Top 15 Resorts With the Best Chance of Catching a Powder Day in North America

Brent Thomas | | Post Tag for BrainsBrains
most powder days
Where in North America will you most likely experience a day like this? Credit: @louisarevalo

Letโ€™s be real: for many serious skiers and snowboarders, the sport is all about riding powder.ย Whenever the conditions are lining up with a winter weather advisory, itโ€™s time to call in sick or do whatever you can to make it to the mountain.

Powder days are sacred and should not be wasted.ย The definition of a powder day is when the snowfall adds up to an adequate amount to stir joy in the hearts of snow enthusiasts. For the sake of this article, we will consider six-plus inches of snow on any given day qualifies as a powder day.

But what ski resorts in North America offer the most consistent number of powder days? Below, we will give the top 15 resorts for scoring the most predictable deep days. The list is not the resorts that receive the most snow over a season but the ones that deliver the most frequent number of days with six inches of new snow or more.

The Data

The numbers come from ZRankings snow rankings data, which shows the average percentage of days between December and March when the resort sees more than six inches of snow.ย 

#15 Snoqualmie, WA – 17.4%

most powder days
Powder skiing at the Summit at Snoqualmie. Credit: The Summit at Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie experiences a high number of powder days thanks to its location in Washingtonโ€™s Cascade Range, where moist air from the Pacific Ocean collides with cold mountain temperatures, producing frequent and heavy snowfall. Although at a relatively low elevation compared to other ski areas, it receives consistent precipitation, often delivering fresh snow throughout winter.

#14 Snowbird, UT – 18.0%

most powder days
Face shots at Snowbird. Credit: Snowbird

Snowbird benefits from its location in Utah’s Wasatch Range, which is perfectly positioned to capture abundant snowfall from storms fueled by the Great Salt Lake’s “lake effect.” Combined with its high elevation and favorable terrain, Snowbird enjoys frequent powder days with light, fluffy snow

#13 Mount Hood Meadows, OR – 18.2%

deep powder at Mt. Hood most powder days
Deep powder at Mount Hood Meadows. Credit: Mount Hood Meadows

Thanks to its location in the Pacific Northwest, where consistent winter storms bring abundant snowfall, Mount Hood Meadows experiences numerous powder days. The mountain’s higher elevation on Mount Hood and proximity to moisture-laden weather systems ensure regular dumps of fresh snow.

#11 Sugar Bowl, CA & Lookout Pass, ID – 18.8%

Sugar Bowl Powder Skiing
Frequent smiles at Sugar Bowl. Credit: Sugar Bowl Resort

These two resorts enjoy numerous powder days thanks to their strategic locations that capture abundant snowfall from consistent winter storm patterns. Sugar Bowl benefits from its proximity to the Sierra Nevada crest, which enhances orographic lift, while Lookout Pass sits at a high mountain pass, perfectly positioned to receive heavy snow from Pacific moisture systems.

#9 Stevens Pass, WA & Grand Targhee, WY – 18.9%

Not every powder day is like this. Credit: Grand Targhee

Both of these resorts also enjoy frequent powder days due to their geographic locations and weather patterns that favor consistent snowfall. Stevens Pass benefits from moist Pacific storms that bring heavy snow to the Cascade Range, while Grand Targhee’s position on the western slope of the Tetons captures abundant snowfall from storms moving eastward, often depositing light, fluffy powder.

#8 Timberline, OR – 19.0%

timberline lodge, Oregon
Historic Timberline Lodge on a powder day. Credit: Timberline

Timberline is another Pacific Northwest resort that benefits from moisture-laden Pacific storms. All those powder days add up as the resort boasts the longest season in North America, often staying open into August for skiing and riding on the Palmer Snowfield.

#7 Brighton, UT – 19.3%

Powder and sun at Brighton. Credit: Brighton Resort

Brighton experiences numerous powder days due to its prime location in the Wasatch Mountains, where moist air from the Pacific Ocean rises and cools, resulting in heavy snowfall. The resort’s high elevation up Big Cottonwood Canyon helps to amplify the snowfall, creating consistent, light, and fluffy powder to enjoy.

#5 Shames Mountain, BC & Powder King, BC – 20.0%

Enjoying a powder day at Shames Mountain. Credit: Leslie Anthony

Shames Mountain and Powder King in British Columbia benefit from their location in the coastal and northern interior regions, which are exposed to frequent Pacific storm systems that deliver abundant snowfall. Additionally, their colder temperatures at higher elevations help preserve the snow in light, powdery conditions, making these areas famous for consistent powder days.

#4 Kirkwood, CA – 20.1%

Beautiful turns at Kirkwood. Credit: Kirkwood Resort

Kirkwood benefits from its location in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where it sits at a high elevation and is directly in the path of heavy storms. These factors combine to deliver heavy snowfall with frequent powder days, often enhanced by the resort’s colder temperatures that preserve the snow in excellent condition.

#3 Alta, UT – 20.2%

Classic Alta powder day. Credit: Alta Ski Area

Many consider Alta to be the top powder destination anywhere, but not on this list. It is still renowned for its abundance of powder days and has the highest quality snow in North America and maybe the world.

#2 Alyeska, AK – 20.4%

most powder days
Enjoying the storm cycle at Alyeska. Credit: Alyeska Resort
Alyeska benefits from its proximity to the Gulf of Alaska, where frequent storms bring consistent snowfall throughout the winter. The combination of coastal weather systems and cold mountain temperatures creates an ideal environment for abundant powder days.

#1 Mount Baker, WA – 26.8%

mt baker, average snowfall, most powder days
Snorkels required. Credit: Mount Baker Ski Area

Baker is renowned for its abundant powder days due to its unique location in the Pacific Northwest. It is close to the coast in a position that funnels storms directly to the area where they collide with the Cascade Mountain Range, resulting in heavy snowfall. It also holds the record for the most snowfall ever recorded on Earth.

For skiers and snowboarders, powder days are the ultimate experience, and these ski areas consistently deliver some of the best. From Mount Bakerโ€™s record-breaking snowfall to Altaโ€™s perfect mix of light and dry powder, these destinations are paradise for powder hounds. Each resortโ€™s unique geography and weather patterns create conditions that keep the snow falling and the stoke levels high. So, whether youโ€™re chasing fresh tracks or love living vicariously through others, these mountains offer unforgettable powder-filled adventures.

Stevens pass, pnw, Washington
Friends on a powder day? Credit: Stevens Pass Mountain Resort

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One thought on “Top 15 Resorts With the Best Chance of Catching a Powder Day in North America

  1. The Greatest Snow on Earth until 10:30 in the morning. Another factor that weighs in the pursuit of powder is how many people are trampling it.

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