United States

(Expired) Limited $108 Silverton Season Passes ($206 with Partner Resort Days)

Silverton Mountain has announced that they’re selling a very limited number of significantly discounted 2021 unguided season passes. This unpatrolled resort, which only has one chairlift and requires avalanche gear, is offering base passes for just $107.95 ($99 + $8.95 shipping).

(Expired) Free Killington Lift Ticket with Helmet Purchase

Until January 26, 2020, Killington is offering a deal where if you buy a helmet through Killington Sports, you get a free lift ticket valid from January 27 through the rest of the season.

(Expired) $249 Cooper Season Pass with Partner Days

Colorado’s Cooper Ski Area has announced heavily discounted early-bird 2020-21 season pass prices. But for those primarily interested in the cheap access to partner resorts, the pass’s assurance policy is risky.

Jackson Hole Offering 50% off Lift Tickets for Season Passholders to Other Resorts

From November 26, 2020 to December 18, 2020—and again from March 15, 2021 to April 18, 2021—Wyoming’s Jackson Hole is offering 50% off lift tickets for anyone with a valid 2020-21 ski resort season pass from anywhere in the world.

Buttermilk

Aspen’s beginner-centric mountain offers a good learning environment and excellent terrain parks, but the area is otherwise uncompetitive and overpriced.

Big Snow American Dream

North America’s only indoor ski resort can’t provide terrain that’s remotely close to a real mountain, but it offers unparalleled reliability, year-round skiing, and a great environment to learn.

Plattekill

The Catskill region’s northernmost ski hill offers surprisingly strong advanced terrain, but infrastructure and grooming operations are severely lacking.

Wildcat

One of the tallest, most stunning ski resorts in New Hampshire is held back by a modest footprint size and significant wind exposure.

Belleayre

This Catskill mountain offers family-friendly terrain and reasonable crowds for the region, but a few factors make it a tough sell for those planning a weekend getaway.

Magic Mountain

This modestly-sized mountain doesn’t have the refinement to compete with the destinations, but it’s hard to beat for the challenge and value in southern Vermont.

Attitash

This New Hampshire resort offers pleasant terrain and fast lifts, but it doesn’t especially stand out when it comes to the overall experience.

Loon

This popular New Hampshire resort offers a competitive lift fleet and excellent snowmaking, but other mountains offer more unique terrain and better crowd management.

Okemo

This family-friendly mountain boasts modern lifts and a wide variety of groomers, but expert terrain is lacking. Crowding has gotten worse in recent seasons.

Bretton Woods

This Mount Washington-adjacent ski area offers the most upscale ski resort experience in New Hampshire, but its lack of advanced and expert terrain is a serious drawback.

Summit at Snoqualmie

Really more of a large hill than a mountain, this area offers a solid learning environment for Seattle-area residents. Destination-goers should look elsewhere.

Mount Hood Skibowl

This small, no-frills mountain offers less crowded slopes and extensive night skiing close to Portland.

Eagle Point

Utah’s most remote ski area is also arguably its quirkiest, with some frustrating logistics but a unique, local feel that’s hard not to appreciate.

Mount Shasta Ski Park

The only decently-sized California ski area north of Tahoe offers limited lift lines and stunning views of the Southern Cascades, but it’s hurt by uncompetitive infrastructure and a bizarrely-integrated recent expansion.

Cannon

While it lacks the most modern infrastructure and sees inconsistent conditions, this state-owned New Hampshire ski resort offers unique terrain and low crowds.

Pico

This central Vermont mountain gets overshadowed by bigger competitors, but it offers decent terrain and an escape from the crowds.

Sun Valley - Dollar Mountain

Sun Valley’s beginner zone is way too small and variable to warrant a trip to on its own. But for those in town already, its unconventional footprint may be worth stopping by.

Waterville Valley

Despite a modest footprint size, this New Hampshire resort offers a compelling set of strengths for those driving up from Boston.

Alpental

This small resort offers incredible advanced and expert terrain close to Seattle. However, weekend crowds are a major problem.

Stratton

This southern Vermont mountain delivers an ideal family experience thanks to excellent grooming and easy navigation, but you’ll be giving up some snow and terrain quality for the location.

Dodge Ridge

The closest ski area to the Bay Area offers lower traffic than Tahoe, but it’s hurt by limited snowmaking and outdated lift infrastructure.

Homewood

While this Tahoe hill can’t hold its own overall against the destination resorts, it boasts an astonishing, one-of-a-kind mountain aesthetic.

Diamond Peak

This Tahoe mountain will impress many visitors with breathtaking lake views, but its terrain and amenities are no match for the area’s better-known destination resorts.

Timberline Lodge

North America’s only four-season outdoor ski resort provides a one-of-a-kind summer experience but fails to stand out during the core winter season.

Sugarbush

This charming Vermont resort offers diverse, demanding terrain and a local feel. However, the best expert runs aren’t always o

China Peak

While it’s no substitute for a true destination ski resort, this Central California mountain offers admirable terrain variety within a convenient driving distance of Fresno.

Stevens Pass

Despite limited parking and a short vertical drop, this modestly-sized Washington ski area punches above its weight thanks to generous accumulation and demanding terrain. Clear skies are rare due to perennial fog.

Whitefish

This northern Montana resort isn’t the biggest out there, but as far as independent ski resorts go, it’s hard to beat.

Snow King

This small, local Wyoming resort offers cheap lift tickets and demanding slopes—and has seen significant revitalization for the 2021-22 season. But a number of shortcomings still make the mountain less than ideal for beginner and intermediate visitors.

Breckenridge

This high-elevation resort offers diverse terrain, including conveniently accessible alpine bowls. However, the altitude and navigation logistics will be overwhelming for some.

Stowe

Despite a few logistical flaws, this classic Vermont resort holds its own against the best on the East Coast.

Killington

Size, snow quality, and terrain diversity make this East Coast mountain incredibly appealing, but navigation could be easier.

Mount Hood Meadows

Mount Hood’s largest ski resort boasts diverse terrain and a reasonably large footprint. High-alpine areas are subject to extremely variable opening

Mount Rose

Despite its high elevation, a number of shortcomings detract from this Nevada mountain’s appeal as a destination resort.

Sugar Bowl

This California resort can’t match the acreage and vertical drop of competing Tahoe mountains, but it stands out with trails for all ability levels and an extremely demanding expert footprint.

Bear Valley

This Northern California resort has interesting terrain for skiers and riders of all ability levels as well as a unique and isolated feel, but it lacks the infrastructure to fully compete with the best resorts in the state.

Loveland

This local Colorado ski area doesn’t deliver the same well-rounded experience as destination resorts, but it’s hard to beat the quality for the price on a powder day.

Purgatory

This San Juan resort’s local feel, stunning vistas, and decent variety of terrain make it a strong regional choice for those in the southwest.

Northstar

This family-friendly resort offers excellent grooming and a top-tier terrain park, but expert and above-treeline terrain is lacking.

Sierra-at-Tahoe

While it can’t boast the same crazy lake views, striking terrain, or expansive base village as some other Tahoe areas, this moderately-sized resort offers reasonable prices and a local feel.

Mount Baker

While it doesn’t even try to offer a true resort experience, this remote Washington area receives truly astounding snowfall totals each season and offers some of the most extreme terrain in the state.

Crystal

Despite some notable lift capacity shortcomings, this decently-sized resort offers one of the most well-rounded experiences in Washington state.

Brighton

While it isn’t the biggest and can be annoying to get around, this Utah mountain offers exceptional Cottonwoods snow for a bargain—especially for families.

Aspen Mountain

The oldest Aspen ski area offers incredible views of town on a relatively compact footprint, but the resort could use logistical enhancements in lower-mountain areas.

Solitude

The modestly-sized Utah mountain packs a demanding footprint and excellent snow, but true beginner and intermediate terrain offerings are limited.

Snowmass

The largest resort in the Aspen conglomerate is one of the best in Colorado, delivering a well-rounded experience worthy of the asking price.

Kirkwood

This relatively undeveloped mountain isn’t for everyone, but its striking aesthetic, local feel, and extreme terrain are tough to match.

Heavenly

This Lake Tahoe area offers some of the most beautiful slopes we’ve seen anywhere. A few logistical problems diminish the resort’s size advantage.

Mount Bachelor

Inconsistent openings for its most unique terrain seriously hurt this massive Oregon resort’s practicality as a destination ski area.

Schweitzer

Despite its remote location and modest size, this Idaho panhandle resort offers a few solid advantages for destination-goers, especially during peak times.

Crested Butte

This striking Colorado resort is an expert’s paradise. Reasonable ticket prices counterbalance limited terrain offerings for other demographics.

Park City

This uniquely expansive resort offers diverse terrain and a world-class freestyle setup. Despite recent improvements, navigation logistics are still a major sore point.

Deer Valley

While this ski-only Utah resort gets high marks for its top-tier hospitality, the overall mountain experience is unbecoming of its expensive ticket price.

Grand Targhee

This Wyoming resort isn’t the largest or craziest out there, but it offers incredible snow and a distinctive, remote vibe.

Mammoth

This massive resort offers a highly competitive experience only hours from Southern California, although variable weather patterns may not make it the best place to fly to.

Steamboat

While it’s not the most striking ski resort in the world, standout tree terrain and significant recent lift and terrain improvements help this northern Colorado resort hold its own against the other destinations.

Sun Valley

This Idaho mountain offers a world-class terrain experience for families, but snow and conditions are not as consistent as at other Rockies resorts. Despite a recent terrain expansion, the mountain still isn’t ideal for experts.

Palisades Tahoe

Two of Tahoe’s best ski areas have now been linked as one continuous lift-served destination, but the resort still functions as two separate mountains in many ways.

Winter Park

Although it can get crowded, this conveniently located Colorado destination has a lot to offer for a wide variety of visitors.

Keystone

This Colorado resort offers unique, enjoyable slopes and finally boasts lift-serviced high-alpine bowls, but it still falls somewhat short in its lift-served footprint size and expert terrain.

Arapahoe Basin

While slow lifts and a lack of on-site lodging may turn some people away, this local favorite offers some of the most extreme terrain in Colorado.

Aspen Highlands

While modestly sized, this Aspen resort offers a surprisingly local feel and a diverse, demanding expert footprint.

Big Sky (With Tram Add-On)

This massive resort offers one of the most well-rounded terrain experiences in North America, but a number of logistical problems persist.

Big Sky

This massive resort offers one of the most well-rounded terrain experiences in North America, but a number of logistical problems persist.

Jackson Hole

This Teton resort lives up to its extremely demanding reputation. Beginners need not apply.

Telluride

Despite its modest size and reputation for extreme terrain, this beautiful, remote resort delivers an experience that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Beaver Creek

Despite its family-centric reputation and lack of above-treeline terrain, Beaver Creek delivers an experience that visitors of all ability levels will enjoy. Just don’t expect anything to be cheap.

Snowbasin

Despite a lack of on-site lodging, this Utah resort stays competitive thanks to diverse hills, striking peaks, and top-of-the-line facilities.

Vail

With expansive, diverse terrain and modern lifts, this top-of-the-line resort competes well with the best in the country.

Snowbird

It’s hard to beat this Utah resort’s top-tier snow quality, innovative mountain logistics, and expert terrain.

Holiday Valley

Strong natural snowfall and varied terrain make this Western New York resort a strong local option, but a short vertical drop and complicated layout prevent it from competing with bigger East Coast destinations.

Mount Ashland

This southern Oregon resort suffers from its tiny size and dated infrastructure, though surprisingly extensive advanced terrain and great views help it stand out among local resorts.

Peek'n Peak

This Western New York ski resort offers a good value for beginners, but the mountain lacks the challenge or aesthetic to compete with many other East Coast resorts.

49 Degrees North

Despite its dated lift infrastructure and rural setting, this Northeast Washington resort offers impressive intermediate and advanced terrain at a reasonable price.

Mad River Glen

With very limited snowmaking and a ban on snowboarders, this small Vermont mountain is about as raw as it gets for the Northeast.

Copper

This Colorado favorite offers very competitive terrain, but many lifts outside base areas are slow.

Alta

This Utah resort prohibits snowboarding and offers limited slopeside lodging, but it receives some of the best, most consistent snow anywhere in North America.