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USA: Top 10 Ski Resorts for Backcountry
Encompassing an old cowboy town, mountain resort, 2,500 acres of inbound terrain and almost limitless backcountry, Jackson Hole should definitely be high up the bucket list for any passionate skier. It was voted “Best Overall Resort in North America” by SKI Magazine - if that’s not enough of a reason to visit, we don’t know what is.
Prestige is probably the word that best describes Aspen Snowmass. This is one of the most renowned resorts worldwide, with 4 ski areas, exclusive dining and après, high-end shopping and the chance to rub shoulders with the A-Listers. If you can afford Aspen Snowmass, there are few places to rival this exquisite destination.
When everyone thinks about the world’s biggest ski area, they immediately think of the Three Valleys, which works in Lake Tahoe’s favour as it keeps lift queues and piste density down. Add this to well over 20,000 acres of the most varied skiable terrain, Las Vegas style après, Californian sun and breath-taking views, and you have a truly epic ski area.
The clouds that descend on Park City after crossing the neighbouring desert drop some of the best snow on earth onto the varied 3,300 acres of terrain. Group this with a vibrant and exciting town and you have the makings of an outstanding ski holiday for every type of snow lover.
You’ll be hard pushed to find someone who hasn’t heard of Vail. Rivalling Aspen as the resort of choice for the uber rich and super famous, it’s the 2nd largest ski area in the USA, has a vibrant cosmopolitan town and offers an outstanding visitor experience - one of the best in the world.
We love Breckenridge - an outstanding, all-round resort with a friendly atmosphere, heaps to do and an infectiously bubbly après scene. It’s the birthplace of competitive freestyle, has some of the highest quality skiing and snowboarding in the States and is repeatedly rated as one of the best ski resorts in the world.
With its own mountain range and signature champagne powder, Steamboat resort is seriously world class (a record number of Olympians call it home). Ski Town USA - the legendary Cowboy town of Steamboat Springs - is a few miles down the mountain and we love its friendly locals, proper pubs and unpretentious vibe.
Despite world class terrain, a reputation as a fantastic family destination, being super close to Denver and having the best 10 year snowfall in Colorado, Winter Park has managed to remain down to earth. Fending off the glitzy, commercial nature associated with other resorts in the area, it lets the quality of skiing and terrain do the talking.
“Where locals go to get humbled”, this resort has the most formidable terrain of the 4 Aspen mountains and steeps that make grown men cry. A small base doesn’t stop it from having Aspen’s rowdiest après, hard earnt after days hiking up the Highlands Bowl and flying down endless, 2500ft verticals.
USA Today voted Squaw 2016’s Best Ski Resort in North America – and when you look at the sheer amount you can ski and snowboard here, not to mention the off-slope offerings, it’s easy to see why.
If you want to ski or board the finest freeride terrain in the USA, use this list of the top American off-piste ski resorts.
All of these ski and snowboard destinations have at some stage held titles like "USA’s Best for Backcountry" or "top powder snowboarding resorts in the States". Quite simply they’re America’s greatest when it comes to off-piste.
While this list shows you what the United States have to offer - destinations worthy of every seasoned skier or snowboarders bucket list - we also have some incredible off-piste resorts further afield.
Check out our Top Ten for experts in Canada, or see what cuts the mustard in France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. There’s also our ultimate list of destinations worldwide.
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