Quit putting off making plans to book that dream West Coast ski trip with information on the top resorts from Alaska to Tahoe.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Whistler Blackcomb
Location: Whistler
Lift tickets: Approximately $62, depending on exchange rate
Terrain: More than 200 trails, 8,171 acres
Lifts: 33
Elevation: 7,494 feet highest lift, 2,140 base, (5,020 on Whistler, 5,280 on Blackcomb)
Annual snowfall: 360 inches
More info: whistler-blackcomb.com, 1-800-766-0449
Big White
Location: Southeast of Kelowna
Lift tickets: Approximately $53, depending on exchange rate
Terrain: 112 trails, 7,355 acres
Lifts: 15
Elevation: 7,606 feet highest lift, 4,950-foot base, 2,656-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 294 inches
More info: bigwhite.com, 1-800-663-2772
Fernie
Location: Near Fernie
Lift tickets: Approximately $53, depending on exchange rate
Terrain: 107 trails, 2,504 acres
Lifts: 10
Elevation: 6,316 feet highest lift, 3,500-foot base, 2,816-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 348 inches
More info: skifernie.com, 1-800-258-7669
Mount Washington
Location: Near Courtenay
Lift tickets: Approximately $43, depending on exchange rate
Terrain: 60 trails, 2,000 acres
Lifts: Eight
Elevation: 5,215 feet highest lift, 3,558-foot base, 1,657-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 348 inches
More info: mountwashington.ca, 1-888-231-1499
Red Resort
Location: Rossland
Lift tickets: Approximately $43, depending on exchange rate
Terrain: 83 trails, 1,585 acres
Lifts: Six
Elevation: 6,800 feet highest lift, 3,888-foot base, 2,909-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 300 inches
More info: redresort.com, 1-800-663-0105
Sun Peaks
Location: Northern Okanagan Valley
Lift tickets: Approximately $47, depending on exchange rate
Terrain: 117 trails, 3,678 acres
Lifts: 11
Elevation: 6,824 feet highest lift, 3,933-foot base, 2,891-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 220 inches
More info: sunpeaksresort.com, 1-800-807-3257
Silver Star
Location: Northeast of Okanagan Valley
Lift tickets: Approximately $53, depending on exchange rate
Terrain: 111 trails, 3,065 acres
Lifts: 11
Elevation: 6,280 feet highest lift, 3,780-foot base, 2,500-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 276 inches
More info: skisilverstar.com, 1-800-663-4431
OREGON
Mount Bachelor
Location: West of Bend
Lift tickets: $49
Terrain: 71 trails, 3,683 acres
Lifts: 15
Elevation: 9,065 feet highest lift, 5,700-foot base, 3,365-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 370 inches
More info: mtbachelor.com, 1-800-829-2442
Mount Hood Meadows
Location: Mount Hood
Lift tickets: $48
Terrain: 87 trails, 2,150 acres
Lifts: 10
Elevation: 7,300 feet highest lift, 4,523-foot base, 2,777-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 400 inches
More info: skihood.com, 1-503-337-2222
IDAHO
Brundage
Location: McCall, Idaho
Lift tickets: $40
Terrain: 43 trails, 1,340 acres
Lifts: Five
Elevation: 7,640 feet highest lift, 5,840-foot base, 1,800-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 300 inches
More info: brundage.com, 1-800-888-7544
Schweitzer
Location: Sandpoint, Idaho
Lift tickets: $45
Terrain: 62 trails, 2,500 acres
Lifts: Eight
Elevation: 6,400-foot highest lift, 5,000-foot base, 1,400-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 300 inches
More info: schweitzer.com, 1-800-831-8810
Sun Valley
Location: Ketchum, Idaho
Lift tickets: $69
Terrain: 75 trails, 2,054 acres
Lifts: 19
Elevation: 9,150 feet highest lift, 5,750-foot base, 3,400-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 220 inches
More info: sunvalley.com, 1-800-786-8259
Tamarack Resort
Location: Donnelly, Idaho
Lift tickets: $57
Terrain: 35 trails, 850 acres
Lifts: Seven
Elevation: 7,700 feet highest lift, 4,900-foot base, 2,800-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 300 inches
More info: tamarackidaho.com, 1-877-826-7376
MONTANA
Big Sky
Location: Big Sky, near West Yellowstone
Lift tickets: $65
Terrain: 150 trails, 3,600 acres
Lifts: 17
Elevation: 11,150 feet highest lift, 6,800-foot base, 4,350-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 400 inches
Note: Big Sky shares a boundry on Lone Peak with a new resort, Moonlight Basin (moonlight basin.com). Tickets good for both resorts are $78.
More info: bigskyresort.com, 1-800-548-4486
Big Mountain
Location: North of Whitefish
Lift tickets: $49
Terrain: 93 trails, 3,000 acres
Lifts: 13
Elevation: 7,000-foot highest lift, 4,500-foot base, 2,500-foot drop
Annual snowfall: 300
More info: big-mountain.com, 1-800-858-4157
OTHER DESTINATIONS
Alaska
Top resorts: Alyeska and Eaglecrest
More info: alyeskaresort.com and juneau.org/eaglecrest
Pros pick: Alyeska
ALberta
Resorts: Eight total in Banff and Jasper National Parks and just east of the parks in British Columbia
More info: skibig3.com, banfflake louise.com
Pros pick: Lake Louise, skilouise.com
California
Best resorts outside Tahoe: Mammoth Mountain and Big Bear (Bear Mountain and Snow Summit)
More info: mammothmountain.com, bearmtn.com
Pros pick: Mammoth Mountain
Colorado
Resorts: 24
More info: coloradoski.com, coloradoskicountry.com
Pros top three
1. Vail, vail.com
2. Breckenridge, breckenridge.com
3. Steamboat, steamboat.com
Wyoming
Resorts: Four near Jackson
More info: jacksonholewy.net, jacksonhole-skiing.com
Pros pick: Jackson Hole, jacksonhole.com
Utah
Resorts: 12
More info: ski-saltlake.com, skiutah.com, rideutah.com
Pros top three
1. Snowbasin, snowbasin.com
2. Alta/Snowbird, alta.com and snowbird.com
3. Deer Valley, deervalley.com
Tahoe (Calif. and Nev.)
Resorts: 15
More info: tahoeinfo.com, tahoechamber.com, tahoefun.org
Pros top three
1. Squaw Valley USA, squaw.com
2. Alpine Meadows, alpine meadows.com
3. Heavenly, skiheavenly.com
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