The top 10 most extreme ski resorts in North America ranked. Ski travel guides are here to help you research for your next ski vacation. Ski and Snowboard guide Galen Bradford presents the top 10 ski areas for experts in the North America. Galen was a ski patroller at Palisades Tahoe for 6+ years and author of his new Ski Travel Guide, “Palisades Tahoe: The Definitive Ski Guide” available now!
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Ski Travel Guides official rankings for Top ten most extreme ski and snowboard areas in North America:
#1.) Jackson Hole, Wyoming
#2.) Silverton, Colorado
#3.) Palisades Tahoe, California
#4.) Snowbird, Utah
#5.) Kickinghorse, Canada
#6.) Whistler, Canada
#7.) Revelstoke, Canada
#8.) Crested Butte, Colorado
#9.) Alyeska, Alaska
#10.) Big Sky, Montana
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Galen Bradford
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Big Sky, Montana
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Alyeska, Alaska
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Crested Butte, Colorado
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Shutterstock
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Canada
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Kickinghorse Mountain Resort, Canada
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Mason Watkins
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Palisades Tahoe, Lake Tahoe
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Silverton, Colorado
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Chugach Powder Guides, Girdwood Alaska
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Snowbird, Utah
20 Comments
Love!!!
Yes!!! Agree! Jackson Hole!! Woot woot. And drinks at the Mangy Moose afterward
Alyeska!!
Taos?
I know the anti snowboard thing comes from the way snowboarders have to sit on the lift, they would mess up old chairlifts. I don't know why it stuck though, I think rich white people just need to segregate someone.
Great list – I love the Bird and Jackson! You got me researching Silverton now …
IMO Jackson Hole is not #1 KHR is. It's probably why the FWT is held there and not at Jackson Hole. If you say 'extreme ski resorts' it's a no brainer. Ski magazine did a review of KHR a couple years after it opened and said that most double diamond runs in BC are similiar in difficulty except for KHR; at KHR it's two turns and pull your chute. Also, I ski Whistler every week and they get tons of snow but often wet. KHR has dry snow that every night gets wind blown and the chutes get filled in like a fresh pow day.
In my opinion, the most extreme terrain at Big Sky is off of the ridge hike and not the peak
Awesome list! Respect for putting squaw high on the list, many of these lists have it wayy to low
You dont need a guide to ski Silverton in the spring. Also Fantasy Ridge at Solitude is some of the gnarliest terrain you will ever find at a ski area.
I have worked for both Whistler and Kicking Horse. To all the Americans come on up To BC, you will not regret it.
Galen. You are a gaper. Sorry
I like this guy! I’m a snowboarder and piece to the sliding on snow, long live the freedom of choice!😊
You made an extreme skiing list for North America and left out Alta? Galen, you need to get out more or quit.
Sorry man skied them all and far as lift served goes Big Sky for sure. The Big Couloir is longer and steeper than Corbetts and that’s just the beginning. #2 is definitely Kicking Horse, badass hill.
A great list for sure! Would be fun to do a North American / Europe comparison. Chamonix, La Grave, Tignes, Verbier…. Europe wins out for the trams. And probably for the crazy stuff that isn’t even slack country, right there as you get off some of the lifts.
if you could retire and ski, which slope would you want to
liveon (ski in ski out) home or condo in Colorado? Breckenridge, Vail, Winter Park, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Copper Mtn, Beaver Creek, Aspen Snowmass, Crested Butte, or other???Great list! How do you think the ski resorts at Banff/Lake Louise compare to these ones?
Worked 3 seasons at big sky. Spot on.
Been to some but gonna try to get to most before I'm too old.