1. Titlis, Obwalden, Switzerland
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, June-Aug, Dec
Cost: $$
- Titlis is a mountain of the Uri Alps, and it stands at 3,238 metres (10,623 ft) above sea level
- It is famous as the site of the world's first rotating cable car
- The last part of cable car leads above the glacier
- The Titlis Cliff Walk, the highest elevation suspension bridge in Europe, opened in December 2012, giving views across the Alps
Featured in The Best of Switzerland
2. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
Best time to visit: Jan-March, June-Aug, Dec
Cost: $$$
- Ski resort located in Whistler, that is by many measures the largest ski resort in North America, and has the greatest uphill lift capacity
- It features the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for moving between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains at the top
- With all of this capacity, Whistler Blackcomb is also often the busiest ski resort
- Whistler Blackcomb was the centrepiece of a renewed bid on the part of nearby Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which they won
Featured in The Best of British Columbia
3. Big White Ski Resort, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort located southeast of Kelowna, it is the third largest resort in British Columbia, after Whistler-Blackcomb and Sun Peaks
- Big White has western Canada's largest resort night skiing area
- The resort has a central village which offers accommodations, eateries, bars, and shops
Featured in The Best of British Columbia
4. Sun Peaks Resort, British Columbia, Canada
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Alpine ski resort located in Sun Peaks, that has 13 lifts with a total capacity of 13,400 riders per hour, with the Burfield chair being the longest at 23 minutes total ride
Featured in The Best of British Columbia
5. Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta, Canada
Best time to visit: Jan-March, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort located in Banff National Park, near the village of Lake Louise, and it is one of three major ski resorts within Banff National Park
- Lake Louise has been a home to skiing since the 1920s
- The 145 marked ski runs and back bowls on four mountain faces are 25% beginner, 45% intermediate and 30% advanced
Featured in The Best of Alberta
6. Schweitzer, Sandpoint, Idaho, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Schweitzer is a ski resort that overlooks Lake Pend Oreille, approximately 45 miles (70 km) south of the Canada–US border
- There are 92 named runs and open bowls on Schweitzer's skiable area, served by 10 lifts
Featured in The Best of Idaho
#21 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
7. Bogus Basin, Boise, Idaho, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $
- Ski area in Boise, operated by a non-profit organization
- The area also has cross-country skiing on 23 miles (37 km) of Nordic trails
Featured in The Best of Idaho
#23 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
8. Ober Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Sept-Oct, Dec
Cost: $
- Ski area and amusement park located in Gatlinburg, established in 1962
- The area also contains a large mall with indoor amusements, an indoor ice skating rink, snack bars, and stores
- An aerial tram connects Ober Mountain to downtown Gatlinburg, which is about 3 miles east
Featured in The Best of Tennessee
#20 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
9. Timberline Lodge, Government Camp, Oregon, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$$
- Ski and snowboarding area of Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark
- It is one of a few ski areas in the United States with most of the skiable terrain below the main lodge
- It is located on the south face of Mount Hood
Featured in The Best of Oregon
#18 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
10. Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Bend, Oregon, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort located in Central Oregon, on the northern side of Mount Bachelor, a stratovolcano rising atop a volcanic shield in the Cascade Range
- It is the largest ski resort (by area) by more than 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) in Oregon
- Mount Bachelor offers one of the nation's longest ski seasons, mid-November through the end of May (weather permitting)
Featured in The Best of Oregon
#19 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
11. Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-April, Nov-Dec
Cost: $$$
- Alpine ski resort is in Breckenridge, which is recognized for acres of skiable terrain across five mountain peaks, where it welcomes thousands of skiers and snowboarders each season
- Just west of the Continental Divide, it is perennially one of the most visited ski resorts in the western hemisphere
Featured in The Best of Colorado
#17 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
12. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort at Teton Village, in the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains
- It is named after the historically significant Jackson Hole valley and is known for its steep terrain and large continuous vertical drop of 4,139 ft (1,262 m)
Featured in The Best of Wyoming
#16 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
13. Big Sky Resort, Montana, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb
Cost: $
- Ski resort located in Madison County, it is the second-largest ski resort in the United States by acreage
- Opened in late 1973, Big Sky Resort has more than 5,800 acres (9.1 sq mi; 23.5 km2) of terrain and a vertical drop of 4,350 feet (1,330 m)
Featured in The Best of Montana
#13 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
14. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb
Cost: $$
- Ski resort located at Big Mountain, in the Flathead National Forest, four miles (6 km) from the town of Whitefish
Featured in The Best of Montana
#14 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
15. Bridger Bowl Ski Area, Bozeman, Montana, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb
Cost: $
- Alpine ski area near Bozeman, the summit elevation is 8,700 feet (2,650 m) above sea level, with a vertical drop of 2,600 feet (790 m)
- Bridger Bowl is a locally owned non-profit ski area that provides affordable skiing, great terrain, and outstanding snowfall
Featured in The Best of Montana
#15 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
16. Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Valley, Michigan, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort with a collection of accommodations, located near Boyne City
- Boyne Mountain has continued use of the first chairlift built, constructed by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1936 for use at its new resort in Sun Valley, Idaho
Featured in The Best of Michigan
17. Mountain Creek Resort, Vernon, New Jersey, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort in Vernon Township, containing land for skiing area, night skiing, snowboarding, and snowmaking activities
- The resort also includes a snow tubing park, zip-lines, an alpine coaster, and a bike park
Featured in The Best of New Jersey
18. Jay Peak Resort, Vermont, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $
- Ski resort located on Jay Peak in the Green Mountains
- The resort opened for skiing in 1957, and it now includes 81 trails served by nine lifts
- It receives the most snowfall of any ski area in the Northeastern U.S. and is known for its gladed skiing
Featured in The Best of Vermont
19. Okemo Mountain, Ludlow, Vermont, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort located in Ludlow, founded in 1955, offering skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating in winter
- The resort contains 121 trails, slopes and glades, and 20 lifts, including 1 high speed detachable 6-pack chair with protective bubbles and heated seats
Featured in The Best of Vermont
20. Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort near the town of Stowe, comprising two separate mountains: Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak
- Alpine skiing came to Vermont when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) cut the first trails on Mount Mansfield in 1933
- Stowe is known for its vibrant village and downtown surrounded by stunning natural landscapes
Featured in The Best of Vermont
21. Sugarbush Resort, Warren, Vermont, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski resort located in the Mad River valley, in Warren, and it is one of the largest ski resorts in New England
- The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres (16 km²) total, and 16 ski lifts
- Sugarbush has 111 ski trails, and a vertical drop of 2,600 feet (790 m), the second largest in Vermont after Killington
Featured in The Best of Vermont
22. Stratton Mountain Resort, Vermont, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Ski area located on Stratton Mountain, established in 1961
- Stratton offers skiing and snowboarding with the area's best uphill capacity, a variety of lodging options, a slopeside Village for shopping and dining, ice skating, a Nordic Center complete with XC skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking as well as the Coca-Cola tube park, a snow tubing experience that lights up a night
Featured in The Best of Vermont
23. Mount Snow, West Dover, Vermont, United States
Best time to visit: Jan-Feb, Dec
Cost: $$
- Mountain and ski resort located in the Green Mountains that in 2011, installed a brand new Leitner-Poma high-speed detachable six-pack bubble chair
- The lift transports skiers to the top of the mountain in seven minutes
- The bubble shields skiers and riders from wind and snow and keeps them warm
Featured in The Best of Vermont
#10 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA