The Powder Alliance: The Hidden Gems of North America Unite

Katy Shipley | | Post Tag for Industry NewsIndustry News
Friends , Powder Alliance
Where to next? The Powder Alliance allows you to grab your friends and go. Visit some the hidden gems of North America and beyond. Image: Powder Alliance

The Powder Alliance is one of North America’s top multi-resort programs when it comes to variety.  If you love shredding your home mountain, but also love exploring new resorts, this pass add-on lets you have your cake and eat it too.  Purchase a top tier pass at any of the participating resorts and get three free days at the 19 other resorts.  No membership fees, collective prices or additional charges.  Just some sick terrain at your fingertips.  So where to next?

Powder Alliance Stats:

  • 20 Resorts
  • 188 Lifts
  • 1,356 Trails
  • 42,841 Vertical Feet
  • 35,648 Skiable Acres
  • 7,186″ Cumulative Annual Snowfall

With 20 participating resorts in 13 different states, the Powder Alliance offers endless exploration possibilities.  Not only does the Powder Alliance bring variety, it also comes with some of the best terrain in North America and beyond.  From the steeps of Steven’s Pass to cat skiing at Loveland, the Powder Alliance holds a list of hidden gems.  Don’t forget the almost non-existent lift lines at most of these resorts.

You can even travel to Canada, Japan, or Chile if you’re feeling extra adventurous. Other resorts lie in unexpected territories such as Idaho, New Mexico, and Arizona.   Wherever the snow hits, the Powder Alliance has a location waiting for you to explore.

Participating Powder Alliance Resorts:

Bridger Bowl, Montana

  • 350 inches of annual snowfall
  • 8 chair lifts that range from beginner chair to expert only (transceiver required) Schlasman’s lift to the summit.
  • 2,600 vertical feet covering 2,000 acres of terrain

Kiroro, Japan

  • 800 inches of annual snowfall
  • 1,200 acres of in-bound terrain with 21 runs
  • Backcountry terrain through three designated entry points

Ski Marmot Basin, AB Canada

  • 160 inches of annual snowfall
  • 1,720 acres of skiable terrain
  • 7 lifts, including the longest, high-speed quad in the Canadian Rockies
  • 3,000 vertical feet and a top to bottom run of more than 3.5 miles
Marmot Basin, Powder Alliance
Classic Canadian powder at Marmot Basin, CA. Image: Powder Alliance

Mt. Hood Skibowl, Oregon

  • The most night skiing terrain in North America with night-lit black diamond runs
  • Snow Tube and Adventure Park featuring a conveyor lift to groomed tube hills, Frosty’s Playland, mini z snowmobiles, and the worlds only Cosmic Tubing

SilverStar, BC, Canada

  • 275 inches of annual snowfall
  • 3,282 acres of skiable terrain
  • 132 marked runs

Timberline, Oregon

  • 3,690 ft. vertical
  • The 55,000 square-foot lodge is a National Historic Landmark and is still being used for its original intent today
  • Lies at the base of Mt. Hood and runs all 12 months of the year
Timberline, Powder Alliance
Timberline Lodge is an iconic ski area at the base of Mt. Hood. The lifts turn 12 months out of the year. Image: Powder Alliance

Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona

  • Over 260 inches of annual snowfall, and the largest beginner terrain in the Southwest
  • Perfect corduroy on bluebird days, untracked powder in the upper bowl, drinks on the desk of Agassiz Lodge, and epic views of the Grand Canyon

Castle Mountain Resort, AB Canada

  • 300 inches of annual snowfall
  • 3,592 skiable acres with 2,833ft of vertical
  • Known for the best continuous fall-line in Canada with lots of steeps, glades, mini moguls, chutes, and cliff bands

La Parva, Chile

  • 250 inches of snowfall annually
  • 15 lifts, 48 trails, 3,021 ft. of vertical
  • The season extends from June to September making it the perfect way to keep the winter going
La Parva, Chile hangs on the edge of the mountainside. Extend your ski season into the summer in the southern hemisphere. Image: La Parva

Monarch Mountain, Colorado

  • 350 inches of annual snowfall
  • A Colorado favorite tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Colorado’s mega-resorts

Schweitzer, Idaho

  • 2900 skiable acres
  • Located in the rugged Selkirk Mountains, it is known for its massive bowls and renowned gladed terrain

Stevens Pass, Washington

  • 460 inches of annual snowfall
  • 1,125 skiable acres
  • 38 major runs and numerous bowls, glades and faces
Stevens Pass, Powder Alliance
Stevens Pass offers some the steepest and deepest terrain in Washington. Image: Powder Alliance

Whitewater, BC, Canada

  • 500 inches of light, dry, dependable Canadian powder
  • 1,184 skiable acres
  • Known for its small crowds and big hospitality

Bogus Basin, Idaho

  • 2,600 skiable acres
  • Home to Idaho’s first and only mountain coaster
  • Terrific terrain parks and night riding 7 nights a week
  • 1,800 vertical feet, 3 high-speed quads, 10 lifts in all, plus another 23 miles of Nordic terrain

China Peak, California

  • 325 inches of annual snowfall
  • 1,700 vertical and 1,400 acres of terrain with a variety to suit all levels, with the longest run 2.5 miles
Colorado locals love Loveland, and with good reason. This gem gets you away from the mega resorts that inhabit the Colorado region. Image: Loveland

Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

  • 400 inches of annual snowfall
  • A local’s favorite for more than 80 years
  • 10 lifts serving 1,800 acres of high alpine terrain that tops out at 13,010’
  • Free snowcat skiing along the Continental Divide. The Ridge Cat provides cat access to some of Loveland’s most exhilarating terrain and is free to members of the Powder Alliance with a valid lift ticket

Mountain High, California

  • Southern California’s closest winter resort located just an hour and a half from Los Angeles and Orange County
  • Three separate mountains (Mountain High East, West, and North), and offers a wide variety of lifts and trails, a world-class terrain park, an outstanding Winter Sports School, and the region’s largest tubing area
  • Night skiing & snowboarding is available most nights and snowmaking covers more than 80% of the slopes

Sierra-at-Tahoe, California

  • 400 inches of annual snowfall
  • A local favorite in the Lake Tahoe region
Sierra-at-Tahoe is a Lake Tahoe favorite. With big mountain terrain paired with pristine parks, this place is the full shebang. Image: Sierra-at-Tahoe

Sugar Bowl Resort, California

  • 500 inches of annual snowfall
  • 12 lifts with 1,650 acres of lift-served terrain
  • Known for its short lift lines and uncrowded slopes with the most annual snowfall in the area

Angel Fire Resort, New Mexico

  • 8,600-foot elevation with views of Mt. Wheeler, at 13,161 feet, the tallest peak in New Mexico
  • One of the most family-friendly resorts in the Rockies
Sugar Bowl, Powder Alliance
Sugar Bowl, CA lies on the historical Donner Summit. They live true to their motto “More Snow. Less Crowds.” Image: Sugar Bowl

Connect the dots and plan your dream road trip this winter.  The Powder Alliance is a dream come true for those who pack the car and hit the road when the storm warnings hit the news.  Many of the participating resorts are local favorites that boast big terrain and uncrowded slopes.  With 188 lifts and almost 43,000 vertical ft., the Powder Alliance offers a great multi-resort alternative to the Ikon or Epic Pass.


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