Snow season is finally upon us! If you’re an avid boarder or skier, January-April are probably some of your favorite months. Whether you board or ski, fresh powder and some nice slopes are vital to having a good run. We’ve put together a list of the top places we think are worth visiting to snowboard or ski.
Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth Mountain is a main tourist hub located in the Eastern Sierra Nevada region. According to World Snowboard Guide, https://www.worldsnowboardguide.com/usa/mammoth-mountain.html ,it is one of the biggest ski resorts in America, with over 150 trails. Mammoth has 12 terrain parks, 2 halfpipes, and 24 chairlifts. Whether you’re freeriding, freestyling, or if you’re nearly just a beginner, Mammoth has all the right bowls, jumps, and runs for your snowboarding/skiing forte. Once you’re all snow’d out, there’s plenty of accommodations to stay, but the most affordable places are in Mammoth Lakes, which is only 4 miles from the mountain. Night life can be found down there as well, along with at the village, in case you needed that beer after a long snow day.
Mount Hood Meadows
Located just 90 minutes from Portland, Mt. Hood Meadows is Oregon’s biggest ski resort. Meadows is constructed of more than 2,150 acres, with a high lift-served elevation of 7,300 feet. Meadow’s website shares that it was voted by Oregonians for having the best intermediate terrain in the state. https://www.skihood.com/the-mountain Meadows has 6 parks and one major pipe, the Superpipe, which contains 18 inches to put your true pipe riding skills to the test. If you’re not there yet, don’t worry as there is the Minipipe (coming soon), where you can practice your skills to become a “Superpipe” rider. Meadows offers a variety of snowboard and ski lessons for beginner adults and kids, and even private lessons for the more experienced.
Vail
Vail is one of the biggest ski resorts in the world, with a whopping 5,289 acres of skiable terrain. Vail’s location in Colorado makes for some very cold snow days. If you’re an advanced snowboarder/skier, Vail might be the perfect fit for you as 53 % of the terrain is suitable for that level of expertise. Even if you’re not an advanced rider, Vail gives you the opportunity to become one. Along with many beginners lessons and even private lessons you can choose, Vail offers signature programs and camps for your learning needs. With all the perks Vail has to offer, you can imagine the mountain getting a fair amount of riders come through during the season. According to Forbes, Weekends and most days in March are the busiest, so it is essential to plan ahead if you are going during those times. https://www.forbes.com/sites/christophersteiner/2018/11/28/the-top-10-ski-resorts-in-north-america-for-2019/#e76eeb75ec77
Heavenly
Lake Tahoe’s highest mountain, Heavenly, is surely Heaven for snowboarders and skiers. It is made up of 4,800 acres with 97 trails. If you’re new to snowboarding/skiing, Boulder Lodge is the perfect side of the mountain for you. According to Heavenly’s website, it is the perfect spot to learn how to ski or ride. https://www.skiheavenly.com/explore-the-resort/experience-heavenly/interactive-map.aspx . If you’re an intermediate or advanced skier or rider, however, Stagecoach Lodge would be your go to. What makes Heavenly, well, heavenly, is the unique experiences is has to offer, such as their Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster and Winter Tubing. The Mountain Coaster coasts through the forest bringing forth the most amazing views.
Squaw Valley
Also located in Lake Tahoe is Squaw Valley, the host site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. As stated on the Squawalpine website, Squaw Valley was voted as North America’s best ski resort for three years in a row. https://squawalpine.com/squaw-valley-ski-resort. Squaw definitely holds up to its expectations with over 170 trails, 16 bowls, and 4 terrain parks. The mountain gets an average of 450 inches of snow annually, which is a snowboarder or skiers galore! From gently sloped terrain, to winding terrain, to steeps and rolling terrain, Squaw doesn’t fail in the variety factor, as it offers everything and more.
