The USA is renowned for having all things big and ostentatious, and their ski resorts are no exception.

Many of the resorts are mega-large and have over 1,000 hectares of skiing terrain.  The associated profile of many of the resorts is also large, and have in fact become household names in the skiing industry. Who hasn't heard of Vail ski resort, Aspen, Snowbird, Deer Valley or Jackson Hole?

There are many benefits to going skiing or snowboarding in the US. Outstanding lift systems, high annual snowfalls, fantastic facilities, and the classic high standards of US hospitality, excellent accommodation to suit all budgets, great après ski activities and well groomed, uncrowded pistes – why wouldn't you want to go to America?

Ski resorts are dotted across various states in the US. Colorado skiing is probably the most well known with 27 resorts scattered across the Rocky Mountains. Examples of resorts in Colorado include Breckenridge, Aspen, Telluride and Vail, and the family-friendly resorts of Keystone and Winter Park. Utah skiing is great with many resorts around Salt Lake City including The Canyons, Park City, Deer Valley and the infamous Snowbird ski resort. On the west coast in California, there are well known resorts such as Heavenly, Squaw Valley and Mammoth Mountain. Northern ski states include Idaho and Montana, and expert skiers should head to Jackson Hole in Wyoming. This challenging mountain is on steroids.

Although most of the ski resorts are in the west, there are also some ski areas in the Eastern United States, such as Killington and Sugarloaf, however due to perceptions regarding inferior snow conditions, these Eastern ski resorts aren't commonly visited by international visitors.

There are also ski resorts in Alaska, but people only tend to visit these if they are also there to heli-ski, which is world renowned.  Alaska has a high concentration of heli-ski operations, particularly around the Chugach Range near Girdwood, Valdez and Cordova.

Ski Resorts: