Brains
There are countless great skiing and snowboarding locations across the United States. Some counties, however, pull far above their weight when it comes to quality and quantity of snow, elevation, access to great inbounds and backcountry terrain, vibrant après scene, accessibility from major airports, and of course number of ski resorts. From coast to coast, we’ve compiled a list using the aforementioned qualities needed in a county to rank the top five best ski counties in the United States.
#5. Rutland County, VT
Located only about 70 miles from Vermont’s largest city Burlington, Rutland County is known for having the largest ski resort on the Eastern Seaboard. Killington Resort, known affectionately as the “Beast of the East,” has an astounding vertical drop of 3,050 feet and a combined area of 1,977 square acres with sister resort Pico Mountain. Killington’s longest run from Killington Peak to Skyeship Base (nicknamed “Killington Peak to Creek”) offers a vertical drop of 3,081 feet over a four-mile distance. Killington also boasts the longest ski season in the east, opening as early as October 1st and closing as late as June 22nd. Just a short distance from Rutland county, one can also find a plethora of other world class ski resorts such as Okemo Ski Resort, Sugarbush Resort, and Stratton Mountain Resort.
#4. Pitkin County, CO
Pitkin County is home to possibly the most famous Ski destination in the U.S. if not the world, Aspen, Colorado. Pitkin boasts an impressive 4 separate ski areas within its county limits; Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, Aspen Snowmass and its flagship Aspen Mountain. The four resorts combined boast an incredible 5,600 square acres of skiable area. Aspen also has a world renowned après scene, featuring award winning restaurants, quaint bars, and a lively arts scene. Aspen also has its own airport within its city limits, making access convenient year round. With a base elevation of around 8,000 feet, Pitkin County can hold snow well into the early summer months.
#3. Summit County, UT
When it comes to access to great skiing and snowboarding, few places can compete with Summit County, Utah. Sitting less then an hour from Salt Lake City and its international airport, Summit County is home to multiple mega resorts like Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort, and the Canyons. Park City and the Canyons merged in 2015, creating the largest ski resort in the United States. Park City Mountain Resort contains 7,300 skiable acres, 330+ trails, and 41 lifts. It boasts a base elevation of 6,800 feet and a summit elevation of 10,026 feet, resulting in a 3,226-foot vertical rise. Famed for Utah’s “Greatest snow on Earth,” the powder tends to be light and fluffy. This snow is a result of a unique combination of high elevation, semi-desert climate, and moisture from the nearby Great Salt Lake. The town of Park City is also a lively place to spend an evening, combining historic mining era buildings with sophisticated elegance.
#2. Placer County, CA
Located in the beautiful Lake Tahoe region, Placer County is endowed with amazing ski areas. Blessed with massive ski resorts like Palisades Tahoe and Northstar California Resort, along with local go-to’s such as Sugar Bowl and Boreal Mountain, Placer county pulls well above its weight in access to amazing skiing. An easy drive from major international airports in both Reno and Sacramento, Placer County often gets some of the most snow in the U.S., with Palisades Tahoe averaging 402 inches of snow annually with an average of 51 snowfall days. The largest in the region, Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows merged in 2012, giving skiers and riders over 6,000 acres of fresh Tahoe Powder at their disposal.
#1. Summit County, CO
Summit County, Colorado, sits in a league of its own when it comes to amazing skiing and riding. Sitting at an elevation of around 10,000 feet and topping out at over 14,000, Summit County is the ideal place for ski resorts to thrive. Sitting on the western side of the continental divide, Summit County is blessed with regular winter storms, dumping feet of high elevation light powder on its many resorts such as Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain and the busiest ski resort in the U.S., Breckenridge. Breckenridge Ski Resort has a base elevation of 9,600 feet, a summit elevation of 12,998 feet, and a vertical rise of 3,398 feet. It offers 2,908 acres of skiable terrain with 187 trails, including 600 acres of groomed runs and 1,061 acres of bowls. The resort has 34 chairlifts and 4 award-winning terrain parks. Due to its extremely high elevation (Breckenridge also boasts the highest elevation Chairlift in the U.S.) it is able to stay open well into the summer most years. The town of Breckenridge provides a great mix of historic frontier charm with all the amenities one would expect from a world class ski destination. Summit County is less then 2 hours from the Denver Metropolitan area, making it an ideal destination for those who value accessibility.
Any one of these Counties are amazing choices for both vacationers and serious skiers and riders alike. Their unique qualities make any one of them an ideal destination for the enthusiast, from the East Coast, to the Rockies, and finally all the way to California. When one does make the trip to one of these amazing skiing counties, just be prepared to start planning your next trip back. Once one experience’s the thrill of these amazing mountains, sometimes the local hill just wont cut it anymore.
