For Families: Beaver Creek Resort, Beaver Creek, CO
For Couples: Park City Mountain Resort, Park City, UT
For Mixed Groups: Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Mammoth Lakes, CA
For a Party: Vail Ski Resort, Vail, CO
For the True Ski Town Experience: Telluride Ski Resort, Telluride, CO
For Stylish Skiers: Aspen Snowmass, Aspen, CO
For Shredders Who Love to Après: Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows, Olympic Valley, CO
Admire the rising sun as you schuss down just-groomed runs at Squaw Valley, which in addition to its world-class skiing, also runs one of the most eco-friendly ski operations in the country, leading the pack on everything from plastic to clean energy. The resort’s après scene epitomizes the joys of ski culture with rowdy parties (the neon-fueled New Year’s Retro Après Ski Party and the Pain McSchlonkey Classic costumed downhill race are two not to miss), fun bars (the Chamois, Slot Bar, the new Tram Bar), and high-elevation hot tub action at High Camp.
For Nostalgic Skiers: Sun Valley Resort, Sun Valley, ID
For a Value: Schweitzer Mountain, Sandpoint, ID
The numbers at Schweitzer speak for themselves: 2,900 skiable acres; 300+ inches of average annual snowfall; three terrain parks; 92 runs, including a 2.1-mile continuous groomer; 20 miles of nordic trails; and the state’s only high-speed six-person lift. Views from the top include three mountain ranges, three states, Canada, and 65-mile-long Lake Pend Oreille. Not only that, lift lines are nearly nonexistent, and a ticket will set you back just $79. Nonskiers will love the free movies, guided snowshoe hikes, and on-mountain wine tastings at Gourmandie.
For Living Large: Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler, BC
Fresh Tracks, Whistler’s early-bird program, lets you ski the powder an hour before anyone else hits the slopes. Last year the resort invested $52 million into new, faster lifts and a new gondola, giving you even more time to properly tackle North America’s largest ski resort. Here, two hours from Vancouver, 8,171 acres of inbound skiing offer virtually every type of terrain. The sprawling pedestrian village is as varied as the slopes with all forms of dining and partying—from family-friendly hot cocoa and ice skating apres options to posh sushi joints to late-night dancing at Garfinkle’s.
For Pure Skiing: Alta Ski Area, Alta, UT
Almighty Alta has just seven lifts (and not much else) spread across 2,200 acres of heart-pumping hikes and narrow chutes, chest-deep powder, and total lack of pretension. It's a resolutely uncorporate resort, where five no-frills lodges sleep 1,200 skiers, tops. Locals and long-time fans treasure that enduring, simple vibe. The tide seems to be turning with the re-opening of Snowpine Lodge in early 2019. After a $50 million update, the building that has been Alta’s general store and a public shelter, now stands as the mountains first luxury hotel. Still, locals and resort staff say Alta’s gritty, ski-only soul isn’t going anywhere.
For Serious Shredders: Taos Ski Valley, Taos, NM
The family-owned Taos Ski Valley resort’s remote location keeps skier visits to a quarter of what Colorado’s Vail gets, yet the secret on this expert-haven is quickly getting out thanks to major upgrades since new owners took over in 2013. Sure, the European-inspired village is charming, and The Blake—with its stunning art collection and LEED certification—is one of the best new ski hotels in the industry. And yes, Taos is the only ski resort honored as a B Corp for its responsible practices toward its employees and the environment. Yet, for powder hounds, the highlight is the terrain. With its location at 9,000 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos touts some of the most challenging terrain in the region. Kachina Peak is the resort’s crown jewel with steep bowls, chutes, and big cliffs. But West Basin Ridge, Highline Ridge, and Al’s Run also get plenty of buzz from those in-the-know. And with increased snowmaking this year and the resort’s snow farming program, good snow is practically guaranteed.
Food Food Lovers: Sun Peaks, Sun Peaks, B.C.
For Epic Views: Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe, CA
Views, views, views of Lake Tahoe’s hallowed blue waters are what Heavenly is known for. Well, that, and some of the best terrain in the Sierra. This sprawling South Lake resort counts with 29 lifts and about 100 trails, from green-circle groomers to epic experts-only chutes. Ridge Run probably has the best, widest view of the lake. For non-skiers, the new UTV (utility-task vehicle) tours across the Blue Sky Terrace offer a different vantage point.
For White-Glove Schussing: Deer Valley Resort, Park City, UT
For Big Snow: Big White Ski Resort, Kelowna, B.C.
Young families and ski groups whoop it up at this Monashee Mountains resort that lacks the intimidation factor of Whistler—both in vertical drop and social scene. Ski amid Big White's famed “snow ghosts”—sculptural, snow-clad trees located at higher elevations on the mountain.
For Solitude: Solitude Mountain Resort, Solitude, UT
Solitude has unbelievably fast lifts with hardly any lines, so you can get in more runs. There are lift-served off-piste areas, groomed Nordic trails, and lengthy laps. Blessed with the Champagne powder that makes other Cottonwood resorts like Snowbird so coveted, Solitude gets an average 500 inches of powder a year, and it’s interconnected with Brighton, which gives you access to another 1,050 acres. It hardly makes any sense that this resort still manages to fly under-the-radar.