Best places to snowboard in the US

From the steeps of Utah to the lofty heights of Colorado. The hidden East Coast gems to 60 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevadas. And that’s not even mentioning the dormant volcanoes and powder paradises of the PNW. Needless to say, the well runs deep when it comes to snowboarding in the US. 

So, where the heck do you start when exploring the best places to snowboard in the US? Well, we’re experts on the subject. So, we’ve rounded up the biggest, best, and most breathtaking resorts in what’s possibly the most definitive list of its kind. Ready to get stoked for the coming season? Read on and add a few more hills to your hit list.

And what’s the only thing better than discovering a new resort? How about browsing the new drop of snowboard jackets and snowboard pants from MONTEC? Suit up for pow because winter is coming!

Best places to snowboard in the US

Vail Ski Resort, Colorado

Vail Ski Resort is known worldwide for its position as a global conglomerate powerhouse. It owns resorts from the French Alps to the Japanese Alps and everywhere in between. 

In Vail, you’ll find multiple bowls with terrain ranging from expertly groomed nursery slopes to massive, endless slackcountry powder fields. With so much to explore, there’s no way you can do it in a single trip. And that’s not an exaggeration! Over 5,300 acres makes it one of the largest single resorts in the world, and with 29.5 feet of pow every year, there are always fresh lines to be found. Plus, it’s less than an hour’s drive from Denver airport.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming

J-Hole. If you’re hunting for legendary freeriding, this is the place. A huge vertical – along with nearly 40 feet of the fluffiest powder in the world – makes this one giant playground for anyone who gets off on cliff drops and pillow fields. There’s a reason so many pros call it their home resort. 

You won’t find as much here for beginners as other entries on this list. However, for advanced riders, there’s no bigger joy than ripping J-Hole on a pow day. Plus, the resort is a little slice of Western paradise, filled with great bars, pubs, and accommodation. 

Park City Mountain Resort, Utah

This list wouldn’t be complete without the biggest resort in the US. Yes, Park City is a sprawling enterprise with something for everyone.

However, despite its epic freeriding, lots of pros visit Park City because of its unbeatable freestyle parks. Park City proper is also a large and vibrant town that you can ride right into the heart of. Here, you’ll find one of the best après scenes in the US. This means you’ll return year after year – or maybe move there.

Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

You can ride and enjoy over 5,000 acres across Aspen Snowmass’ several stations. And thanks to the massive variety of terrain, there’s always space to rip fresh lines. 

Aspen is known as the playground of the rich and famous. So, if you’re looking for a fancier trip replete with five-star hotels, upmarket restaurants, and a beautiful (if not expensive!) town to explore, Aspen will check all your boxes. However, you won’t be trading off anything when it comes to snowboarding. This place is right up there with Vail, Telluride, Breck, and the other Colorado powder paradises that made (and didn’t make!) this list.

Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington

Mt. Baker is a regular entry on lots of our lists. Best snowboard resorts, snowiest ski resorts, best West Coast resorts … the list of, er, lists goes on. But it’s easy to see why when you mention one thing: 55 feet of annual snowfall. Yeah, you read that correctly. 

Thanks to its unique position in Washington, all that wet weather blowing down out of the Northern Pacific makes landfall, shoots upwards, falls in love with some very cold air, and has lots of little snow babies that land softly on the slopes of Mt. Baker. This creates the definitive bring-your-snorkel powder snowboarding experience.

Snowbird, Utah

Next up is Snowbird. But before we go any further, we have to mention that Snowbird’s sister resort, Alta, is ski-only. Yep, snowboarding is not allowed at Alta, one of the last holdouts of this archaic tradition. 

Still, Snowbird is definitely worth visiting, thanks to an annual 42 feet of snow and some of the best freeride terrain anywhere in the States. Famed for its double-black chutes and glades, Snowbird is a wonderful test of any snowboarder’s technical skills. 

Mt. Bachelor, Oregon

Just look at Mt. Bachelor’s trail map. Go on, we’ll wait. Done? We know, right? Pretty spectacular. You might wonder how 12 lifts can service over 4,300 acres of terrain, and the answer is that it’s a dormant volcano. That means exposed steeps up high, mellow glades down low, and the best riding in Oregon. Just don’t tell Timberline we said that! 

Mount Bachelor has some spectacular claims, including Woodward Mountain Park, with various ‘zones’ to explore. This resort is utterly unique, has amazing views, even better riding, and nearly 40 feet of light, fluffy powder every season. For long and cruisey powder descents, there’s no better spot.

Mammoth Mountain, California

California’s Mammoth Mountain is becoming known as the resort that has to close because there’s too much snow. Really. Sure, their average annual snowfall is listed as 33 feet. However, they’ve declared two consecutive years of over 54 and 58 feet of total snowfall. 

And on top of being the snowiest resort in the US for two years running, they also have a lot of space to make the most of it. Mammoth Mountain is the Californian resort to hit for any snowboarder who wants everything without compromise. From cruisey groomers to epic cliffs and chutes, Mammoth is a name that carries a lot of weight – and for good reason.

Big Sky Resort, Montana

Big Sky Resort is pretty much the only resort in Montana that’s worth making a big pilgrimage for. And thanks to its 5,850 acres, anything you spend getting here will definitely be worth the money! There’s plenty of space to play around in, with everything from mellow beginner runs to some insane high-altitude descents. 

And when we say insane, we mean it. The Lone Peak Tram gets right up to the peak at 11,166 feet, and the only way down is via triple blacks. That’s right, Big Sky is home to not one, not two, but over 20 triple-black runs with pitches reaching 75 degrees in parts. That means true experts only for these descents.

Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado

Telluride in Colorado is home to some of the highest altitude snowboarding in the world, with a peak elevation topping over 13,000 feet. But other than altitude sickness, what you’ll get is an amazing opportunity to shred some of the loftiest, most unspoiled, and hairiest terrain in the US. 

Telluride opens early, closes late, and serves up some unbeatable snowboarding. It has an expansive shred area with numerous open bowls, making it the top choice for anyone who loves bowl riding. There are also plenty of chutes, technical glades, and cliffs. So, if you want to test your mettle (and the strength of your meniscus), Telluride is the place to do it.

Killington Ski Resort, Vermont

The first East Coast entry just had to be Killington! If you’re in the East or heading that way, hit this beast without question. You’ll discover over 1,500 acres to enjoy alongside some of the best terrain in the state — including dozens of black and double-black runs. Yes, Killington is a top choice for anyone who loves steep tree-riding and technical descents. 

However, if you’re more into freestyle, Killington is also a superb choice, thanks to its Woodward Mountain Park. Oh, you can also dive into an amazing après-ski scene, with plenty of partying and a huge hotel at the base. What more could you want?

Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado

Breck? What list of best resorts would be complete without it? Breckenridge has some of the hottest riding in Colorado and is one of the coolest resort towns. 

People flock to Breck from the world over for one thing: high-altitude bowls. And there’s a dozen of them! With some amazing hike-to terrain, along with some of the most hair-raising chutes you’ve ever seen, Breck is a playground for anyone happy to earn their turns. Just imagine it: you’re at the top of the world, with 800 feet of open ground and waist-deep powder below you. It’s not a dream; it’s Breck.

Timberline Lodge, Oregon

Ever shredded Colorado or Utah and thought, ‘Man, I wish these descents were longer’? Well, say hello to Timberline. Nestled on the slopes of Mount Hood, Timberline offers a 4,540 foot descent, along with 45 feet of pow to make the most of it. Oh, and the lifts spin through August thanks to Hood’s elevation. 

Timberline may not have the most marked trails, but who cares? It’s also got a summer terrain park and is regarded as one of the best freestyle resorts in the PNW. Rip pow, jib the park, or sink a beer in the shadow of Mt. Hood in June. What could be better?

Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

The only New Mexico resort on this list, Taos Valley is a little gem that’s often overlooked. Thanks to its position at the southern end of the Rockies, it enjoys some pretty lofty terrain, the highest of which is ungroomed and double-black graded. 

Down low, however, there’s lots of great beginner terrain to get your teeth into, along with some stellar tree riding. And to top it off, the resort base is beautiful, purpose-built and modeled in a Bavarian-Alpine styling for a little touch of European goodness. And it’s easily accessed from both Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

Heavenly Ski Resort, Nevada

Heavenly Mountain Resort is the most aptly named resort around. It’s got 4,800 acres to make your playground and is supremely snowy. It’s no surprise so many people flock from all over to experience it. 

The Skyline Trail runs above some of the best glade riding in the country. There’s so much unmarked, wide open space that there are always fresh tracks to make, and you’ll never hit the same line twice. Or, keep going until it opens up, then hike up the bootpack trail to experience the Milky Way Bowl.

Wolf Creek Ski Resort, Colorado

Wolf Creek in Colorado isn’t a name that crops up regularly when you have Vail, Aspen, and Breck to shout about. However, Wolf Creek is the snowiest resort in the state, has epic freeriding, and is one of the quietest resorts, too. 

There’s no big town here, no huge base station: it’s a stripped-back riding experience that prioritizes the mountain over everything else. If you want to rip some steep and deep away from the crowds, Wolf Creek is where you want to be.

Arapahoe Basin, Colorado

We couldn’t leave out A-Basin, though! If you’re going to hit Wolf Creek, then you’ll also love A-Basin. With some amazing open powder riding (and we mean open), this resort is all about laying fresh tracks. 

But, unofficially, it is the earn-your-turns capital of Colorado. With multiple marked touring and bootpacking routes, you can ascend the ridges and walls and drop into some pretty crazy chutes. Some call this the best technical freeriding in the state — which is a big claim when you’re in Colorado.

Brighton Resort, Utah

Brighton has some epic stats! Plus, it’s one of the most accessible resorts in the US for out-of-towners, just a 35-minute drive from Salt Lake City. There are some truly spectacular zones to explore, with plenty of technical descents, super steep glades, and many pillow zones and cliff drops. 

However, Brighton is famed for its freestyle terrain, too, with a sprawling network of parks that occupy the entire middle of the mountain. As such, you’ll discover a really vibrant freestyle community that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Jay Peak, Vermont

Yes, 30 feet of snow in Vermont. Who knew? Jay Peak is an off-the-beaten-track resort nestled next to the Canadian border and takes the crown for the snowiest resort on the East Coast. 

Jay Peak is the freeriding, pow-ripping capital of the East, with great chutes, steep glades, challenging moguls, and some great freestyle terrain, too. If you’re in this neck of the woods and want the best freeriding around, Jay Peak is the only option. 

Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho

When someone mentions riding in Idaho, they usually talk about Sun Valley. However, there’s another huge resort that’s perfect for beginners and experts alike. Oh, it also has some of the best low-angled tree riding anywhere in the States, gets 25 feet of snow a year, and has so much space that you’ll never wait for a lift – no matter how busy it gets. 

Schweitzer is the definition of a hidden gem, and after a fresh dump, is paradise. Head to the Outback Bowl for high-speed pow ripping through widely spaced trees. There’s nothing like it.

Wrapping up

Well, that’s it! It was a truly tricky task to choose just 20 resorts, with huge names like Steamboat Ski Resort, Copper Mountain, Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, Sugarbush Mountain Ski Resort, Deer Valley, Sun Valley, Keystone Ski Resort, Grand Targhee Resort, and so many more just missing the cut. 

However, our goal was to curate a diverse list of known and should-be-known resorts that are sure to please and delight in every sense. You’ll be stoked with any of these resorts, and they all have something truly unique to offer. Can’t decide which one? Here’s a crazy thought: why not ride them all? That’s our goal. We’ll race ya! 

After more tips or tricks about our listed resorts, getting there, or what to wear? Reach out to our super knowledgeable team at crew@montecwear.com.

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