My favorite time of the offseason is when Ski Magazine publishes its annual Top 50 Resort Guide. The ranking method isn’t perfect, but it’s probably the best in the ski industry. Last year’s number-one picks retained their title, as Sun Valley was ranked the best in the West/North America, and Smugglers Notch was voted the best in the East.
The biggest surprise was the drop-off at Park City Mountain Resort. Long lines, closed lifts, and heavy traffic led to the ski resort dropping from Number 13 to 30 on their list, and the delays to their new lift projects won’t help them out next year.
The list also shows the rise of independent ski areas and resorts. Mad River Glen made the East Coast top five, while Magic Mountain made it into the top ten. Schweitzer made its debut for the first time ever, earning the number eleven spot. Powder Mountain and Grand Targhee also got back on the top thirty list in the West.
The top ten for the East Coast and West Coast are below. You can read the full list here, which I recommend you check out to start planning your 2022-23 ski vacations.
- Smugglers Notch
- Bretton Woods
- Killington
- Mad River Glen
- Mont Tremblant
- Holiday Valley
- Jay Peak
- Waterville Valley
- Magic Mountain
- Sugarloaf
- Sun Valley
- Deer Valley
- Aspen Snowmass
- Banff Sunshine
- Whistler Blackcomb
- Whitefish
- Telluride
- Copper Mountain
- Winter Park
- Steamboat
Image Credits(In Chronological Order): Sun Valley Resort/Photographer:ยฉ Grant Gunderson, Bretton Woods, Steamboat Resort
