Best ski resorts in the US (2026-27)

The best ski resorts in the US, ranked by how often it snows, how much snow falls and how much vertical there is: Timberline (Oregon), Mt. Baker (Washington), and Jackson Hole (Wyoming).

How we rank: snow days (40%, 10 seasons of daily weather), resort-reported average snowfall (30%) and vertical drop (30%), each scaled within this list. It doesn't weigh price, crowds or lodging; see the picks below for those angles. Details

Best for…

Most snow daysMt. Baker · about 78 days of new snow a season
Most annual snowfallAlyeska · about 650 inches a year (resort-reported)
Biggest verticalTelluride · 4,425 ft from base to summit
Best for beginnersAspen Snowmass · Buttermilk (Aspen Snowmass), 35% beginner terrain
Top on the Epic PassStevens Pass · #7 overall
Top on the Ikon PassJackson Hole · #3 overall

The top 15

1. Timberline Oregon
Score 82

Snow days
66

Avg snowfall
540"

Vertical
3,590 ft

Snow next 7 days
4.4"

Independent · best time to ski
2. Mt. Baker Washington
Score 79

Snow days
78

Avg snowfall
641"

Vertical
1,589 ft

Snow next 7 days
21.6"

Independent · best time to ski
3. Jackson Hole Wyoming
Score 77

Snow days
55

Avg snowfall
459"

Vertical
4,139 ft

Snow next 7 days
0.0"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay · things to do
4. Mt. Bachelor Oregon
Score 76

Snow days
64

Avg snowfall
462"

Vertical
3,368 ft

Snow next 7 days
2.5"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay
5. Mt. Hood Meadows Oregon
Score 72

Snow days
67

Avg snowfall
430"

Vertical
2,777 ft

Snow next 7 days
8.0"

Independent · best time to ski
6. Alyeska Alaska
Score 71

Snow days
50

Avg snowfall
650"

Vertical
2,500 ft

Snow next 7 days
18.1"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski
7. Stevens Pass Washington
Score 71

Snow days
76

Avg snowfall
450"

Vertical
1,784 ft

Snow next 7 days
14.4"

Epic Pass · best time to ski
8. Summit at Snoqualmie Washington
Score 71

Snow days
70

Avg snowfall
435"

Vertical
2,420 ft

Snow next 7 days
0.2"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski
9. Grand Targhee Wyoming
Score 68

Snow days
60

Avg snowfall
500"

Vertical
2,230 ft

Snow next 7 days
0.0"

Independent · best time to ski · where to stay
10. Snowbird Utah
Score 68

Snow days
47

Avg snowfall
500"

Vertical
3,240 ft

Snow next 7 days
0.0"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay
11. Crystal Mountain Washington
Score 67

Snow days
68

Avg snowfall
350"

Vertical
2,602 ft

Snow next 7 days
11.2"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski
12. Steamboat Colorado
Score 67

Snow days
48

Avg snowfall
400"

Vertical
3,668 ft

Snow next 7 days
0.0"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay · things to do
13. White Pass Washington
Score 67

Snow days
75

Avg snowfall
350"

Vertical
2,000 ft

Snow next 7 days
7.5"

Independent · best time to ski
14. Solitude Utah
Score 64

Snow days
49

Avg snowfall
500"

Vertical
2,500 ft

Snow next 7 days
0.0"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay
15. Big Sky Montana
Score 63

Snow days
40

Avg snowfall
–

Vertical
3,666 ft

Snow next 7 days
0.1"

Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay

The other 138 resorts we rank

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How we rank

Snow days (40%): days with 1"+ of new snow, November to April, from our powder day odds study.
Average snowfall (30%): resort-reported annual totals with sources, from our snowiest ski resorts list.
Vertical drop (30%): summit minus base elevation.
Each measure is scaled from the lowest to the highest resort in this list, then weighted. Resorts missing too much data aren't ranked. Price, crowds, terrain mix and lodging aren't scored, so use the picks above and each resort's page for those.

Questions

What is the best ski resort in the US?

Timberline ranks first on Snow Way's score, which combines snow days (10 seasons of weather data), resort-reported annual snowfall and vertical drop. Mt. Baker and Jackson Hole are next.

Which US ski resort gets the most snow days?

Mt. Baker: about 78 days of new snow a season.

Which US ski resort gets the most snow?

Alyeska: about 650 inches a year (resort-reported).

Which US ski resort has the most vertical?

Telluride: 4,425 ft from base to summit.

What is the best US ski resort for beginners?

Aspen Snowmass: Buttermilk (Aspen Snowmass), 35% beginner terrain.

What is the best US ski resort on the Epic Pass?

Stevens Pass: #7 overall.

What is the best US ski resort on the Ikon Pass?

Jackson Hole: #3 overall.

More lists: Best ski resorts in North America · Best ski resorts in Colorado · Best ski resorts in Utah · Best ski resorts in California · Best ski resorts in Vermont · Best ski resorts on the East Coast

Cite this data

Free to use with a link back. Suggested citation:

Snow Way, "Best ski resorts in the US (2026-27)," November 8, 2026, https://snowway.app/best-ski-resorts-in-the-us

Licensed CC BY 4.0. Journalists: reach Justin through the about page.

Best ski resorts in the US (2026-27)

Best for…

The top 15

1. Timberline Oregon

2. Mt. Baker Washington

3. Jackson Hole Wyoming

4. Mt. Bachelor Oregon

5. Mt. Hood Meadows Oregon

6. Alyeska Alaska

7. Stevens Pass Washington

8. Summit at Snoqualmie Washington

9. Grand Targhee Wyoming

10. Snowbird Utah

11. Crystal Mountain Washington

12. Steamboat Colorado

13. White Pass Washington

14. Solitude Utah

15. Big Sky Montana