Expert rider takes on the extreme terrain off Lone Peak at Big Sky. Credit: Big Sky Resort #3 Jackson Hole, WYVertical Drop: 4,139ft (1,262m)Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is known globally as the Big One and might be the most challenging inbounds ski resort on the planet. Thanks to the legendary Aerial Tram riders have access to over 4,000ft of vertical that can be accessed in a single ride from top to bottom. This puts Jackson Hole Mountain resort in the #1 spot when talking about true vertical and the third top spot when we look at the longest vertical drop in the United States. Summit Elevation: 10,450ft / 3,185mBase Elevation: 6,311ft / 1,923mVertical Drop: 4,139ft / 1,262mBeginner: 4%Intermediate: 38%Advanced: 42%Expert: 16%Number of Runs: 133Number of Lifts: 13Avg Annual Snowfall: 500" / 41.67ft / 1270cmResort terrain: 2,500 acres / 1,012 haPass Type: Ikon / Mountain Collective
The famous Big Red tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Credit: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort #4 Beaver Creek, COVertical Drop: 4,040ft (1,231m)Beaver Creek in Colorado is an extremely prestigious ski resort found just up the road from Vail and offers their riders just over 4,000ft of vertical. This leg burning height can be ridden on perfectly manicured ski trails and whilst it might take you a few lifts to reach the summit of the resort you can meander down beginner trails all the way back to the main base. Summit Elevation: 11,440ft / 3,487mBase Elevation: 7,400ft / 2,255mVertical Drop: 4,040ft / 1,231mBeginner: 38%Intermediate: 30%Advanced: 24%Expert: 8%Number of Runs: 150Number of Lifts: 24Avg Annual Snowfall: 232" / 19.33ft / 589cmResort terrain: 1,832 acres / 741 haPass Type: Epic
Beaver Creek main village bowl. Credit: Beaver Creek Resort #5 Telluride, COVertical Drop: 3,790ft (1,155m)Located deep in the San Juan Mountains Telluride ski resort is nearly as challenging as Jackson Hole when you get to the summit of the resort. The lift serviced access tops out at over 12,000ft however those expert riders looking for a real thrill can hike another 1,000ft of vertical to over 13,000ft.Summit Elevation: 12,515ft / 3,814mBase Elevation: 8,725ft / 2,659mVertical Drop: 3,790ft / 1,155mBeginner: 23%Intermediate: 36%Advanced: 20%Expert: 21%Number of Runs: 148Number of Lifts: 19Avg Annual Snowfall: 280" / 23.33ft / 711cmResort terrain: 2,000 acres / 809 haPass Type: Epic
Telluride ski resort rising above the town. Credit: Telluride Ski Resort #6 Steamboat, COVertical Drop: 3,668ft (1,118m)Steamboat Springs is home to some of the best powder snow in Colorado, it’s so good they named it Champagne Powder and when it’s dumping the resort is firing on all cylinders. Visitors to the resort can access 170 trails with a total of 3,668ft of vertical drop across the resort which will keep even the best riders entertained all season long. Summit Elevation: 10,568ft / 3,221mBase Elevation: 6,900ft / 2,103mVertical Drop: 3,668ft / 1,118mBeginner: 14%Intermediate: 42%Advanced: 40%Expert: 4%Number of Runs: 170Number of Lifts: 18Avg Annual Snowfall: 320" / 26.67ft / 813cmResort terrain: 2,965 acres / 1,200 haPass Type: Ikon
Steamboat peaks after a snowstorm. Credit: Steamboat Resort #7 Aspen Highlands, COVertical Drop: 3,637ft (1,109m)Aspen Snowmass has already appeared on this list in the number 2 spot but sister mountain Aspen Highlands sits comfortably at number 7 with 3,637ft of vertical drop. Aspen Highlands is an intermediate to expert only ski resort with no beginner terrain. The vertical drop at Aspen Highlands is a true lift serviced vertical drop where riders can get off the Loge Peak lift and then ride all the way back down to the Highlands Base Village. Riding only two lifts outs you back at the summit to do it all again. Summit Elevation: 11,677ft / 3,559mBase Elevation: 8,040ft / 2,450mVertical Drop: 3,637ft / 1,109mBeginner: 0%Intermediate: 23%Advanced: 12%Expert: 65%Number of Runs: 144Number of Lifts: 5Avg Annual Snowfall: 240" / 20.00ft / 610cmResort terrain: 1,040 acres / 421 haPass Type: Ikon / Mountain Collective
Aspen Highlands peak summit. Credit: Aspen Snowmass #8 Heavenly, CAVertical Drop: 3,500ft (1,067m)The first and only Californian resort to make it on the list is Heavenly ski resort which towers above the crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe. Accessing Heavenly requires a gondola trip up from South Lake Tahoe however once up in the ski resort riders have access to 97 different trails that are serviced by 28 lifts and cover 4,800 acres of skiable terrain. This mega resort would take days to completely explore and with a vertical drop of 3,500ft you’d hope you accomodation has a spa to relax in each night. Summit Elevation: 10,067ft / 3,068mBase Elevation: 6,567ft / 2,002mVertical Drop: 3,500ft / 1,067mBeginner: 8%Intermediate: 62%Advanced: 25%Expert: 5%Number of Runs: 97Number of Lifts: 28Avg Annual Snowfall: 360" / 30.00ft / 914cmResort terrain: 4,800 acres / 1,943 haPass Type: Epic
Views from the Heavenly Mountain Gondola high above Lake Tahoe. Credit: Heavenly Mountain Resort #9 Vail, COVertical Drop: 3,450ft (1,052m)Vail ski resort rounds out the top 10 for the resorts in Colorado and offers visitors to the ski resort 3,450ft of vertical drop. The birthplace of the Epic Pass this ski resort is also one of the most visited ski destinations in the United States. One thing that really sets ski Vail apart from the rest and no doubt keeps visitors coming back for the skiing must be the Legendary Back Bowls which are 7 high alpine bowls which span seven miles across the backside of the resort. This is where most of the terrain at the resort is found with this region taking up over 3,000 acres of terrain and it’s where the skiing at Vail gets legendary. Summit Elevation: 11,570ft / 3,526mBase Elevation: 8,120ft / 2,475mVertical Drop: 3,450ft / 1,052mBeginner: 19%Intermediate: 29%Advanced: 48%Expert: 4%Number of Runs: 195Number of Lifts: 31Avg Annual Snowfall: 354" / 29.50ft / 899cmResort terrain: 5,317 acres / 2,152 haPass Type: Epic
Sunrise over Vail Mountain Resort. Credit: Vail Resort #10 Whiteface, NYVertical Drop: 3,430ft (1,045m)The perfect way to close put any top 10 list is to have a ski resort that is nothing like the rest. Whiteface is located in New York and is the only ski resort which is not located in the western side of the country where most of the major mountain ranges are located. Whiteface ski resort offers visitors 3,166ft of true vertical and that increases to 3,430ft for those willing to really hike for it. Whiteface ski resort is home to 89 trails which is spread out over 300 acres of terrain and was even home to the Winter Olympics. Summit Elevation: 4,650ft / 1417mBase Elevation: 1,220ft / 372mVertical Drop: 3,430ft / 1,045mBeginner: 24%Intermediate: 44%Advanced: 25%Expert: 7%Number of Runs: 89Number of Lifts: 12Avg Annual Snowfall: 150" / 12.50ft / 381cmResort terrain: 300 acres / 121 haPass Type:
