United States’ 10 highest Ski Resorts

Skier’s experience is enhanced by altitude. Skiing at sea level in the Bahamas (without fake snow, that is) may seem like a dream come true, but the natural laws of the universe prevent it. You need to go higher.

However, there are some variations here. In the Midwest, some ski resorts are just glorified hills. Some of them punch much further into the troposphere than others. Skiing in higher-altitude locations has numerous benefits.

Temperatures below freezing make the snow lighter and drier, and the views are always exceptional. The experience of seeing 360 degrees from an alpine peak is one you won’t forget.

The downside is that mountain ski resorts in the U.S. are higher than flatlands. One year, I traveled with my dad to Arapahoe Basin, Colorado. At that point, I was accustomed to sea level, so after a few runs at A-Basin, I felt nauseated.

After turning sheet white, my dad told me it was time to hit the lodge and drink some Gatorade. The lesson I learned was valuable, but I recovered quickly. Skiing above 10,000 feet might be a challenge at first if you aren’t used to it. Drink a lot of water if you aren’t used to it.

Now that that caveat or warning has been thrown out of the way, here are the ten highest ski resorts in the United States. There’s no point in letting the altitude stop you from exploring these destinations – the views alone are well worth the sometimes discomfort of acclimatization.

Silverton Mountain, Colorado, is truly like no other. Skiing at this resort is like skiing in the backcountry with only a single lift providing access to backcountry terrain.

When the season winds down, Silverton Mountain’s lifts will be open to unguided skiers as well, instead of requiring guides to ride this terrain most of the year.

Its affordable helicopter skiing program makes Silverton Mountain one of the most unique ski resorts in North America. Heli-skiing runs at this ski area cost $199 per run, which is an excellent price compared to most other heli-skiing operations.

Altitude is another important feature of Silverton Mountain. Pack the Excedrin before you visit. The altitude here isn’t as high as Mt. Everest base camp, but visitors from lower-altitude areas may have difficulty adjusting.

Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado, reaches more than 13,000 feet from its base elevation of 8,725 feet. At Telluride, you can access the final vertical footage via the Prospector Express, which will launch you onto Palmyra Peak after a roughly 2-hour hike.

It’s an inbounds hike, but that doesn’t make it easy. Your climb to the Peak will cover 1,300 vertical feet by the time you reach the summit.

It’s worth it, though, to endure the slog and gain elevation. The highest alpine terrain in Telluride provides expert-level thrills, unlike anything else in the country.

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In Arapahoe Basin, Colorado, there are a number of calling cards, and the longest ski season is one of them. Ski resorts in Colorado usually open in October and remain open until June, making them the longest-operating resorts in the country.

However, Arapahoe Basin offers much more than just skiing in the pre- and late-season. The steep skiing, along with the views from higher-elevation lifts, like the Lenawee Express, are among the best in the world

When compared to some of Colorado’s sprawling destination resorts, Loveland Ski Area is relatively small. After all, it has a lift-served terrain footprint of about 1,800 acres. Humble is a compliment in this case, especially in a state known for its often out-of-control ski crowds.

Loveland’s lines are often short, season passes are reasonably priced, and pass holders can ride the Ridge Cat free of charge. When it comes to Loveland, bigger does not necessarily mean better.

A high-altitude ski lift, the Imperial Superchair, whisks skiers high above treeline into a wide variety of terrain and advanced trails at Breck’s Peak 8. The ski resort’s vertical feet can be soaked up by hiking up Peak 8 from the upper terminal of the Imperial Superchair.

At Breck, the Kensho Superchair reaches into the upper alpine, enabling access to hike-to terrain up to 12,500 feet in elevation.

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Aspen Snowmass, one of four ski areas in Aspen, Colorado, is topped by The Cirque, a hikeable peak with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains, including the magnificent Maroon Bells at 14,000 feet.

Skiers who like to combine their winter vacations with a bit of celebrity spotting will find this area to be great for skiing.

Skiers at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, consider the resort to be the pinnacle of resort skiing in the Southwest, with its 1,294 acres of terrain, which receives 300 inches of snow on average per season. In Taos Ski Valley, there are typically 300 sunny days a year.

Taos’ Kachina Peak Lift, built in 2014, provides lift-access skiing beneath the peak’s nearly 12,500 feet. Skiers can rip lap after lap of the high-altitude good stuff now that this terrain is no longer hike-to only.

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Numerous terrain parks are located there, and the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, an elite freeskiing competition, is also held there. The thrill of flying isn’t the only thing that makes this mountain so attractive.

Copper’s 2,500-acre terrain footprint ensures you’ll find the kind of skiing you’re looking for, no matter what. Copper Mountain’s 12,441-foot peak is accessed via the Storm King lift, which offers skiers access to the high alpine.

Ski travelers are sure to find Keystone, Colorado, with 21 lifts, 140 named trails, and 3,149 skiable acres, a destination resort that offers everything a North American ski resort can.

On-piste, Breck’s lift system holds up well. As a result of the Bergman Express’ recent opening, more than 550 acres of above-treeline terrain in Bergman and Erickson Bowls have now become accessible.

This terrain previously had to be hiked to, as with Taos’ Kachina Peak. Skiers with good lungs can now endlessly lap it – provided they are capable of skiing thousands of feet above sea level.

There are a lot of beginner, intermediate, and expert runs at Keystone, in addition to the Bergman Express. You can also challenge yourself at the Outback Express.

Aspen Snowmass claimed another spot on this ten-trillion-dollar list with Highlands. In Highland’s lower mountain area, intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers can find a variety of terrain that’s interesting and well-suited to their abilities-but the hike-to terrain is the real deal.

The Highland Bowl can be reached by skiing 782 vertical feet up Deep Temerity and Loge Peak. Highland Bowl offers some of Colorado’s steepest and most exciting terrain, so don’t let that discourage you. You will sweat excessively and tire quickly. There is a greater chance of scoring fresh turns without a lift present. 

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