The web is awash with lists of the best ski resorts in the US. Most of them should be ignored, as their definition for rankings is, at best, arbitrary. Many lists are compilations of where a particular site receives more lodging revenue. We have no agenda here except informing our readers. So, for the actual best ski resorts in the United States, read on.

Oh, and we also tell you the things our ratings upon for the best US ski resorts:

• Terrain
• Snow
• Town
• Crowds

Updated rankings for the winter of 2023 are due in November—so check back.

This list is compiled by dozens of anecdotal experiences and data.

Let me add that even though this is what we think is the best list of such things, there is plenty to quibble with here for any given skier. If you're somebody who weights snow over all else, Alta would be your No. 1 (it's ranked highly here, but not No. 1). But despite its outstanding terrain and its best-in-class score for snow, Alta is No. 4 in our rankings because of the crowding issues in Little Cottonwood Canyon and the lack of town infrastructure (and lodging).

Another example: the combination of good amounts of all kinds of terrain—very steep steeps, and plenty of green and blue runs—plus the best town in skiing, zero crowds and high snow preservation characteristics propel Telluride to the No. 2 spot despite its snow accumulation being only average for the Rockies.

Behold, the best ski resorts in the US:

		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
1	Jackson Hole WY		368 in	2,500 acres	4,139 ft	10,450 ft	12	99.0
Jackson Hole built its reputation on its expert terrain and abundant snowfall, but the ski resort has grown up into a versatile mountain that is welcoming to all kinds of ski trips. Intermediate terrain has been consisentely been expanded, most recently with the new Teton lift. Jackson offers skiers the ability to mix in other activities that make it unique: day trips to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge, and copious terrain for snowmobiling. The lodging base, thanks to the region's busy summers, is deep and varied.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
2	Telluride CO		276 in	2,000 acres	3,845 ft	12,570 ft	18	95.6
Visually, Telluride is the most striking ski town in North America. The richness of scenery created by 14,000-foot peaks and an old mining town that backs into a box canyon can't be overstated. The town is, by our judgement, the best in skiing, with venerable buildings that have been carefully restored making up the majority of the main drag (Colorado Ave.). It has more to offer than any other mountain town, with great intermediate terrain mixing with steeps that are among the best on the continent. Town is connected via a free gondola to Mountain Village, where much of the newer lodging is. The gondola runs from 7 a.m. to past midnight. The dining scene is among the best in skiing.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
3	Snowbird UT		497 in	2,500 acres	3,240 ft	11,000 ft	11	94.2
Without Snowbird, there would be no tram in Utah's Little Cottonwood Canyon, which would, by our inexact and cursory calculation, constitute a crime against humanity. At least a crime against ski trips. Snowbird's slopes soar majesitcally up, its steep fall lines in full sight from the floor of Little Cottonwood, the best snow trap in the world. Snowbird, by our accounts, has the best terrain in Utah. And only Alta, which borders it to the east, gets more high quality snow (it actually does). But Snowbird has the best ski hotel on the west side of the Wasatch in the Cliff Lodge, a place where ski trip nirvana happens regularly.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
4	Alta UT		517 in	2,200 acres	2,020 ft	10,550 ft	11	93.5
Alta features some of North America's very best terrain and scenery along with what is, without a doubt, the best snow not in Alaska. This combination is then packaged up in a setting that still evokes how skiing was 50 years ago while still providing enough creature comforts to be recognized as a modern ski resort. For skiers, Alta is holy ground, a necessary pilgrimage that deserves one visit from every enterprising two-planker who ever thought of skiing powder on a bluebird day. Alta can make an ordinary ski vacation a lifetime memory.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
5	Vail CO		354 in	5,289 acres	3,450 ft	11,570 ft	31	90.8
No name has become more synonymous with ski trips than that of Vail. It is the quintessential ski resort in the quintessential mountain state. As the crown jewel of the largest company in the industry, Vail Resorts, Vail does not disappoint. In central Colorado there is no better combination of terrain, snow, and on-mountain lodging and facilities. Vail is one of the few ski resorts that can be everything to everybody. It plays the role well of a high-end destination—there is a Ritz-Carlton here—and it is also a comfortable place for terrain-obsessed powder hounds who sleep in a van. Vail Village puts everything at skiers' fingertips.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
6	Snowmass CO		295 in	3,132 acres	4,030 ft	12,510 ft	20	88.9
Snowmass gives familes and skiers looking for a tight one-stop destination resort one of the best options in the industry. It's vast, it receives the most snow of the four Aspen resorts, and its lodging options can fit just about any kind of ski trip or group. The on-mountain dining options are among the best in skiing and the terrain can please all skiers, especially those interested in rolling groomers that go on for miles.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
7	Steamboat CO		368 in	2,965 acres	3,668 ft	10,568 ft	18	88.3
Steamboat ski trips have long been a staple for the experienced destination skier. Steamboat has a reputation for snow and powder that's well deserved, as the mountain sets up especially well for ski trips around New Year's and Christmas, when the mountain is 93% open on average, among the best such numbers in skiing. The low elevation makes Steamboat warmer than other Colorado resorts in the spring, which can lead to freeze-thaw cycles overnight. The lodging base is big, with a large amount of on-mountain accommodations. The town of Steamboat Springs is among the best in Colorado.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
8	Big Sky MT		286 in	5,809 acres	3,666 ft	11,166 ft	21	86.9
One of the iconic names in the ski resort world, Big Sky offers an experience befitting of its large state and its moniker. With 5,800 acres, only Whistler and Park City are bigger. But when there are crowds at these other resorts at times, Big Sky is almost always wide open. The terrain runs from legitmately steep and scary to gentle and rolling. The ski resort's strength is its intermediate terrain, which unfurls in all directions down below Lone Peak. Lodging options for ski trips are top-notch and plentiful.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
9	Park City UT		288 in	7,300 acres	3,100 ft	10,000 ft	41	86.1
One of the elite ski towns in all of the world, Park City commands respect for the strengths of its Main Street and the wide range of high-end dining available to skiers. This is a place upon which Hollywood descends once a year for the Sundance Film Festival (a great time to ski, tough time to find lodging). Along with its old town ambience and amenities, Park City is also eminently easy to get to, being only a 35-minute drive away from a major hub airport in Salt Lake. The skiing here offers something for everybody. Experts will find stashes on Ninety-Nine-Ninety and Jupiter, and only Whistler has more intermediate terrain than this place. The ski school is top notch and makes dropping off the kids easy.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
10	Winter Park CO		347 in	3,081 acres	3,060 ft	12,060 ft	25	85.4
Winter Park ski trips offers skiers several notable advantages: a shorter commute from the Denver airport, compared with other I-70 resorts; cheaper lodging and lift ticket prices; and one of the best mountains for snow in the state of Colorado. The mountain has two distinct sides that offer all kinds of stashes and hideouts for skiers, as well as terrain aplenty for intermediates seeking some challenging blues. A great choice for Christmas and New Year's trips—good snow coverage, cheaper—and also for spring break.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
11	Beaver Creek CO		325 in	1,815 acres	3,340 ft	11,440 ft	25	84.9
A ski trip to Beaver Creek comes replete with all the niceties that make Beaver Creek, along with Deer Valley, an alpha dog on the luxury ski trip circuit. But the Beav also brings an A-game to the skiing part of the ski trip; this is a mountain with good fall lines etched all over it. For those who happened to catch Beaver Creek with a good spell of powder on their ski trip, an epic day is in the offing. Beaver Creek skis off more slowly, especially during the week, compared with other large destination resorts. Some of the long pitches coming off Birds of Prey Express are the best stretches of fall line in central Colorado. Whatever you do, ensure you finish up in time to get a cookie.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
12	Mammoth CA		354 in	3,500 acres	3,100 ft	11,053 ft	28	84.5
Mammoth occupies an advantageous position in the Sierra that puts its base 2,000 feet higher than other ski resorts in the greater region. This makes for more dependable snowpacks, which, of course, is great to know when planning a ski trip. In addition to its altitude, the resort shelters much of its snow on north-facing terrain, keeping it cold and fresh. On-mountain lodging options are amongst the deepest in the industry, although can book quickly thanks to a hungry L.A. skiing market.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
13	Solitude UT		437 in	1,200 acres	2,047 ft	10,035 ft	8	84.0
A hidden gem on the Salt Lake side of the Wasatch, Solitude gives Utah ski trips an escape valve when things at Snowbird, Alta and Park City grow too busy. The mountain is aptly named. With its location in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Solitude offers one of the best snow profiles in North America, where it gets pounded by systems amped up on lake effect moisture that get trapped against the west face of the Wasatch. The village has been greatly upgraded, and offers an opportunity for a truly quiet retreat against some of the best skiing on the continent.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
14	Aspen Highlands CO		252 in	1,028 acres	3,635 ft	11,675 ft	5	83.8
Aspen Highlands gives ski trips to the Aspen area an added dimension. This is a skier's mountain, where fall lines are pure and runs tend to be void of people. The bootpack up Highlands Bowl is one of the premier in-bounds hiking tracks in all of skiing. And for those who make its summit (it's not that bad; you can make it), the rewards are real: long, steep lines with powder stashes throughout the trees. Highlands offers a little nip of Alta-style rough edges in the what is the most exclusive alpine valley in North America.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
15	Aspen Mountain CO		250 in	675 acres	3,267 ft	11,212 ft	8	83.0
The name Aspen has been synonynous with ski trips for decades—with good reason. Aspen defined the paradigm for ski towns everywhere else in North America. And it still remains one of the continent's best destinations, with one of the most tightly integrated relationships between ski resort and town. Skiers here can go as upmarket as they want in lodging and fare, but there are bargains to be had by those who book early. The skiing here will please anybody: tons of legitimate expert runs, great intermediate cruisers and very few crowds.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
16	Grand Targhee WY		466 in	3,000 acres	2,592 ft	10,000 ft	5	82.4
Grand Targhee's corner of the Tetons offers one of the best situations for powder skiing in all of the world. For those seeking a ski trip that delivers a higher probability of a large snowfall, Grand Targhee should be near the top of the list. The village at the base of the ski resort has seen major investment during the last 15 years, making top-end lodging a reality. The nearby town of Driggs, Idaho, has undergone its own boom during the last 10 years, and offers skiers more dining options. Jackson Hole is an easy day-trip from here.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
17	Brighton UT		504 in	1,050 acres	1,750 ft	10,500 ft	6	82.2
Work Brighton into a Utah ski trip when other resorts are getting crowded, or when Park City doesn't have a lot of snow. Brighton, located on the Salt Lake side of the Wasatch, is one of the best places in the world for snow. Its terrain is mellower, but there are some good pitches up top that will keep anybody happy. Big Cottonwood Canyon continues to be an underutilized skiing asset.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
18	Breckenridge CO		282 in	2,358 acres	3,240 ft	12,840 ft	31	81.7
Expansive terrain and high altitudes keep all kinds of skiers happy and the snow cold and plentiful. For ski trips to the I-70 corridor, Breckridge offers the most genuine ski town experience of the bunch, with a bustling main street featuring a mix of old and new structures. The lodging pool is deep here, and the lift system is large and fast, moving skiers around multiple peaks with ease.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
19	Deer Valley UT		275 in	2,026 acres	3,000 ft	9,570 ft	22	81.5
The king of on-mountain ski food, Deer Valley brings quality to its on-mountain cafeterias that set a standard 30 years ago and remains the bar at which all other ski areas are judged. Our advice: double chocolate cookie and the turkey chili, in that order. The on-mountain lodging pool is among the deepest and most luxurious in the industry. The level of service at Deer Valley is unmatched anywhere else. The skiing offers something for everybody, with world class groomers and steep chutes off of the Empire Canyon Chair.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
20	Palisades Tahoe CA		369 in	3,600 acres	2,850 ft	9,050 ft	30	81.5
As the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Palisades Tahoe is a formidable mountain with big vertical terrain that challenges the best skiers in the world. But it's also a superior destination for ski trips, as it has great amounts of intermediate cruisers and varied terrain that can keep a big group skiers with disparate skill sets entertained. The village has been built up and is one of the two best in the Tahoe region.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
21	Whitefish MT		332 in	3,000 acres	2,353 ft	6,817 ft	14	80.6
Whitefish has developed something of a cult following. People who take one ski trip to this Montana outpost are highly likely to go back again and again. The mountain is big, at 3,000 acres, never crowded and it gets better than 300" of snow a year. The tree skiing here is excellent and the place is truly away from the bustle and chatter than can dominate other resorts.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
22	Alyeska AK		488 in	1,500 acres	2,500 ft	2,750 ft	9	80.3
If you're taking a ski trip to Alaska and you're not getting into a helicopter, then you're skiing at Alyeska. This is the big dog ski resort in the biggest state of them all. The place gets snow like few other spots on earth. Ten-foot storms happen. Traveling to Alyeska can be easier than many expect. The drive from the Anchorage Airport, which sports direct flights into most of the major hubs in the U.S., is only 45 minutes and features spectacular views of the ocean and mountains. Alyeska's base is basically at sea level, so altitude is not a factor for visitors. Hotel Alyeska is a keystone property and a destination in and of itself.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
23	Kirkwood CA		459 in	2,300 acres	2,000 ft	9,800 ft	14	80.3
The best spot for snow in the Tahoe region of the Sierra, Kirkwood gets lots of snow and tends to preserve it well. This gives those planning ski trips good piece of mind. It also beckons to the keener powderhounds in Northern California who try to dodge the crowds at Squaw and Heavenly. Kirkwood offers skiers a unique, snow-filled option in one of America's prime stretches of ski resorts.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
24	Taos NM		254 in	1,294 acres	3,243 ft	12,450 ft	13	79.9
For those who haven't been, taking a ski trip to Taos requires a leap of faith. As the only major destination ski resort in the state of New Mexico, the routine of getting to Taos is outside the norm. But those skiers who do make the trip are rewarded with one of the most unique experiences in skiing, where the Southwest mixes with high altitude, deep green forests and wide open slopes.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
25	Crested Butte CO		253 in	1,547 acres	2,500 ft	11,875 ft	16	79.5
One of the most technically challenging mountains in Colorado, Crested Butte ski trips can keep any expert entertained. The mountain also includes a large number of blue runs (more than half the terrain), so intermediated will find this mountain a good fit as well. The town of Crested Butte is a beautiful mountain hamelet, with a legitmately old core of town that harkens back to the mining days. The lodging pool is deep thanks to a build-up of properties during the real estate boom.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
26	A-Basin CO		314 in	900 acres	1,692 ft	12,472 ft	7	78.7
FYI: Full Ikon Pass holders get 7 days, Base Pass holders 5 days at A-Basin. This is one of the few resorts whose typical conditions continue to improve from mid-January all the way through march. Snow here stays cold, even in the spring, thanks to the high elevation and lots of north exposure. Spring days here are among the best in skiing. In early April, there is no better ski trip destination.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
27	Copper CO		278 in	2,465 acres	2,601 ft	12,313 ft	22	78.1
Copper Mountain is one of the first ski resorts that travelers hit driving west on I-70 from Colorado, and it's worthy of a stop. For being relatively close to Denver, the resort is rarely over-crowded. The mountain possesses elite snow preservation characteristics, which make it ideal for spring break, and the on-mountain lodging pool in the village is deep and well-developed.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
28	Loveland CO		344 in	1,800 acres	1,900 ft	12,700 ft	10	77.8
This place is gem hidden in plain view. It sits on south side of I-70, stradding the east entrance to the Eisenhower tunnel. Even by Colorado standards, Loveland is high, with a base of around 11,000 feet. That means lots of snow and great snow preservation. Add in the fact that 40% of Loveland's terrain faces north and you have a veritable deep freezer keeping things cold and soft. Loveland makes for a great day trip for any ski trips staging out of Vail or Summit County ski areas.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
29	Crystal Mountain WA		413 in	2,600 acres	2,472 ft	6,872 ft	11	77.2
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
30	Stevens Pass WA		474 in	1,125 acres	1,829 ft	5,845 ft	10	76.7
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
31	Keystone CO		235 in	3,148 acres	2,718 ft	11,998 ft	20	76.0
Keystone is a unique ski trip destination that has a special knack for making things easy on families. The parking is free, and gear wagons, used to shuttle kids and stuff from the car to the slopes, are free and abundant. The ski runs here are long, with good extended fall lines coming off of several peaks. There's nothing super steep at Keystone, but experts can stay sated by hiking or riding the cats ($10 a ride) to some back bowls and snow that don't see many skiers.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
32	Wolf Creek CO		387 in	1,600 acres	1,604 ft	11,904 ft	7	75.8
Wolf Creek collects more snow than any other major ski resort in Colorado. This makes Wolf Creek's early season one of the most dependable in the Rockies. The terrain is mostly easy-going, but there are some short shots of excellent expert terrain toward the top of the resort, and the resort's family owners have made real efforts to improving access there.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
33	Mt Baker WA		651 in	1,000 acres	1,500 ft	5,089 ft	10	75.4
There is no ski mountain in North America—and perhaps even the world—that receives more snow that Mt. Baker. An average season of snowfall at Mt. Baker would best the biggest year on record at most resorts across the West. Cascade storms can bring warmer precipitation than what usually falls in the Rockies, and Baker's elevation is lower, so it can get rain. But with 640" of snow in an average year, there's more than enough good stuff to go around.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
34	Powder Mountain UT		350 in	3,200 acres	2,200 ft	8,900 ft	7	75.4
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
35	Snowbasin UT		316 in	2,820 acres	2,959 ft	9,250 ft	12	74.3
The best skiing in Utah north of Salt Lake. Better terrain than Powder Mountain.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
36	Northstar CA		316 in	3,170 acres	2,280 ft	8,610 ft	20	73.8
Northstar has become the Deer Valley of the Lake Tahoe area, complete with a Ritz and dining options that can satisfy all kinds of demanding Bay Area palates. Staying in the village here offers an incredibly convenient experience, and families love the gear wagons that are supplied free at the parking lot. The mountain's best features are its generous and picturesque glades, which can satisfy experts with their deep stashes.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
37	Mt Hood Meadows OR		452 in	2,150 acres	2,777 ft	7,300 ft	11	73.6
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
38	Bridger Bowl MT		303 in	2,000 acres	2,700 ft	8,800 ft	7	73.5
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
39	Mt Bachelor OR		383 in	3,683 acres	3,365 ft	9,065 ft	14	73.3
The best skiing and the best snow in Oregon, Bachelor is part of the Ikon Pass, and with that association it has seen the number of skiers on its slopes go up. It's still a tough place to trek to as a destination skier, and the crowds from Portland get split between here and Hood, so it can be a great bet all winter.
		Multipass?	True Snow*	Acres	Vert	Summit	Lifts	Score
40	Heavenly CA		321 in	4,800 acres	3,500 ft	10,040 ft	30	73.3
The undisputed king of South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly straddles the border of California and Nevada, giving skiers glorious views of Lake Tahoe and wide swaths of all kinds of terrain to keep everybody on the ski trip comfortable but challenged. Lodging is bountiful, with on-mountain options plus all of South Lake at the ready.

Christopher Steiner is the founder of ZRankings and the New York Times Bestselling author of two books.