Ski Areas in USA

There are a few states across North America where it’s possible to jump on the hill and hit the powder. Perhaps the two most popular are Colorado and California.

Skiing in Colorado, USA

The majority of the “Blue Riband” high altitude ski destinations in the United States are in and around Colorado. All served by the airport in Denver, most resorts are within a couple of hours drive. Colorado ski resorts include Breckenride, Vail, Aspen and Winter Park

Breckenridge Ski Resort

The slopes in Breckenridge suit groups of all abilities very nicely and offer as snow sure a resort as is possible to find. Incredibly high altitude, the resort itself is at 2925m and the highest peak is at 3915m. After the skiing, the town centre offers plenty of bars and restaurants but overdoing the booze at 2925m may not be the wisest way to enjoy your holiday.

Nearest Airport: Denver Airport (approx. 2 hours 15 mins transfer).

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Vail Ski Resort

Another high altitude resort that caters for intermediates and experts very well. The ski resort is huge by American standards, with over 5000 acres of skiable terrain, huge bowls and great tree skiing too. If you cannot find something to suit your skiing tastes here, then you should give up skiing and take up an indoors hobby instead! The resort itself is something of an oddity, built in an attempt to mimic a Tirolean village, they have not quite carried it off but it remains a decent size and offers plenty of bars and restaurants. One caveat is it tends to be a little busier than most US resorts and the town itself is starting to sprawl, so making sure you are aware of your accommodations’ location is incredibly important.

Nearest Airports: Eagle Airport (approx. 45 mins transfer), Denver Airport (approx. 2.5 hours transfer)

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Aspen Ski Resort

Has a similar reputation to that of Courchevel 1850 in Europe. Many regard it as the resort for the rich and famous, with prices to suit the clientele. Whilst this is true to a certain degree, the resort IS expensive; but there is a very good reason why people flock to Aspen. The skiing is arguably the best in the country. Vast area, 5300 acres of skiable terrain, suiting every level including beginners to the most experienced yet still remains relatively quiet! The resort itself is a town in its own right and was originally built as a mining town, with over 100 restaurants and bars and nightspots to suit every taste and most budgets, it’s hard to find a reason not to go!

Nearest Airports: Aspen Airport (approx. 15 mins transfer), Denver Airport (approx. 4.5 hours transfer).

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Winter Park Ski Resort

Winter Park is the third largest resort in Colorado after Vail & Aspen with the highest average snowfall of these resorts. It is the closest main ski resort to Denver (so can get crowded at weekends), but offers extensive skiable terrain (made up of 3 mountains over 2,700 acres) and plenty of off-piste for experts. The highest lift reaches 3,675 metres and the resort slopes offer great skiing for skiers of all abilities, but the town itself is quiet in the evening and is a bus ride to the slopes, which some may find frustrating.

Nearest Airport: Denver Airport (approx. 1.5 hours transfer).

Skiing in California, USA

Sun, sea, sand and surfing right? Well yes but also some of America’s top ski resorts are set high in the Sierra Nevada towering above the beautiful Lake Tahoe. The major destination resorts include Heavenly and Squaw Valley.

Heavenly Ski Resort

The highest and biggest resort around Lake Tahoe has been likened to a European ski resort with its gondola from downtown in the purpose built pedestrianised village to the mountain side. It is also the liveliest of the Californian ski resorts with a big nightlife scene making that European tradition of aprés ski all the more possible. The fair sized mountain offers some serious challenges for experts, spacious intermediate tree lined runs and a fair range of blues for the cruising skier or boarder.

Nearest Airports: San Francisco Airport (approx. 3.5 hours transfer) or Reno Airport (approx. 1 hour 15 mins transfer).

Squaw Valley Ski Resort

The village at Squaw Valley has been built from scratch at the base of the main lift systems. It has been brilliantly designed to ensure easy access to the lifts, restaurants and bars. Once up the hill, the 9 peaks of Squaw Valley offer lots of terrain by US standards but aren’t great for the mile hungry and adventurous skiers who would benefit more from hiring a guide. The superb beginner slopes, probably make Squaw Valley more appealing to the family market.

Nearest Airports: San Francisco Airport (approx. 4 hours transfer) or Reno Airport (approx. 1.5 hours transfer).

Ski Holidays in USA

The relatively deserted slopes, short lift queues, excellent piste management and all round high standards of service more than make up for the draw backs of a long-haul flight.

This coupled with the fact that many of the North American resorts are so close to each other and share lift passes means that those who are prepared to make the effort will be far from bored. It’s the service itself that set the States apart from closer destinations. Queues are managed properly and the ski area itself is looked after to a much higher degree than in Europe. Those that ski the US, tend to keep skiing there, that is as much as a rubber stamp as we can give!