feet of vertical drop. Snow is deep in the surrounding Selkirk Mountains each winter and many skiers join cat or heli trips into the backcountry.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike the alpine trails in Mount Revelstoke National Park
  • 🚠 Ride the gondola for sweeping Columbia Valley views
  • 🎿 Ski deep powder slopes at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Aspen
Rocky Mountain Glam Meets Outdoor Thrills
8.8
A silver mining camp in the 1880s became a ski town after a chairlift opened on Aspen Mountain in 1946. Four mountains close together in the Colorado Rockies, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass, have runs for every level of skier and plenty of dry powder.
Highlights:
  • 🗻 Explore the scenic Maroon Bells and capture the perfect photo
  • 🚡 Ride the Silver Queen Gondola for breathtaking alpine views
  • 🎿 Ski or snowboard the iconic Aspen Mountain slopes
Vermont
Green Mountains, Maple Syrup, Pure Charm
8.4
Like a holiday card come to life, the Green Mountains have red barns, covered bridges and white steepled churches in the snow. Jay Peak near the Canadian border has about 350 inches of snow in an average winter, so it is one of the snowiest ski areas in the East.
Highlights:
  • 🎿 Ski the snowy slopes of Stowe Mountain Resort
  • 🍦 Tour the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory
  • 🍂 Admire fall foliage on Vermont’s scenic byways
Breckenridge (Colorado)
Historic Mining Town Meets Ski Paradise
8.3
Each January teams from around the world carve huge blocks of snow into sculptures at the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Skiers ride the Imperial lift to 12,840 feet on Peak 8 for views of the Tenmile Range while the Victorian buildings of Main Street are a short free gondola ride away.
Highlights:
  • 🚠 Ride the BreckConnect Gondola for stunning mountain views
  • 🏘️ Stroll through historic Main Street and visit local boutiques
  • 🎿 Ski the world-class slopes at Breckenridge Ski Resort
Keystone (Colorado)
Rocky Mountain skiing paradise
7.1
Opened in 1970 in the Colorado Rockies, the ski area has three mountains, Dercum Mountain, North Peak and The Outback, plus lit runs for night skiing on Dercum. Families like the wide groomed trails and the pedestrian village at the base, where ice skating on Keystone Lake is a short walk away.
Highlights:
  • ⛸️ Ice skate under the stars at Dercum Square rink
  • 🚠 Ride the gondola for sunset views over the Rockies
  • ⛷️ Ski down the snowy slopes of Keystone Resort
Mammoth Lakes
Alpine Paradise in Eastern Sierra
8.1
Ski season on Mammoth Mountain often runs from November into June and in big snow years some runs are open on the Fourth of July. The mountain is part of a volcano in the Sierra Nevada with about 400 inches of snow in an average winter.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax in the natural Hot Creek geothermal springs
  • 🪨 Hike to Devils Postpile National Monument
  • 🎿 Ski the famous slopes of Mammoth Mountain
Telluride
Breathtaking box canyon mountain paradise
8.2
The old mining town is at the end of a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado with peaks above 13,000 feet on three sides. Skiers ride a free gondola between town and Mountain Village while Black Iron Bowl and the Gold Hill chutes have steep runs for experts.
Highlights:
  • 🎬 Attend the Telluride Film Festival in late summer
  • 🚡 Ride the free gondola for sweeping mountain views
  • 🎿 Ski world-class slopes at Telluride Ski Resort
Jackson Hole
Majestic cliffs frame serene river valleys
7.9
Teton Village lies about 12 miles northwest of Jackson in the Teton Range. The resort there has 4,139 feet of vertical drop and about 459 inches of snow a year. Corbet's Couloir is a famously steep run. A 100-passenger tram carries skiers up the mountain.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Visit the Jackson County Museum of Art
  • 🚶‍♂️ Stroll along the Illinois River Trail
  • 🏪 Explore historic downtown Jackson’s antique shops
Big White
Powder paradise with ski-in/ski-out village
7.1
In the Monashee Mountains above Kelowna in interior British Columbia about 24 feet of light powder falls each winter. Skiers pass through forests of snow ghosts, trees packed with frost and snow. The village at the base is ski in and ski out so no car is needed.
Highlights:
  • 🌙 Go night skiing under the starlit mountain sky
  • 🚡 Ride the Bullet Express and enjoy sweeping alpine views
  • 🎿 Ski or snowboard the powdery slopes of Big White Resort
Copper Mountain
The Athlete's Mountain with natural terrain
7.0
Like a well sorted bookshelf, the runs here are grouped by skill, with beginner trails on one side, intermediate runs in the middle and expert terrain on the other. The base is right beside Interstate 70 about 75 miles west of Denver, so it is an easy drive for a day of skiing.
Highlights:
  • ❄️ Try tubing on Copper Mountain's snowy banked hill
  • 🎢 Ride the Rocky Mountain Coaster for a thrilling descent
  • 🎿 Ski diverse terrain on Copper Mountain's well-designed slopes
Colorado
Rocky mountains and red rocks
9.2
Locals call the morning after a big storm a powder day and plan work and school around it, so the lift lines form early at ski areas from Steamboat to Wolf Creek. Wolf Creek in the south has about 430 inches of snow a year, the most in the state.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Drive along the scenic Trail Ridge Road
  • 🎿 Ski the world-class slopes of Aspen or Vail
  • 🏞️ Hike through Rocky Mountain National Park’s alpine trails
New Hampshire
Mountains, lakes and coastal charm
8.3
Locals spend winter weekends ice fishing from small shacks called bobhouses on Lake Winnipesaukee while skiers head to Cannon Mountain, Loon Mountain and Wildcat in the White Mountains. Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet, is known for fierce winter winds and deep snow that lasts well into spring.
Highlights:
  • ⛷️ Ski the snow-covered slopes of Bretton Woods
  • 🏔️ Climb Mount Washington and experience powerful summit winds
  • 🍁 Drive the scenic Kancamagus Highway through fall foliage
Alaska
Land of superlatives and adventure
8.9
Alyeska Resort in Girdwood has about 650 inches of snow in an average winter and its slopes look out over Turnagain Arm, an inlet near Anchorage. Heli skiers fly into the Chugach Mountains near Valdez while the northern lights often glow over the snow on clear nights.
Highlights:
  • 🐻 See wild bears fishing for salmon in Katmai
  • 🛳️ Cruise through glacier-filled waters in Glacier Bay National Park
  • 🌌 Watch the northern lights dance above Fairbanks
Utah
Nature's dramatic red rock playground
8.2
Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and many ski areas in the Wasatch Mountains are close by. Alta averages about 545 inches of snow a year. It is also one of only three U.S. resorts that ban snowboarders. Only skiers share its slopes.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Drive the scenic Capitol Reef National Park Scenic Drive
  • 🧡 Explore the colorful hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park
  • 🧗‍♂️ Hike the iconic Angels Landing trail in Zion National Park
Quebec City
Old World Charm in North America
7.4
Bonhomme Carnaval is a snowman in a red hat and arrowed sash who greets crowds at the Carnaval de Québec. The event became annual in 1955 and has drawn up to one million people. An ice palace hosts the opening and closing ceremonies. It is a big draw for this city.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Walk along Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk with river views
  • 🏰 Admire Château Frontenac’s iconic castle-like architecture
  • 🚶‍♂️ Stroll through historic Old Quebec’s charming streets
Yellowstone National Park
Geysers, wildlife and untamed wilderness
8.8
Steam from geysers drifts over deep snow when guided snow coaches and snowmobiles enter the park. Yellowstone was established in 1872 and covers about 2.2 million acres. Old Faithful erupts about every 90 minutes and is one of the most popular geysers in this national park.
Highlights:
  • 🐃 Spot bison, elk, and bears roaming in Lamar Valley
  • 🌈 Walk the boardwalks of the Grand Prismatic Spring and admire its vivid colors
  • 🌋 Watch Old Faithful erupt and feel the geothermal power of Yellowstone
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