Who's ready to hit the slopes welcome to
MojoTravels and today we'll be counting
down our picks for the top 10 ski
destinations in the western US are you a
fan of our videos be sure to subscribe
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this list we're looking at some of the
best most highly regarded unique and
sometimes underrated downhill resort
areas across the western United States
number 10
Breckenridge Colorado boasting the
single highest lifts in not only the
United States but all of North America
Breckenridge seems like a solid place to
start our Alpine adventure the lift that
earns the resort this distinction the
Imperial Express carry skiers to an
elevation of almost 12,500 feet which
translates to both an epic view and one
heck of a thrilling descent
unfortunately Breckenridge's claim to
fame is both a blessing and a curse the
Imperial Express paired with the
resort's numerous other selling points
made it the single most visited resort
in the United States over the 2018-2019
season and while most skiers are happy
to share the mountain crowds that large
can detract from the experience that
being said with its diverse terrain
affordable accommodations and historic
namesake mining town Breckenridge
nonetheless has a lot to offer
number 9: Squaw Valley Lake Tahoe
California Squaw Valley is a true Alpine
paradise especially for the more
advanced and adventurous skier it's
widely considered to offer some of the
best terrain on the entire west coast
the weather can sometimes be withholding
in terms of snowfall but when there's
fresh powder it's among the finest you
can find anywhere on the planet the town
itself lacks some of the infrastructure
and quintessential charms that skiers
have come to expect from a resort area
but honestly you'll be so exhausted from
tearing down the mountain that you
likely won't have much energy left for
going out at night anyways the mountain
also gets bonus points for the
picturesque views of Lake Tahoe that can
be seen from Squaw Peak number 8 Big Sky
Montana occupying over 5,800 acres of
terrain roughly 4,500 feet of vertical
drop and with more than 300 trails open
each season serviced by 34 lifts Big Sky
has a lot of numbers going for it throw
in the intimidating Lone Peak and it's
safe to say that
the most experienced of skiers will find
challenges for those looking for a more
relaxed afternoon of skiing big skies
seemingly endless acres of intermediate
terrain offer plenty of fun with little
risk of crowd like Squaw Valley big sky
isn't nearly as developed as Colorado
resorts but the nearly perfect weather
and consistent snow conditions more than
make up the difference
number seven Steamboat Springs Colorado
Colorado is widely regarded as the
American mecca for skiing and
snowboarding which is why it takes up
such a substantial portion of our list
today given the popularity of the area
resorts can tend to get quite crowded
which is one of the most appealing
things about Steamboat
it's totally underappreciated it's a bit
further from Denver than the competition
it's smaller than previous entries at
just under three thousand acres and at
elevation is a bit lower but it still
has a lot to offer especially for those
who prioritize snow quality above all
else the precipitation here is arguably
the most consistent of anywhere in the
state and people speak of its champagne
powder with reference add to that a
classic western resort again with
smaller crowds than usual and you begin
to understand why it's considered a
hidden gem
number six Alta and Snowbird Utah
forgive us for talking about two
different resorts in the same breath but
it seemed unfair to talk about one and
not the other and unlike some neighbors
they actually play together quite nicely
they even offer a joint day pass
Snowbird which lies to the west of Alta
has always been seen as the big brother
of the two due to its more substantial
infrastructure as well as the
high-profile developments it's
undertaken in recent years including the
much celebrated Snowbird tram given that
the two resorts are located just under
35 minutes from Salt Lake City Airport
they're incredibly convenient to get to
Alta for its part is one of the oldest
ski resorts in the nation though it's
got fewer modern touches it evens the
scale with its location sitting at the
end of Little Cottonwood Canyon it's
blessed with a little extra powder
this won't do snowboarders much good
however, as it's a skiers only resort
number five Aspen Colorado when people
think of skiing Aspen is one of the
first words that comes to mind and if
more than lives up to its literally
lofty reputation not only is it said to
be among the best groomed mountains in
the west with an efficient lift system
that
cuts down on wait times but the town
itself checks every box you could ask
for from dining and nightlife to family
centric activities Aspen's really got it
all unfortunately that name recognition
comes at a cost
staying in Aspen is not for the budget
find it that being said considering your
lift ticket gives you access to four
distinct arenas Aspen buttermilk Aspen
Highlands and Snowmass you're getting a
lot of quality skiing for your money
number four Park City Utah Colorado
might have the greatest variety of high
profile ski resorts but Utah does pretty
well for itself after all Park City is
the largest ski area in the United
States Plus like Alta and Snowbird it's
quite easy to get to from Salt Lake City
Airport as the drive is only about 45
minutes and at the end of that drive
you're rewarded with a staggering
seventy three hundred acres or so of
skiable terrain encompassing eight peaks
22 miles worth of lifts and 348 trails
as for the city itself it ranks very
highly in terms of entertainment value
it is after all the home of the famous
Sundance Film Festival the historic Main
Street has all kinds of charming
number-3 Telluride Colorado we've got
one word for you
backcountry if you prefer to issue the
beaten path or trail then Telluride and
its terrain variety is for you the
Powder here is of the champagne variety
and can usually be counted on to be in
plentiful supply at about 2000 acres of
skiable area and 148 trails it might not
be quite as mammoth in size as some of
the resort's we've looked at today but
like we said the backcountry is so
extensive that you're unlikely to get
bored even after multiple return visit
the town also warrants a mention though
small and a bit pricey
there's no denying its historic charms
or Instagram ability number two Vail
Colorado as prominent as it is fail does
get a fair amount of criticism as it
does get very crowded and based on how
many people complain about the parking
it would seem that the infrastructure
sags under the numbers it's also a bit
expensive but all that being said the
simple fact remains the Vail offers some
of the very best skiing in America for
many it's the resort by which others are
judged the grooming is top-notch the
terrain is varied if a little lacking in
terms of steeps the lodging options are
legion and higher-end and as many have
argued the mountain offers unparalleled
use plus with over 5,000 acres of
terrain boredom will not be a problem in
any way number one Jackson Hole Wyoming
like Aspen this is a skiing destination
with a whole lot of name recognition
with an average of over 475 inches of
snowfall per year the conditions are
seemingly always top-notch and yet it's
other statistics don't do nearly as good
a job selling Jackson Hole especially
not compared to some of the other
resorts discussed today so what makes
Jackson Hole our number one pick
considering it covers a relatively small
area 2,500 acres and only has 133 trails
serviced by 12 lifts quite simply it's
unlike any other mountain resort in
America the terrain is endlessly
interesting boasting epic steeps and
backcountry that never fails to thrill
without feeling totally exclusive to
advanced skill skiers the cool ours
chutes and bowls available here will
change the way you ski and can make you
fall in love with the sport all over
again do you agree with our picks check
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