Best Destination Resorts

1. Alta (Utah)

Priding itself on a “skier only” atmosphere, Alta is a superb location due to its long runs and advanced terrain. A famous run, the “High Rustler,” is considered to be one of the hardest runs in North America. “I’ve had many funny moments off the HT [High Traverse] like having a double ejection and yard sale then rolling down to the bottom,” said Michael Young (‘20), a frequent skier of Alta. “The High Traverse is a gateway to many different options of skiing and difficulty.”

2. Whistler (Canada)

Whistler Blackcomb is widely considered to be one of the best ski resorts in the world. With 200 runs and 37 lifts, Whistler offers a huge variety of terrain in the largest winter sports area in North America. Another perk of Whistler is that skiers can ski year-round on the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb.

3. Jackson Hole (Wyoming)

Jackson Hole is the perfect resort if you are looking for intermediate to advanced terrain. Jackson Hole’s snow is of a high quality and is abundant. There are over 130 named runs with the top ranked being “The Hobacks” and “Expert Chutes.” Rentals are available and the customer service is great. Jackson Hole is also known for being one of the best skiing resorts in North America according to Forbes.

Top Ski Resorts (Tahoe)

1. Alpine Meadows

Cost: $$$

Terrain: 8/10

Vibes: 10/10

“Alpine was the best resort because it was cheap and it was not run by a

Corporation that only cares about getting your money.” – Gretchen Berndt (‘21)

2. Kirkwood

Cost: $$ 

Terrain: 8/10

Vibes: 8/10

“Kirkwood gets the most snow every year and if you like steep terrain there is nowhere you can get more vertical feet in one day.” – Dennis DeAndre, Rad Dad

3. Heavenly

Cost: $$$

Terrain: 6/10

Vibes: 7/10

“Heavenly is nice because it is a huge mountain with lots of variety in their runs. This makes it good for every type of skier.” – Jurgen Dittrich (‘20)

4. Diamond Peak

Cost: $

Terrain: 5/10

Vibes: 9/10

Diamond Peak is one of Tahoe’s most criminally underrated resorts. At just $52 per day, there is not another mountain that can beat this price.  Although it is small, locals love it.

Most Overrated Resorts

1. Squaw

Price: $$$

Terrain: 9/10

Vibes: 3/10

“Squaw is a good mountain but they don’t have a good culture. They are making skiing into a sport that is only for the upper class.” – Gretchen Berndt (‘21)

2. Northstar

Price: $$$

Terrain: 5/10

Vibes: 4/10

“I was skiing throughout winter break and the snow was not as good as it could have been, but was comparable to years past.” – Creighton Morgenfeld (‘20)