Best U.S. States for Skiing

The Top Ten
1 Colorado Colorado is a state in the United States encompassing most of the Southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains.

Skiiers from all over the world know the names Aspen and Vail.
Utah had to host the Olympics just to get attention, yet people still know Aspen and Vail far more than they know Park City or Alta.
Colorado has 29 ski resorts vs Utah's 14, its resort towns are more immersive, and overall, CO deserves top spot.
Although to be fair, if it were the US and Canada, then British Columbia would give Colorado a run for its money.

Nearly 30 of the best ski resorts in the world are located in the state with the best snow. Not only is there the most snow, there is the best quality powder, perfect for carving. Also, this terrain can only be found in Colorado's mountains.

I have been to Utah, Colorado and in my home-state of Michigan. Nothing compares to the mountains of Colorado. The powdery snow is the best you'll find and the terrain is so much fun!

What a rush!

Colorado is by far the best place to go skiing. There is so much snow, snow is on top of the highest peaks all year long. Great terrain and great altitude. I love Colorado

2 Utah Utah is a state in the western United States. It became the 45th state admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896. Utah is the 13th-largest, the 31st-most populous, and the 10th-least-densely populated of the 50 United States.

Look at the stats from Utah and Colorado. Alta has 138 inch base and aspen has 52 inch base. This list is so garbage. Why is Alaska not at least top 3.

Living in Utah, I've been skiing for a few times. Mostly in the major ski resorts, Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, etc. People call it a wannabe Colorado, but it seriously has such fresh powder, and it's cold enough that the ski resorts are still open, although it's April.

Utah's snow is far superior to Colorado's. Colorado has done a fantastic job at marketing their state compared to Utah's. Utah gets the snow first, then the remainder dumps on Colorado. Not to mention, it hosted one of the most successful Olympics ever in 2002.

Utah has amazing snow and slopes. I have been skiing my whole life and by far Utah is the best place to ski! Definitely recommend Utah. A few of the best places are, Brian Head, Park City, and A LOT more!

3 Vermont

Vermont offers the best skiing east of the Rockies and offers a different experience for those who wish to ski something different.

Great wood trails, beautiful scenery, Good snow. Stowe and Jay great for tourists. mad river is affordable.

Bromley, Stratton, and Mount Snow are the ones I often go to. Really fun and amazing!

4 California California is a state in the Southwestern United States. With 39.6 million residents across a total area of about 163,696 square miles (423,970 square kilometers), California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento, and the largest city is Los Angeles.

Richest state, probably richer than most of the states combined. Best weather, where else can you snowboard and surf all in the same day?

It's got Mammoth. What else do you need?

This should be one of the tops. and I strongly think that it should be on the tops NOW

Most ski resorts in the world!

5 New Hampshire

There is North Conway ski resort and the white mountains, the highest mountain in new england.

I live in North Conway. Close to skiing, the white mtns and basically all fun winter activities. This place is awesome!

Best skiing in the northeast.

Loon Mountain is lit

6 Nevada Nevada is a state in the Western, Mountain West, and Southwestern regions of the United States of America.

Lots of great places to ski, though most are in northern Nevada in vicinity of I-80

7 Montana Montana is a state in the Western region of the United States. The state's name is derived from the Spanish word montaƱa.

Can't beat the snow of the rocky mountains. Skiing is just as good as Utah/Colorado, between Big Sky, Big Mountain, Bridger Bowl, Showdown, Discovery, Moonlight Basin, and countless other smaller mountains. Only difference is we don't have the tourism and lines of Utah/co (except at Big Sky on national holidays), so there is a much better small-town vibe and a closer skiing community.

Rocky mountains are something else! Much less crowded than Colorado and in my opinion better snow. Plenty of small ski towns with terrific slopes, such as Whitefish.

The powder is deep and the peaks are steep! You can't beat the snow that dumps on the Big Sky!

Two Eastern states in front of Big Sky alone... you've got to be kidding!

8 Wyoming Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The state is the tenth largest by area, but the least populous and the second least densely populated of the 50 United States.

What it should have a better rate then this!

9 New York New York is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic Region. New York was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. With an estimated 19.54 million residents in 2018, it is the fourth most populous state. In order to distinguish the state from the city with the same name, it is sometimes referred to as New York State.

Two Olympics at one town Lake Placid. Whiteface after it snows is best!

Lots of places to ski like in the Adirondacks or Catskills. Or in WNY like Holiday Valley or Kissing Bridge

10 New Mexico

Awesome state! 8 ski areas to choose from and the New Mexican Chile is the bomb! Red or Green?

This state is a great place for skiing because of it's mountains!

Hidden gem. Keep it secret. Keep it safe.

Big hills, few tourists.

The Contenders
11 Idaho Idaho is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. Idaho is the 14th largest, the 39th most populous, and the 7th least densely populated of the 50 United States.

Keep it secret! Even though Idaho does slaughter every other state when it comes to the combination of mountains and snow, its best left to the locals.

I mean, Sun Valley, Idaho is one of the first to have a chairlift.

Got the mountains, got the snow; Idaho is the best ski state.

One of the greatest places to ski... EVER! 2016-2017 was a great year!

12 Washington Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States located north of Oregon, west of Idaho, and south of the Canadian province of British Columbia on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is the only state named after a president.

I've shredded WA, CO, UT, ID, And OR. On a good day, Washington is the best. Any type of terrain you can ask for. Steep (like real steep), cliffs, trees, groomers, parks, backcountry, family, heli, etc. Gets the most snow (Mt Baker holds the world record and it's not that close) and the scenery is easily the best with Rainier, Adams, Baker, Goat Rocks, etc all stunningly visible. Everywhere else the terrain seems flatter and similar in every direction. That being said, there are plenty of days in western Washington were you may be skiing on ice or sometimes rain. Once you get to the Eastside though, Mt. Spokane, 49 degrees north and mission ridge, you do t have to deal with this and the snow is nearly as good as the Rockies.

Take this all with a grain of salt I was born and raised in Washington but I've traveled a ton and it's crazy how under rated the skiing is. That will change within the next couple of years as Seattle and Tacoma continue to explode and the parks expand.

With Stevens Pass, Mt. Baker Resort, and Crystal Mountain, I don't know how you could ever be upset with skiing in Washington state. With the Cascades running directly through the middle of the state and the high amount of precipitation, Washington proves that this state is meant for skiing.

On the right day, it can be the best skiing in the country - you just have to get lucky with your timing. One day it could snow 30" inches in 24 hours, the next it could be pouring buckets of rain in your face.

I have skied in Colorado California Idaho Oregon and more and out of all of them I like Washington the best.

13 Oregon Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Oregon is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Washington, on the south by California, on the east by Idaho, and on the southeast by Nevada.

Oregon should be number 3 or 4 after Utah, cali, and Colorado. Oregon gets lots and lots of snow and there are some good resorts that have great terrain. Mt. Bachelor is in my opinion number 1. Mt. Hood meadows and timberline trailing behind.

14 Michigan

Only New York has more ski resorts than it on this side of the Mississippi

Why is it below Florida

Michigan has some great mountains with different kids of terrains, should be higher

Should be higher it has some nice spots and it has a lot of good snow and it's very cold

15 Maine

Maine has Sugarloaf! It's one of the coldest states.

The only place I've ever gone skiing so ya, go Maine!

Only real snow skiing on the east!

16 Alaska Alaska is a U.S. state situated in the northwest extremity of the Americas. The Canadian administrative divisions of British Columbia and Yukon border the state to the east; it has a maritime border with Russia to the west across the Bering Strait.

Should be at least top three. This list is absolute garbage if Alaska comes in at 16 and below New York and Vermont...come on!

I think that I can make a ski resort here and have people come here every year when it snows.

How is this not first? So much snow, no people!

Alaska actually has snow

17 Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States, in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.

Great small hills, nice terrain parks, and growing business up north.

Wisconsin has great ski hills in the winter!

Wisconsin's hilly terrain makes for some fantastic small town slopes, and there are several hills within an hour of Milwaukee

Surprisingly nice state for skiing with many different hills all across the state

18 Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state located in the northern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

Many resorts populate the north Eastern part of PA, ranging from 1 hour to 2:45 hour away from Philadelphia, up the North East Extension. Not top tier, but still competes with NY in my opinion.

Larger mountains to the south, and colder, snowier ones to the north.

19 Minnesota Minnesota is a state in the Midwestern United States. Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858, created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory.

I know Colorado and other rockies states are the best for skiing but Minnesota has some nice downhill areas and very good cross country conditions

20 Massachusetts Massachusetts, officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous state in the New England part of the northeastern region of the United States.

Amazing ski hills. They're perfect for skiing, good enough for beginners to advanced skiers

21 North Carolina North Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west, Virginia to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
22 Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the Western and the Mountain states.

Not the largest slopes in the country, but good if you live in-state.

Best snow in the country

Flagstaff has just as good of snow as Colorado, and I'm from Colorado

23 West Virginia West Virginia is a state located in the Appalachian region of the Southern United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north, Maryland to the east and northeast, Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest. West Virginia is the 41st largest state by area, ...read more.
24 Texas Texas is a state in the Southern USA. It is the second largest by area and population. Its largest city is Houston.
25 Missouri Missouri is a state located in the Midwestern United States. It is the 21st most extensive, and the 18th most populous of the fifty states.
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