Alyeska rises from near sea level at 230 feet (70 m) to 2,760 feet (840 m) in the Chugach Mountains above Girdwood, a vertical of about 2,530 feet (770 m) that is the biggest in Alaska. Its 76 runs cover about 1,610 acres (652 hectares), and around 650 inches of snow falls each year. Intermediates account for 52% of the trails, advanced skiers 20%, experts 17% and beginners 11%. An aerial tram, four quad chairs and two surface lifts carry skiers, and the steep, glacier-carved bowl keeps the skiing serious for a resort so close to Anchorage.

Chair 6 reaches the highest lift-served point on the mountain, and from there skiers drop into Christmas Chute and the North Face, or traverse to Silvertip, Trapline, Mighty Mite and High Traverse. High Traverse is a hike-to black diamond line, and the traverse leads on toward the double black terrain of Max's Mountain and Upper Glacier Bowl. Chair 3 serves the main beginner area, but the step up to the rest of the mountain is considerable. Alyeska suits strong intermediates, advanced skiers and powder seekers, and it makes a rare destination where deep storms meet a genuine vertical.

The 2025-26 season at Alyeska ran from 24 November 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly twenty-week window, among the longer seasons of any US resort. Alaska's far northern latitude gives the resort long daylight hours in spring even as the season extends into April. Season dates can shift based on early and late-season snowpack. This length reflects both the resort's high snowfall and its far-northern position.

Average annual snowfall of roughly 650 inches ranks among the highest of any ski resort in North America, a result of Alyeska's position in the Chugach Mountains catching moisture-laden storms off the Gulf of Alaska. This exceptional natural snowfall makes snowmaking a secondary consideration compared with most other US resorts. Base depth builds substantially through midwinter given the sheer volume of natural snow. The Chugach Mountains' coastal position drives this snowfall pattern.

January and February typically deliver the deepest natural snowpack, consistent with the broader Alaska storm pattern. The resort's far-northern latitude means short daylight hours in December and January, lengthening substantially by March and April. Spring skiing in March and April benefits from both a deep base and improving daylight and weather. Weekday visits are generally quieter than weekends, given Alyeska's role as Alaska's primary destination resort.

Alyeska's calendar has historically included extreme skiing competitions given its steep 2,526-foot vertical drop and challenging terrain, though specific current event programming is not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's exceptional snowfall and vertical drop have long attracted attention from big-mountain skiers and film crews. Girdwood's broader identity as an Alaska outdoor recreation town supports activities beyond skiing through the season. Under Pomeroy Lodging's ownership since 2018, the calendar continues to centre on Alyeska's role as Alaska's premier ski destination.