Ski Resorts with Highest Vertical Drop

Wyoming’s premier ski resort, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort features 2,500 skiable acres and 133 trails, not to mention four terrain parks and plenty of backcountry acreage. This sprawling ski area is perfectly suited to intermediate and advanced skiers, with nearly 40 percent of trails designed for intermediate, and almost all the rest marked black diamond. Although less than 5 percent of Jackson Hole’s trails cater to beginners, the resort does have a ski school and private ski instruction. The resort and the neighboring town ofJacksonalso feature a thriving après-ski scene.

Timberline Ski Area in Oregon has the longest ski season in North America, allowing powder hounds access to snowy slopes long after other resorts have closed for the summer.

Home to the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games,Lake Placidis the place for passion and challenge, and Whiteface Mountain certainly embodies that. Greatest vertical in the Northeast is a very big statement with all that New York has to offer. Often touted for providing one of the best ski experiences in the East, Whiteface boasts 98 percent snowmaking coverage and expert terrain well maintained by long rolling groomers. Whiteface’s terrain caters to all levels of skier. Meanwhile, the Cloudsplitter Gondola is not just a way to get from the lodge to the top of the mountain; you can take in spectacular views of the Adirondacks, Lake Placid, Lake Champlain and so much more.

Taos Ski Valley is known for seeing both 300 inches of snowfall and 300 days of sunshine every year.

Silverton Mountain Ski Resort is one of the country’s most thrilling ski destinations, boasting 1,819 acres of some of the steepest terrain in North America.

The largest ski resort in the eastern U.S., Killington encompasses seven distinct mountain areas, including the second-highest peak in Vermont. Known as the “Beast of the East” for its lofty vertical drop, this ski destination knows how to lure thrill-seekers. The Canyon area and the Big Dipper offer plenty of challenging runs for more experienced powder hounds. But that doesn’t mean those new to snow sports won’t have fun. The entire Snowshed Lodge area is designed with beginners in mind, and the resort’s ski school will have you feeling confident on your skis or board in no time.

Maine’s most renowned resort, Sugarloaf boasts one of the largest skiable areas on the East Coast, not to mention the region’s only lift-serviced trails above the treeline. Sprawling across the towering Sugarloaf Mountain in the western part of the state, Sugarloaf’s trails offer stunning views of the Carrabassett Valley. The resort’s 150-plus trails are relatively equally divided by skill level, meaning everyone from newbies to experts will have plenty of terrain to explore. What’s more, Sugarloaf’s northern location and high average snowfall average tends to lead to longer-than-usual ski seasons, with lifts often operating until May.