From the Rockies to the Tetons to the Appalachians of the East, United States mountain ranges offer skiers and snowboarders plenty of thrilling slopes without the need to renew a passport. Listed below are the top 10 ski resorts with the most vertical drop in the U. S. Not mentioned in this list is Whiteface in Lake Placid, N.Y., which has the greatest vertical descent in the Eastern United States at 3,216 vertical feet.
1. Jackson Hole Ski Resort
Teton Village, Wyoming: Vertical Drop: 4,105 ft.
Jackson Hole is home to the United States’ largest vertical drop, but its deep powder and remarkably consistent fall line are what keeps skiers and snowboarders coming back. The resort has plenty of family-friendly beginner slopes to go along with its signature wide-open steep runs. Helicopters are available to take visitors to the miles of equally steep backcountry surrounding Jackson Hole.
2. Snowmass Ski Resort
Aspen, Colorado: Vertical Drop: 4,030 ft.
Snowmass has over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, which includes 21 chairlifts and 91 different runs ranging from cruisers, glades and steeps to half-pipes and terrain parks. Between slopes visitors can enjoy meals at any one of the nine on-mountain restaurants at the resort.
3. Big Sky and Moonlight Basin Ski Resorts
Big Sky, Montana: Vertical Drop: 4,016 ft.
These two adjoining resorts come together to form the second largest ski area in North America and the largest in the United States at 5,512 acres. The sheer size of the resorts means that you won’t feel crowded when testing out their signature groomers, tree glades or expansive terrain park.
4. Telluride Ski Resort
Telluride, Colorado: Vertical Drop: 3,830 ft.
Telluride prides itself on never being crowded and being able to give beginners the same mountaintop views that usually only experts get to see. A variety of different runs from the resort’s peak means that even new skiers can make their way down from the top and not be deprived of the mountain’s pristine views on lower elevation bunny hills.
5. Timberline Ski Resort
Mt. Hood, Oregon: Vertical Drop: 3,690 ft.
The beautiful and famous Timberline Lodge highlights this popular resort, which is the only place in North America open for skiing and snowboarding year round. The lower portion of the mountain is open during the winter months, while summer skiers can enjoy the experience of slicing through a glacier near the peak. Springtime is also a popular time to visit Timberline, when visitors can start from the glacier and ski down the mountain in one continuous run.
6. Aspen Highlands Ski Resort
Aspen, Colorado: Vertical Drop: 3,572 ft.
Aspen Highlands is part of the Snowmass family, but has its own set of unique experiences to set it apart form the other Aspen-area resorts. Highlands visitors love the views they get of the Maroon Bells, two beautiful Elk Mountain Peaks, while they ski. A 30-minute hike up the peak will bring you to the Highland Bowl, where you can enjoy 45-degree pitches and over 2,500-foot vertical descents.
7. Beaver Creak Ski Resort
Avon, Colorado: Vertical Drop: 3,340 ft.
Stretching over several foothills with plenty of gulches and bowls, Beaver Creak has a little something for everyone’s skill level, and over half of the resort’s slopes are groomed daily to keep the terrain soft. Home of the Birds of Prey World Cup every year, the well-manicured wide slopes are perfect for any speed-seeker.
8. Aspen Mountain Ski Resort
Aspen, Colorado: Vertical Drop: 3,267 ft.
Another one of Snowmass’s siblings, Aspen Mountain is famous for its black diamonds and its fresh backcountry runs. Aspen Mountain Powder Tours take visitors to the backside of the mountain, where they can enjoy untarnished fresh powder and the ability to blaze their own trails.
9. Snowbird Ski Resort
Snowbird, Utah: Vertical Drop: 3,243 ft.
Snowbird boasts 85 different runs on over 2,500 acres of skiable terrain, almost evenly split between beginner, intermediate and advanced trails. The resort has Utah’s longest ski and snowboard season, and gets about 500’ of dry Utah powder every year. Chip’s Run is the Mountain’s longest slope, stretching 2.5 miles.
10. Sun Valley Ski Resort
Sun Valley, Idaho: Vertical Drop: 3,241 ft.
In addition to its traditional skiing and snowboarding options, Sun Valley has plenty of backcountry Nordic opportunities and highflying terrain park options. With half-pipes, a super-pipe and plenty of rails and jibs, thrill seekers can spend plenty of time exploring new routes through the extensive freestyle area.
