25 Mountains Everyone Should Ski In Their Lifetime
Ski or snowboard in the shadow of the Matterhorn at Zermatt, Switzerland's iconic ski town.
With a vertical drop of 4,105 ft. and 116 trails for expert, intermediate, and beginners skiers, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has something for all skill levels. The Wyoming mountain was ranked the #1 overall resort by SKI Magazine in 2013.
Conquer the Andes Mountains at Valle Nevado, a ski resort just outside Santiago, Chile. After a day of skiing, don't forget to have a Pisco Sour on the outdoor deck.
Vail, Colorado, is legendary for good reason. It's the largest single ski area in the United States, with about 5,300 acres of skiable terrain. But the swanky town of Vail is also what draws people in, with its posh art galleries, restaurants, museums, and more.
Look out from the top of Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco ("White Mountain"), the highest peak in the Alps — and in Europe — which tops out at over 15,000 feet.
Traverse over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain at Whistler Blackcomb in Canada's British Columbia region. The mountain has an epic 5,234 ft. vertical descent.
Located in Austria's Tyrol region, Kitzbühel is a charming Alpine ski village that's become one of the most famous ski resorts in the world. This mountain has lots of intermediate terrain, making it a great choice for couples looking for a romantic ski vacation.
Get your adrenaline fill at the 5,410-ft. Coronet Peak in Otago, New Zealand, just outside of Queenstown.
Wolf Creek, Colorado, has some of the most extreme terrain in the US. It's not fancy, but it's got some challenging slopes with a summit elevation of almost 12,000 feet and a vertical drop of over 1,600 feet.
Slice through the powder at Utah's Alta Ski Area, which gets an average annual snowfall of 560 inches.
Explore over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain at Australia's Perisher, the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere.
Choose from one of six separate ski areas at Niseko, one of the premier ski resorts in Hokkaido, Japan.
Cerro Catedral in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, is one of the most challenging ski areas in South America, with a vertical drop of 3,773 feet and plenty of steep terrain.
Shred the slopes at Colorado's Aspen Snowmass, which has 3,362 aces of skiable terrain.
Stowe, Vermont, is one of the best ski destinations on the east coast of the US. The resort has two separate mountains: Mount Mansfield, which has some of the most challenging slopes in the east, and Spruce Peak, which has more beginner-friendly trails.
Ski or board over 3,800 acres at Big Sky Resort in Montana, and learn why the state is called "Big Sky Country."
Riksgränsen, Sweden, is the world's northernmost ski resort, located about 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The resort is only open from March to June, when the weather is most temperate, and during that time skiers can hit the slopes under the midnight sun.
Carve through the snow at Australia's Mt. Hotham, in Victoria, dubbed "The Powder Capital of Australia."
Breathe in the crisp mountain air and admire the gorgeous lake views at any of Lake Tahoe's seven major ski resorts, including Alpine Meadow Valley Resort, Squaw Valley Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and Northstar California, in northern California.
Stand at the 8,923-foot summit of Africa's highest ski resort, Tiffendell in South Africa.
Hobnob with Europe's elite at Gstaad Mountain Rides in Switzerland.
Located in Banff National Park, Lake Louise Ski Resort is one of the most gorgeous ski mountains in North America. It was named the Best Ski Resort in Canada by the World Ski Awards in 2014.
Admire 360-degree views of the Adirondacks, Vermont, and Canada from the summit of Whiteface Mountain, the fifth-highest mountain in New York State and the host of the 1980 winter Olympics.
Hit the hills at Cortina d'Ampezzo of Northern Italy. The resort town is known for its ranges, scenery, and après-ski scene.
Voss, Norway, is so far north that it's almost guaranteed to have great snow. It's not the most challenging terrain, but it is incredibly beautiful. Skiers and boarders can look out over the Fjords from the top of the mountains.
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