Letโs 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, itโs 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%
Snoqualmie experiences a high number of powder days thanks to its location in Washingtonโs 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%
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%
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%
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%
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 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%
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%
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%
#3 Alta, UT – 20.2%
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%
#1 Mount Baker, WA – 26.8%
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.
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.