Colorado
Copper Mountain, Colorado
Ski pass: IKON Base and Full. Unlimited days. No blackout days.
Day pass price: $184 for 1 weekend day online
Getting there: Fly into Denver then drive 2-3 hours
Best time: February – March
Lodging: Many affordable AirBnBs in nearby Silverthorne/Dillon
Pros
- Large variety of terrain to suit a group with mixed abilities
- No blackout dates, and available on the IKON Base Pass
- Relatively cheap accommodation available nearby
- Easy to combine with other IKON resorts like Arapahoe Basin
Cons
- Snow cover can be a bit iffy early in the season
- Not that easy to get too (3h drive from Denver)
Overview
Copper is a great idea if you’re going with a big group who ski at different levels. This is the rare resort that will keep both beginner and advanced skiers busy all day! The bowls and mogul runs here are world class. Even though it’s very large, it’s flown somewhat under the radar, which means fewer crowds and no blackout dates. My main issue with Copper is that the snow cover can be a little hit or miss compared to nearby resorts like A-Basin, especially on the more advanced terrain.
Tips to enjoy the resort
- Park your car at the bottom of Alpine – few crowds, reasonable price ($15), and you can ski straight to your car at the end of the day if you can ski a black.
- Make a beeline for the Three Bears lift on the backside for some amazing chutes with no lines. The moguls get really carved up the further right you go.
- Later in the day, head to Resolution Bowl and Spaulding Bowl for some sweet mogul runs. Finish the day skiing down Far East or Too Much back to your car.
Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
Ski pass: IKON Base/Full (5/7 days). No blackouts.
Day pass price: $189 for 1 weekend day online
Getting there: Fly into Denver and drive 2 hours
Best time: February – March
Lodging: Many affordable AirBnBs in nearby Silverthorne/Dillon
Pros:
- Amazing terrain for advanced skiers
- Reliable snow due to high elevation
- Locals’ mountain vibe
- Relatively cheap accommodation available nearby at Silverthorne and Dillon
- Easy to combine with other IKON resorts like Copper
Cons
- Limited days on the IKON
- Limited terrain for beginner skiers
- Traffic from Denver can be a mess on weekends
The verdict
You will absolutely love A-Basin if you’re an advanced skier. The chutes and glades are amazing, and the snow stays solid for a long time. The crowd here is also just a lot of fun – you’ll see groups grilling out of their pickup trucks on the parking lot, and there are tons of places to have a cheap beer on the mountain. There’s also solid intermediate terrain, particularly in the newly opened Beavers area. If there are some beginners in your group, they will get bored after a day – but Copper is nearby.
Tips to enjoy the mountain
Reddit’s honest trail map
- Get there early and park in the Early Riser parking if you want to ski straight to your car. Many people set up their pickup trucks to have grill parties by the slope.
- Roller Coaster has some great chutes and usually not too much of a line!
- Beavers Lift has some fun glades skiing. Stay right when you drop in for some beautiful snow fields.
Aspen, Colorado
Ski pass: IKON (Base Plus or Full – 5 days or 7 days, blackout dates. Reservations required)
Getting there: Fly into Aspen or drive from Denver (4h)
Lodging: Expensive hotels in Aspen, limited supply of AirBnBs
Pros
- 4 mountains to ski in total
- Amazing advanced terrain in Aspen Highlands
- Good variety of blues/blacks and beginner terrain across all the mountains
- Zero crowds, even on weekends
- Very fun mountain town
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- Beginners and advanced skiers might want to go to different mountains
The verdict
Aspen is actually made up of 4 separate mountains:
- Aspen Highlands: the dream for advanced skiers. Steep powder runs with zero crowds. Some black/blue groomers on the frontside as well.
- Ajax Mountain: easily accessible right from the center of town. Great groomers, decent quantity of advanced runs (although you might need to take two lifts to make one lap). Slightly more crowded than the Highlands, but very manageable compared to other resorts.
- Snowmass: the largest ski area, takes a little longer to get to (40 minutes). Mostly blue and black groomers, but a few advanced and beginner runs. Gets more crowded.
- Buttermilk: only beginner runs and terrain parks. Host the X Games in February.
My favorite thing about Aspen is how empty it feels. I went on a long weekend and never had to wait more than two minutes for a lift. This is especially true in the Highlands, where you can find fresh powder long after it has snowed! Aspen is also just a really fun mountain town. There are tons of great bars and restaurants as well as lots of festivals going on. The problem with Aspen is that it’s expensive. It’s not necessarily hard to get to (you can get a decent deal on flights, or drive 4h from Denver), but expect to pay $200+ per person per night in lodging and $40-50 on meals. On the bright side, you don’t need to rent a car. I think this is a very worthwhile ski destination if you have the budget, but book your lodging and flights well in advance.
Tips to enjoy the mountain
Aspen Highlands honest trail map
- Don’t rent a car! Parking is difficult and expensive. The town shuttles are free and frequent. If you really hate carrying your stuff around, you can leave your skis at the mountain for $12. There is also an excellent free Uber service called Downtowner which allows you to get a free ride within the city limits (you might have to wait 10-20 minutes).
- Aspen Highlands: Lap Temerity for some long, steep double blacks. Hiking the Highland Bowls is iconic but takes 45-60 minutes – you can buy ski straps from the ski patrol at the top of Temerity. Soddbuster gets skied out fast, traverse faster to St Moritz and North Castle for fresh snow.
Utah
Alta and Snowbird (Altabird), Utah
Ski Pass: IKON Base and Full for Snowbird. IKON Base Plus or Full for Alta. 5/7 days combined across both stations. Reservations required.
Day pass price: $174 for one weekend day online
Getting there: Fly into Salt Lake City then drive 40 minutes
Best time: February – April
Lodging: Cheap AirBnBs in Salt Lake City (target the Sandy or Granite neighborhoods) with the risk of getting snowed out, or more expensive lodgeside accommodation
Pros:
- Amazing snow, especially late in the season
- Lots of challenging terrain
- Easily accessible from Salt Lake City
- Within driving distance of multiple other IKON resorts (Solitude, Brighton, Deer Valley)
Cons
- Limited beginner and intermediate terrain
- Not many mountain town vibes or much of an après ski scene
- On heavy snow days, the road to the canyons can be closed
The verdict
I am counting Alta and Snowbird as one station because they are connected and it’s easy to ski both in the same day. This might just be my favorite ski area in the US. You can easily fly into Salt Lake City (SLC), a major airport, and be at the slopes in 40 minutes. The snow is consistently solid; it’s an especially reliable destination for spring skiing. The advanced terrain is incredible. The major downside is that there’s limited terrain for beginner and intermediate skiers, although Alta does fare better than Snowbird on that dimension. The road to the canyons can also get snowed out for a day or two if there’s a heavy storm! If you’re only there for a weekend, I recommend booking lodging at the base for that reason. If you’re there longer, there’s very affordable and plentiful lodging in Salt Lake City, and you can be at the slopes in 20 minutes. You should also know that Alta bans snowboarders – but if you have any snowboarder friends, there’s plenty to keep them entertained at Snowbird.
Tips to enjoy the mountain
- Snowbird
- Park at Cliff Lodge – easy parking, you can ski to the main area of the resort along a path in the morning, and you can ski straight to your car in the afternoon as long as you’re comfortable skiing a black.
- If you’re fine doing a long traverse, Gad 2 in Snowbird leads to some amazing terrain. Stay left for a long time until you drop into the Thunder Bowl and Mushroom Land.
- Mineral Basin, the backside of Snowbird, can have great snow or avalanche conditions. It is fun to take the tunnel at least once!
- For some steeps, head to the Cirque Traverse. The first few runs are some fun but technical couloirs; the further along you go, the more it mellows out.
- Alta
- The snow often gets less tracked out better than in Snowbird!
- Take the High Traverse for some amazing chutes – Alf’s High Rustler and Hourglass Chute are some of my favorites.
- Catherine’s Area has some of the most technical runs I’ve done. Steep, narrow chutes with moguls that hold up power well.
- If you want to lap groomers, Sugarloaf is a lot of fun.
Solitude and Brighton (Solbright), Utah
Ski pass: IKON Base and Full. Unlimited at Solitude. 5/7 days at Brighton. Reservations required.
Day pass price: $149 for one weekend day online
Getting there: Fly into Salt Lake City then drive 45 min
Best time: February – March
Lodging: Lots of affordable options in SLC, or decently affordable AirBnBs in Brighton
Pros
- Smaller, more relaxed resorts than Alta and Snowbird
- Some fun advanced terrain
- Night skiing at Brighton
- Within driving distance of multiple other IKON resorts (Alta, Snowbird, Deer Valley)
Cons
- Limited intermediate terrain
- Snow gets slushy fast later in the season
The verdict
Another set of interconnected resorts in Utah, Solitude and Brighton are about 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City. They are much smaller than Alta/Snowbird and tend to attract more families, but don’t let that fool you. There is unexpectedly fun and challenging terrain in Solitude, with some wonderful tree chutes that hold up snow well! Brighton has some fun bowls and groomers. The major complaint among my group is that there was almost no intermediate/advanced terrain – it was either blues or challenging double backs. You’ll probably feel like you’ve seen everything after a day or two, but this is a fun place to check out if you’re in the area.
Tips to enjoy the mountain
Reddit’s honest trail map for Brighton
- Brighton
- There are some amazing glade runs at the top of Snake Creek Express.
- Little Milly services an open bowl with lots of moguls
- Great Western Express can have great soft snow late in the season
- Solitude
- Great, very challenging glade runs in Milk Run and Headwall Forest
- Woodlawn is a fun, easier black but can get icy fast
- Don’t take Highway to Heaven unless you have touring gear!
Deer Valley, Utah
Ski pass: IKON Base Plus or Full (5/7 days).
Day pass price: $229 for one weekend day online
Getting there: Fly into Salt Lake City then drive 1h
Best time: February – March
Lodging: Decently affordable AirBnBs and hotels in Park City (unless it’s Sundance)
Pros:
- Lots of beginner and intermediate terrain
- Relatively easily accessible from Salt Lake City
- Park City is a fun mountain town
Cons
- The resort is very spread out, meaning you spend a lot of time traversing
- Limited advanced terrain
- Iffy snow quality due to low altitude
- Very ritzy vibe (and prices to match)
The verdict
Deer Valley is by far the swankiest ski resort I’ve ever been to. There are marble bathrooms with glove dryers, an upscale daycare center, and ski in/ski out condos right in the middle of the slopes. The resort is very low altitude, which means the snow melts pretty quickly. It’s also made up of multiple small hills instead of one big mountain. This means you spend a lot of time traversing from one area to the other. On the bright side, Park City is a fun mountain town, home to Sundance Film Festival as well as many fun restaurants and bars. Deer Valley is fun to check out once if you’re in Utah, but it’s honestly not my favorite ski resort.
Tips to enjoy the mountain
Reddit’s honest trail map
- Mayflower has good snow and short lines – try to spend the afternoon there
- Empire Bowl and Lady Morgan Bowl make for some fun bowl skiing, but can be icy
- Centennial Forest is significantly tougher glade skiing than everything else in the resort, proceed with caution
Montana
Big Sky, Montana
Ski pass: IKON Base and Full. 5/7 days. Blackouts. Reservations required.
Day pass price: $226 for one weekend day online
Getting there: Fly into Bozeman, then drive/take a shuttle for 1h
Best time: February – March
Lodging: Hotels in Big Sky or lodgeside; very few AirBnBs
Pros
- The resort is so big that you often feel like you’re skiing by yourself
- Huge variety of terrain for all ability levels
Cons
- The aerial tram costs extra and is often a bottleneck
- Iffy snow cover, particularly early or late in the season
The verdict
Big Sky is the biggest ski resort in the US. Even though there are a lot of visitors, you often end up having the slopes to yourself. This is a place that will keep beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers entertained for days! Seriously, I spent 5 days skiing this resort and didn’t even hit all the advanced runs. One major issue with Big Sky’s that the snow cover can be hit or miss – I enjoyed a great late season storm when I went, but I have heard stories of several skiers hitting nothing but rocks some years. My other gripe is that most of the expert terrain is off one tram, which can result in hour-long waits. As of 2023, Big Sky charges $100 per day for IKON passholders to access the tram. I think Big Sky is worth planning one big ski trip to once in your life, but really make sure you go when it’s at its peak!
Tips to enjoy the resort
- There’s often a bottleneck at Swift Current to get up the mountain in the morning. Take Ramcharger to avoid the lines, then lap Thunder Wolf a few times for some great mogul runs and open bowls.
- Headwaters is the best lift on the mountain in my opinion. Beautiful bowl with very few crowds. If you’re ready to hike from the summit for 10 minutes, there are some really challenging lines (the further along you go, the gnarlier). It does get windswept quickly.
- If you want to ski the iconic Big Couloir, know that you will need to (a) have a buddy (b) carry an avalanche beacon (c) register with ski patrol. If you know that’s something you want to do, head up the tram the first chance you get to sign up for a slot later in the day. This will end up consuming quite a bit of your day since you’ll have to wait for the tram twice.
- I loved The Wilson as a home base and got a great deal on Marriott points! Comfortable rooms with kitchens, complimentary ski shuttle, great hot tub and restaurants around.
Wyoming
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Ski pass: IKON (Base Plus or Full – 5 days or 7 days, blackout dates. Reservations required)
Getting there: Fly into Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Lodging: Expensive condos/hotels in Teton Village or somewhat cheaper options in Jackson
Pros
- Amazing advanced terrain
- Good amount of blues and blacks
- Great snow, especially early in the season
- Much less crowded than most Colorado resorts
Cons
- Relatively short season (don’t go past February)
- Lodging and food are extremely expensive
- Tram can be a bit of a bottleneck
The verdict
An icon among icons, Jackson Hole has some of the gnarliest terrain in the United States. I can’t think of any resort besides Altabird that comes close to this quantity of jaw dropping chutes. Contrary to popular belief, there are also lots of fun groomers on this mountain! My main issue with Jackson is that everything from flights to lodging is extremely expensive. If you can lock in lodges and flights early on, though, this is an amazing bucket list trip. The aerial tram can also be a bit of a bottleneck during high season, but it’s nowhere near as bad as Big Sky and there’s plenty of interesting terrain that doesn’t require you to take the tram.
Tips to enjoy the mountain
Reddit’s honest trail map
- If you want to lap blacks and double blacks, Sublette is the place to be. Beautiful mogul runs that hold up snow well.
- The tram can be a bit of a bottleneck, though it does lead to amazing terrain. If you don’t feel like waiting, take Bridger and Sublette to get to the upper mountain.
- The Hobacks are an amazing long, steep run that will make you feel like you’re in the sidecountry. You need to take at least two lifts to lap it (Union Pass Quad + the tram), but it’s a very long run so it’s worth it. Sublette Ridge and the Rawlins Bowl have a similar vibe – shorter, but less skied.
- Pepi’s Run and the Alta Chutes hold up snow well if the rest of the mountain has become tracked out.
California
Palisades, California
Ski pass: IKON Base or Full. Unlimited. Blackout days
Day pass price: $242 for a weekend day online
Getting there: Fly into SFO and drive 4 hours, or fly into Reno and drive 1h
Best time: February – March
Lodging: Lots of AirBnBs along the lake; you can stay in Truckee for more budget options, but be warned that the traffic from there in the morning is atrocious
Pros
- Incredible expert terrain
- Beautiful views of Lake Tahoe
- Unlimited days on the IKON
- Lots of winter activities to do after skiing
Cons
- Almost no beginner terrain
- Snow quality can be hit or miss
- Crowded with SF skiers on weekends
The verdict
Palisades is the resort I end up at most often given its proximity to San Francisco. On a good weekend, it’s absolutely glorious: world class terrain with stunning views of Lake Tahoe. On a bad weekend…the lift lines are insane and the snow is icy. As of the 2022-2023 season, Olympic Valley and Alpine are connected into one big resort! Alpine tends to hold up snow better than Olympic Valley; it’s quite a bit smaller but has some great hidden runs and backside bowls. You should also know that there is almost no beginner terrain in either station, if you’re going with a mixed ability group. Overall, this is a great home mountain to have if you live in SF, but given the crowds and unpredictable snow I don’t know that I would fly out of state to get there.
Tips to enjoy the resort
Reddit’s honest trail map (from 2018)
- Olympic Valley
- Resort Chair is the best kept secret in the station. Zero crowds, and great moguls that hold up long after the snow everywhere else has gone bad. Drop in Poulsen’s Gully and ski straight to your car at the end of the day.
- If there’s been recent snow, K-22 has short lines and the best expert terrain. G.S. Bowl is fun but gets icy fast. Moseley’s and Chute 75 hold up better, but know that these are pretty challenging runs.
- Granite Chief is lots of fun in the morning – great bowls and glade skiing with few crowds. If it’s open, turn right when you get off the lift and make your way to Hidden Bowl. Traverse for some great hidden powder and tree skiing.
- Off Headwall, Sun Bowl is a blast but turns bad quickly; North Bowl, Cornice Bowl and the adjoining chutes hold up well if it hasn’t snowed in a while.
- Siberia Bowl is a fun groomer and a great place to try a black for the first time!
- Alpine
- Gentian Gully and Promised Land are my favorite runs. Beautiful tree skiing with no crowds that’ll make you feel like you’ve left the resort. The only downside is that you have to take 2 lifts to make 1 lap.
- Our Father holds up snow well. It’s a steep chute but not too narrow or moguly.
- If it’s open, Alpine Bowl services some great terrain. You can take some steep moguls down Palisades, or you can do a short 5 minute hike into the beautiful Sun Bowl.
- If you feel like an adventure, you can traverse all the way from the top of Summit Express back to the Alpine parking lot. There’s some great powder over in Pond Slope and you’ll almost feel like you’re in the backcountry. But be warned, it’s a long traverse (30 minutes at least).
Mammoth Mountain, California
Getting there: 6 hour drive from SF, or 5 hour drive from LA, or fly into Mammoth (expensive and often canceled), or fly into Bishop and drive 1h (limited flights)
Pros
- Epic powder dumps, especially late in the season
- Good mix of intermediate and advanced terrain
- Lots of fun hikes and hot springs to check out in the area
Cons
- A pain to get to, no matter where you live
- Big LA crowds on the weekends
The verdict
It’s a credit to how great Mammoth is as a mountain that people take the trouble to get there. It’s nowhere close to any major airport, and roads/flights can easily get canceled by snowstorms. Said snowstorms are what makes Mammoth epic, though. This is a resort that has been known to receive 11 feet of snow in a day. It’s got a great variety of intermediate and advanced terrain and holds up particularly well later in the season. There’s also lots of beautiful scenery nearby – make sure to check out Wild Willy’s Hot Springs and Crystal Lake. If you live in LA or SF, it’s worth getting to for a long weekend – just be ready for potential travel disruptions!
Tips to enjoy the mountain
Reddit’s honest trail map
- Chair 23 is where most of the best advanced runs are, especially on a powder day. The line can be long but it’s worth it (take the singles line if needed). If you get freaked out at the top, take Dave’s Run down – it’s a fun bowl!
- If you want some fast laps and good powder, High Five Express is a lot of fun
- A lot of the upper lifts get closed when there’s wind – Canyon Express and Chair 22 aren’t the most fun, but they’ll be your bet bet
Europe
Zermatt, Switzerland
Ski pass: IKON Base or Full. 5/7 days. Blackout days.
Day pass price: $242 for a weekend day online
Getting there: Fly into SFO and drive 4 hours, or fly into Reno and drive 1h
Best time: February – March
Lodging: Lots of AirBnBs along the lake; you can stay in Truckee for more budget options, but be warned that the traffic from there in the morning is atrocious
Pros
- The most beautiful views you’ll ever have skiing
- Lots of Alpine charm
- Epic Glacier skiing
Cons
- Limited options for advanced skiers
- Difficult to get to
- Extremely expensive lodging and food
The verdict
Zermatt is only an hour away from my hometown in Switzerland, so when it joined the IKON, I was stoked! Zermatt is amazing in some ways – the views of the Matterhorn (the Toblerone mountain) are stunning, and the yearlong glacier skiing is pretty epic. On the other hand, I was very disappointed by the off-piste skiing. Much of it is only open when the snowpack is very deep, and even then it gets tracked out pretty quickly. Even the groomers were not that fun: think lots of instead of bowls. To me, the quality of the skiing doesn’t justify the exorbitant prices of everything in Zermatt or the difficulty of getting there. That said, it’s a fun bucket list destination to check off once in your life if you’re already in Switzerland.