Best of United States
Best Ski Resorts in United States 2026/27: Largest, Highest & for Beginners
By Book & Ski · Sources checked
The short answer
By mapped runs, the biggest ski areas in United States are Park City Mountain Resort (256 km), Big Sky Resort (238 km) and Vail (215 km). The highest is Loveland Basin Ski Area, with runs from 3,937 m (12,917 ft); the biggest vertical is at Timberline Lodge Ski Area (1,373 m); and Boyne Mountain has the largest share of easy terrain (54%).
| Resort | Top elevation | Vertical | Mapped runs | Easy terrain | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park City Mountain Resort | 3,046 m | 1,077 m | 256 km | 8% | source |
| Big Sky Resort | 3,402 m | 1,325 m | 238 km | 27% | source |
| Vail | 3,526 m | 1,074 m | 215 km | 25% | source |
| Deer Valley Resort | 2,912 m | 948 m | 183 km | 35% | source |
| Beaver Creek | 3,484 m | 1,233 m | 167 km | 53% | source |
| Powder Mountain Ski Resort | 2,862 m | 840 m | 130 km | 36% | source |
| Steamboat Ski Resort | 3,219 m | 1,118 m | 122 km | 22% | source |
| Aspen Snowmass | 3,815 m | 1,342 m | 119 km | 10% | source |
| Keystone | 3,803 m | 974 m | 116 km | 19% | source |
| Copper Mountain | 3,765 m | 806 m | 115 km | 28% | source |
Highest ski resorts in United States
Higher resorts generally hold snow longer into spring. These have the highest mapped runs in United States.
Loveland Basin Ski Area: 3,937 m (12,917 ft) →Breckenridge: 3,910 m (12,828 ft) →Telluride Ski Area: 3,821 m (12,536 ft) →Aspen Snowmass: 3,815 m (12,516 ft) →Arapahoe Basin: 3,815 m (12,516 ft) →Biggest vertical drop
Vertical is the height difference between the highest and lowest mapped runs: a guide to how long the longest descents can be.
Timberline Lodge Ski Area: 1,373 m vertical →Aspen Snowmass: 1,342 m vertical →Big Sky Resort: 1,325 m vertical →Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: 1,246 m vertical →Beaver Creek: 1,233 m vertical →Best for beginners (most easy terrain)
Ranked by the share of mapped run length graded novice or easy. A big share of gentle runs gives beginners more room to progress; also check where the ski school meets.
Boyne Mountain: 54% easy (25 km total) →Beaver Creek: 53% easy (167 km total) →Sunrise Park Resort: 52% easy (42 km total) →Seven Springs Mountain Resort: 50% easy (24 km total) →Boyne Highlands Resort: 50% easy (22 km total) →How we chose
“Best” here means measurable: size (km of mapped downhill runs), top elevation, vertical drop and the share of easy terrain, across the 131 ski areas with at least 20 km of runs and five lifts in United States. Figures come from OpenStreetMap via OpenSkiMap, retrieved 2026-10-01, and can differ from resorts’ own published numbers.
All ski resorts in United States →Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest ski resort in United States?
By mapped runs, Park City Mountain Resort, with about 256 km and 43 lifts.
What is the highest ski resort in United States?
Loveland Basin Ski Area, with mapped runs starting at about 3,937 m (12,917 ft).
Which United States ski resort is best for beginners?
By share of easy terrain, Boyne Mountain (54% of runs graded novice or easy). Also consider ski school locations and lift access.
Official sources
Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.