As the 21/22 season comes to a close and only a handful of the 400+ ski resorts that are dotted all over the United State we thought we would check to see who got the highest cumulative snow falls.
Winter is long gone to many, and spring was packed full of not only endless sunshine but for many resorts more snow fell in spring than across the peak of winter. As the 21/22 season comes to a close and only a handful of the 400+ ski resorts that are dotted all over the United State we thought we would check to see who got the highest cumulative snow falls. We compiled a very similar list in April 2021 and many of the same resorts bless the top 10 spots however in a range of different locations.
Glorious Mt Hood towers above Timberline Lodge. Image Credit: Timberline Lodge Resort This season was certainly not one for the record books as we saw extensive dry spells across many resorts from the start of Jan all the way through till around mid-March. What we did see change was many of the local restrictions across the resorts were lifted and travel was back on the cards. We ourselves escaped the Australian lockdowns and were able to spend 14 days riding across many of the resort in Utah, this included our first official powder day at Snowbird with over a foot of fresh snow with a backdrop of bluebird skies. With days like these we will not be forgetting that trip any time soon.The below numbers are pulled directly for the resort websites, and we focused our list based on the resorts that still have their season totals published. There may in fact be resorts which collected more snow however we took our snapshot on 15 May 2022. #1 Alyeska, AK: 848” / 70.67ft / 21.54mIt comes as no shock that Alyeksa tops the list as this is one of the highest latitude resorts across the United States and during winter just gets hammered day after day with white fluffy powder snow. This photo was taken at the end of March and the snow cats needed to dig a trench for the chairlifts to operate.
Photo: @alaskaexplorer #2 Mt Baker, WA: 647” / 53.92ft / 16.43mMt Baker ski area is another legend when it comes to snowfall and always appears in the top 5. This year was an average season with “cough” only “cough” 647” falling across the resort. Plenty of powder for the riders who call Mt Baker home.
Image Credit: Mt Baker Ski Resort #3 Timberline Lodge, OR: 568” / 47.34 / 14.43m Home to the longest ski season in the USA Timberline Lodge welcomes riders from mid-November all the way through to summer most years and thanks to the 568” of snow many summer riders will be enjoying the Palmer Glacier for weeks to come.
Image Credit: Timberline Lodge #4 Mt Hood Meadows, OR: 521” / 43.42ft / 13.23mSitting on the eastern face of the towering Mt Hood volcano Mt Hood Meadows is consistently blessed with well over 500” of snow which allows for a very long season and some great spring riding.
Image Credit: Mt Hood Meadows #5 Mt Bachelor, OR: 447” / 37.25ft / 11.35mRounding out the top list for Oregon Mt Bachelor served up nearly 450” of the great white stuff we all love which has the lifts still turning and over 100 trails still on offer which could last till the end of the month.
Image Credit: Mt Bachlor #6 Alta, UT: 446” / 37.17ft / 11.33mAfter an incredible December, then one of the driest winters on record with no more than 10 inches of snow in Jan and Feb many were questioning what was going on at Alta. Then like a bat out of hell spring arrived and so did the storms. Thanks to this odd occurrence Alta closed the season with nearly 450” of snow which is only 50” below average.
Image Credit: Alta Ski Area #7 Snowbird, UT: 435” / 36.25ft / 11.05m Just like neighbouring Alta, Snowbird suffered the same dry spell but then came the spring storm system which absolutely dumped across the resort. Snowbird was able to keep riding all the way up to mid may and only just recently closed. The 22/23 season will see the upgraded tram make its debut and we along with all the Utah riders cannot wait.
Image Credit: SnowStash #8 Palisades Tahoe, CA: 411” / 34.25ft / 10.44m Did someone order 100” storms in Christmas? That’s exactly what was on the cards for Palisades Tahoe along with the rest of the mountain resorts that surround the great lake. Then like many of the resorts across the country there was not a snowflake in sight until spring came and the snow top ups arrived. Riders can still access great spring riding at Palisades Tahoe with the possibility of making it till the end of May.
Image Credit: Palisades Tahoe #9 Brighton, UT: 406” / 33.84ft / 10.31mHome to the Greatest Snow on Earth and some of the best views we have ever seen personally Brighton scored just over 400” of snow. Many locals through they were in for the worst season on record, but then mighty March arrived with its best friend awesome April.
Image Credit: SnowStash #10 Solitude, UT: 390” / 32.50ft / 991cmJust over the hill from all the other legends in the Cottonwood Canyons, Solitude was able to rack up nearly 400” of Utah snow. When the snow wasn’t falling the sun was shining and the riding was bringing smiles to everyone on the mountain.
Image Credit: SnowStash #11 Alpental, WA: 389” / 32.42ft / 988cmTucked deep into the Washington wilderness is the hidden gem of Alpental. If you know you know and that’s the way it should stay. A small resort with a handful of lifts and just tonnes of snow that’s deep. This resort always sits high on the list of most snow each season.
Image Credit: Alpental #12 Crystal Mountain, WA: 380” / 31.67ft / 965cmBasking in the shadows of Mt Rainer Crystal Mountain collects storm after storm which means powder turns a plenty. Thanks to 380” of snow over the winter season the resort is still allowing snow junkies to get their fix all the way through to May 30.
Image Credit: Crystal Mountain Resort #13 Sugar Bowl, CA: 376” / 31.33ft / 955cmOff the beaten track and under the radar sits Sugar Bowl resort. One of the oldest ski resorts in the country which got it starts with the help of Disney. A strong base was built thanks to the powerful storms around Christmas and some great late season snow saw Sugar Bowl round out with 376” of snow.
Image Credit: Sugar Bowl Resort #14 Stevens Pass, WA: 368” / 30.67ft / 935cmClosing out the top list for Washington is Stevens Pass resort where 368” of snow blessed the resort. Stevens Pass was plagued with drama at the start of the season until the former GM arrived like a knight in shining armour to save the day. We are looking forward to seeing how Stevens Pass goes under new management in the 22/23 season.
Image Credit: Stevens Pass #15 Grand Targhee, WY: 356” / 29.67ft / 904cmGrand Targhee allows everyone to focus on its big brother whilst they focus on what really important. Great riding packed full of good culture and deep deep Wyoming powder snow.
Image Credit: Grand Targhee #16 Northstar California, CA: 334” / 27.83 / 848.36cmComing in with a tie for 16th place (yes we went to 16 spots) is Northstar California which was home to 334” of snow. Like the other Lake Tahoe neighbours, the resort saw a fantastic start to the season, a very questionable mid-winter and then a great spring where the nights were full of snow and days of endless Californian sunshine.
Image Credit: Northstar California #16 Jackson Hole, WY: 334” / 27.83ft / 848.36cmClosing out our list is quite possibly the most legendary resort which over time has risen to iconic status. Last year Jackson Hole Mountain Resort was 6th on the list with over 500” of snow however this year they only collected 334 which was still enough to open every part of the mountain including the famed Corbets Couloir.
