Top 10 powder destinations - North America
Here's our selection of resorts in North America where you have a better than average chance of finding powder.
1. Snowbird/Alta (Utah), USA
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Resort height: |
2470-2600m |
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Slopes: |
2365-3350m |
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Pistes: |
4700 acres |
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Alta and Snowbird are the undisputed powder kings of the world. Only a handful of ski resorts can match their immense snowfall (such as Mount Baker), but they are in a league of their own when it comes to quantity and quality of snow combined.
Note: Neighbouring Brighton and Solitude are almost in the same league, but with fewer weekend crowds!
2. Grand Targhee (Wyoming), USA
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Resort height: |
2439m |
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Slopes: |
2260-3005m |
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Pistes: |
2100 acres |
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Photo: Grand Targhee Resort
Grand Targhee is the best powder destination in the states outside Utah, with very consistent snowfalls and often deserted slopes.
3. Fernie (British Columbia), Canada
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Resort height: |
1065m |
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Slopes: |
1065-2135m |
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Pistes: |
2504 acres |
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Photo: Henry Georgi
Fernie has a reputation for frequent heavy snowfalls and has cult status among powder hounds.
4. Jackson Hole (Wyoming), USA
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Resort height: |
1925m |
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Slopes: |
1925-3185m |
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Pistes: |
2500 acres |
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Photo: Tristan Greszko - Jackson Hole mountain resort
Renowned for its huge snowfalls, gnarly terrain and low skier density, Jackson Hole is one of North America's cult powder destinations.
Some slopes are very exposed to the sun, however, so the resort is best avoided in spring.
5. Wolf Creek (Colorado), USA
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Resort height: |
3140m |
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Slopes: |
3140-3630m |
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Pistes: |
1600 acres |
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Photo: Scott DW Smith - Wolf Creek ski area
Wolf Creek may be remote, but it is the snowiest ski resort in Colorado and has cult status among powder afficionados.
6. Crystal Mountain (Washington), USA
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Resort height: |
1340m |
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Slopes: |
1340-2135m |
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Pistes: |
2300 acres |
Bearing the full brunt of pacific storms, Crystal Mountain has one of the highest average snowfalls in North America.
Snow quality can be variable due to the volatile maritime climate, but the sheer number of snow days makes this a great bet for powder.
7. Mount Baker (Washington), USA
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Resort height: |
1115m |
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Slopes: |
1115-1540m |
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Pistes: |
1000 acres |
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Mount Baker cannot promise the lightest and driest powder, but with an average snowfall of 16.5m a season, it is the snowiest ski resort in the world!
It also boasts the highest annual snowfall ever recorded, with over 29m in 1999!
8. Vail (Colorado), USA
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Resort height: |
2500m |
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Slopes: |
2475-3525m |
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Pistes: |
5289 acres |
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Photo: Jack Affleck - Vail Resorts Inc.
Vail may be one of Colorado's busiest ski resorts, but thanks to its high snowfall and extensive, accessible off-piste terrain (its famous back bowls) it is also a highly rated powder destination.
9. Big White (British Columbia), Canada
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Resort height: |
1755m |
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Slopes: |
1510-2320m |
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Pistes: |
2765 acres |
Big White is one of Canada’s most celebrated powder destinations, with plenty of easy terrain that makes it a great place to learn how to ski the deep stuff.
It’s also famous for its “snow ghosts” – snow-caked trees that stay white all winter.
10. Revelstoke (British Columbia), Canada
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Resort height: |
510m |
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Slopes: |
510-2225m |
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Pistes: |
3121 acres |
Revelstoke has North America's biggest vertical drop and a big reputation for powder.
Its relative isolation also means fewer crowds than some better known powder destinations.
Check out the latest weather forecast and snow conditions
in the Alps and beyond
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