Best ski resorts and snowboarding spots
To help you plan your next amazing winter getaway, we’ve found North America’s top spots for skiing and snowboarding this season.
To find the best places across 10 categories, we invited a panel of experts to nominate their favorite ski resorts, ski hotels, ski towns, on-mountain restaurants, ski schools, ski shops, and après-ski bars, as well as places for cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Then, readers voted for their top picks to determine the winners.
Click on each category below to see the full winners list:
Best Apres-Ski Bar: Outer Range Brewing Co. in Frisco, Colorado
Enjoy a drink and fantastic food at Outer Range Brewing Co. — Photo courtesy of Sean Greene
Outer Range Brewing Company commits 1% of their equity, profit, product, and time to The Summit Foundation, which gives back to the Summit County community. With a prime location in the Colorado Rockies, their famous Thai-ish fried chicken is a post-skiing favorite.
Full list of winners: Best Apres-Ski Bar »
Best Cross-Country Ski Resort: Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado
Explore the Colorado Rockies at Devil’s Thumb Ranch — Photo courtesy of Devil’s Thumb Ranch
Devil’s Thumb Ranch features nearly 75 miles of groomed trails, making it a favorite resort for cross-country skiing in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Beginners can sign up for private lessons, while more advanced skiers can push themselves on more difficult trails.
Full list of winners: Best Cross-Country Ski Resort »
Best Place for Snow Tubing: Camelback Resort in Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Camelback Resort wins Best Place for Snow Tubing for second year in a row — Photo courtesy of Camelback Resort
With two-hour sessions and over 40 lanes to choose from, there’s never a dull moment when snow tubing at Camelback Resort in the Poconos. Guests can line up side by side to race against family or friends, and things get totally tubular with the resort’s nighttime Galactic snow tubing experience.
Full list of winners: Best Place for Snow Tubing »
Best Place for Snowboarding: Copper Mountain in Copper Mountain, Colorado
Shread the slopes at Copper Mountain — Photo courtesy of Copper Mountain
At Copper Mountain, you’ll find over 2,500 acres of terrain to set your board on, and you can avail yourself of the resort’s top-notch group and private lessons, multi-week youth snowboard programs, adult clinics, and adaptive lessons for people with disabilities and other special needs. Choose from an array of seasonal or day passes to access this mountain’s incredible terrain.
Full list of winners: Best Place for Snowboarding »
Best Ski Hotel: Top of the Village in Snowmass Village, Colorado
Enjoy the convenience of ski-in/ski-out at Top of the Village — Photo courtesy of Top of the Village
At the top of Snowmass Village, Top of the Village offers a ski-in/ski-out experience with panoramic views of the Colorado Rockies. This condominium resort beckons guests with spacious accommodations, each with a fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, and private balcony or patio, perfect for taking in the mountain scenery. Amenities include heated outdoor pools, hot tubs, a fitness center, and a prime location with direct access to the extensive Snowmass trail network.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Hotel »
Best Ski Resort: Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville, Utah
Skiers of all skill levels can enjoy Snowbasin Resort — Photo courtesy of Brooks Roe
Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville, Utah, is one of the oldest continually-operated ski resorts in North America, and home of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games. Here in the pristine Wasatch Mountains, you’ll find 114 trails and over 3,000 acres of terrain ranging from steep trails, open bowls, and beginner-friendly groomers. The area features three zones — Strawberry, Needles, and John Paul — and an advanced lift system including gondolas, a tram, and express lifts.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Resort »
Best Ski Restaurant: The Reserve in Tamarack, Idaho
The Reserve wins Best Ski Restaurant for second year in arow — Photo courtesy of Sherri Harkin/Tamarack Resort
The Reserve, a bar and restaurant, feels both upscale and casual at the same time. It’s situated at the center of the village at Tamarack Resort and serves up a fantastic dinner menu, small bites, and an expansive selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. Don’t leave without capping off your meal with their caramel churros and huckleberry ice cream.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Restaurant »
Best Ski School: Ernie Blake Snowsports School in Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
An array of lessons are offered at Ernie Blake Snowsports School — Photo courtesy of Taos Ski Valley, Inc.
While Ernie Blake has full-day and half-day lessons like most ski resorts, they also offer ski weeks — each with a different theme. Choose from women’s week, race week, snowboard week, and more. There’s also childcare for adults who want to take a lesson without any little ones in tow.
Full list of winners: Best Ski School »
Best Ski Shop: Pinnacle Ski and Sports in Stowe, Vermont
Gear up for your next adventure at Pinnacle Ski and Sports — Photo courtesy of Pinnacle Ski and Sports
When you find yourself in the frosty embrace of Stowe, Vermont, check out Pinnacle Ski and Sports, which has been serving mountain mavericks for over 35 years. Armed with a brand-new Wintersteiger ski tuning machine to sharpen your edges, the shop also offers custom boot fitting, great deals on demo gear, basic ski and snowboard rental packages for kids and adults, and an arsenal of equipment and apparel.
There’s even a delivery concierge service that will come to your lodging accommodation and get your group outfitted for the slopes.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Shop »
Best Ski Town: North Conway, New Hampshire
North Conway, New Hampshire, makes a great home base for your ski vacation — Photo courtesy of VisitMWV/WiseguyCreative.com
A ski town in its own right — the slopes of Cranmore Mountain Resort are just a few blocks off of the White Mountain Highway, the town’s main street — North Conway is also a convenient base for day-tripping to other classic New England ski areas like Black Mountain, King Pine, and Attitash.
Formidable Mount Washington, the tallest peak in New England, can be explored by snow coach or the venerable Cog Railway, and the town’s cozy hotels and B&Bs promise a warm welcome after a winter day outdoors.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Town »
Congratulations to all these winners! Remember to visit 10best.usatoday.com daily to vote in more Readers’ Choice Awards.
