pretty ski resorts USA

top 10 most attractive American ski resorts and prettiest ski areas

If you're looking for the prettiest ski resorts in USA then you really need a list like this. Although USA has mostly purpose built ski resorts, they are thoughtfully styled and USA does not suffer from the 60's prefab carbuncles of some ski resorts this side of the pond - if you're looking for the traditional mountain architecture of a chocolate box ski resort, you can find it in pretty American ski resorts and, unlike the old moutain towns in europe, everything works too!

This list of USA's most attractive ski resorts is your passport to ye olde alpine charm and traditional ski resort prettiness - think "Disney does Davos". Here are the "must visit" 10 most attractive ski resorts in USA.

pretty ski resorts usa

Mt Bachelor USA

dormant volcano with 360 degrees of skiing and boarding in which to 'Rip the steep lava chutes!' - big mountain stages several major snowboarding events and prides itself on challenging glades for die-hard thrill-seekers on back side of mountain in Northwest Territory

Beginner Trails
 0 runs ?km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 13 runs ?km
18% 
Advanced Trails
 33 runs ?km
46% 
Expert Trails
 17 runs 17km
23% 

snoman says

Arguably the leading North Western American resort with seven express quad chairs, a huge 3700 acres of skiable terrain and a big 3686 foot vertical (one of North America's biggest). Mount Bachelor has a remark... more

Mt Bachelor
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass$?
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseMay 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Cannon Mountain USA

The biggest ski mountain in New Hampshire, actually owned by the State, and boasting a long and illustrious history. Cannon operates New Hampshire's only cable car and has a reputation for exciting expert terrain whilst maintaining gentle slopes for beginners.

Beginner Trails
 0 runs ?km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 9 runs ?km
16% 
Advanced Trails
 26 runs ?km
47% 
Expert Trails
 20 runs 20km
36% 

snoman says

The biggest ski mountain in New Hampshire, actually owned by the State, and boasting a long and illustrious history. Cannon operates New Hampshire's only cable car and has a reputation for exciting expert terra... more

Cannon Mountain
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass$?
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Crystal Mountain Washington USA

Best known and largest of Washington's ski areas and a favourite of die-hard skiers who rate the local back-country ski opportunities as some of the country's best, Crystal Mountain is located in the Northeast corner of the Mount Rainier National Park. Boasting the area's biggest vertical and a high-speed six-seater c... [more Crystal Mountain Washington]

Beginner Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Intermediate Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Advanced Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Expert Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 

snoman says

Best known and largest of Washington's ski areas and a favourite of die-hard skiers who rate the local back-country ski opportunities as some of the country's best, Crystal Mountain is located in the Northeast c... more

Crystal Mountain Washington
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass$?
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseMar 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Alpine Valley USA

In 1999 - 2000 Alpine Valley installed 'The Valley Flyer', the first high speed detachable quad in the area.

Beginner Trails
 6 runs ?km
28% 
Intermediate Trails
 8 runs ?km
38% 
Advanced Trails
 5 runs ?km
23% 
Expert Trails
 2 runs 2km
9% 

snoman says

in 1999 - 2000 Alpine Valley installed 'The Valley Flyer', the first high speed detachable quad in the area.

Alpine Valley
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass?
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseMar 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Arizona Snowbowl USA

Marketed as skiing on the 'active volcano in Arizona' (it's long extinct, the skiers are active...), Arizona Snowbowl has a great powder snow record and a skiing pedigree dating back to the 1930s. The Grand Canyon is only 128km (80 miles) distant .

Beginner Trails
 0 runs ?km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 10 runs ?km
33% 
Advanced Trails
 11 runs ?km
36% 
Expert Trails
 9 runs 9km
30% 

snoman says

Marketed as skiing on the 'active volcano in Arizona' (it's long extinct, the skiers are active...), Arizona Snowbowl has a great powder snow record and a skiing pedigree dating back to the 1930s. The Grand Can... more

Arizona Snowbowl
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass$?
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Moonlight Basin USA

First major new US destination resort for 20 years when it opened in 2003. Located approximately one hour from Bozeman, Montana, is located on the north face of Lone Mountain in the Madison Range. Lone Mountain also serves as home to the famed Big Sky Resort and the two are lift-linked together, a rare thing in North... [more Moonlight Basin]

Beginner Trails
 0 runs ?km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 13 runs ?km
26% 
Advanced Trails
 14 runs ?km
28% 
Expert Trails
 22 runs 22km
44% 

snoman says

First major new US destination resort for 20 years when it opened in 2003. Located approximately one hour from Bozeman, Montana, is located on the north face of Lone Mountain in the Madison Range. Lone Mountai... more

Moonlight Basin
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass€168
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Sierra-at-Tahoe USA

Part of the Lake Tahoe Ski region and one of the closest ski areas to the major West Coast conurbations with no mountain passes to negotiate to reach it (San Francisco 3.5 hours, Sacramento 83 miles). A free bus service operates from the lakeside.

Beginner Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Intermediate Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Advanced Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Expert Trails
 ? runs 11km
?% 

snoman says

One of the closest ski areas to the major West Coast conurbations with no mountain passes to negotiate to reach it (San Francisco 3.5 hours, Sacramento 83 miles). A free bus service operates from the lakeside.<... more

Sierra-at-Tahoe
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass$?
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Sunday River USA

Highly rated by boarders with four terrain parks, a mini-pipe & super-pipe. All abilities catered for: 41 trails for experts, 47 for intermediates & 43 for novices. Despite low altitude snow is good with 1600 snow canons. Lots of additional activities

Beginner Trails
 8 runs 25.5km
6% 
Intermediate Trails
 33 runs 26.3km
25% 
Advanced Trails
 46 runs 10.7km
35% 
Expert Trails
 48 runs 48km
37% 

snoman says

Friendly, lively, award winning and rapidly expanding ski area in the far North East of the United States. Excellent trail layout and well integrated, efficient lift system (winner of ski area design award in 1... more

Sunday River
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass$?
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseMay 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Kirkwood USA

With the highest base area in northern California, Kirkwood has a European feel. Part of the Lake Tahoe Ski region. All of the accommodation is condo-based and there is a large amount of cross-country skiing.

Beginner Trails
 0 runs ?km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 16 runs ?km
24% 
Advanced Trails
 32 runs ?km
49% 
Expert Trails
 19 runs 19km
29% 

snoman says

With the highest base area in northern California, Kirkwood has a European feel. All of the accommodation is condo-based and there is a large amount of cross-country skiing.

Kirkwood
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass$?
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseMay 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)

Northstar-at-Tahoe USA

One of the most up and coming resorts by Lake Tahoe and indeed in all of North America, recently adding new lifts, more terrain, world class hotels and other facilities such as a rare North American biathlon range.

Beginner Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Intermediate Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Advanced Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 
Expert Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 

snoman says

One of the most up and coming resorts by Lake Tahoe and indeed in all of North America, recently adding new lifts, more terrain, world class hotels and other facilities such as a rare North American biathlon ran... more

Northstar-at-Tahoe
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass$?
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
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