Top 5 Steepest Ski Areas of North America
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Published 2022-02-10
This is the first in a series of Top 5 videos I am putting together as I believe steepest terrain is an important criteria for any destination resort. Others will include Best Sidecountry, Best Vacation Destination, Worst Locals, etc.
See the 2024 update video at: • Top 5 Steepest Ski Areas of North Ame...
Other Videos in the Series:
Top 5 Powder Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Powder Ski Areas of North America
Top 5 Spring Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Spring Ski Areas of North America
Top 5 Sidecountry Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Sidecountry Ski Areas of North ...
Top 5 Lunch Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Lunch Ski Areas of North America
Top 5 Teaching Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Teaching Ski Areas of North Ame...
Top 5 Fun Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Fun Ski Areas of North America
My Top 5 Favorite Ski Areas of North America: • My Top 5 Favorite Ski Areas of North ...
5 Hidden Gem Ski Areas of North America: • 5 Hidden Gem Ski Areas of North America
Top 5 Early Season Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Early Season Ski Areas in North...
Top 5 Destination Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Destination Ski Areas of North ...
Top 5 Showoff Runs in North America: • Top 5 Showoff Runs in North America
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All Comments (21)
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Cool video! I like how you distilled a lifetime of experience into a unique top 5 ski ranking. I was just telling an avid skier friend (Odd Sea Adventures) that he should make a video similar to this. He, like you, has a large number of resorts under his belt. I think we all have a friend like that and pick their brain for ski intel
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Excellent list. I can confirm that Jackson and the Bird have some crazy runs for sure. Well done video! Aspen Highlands is amazing but you do have to earn the turns for sure!
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Good job! I agree with your comment about the "J-holes". But, back in the 90's I got to ski a run with Doug Coombs and some other JH Air Force. They were incredibly nice and without ego.
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Great Video! I love steep skiing as well and Snowbird is definitely the best resort I've ever been to but Philippe's at mammoth mountain felt to me like the steepest run I've ever been on
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I'm not even a skier and this video is incredible! Great job!
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Kicking Horse and Revelstoke would be nice, steeper than most places on this list.
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Great list...have skied all except Taos. Alta is my favorite mountain...High Rustler is an amazing run. Love the entire Wildcat area as well
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Very nice! And glad NM made your list.
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You are definitely missing Kicking Horse in Golden, BC ... I ski every weekend at Snowbird/Alta and I can tell you Kicking Horse has some awesome runs at feuz bowl on whitewall and ozone and all along the ridge drops .... loved the place
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Pebble Creek ski area in southeast Idaho deserves a try. It’s not well known if you’re not from near that area because it’s a small ski area aceragewise and it’s for the budget-minded. I grew up learning to ski there. Despite being relatively small it has a sizable vertical drop of 2,200 feet and many of its runs are surprisingly steep and tree choked. They don’t exactly follow the fall line, either. The downside to this area is plentiful snow seasons are hit or miss.
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Very nice list. Before I started this video, I put down Big Sky, Snowbird, Alta, Jackson Hole, and Squaw. I’ve not been to Taos. In other words, I totally agree with your list! 👍🏻
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I especially like how you and Jim became ski buddies! I also like your criteria of lift accessibility. Seriously, when I'm able to take a western vacation there's plenty to explore without going for a hike! I love skiing Alf's High Rustler and am amused that locals will not help you find it! I've even been mis-directed by ski patrol when I was first searching for the famous" High Boy". It's almost like a favorite inside joke with the locals I've talked to after I finally found my way to Alf's.
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I grew up skiing Jackson Hole and after revisiting squaw valley I was blown away by the terrain there. The amount of steep terrain off of KT is insane.
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Love Taos. Crested Butte is also very steep.
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Great, and very relevant video mate! Keep them coming!
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Great video Matthew. This is how ski resorts should be ranked. I hate those top 10 lists made by skiers that ski one week a season on a nice resort. I now live in Sandy UT so Alta and Snowbird are my favours. However before moving to Utah I lived in Bay Area and my favor was Kirkwood. I also has many steep runs. Especially Hell's delight.
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you should check out Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, Montana. It has a great variety of terrain, and is definitely a locals hill.
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What's your overall opinion of Mammoth Mountain? While not having the gnarliest terrain I've ever seen, the mix of a world class terrain park, huge acreage, with some seriously challenging stuff makes it (still) my favorite mountain I've ever been to. Cheers for the video though, some good stuff on your channel. Maybe a top 5 personal favorites in the future?
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Thanks for the video. In your next trip to Tahoe check out The Chutes at Mt. Rose. Some fun steeps to be enjoyed there.
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Thanks for listing Bear Valley - a very classic CA Ski Area. I have also skied Taos in New Mexico it's great - Santa Fe is very good too in New Mexico - I now live in Northern NM and very close to both of these areas. However!!! - take a look at Wolf Creek in Colorado - historically most snow in Colorado!
