World’s Biggest Ski Resorts

The bitter cold that breaks records also brings snow to the mountains. For those who have a need for speed down the side of a snow-covered peak, this is very good news.

As skiers and snowboarders start planning their season, what better way to soak up precious snow time than at one of the world's biggest ski resorts, where hundreds of miles of trails can be found?

Across the United States, Canada and Europe, these epic ski resorts promise long runs in fresh powder. They are the places you'll want to be from the first to last chair lift.

3 Vallées, France

Les Trois Vallées, or simply 3 Vallées, encompasses more than 67,000 acres of mountains in France and includes ski areas in Courchevel, Brides Les Bains, Meribel, Val Thorens, Les Ménuires, Saint Martin de Belleville and Orelle.

Visitors have come to this area to enjoy the French alpine slopes since 1925, but it wasn't until 1971 that a single pass could be used to access all the area's resorts. That change made this ski area one of the largest in Europe.

3 Vallées Stats

Elevation: 4,265 – 10,597 feet

Ski Lifts: 166

Number of Trails: 328

Longest Run: 7.5 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 48 miles green
• 135 miles blue
• 119 miles red
• 33 miles black

4 Vallées, Switzerland

As 4 Vallées resort likes to say, this is "pleasure multiplied by six." Verbier, Bruson, La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon are all ski resorts in this Swiss alpine area that, like its French counterpart, is one of the largest ski resorts in Europe.

In Switzerland, the ski season runs from early November to late April. Snow Online found 4 Vallées to be one of the sunniest ski resorts in the country, averaging 83 sunny days per season.

 

4 Vallées Stats

Elevation: 4,265 – 10,925 feet

Ski Lifts: 80

Number of Trails: 104

Longest Run: 5 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 66.5 miles blue
• 125.5 miles red
• 64 miles black
• 46 miles ungroomed

Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes, France

Although Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes won't be connected officially until the 2022 ski season, skiers are excited about the partnership announced between the two neighboring ski resorts in France, as it will create another multi-mountain getaway in one. Gondolas are currently being built to connect the two resorts.

Currently, Alpe d'Huez has 173 miles of terrain while Les Deux Alpes (the 2 Alps) has 124 miles. Together, they will become one of the largest ski resorts in France, offering a late-November to late-April ski season.

Alpe d'Huez and Les 2 Alpes Stats

Elevation: 3,724 – 10,925

Ski Lifts: 104

Number of Trails: 135

Longest Run: 9.9 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 55 miles green
• 87 miles blue
• 59 miles red
• 29 miles black

* When fully connected in 2020

Arlberg Ski Area, Austria

In Austria, snow bunnies can enjoy the villages of St. Anton, St. Christoph, Studen, Zürs, Lech, Schröken and Warth in Arlberg, the country's largest connected ski area.

The Ski Club Arlberg was founded at the turn of the 20th century and was the first to offer heated chair lifts. The area offers more-than-average sunny days during its 112-day average ski season.

 

Arlberg Stats

Elevation: 4,265 – 9,222 feet

Ski Lifts: 88

Number of Trails: 200

Longest Run: 3.7 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 82 miles blue
• 76.4 miles red
• 31.1 miles black
• 124.3 miles ungroomed

Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky, which absorbed Moonlight Basin, is one of the largest ski resorts in the United States. There are 8,000 acres in this Montana hot spot, though 2,200 acres are privately owned by the Yellowstone Club, where only residents have access. (This comes with hefty annual dues, along with million-dollar home ownership for celebs such as Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen.)

Big Sky's season averages about 143 days between late November and mid-April.

 

Big Sky Stats

Elevation: 6,801 – 11,165 feet

Ski Lifts: 42

Number of Trails: 306

Longest Run: 5.6 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 870 acres green
• 1,448 acres blue
• 2,434 acres black
• 1,045 acres double black

Heavenly Mountain Resort, California

Lake Tahoe's position between California and Nevada has always made it a desirable vacation destination, and since 1955, the 4,800-acre Heavenly Mountain Resort along South Lake Tahoe has been one of the area's main wintertime draws.

You can ski across states at Heavenly, as well as find 3,500 vertical feet of runs that are unmatched at West Coast ski resorts. Even better, Heavenly averages 149 ski days to the U.S. average of118!

Heavenly Mountain Stats

Elevation: 6,565 – 10,066 feet

Ski Lifts: 28

Number of Trails: 97

Longest Run: 5.5 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 959 acres green
• 2,160 acres blue
• 1,438 acres black
• 240 acres double black

Lake Louise, Canada

Spread across 4,200 acres of Banff National Park, Lake Louise is the biggest winter draw in Alberta. The resort is one of three found in the beautiful park, but with its four mountain faces easily surpasses the other two in size. Indeed, it's one of the most extensive ski resorts in all of Canada.

You'll also find one of the highest peaks in Canada, with a vertical drop of 3,251 feet — the average in the country is only 1,148 feet.

Lake Louise Stats

Elevation: 5,400 – 8,652 feet

Ski Lifts: 10

Number of Trails: 145

Longest Run: 5 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 1,048 acres green
• 1,888 acres blue
• 796 acres black
• 462 acres black

Mammoth Mountain, California

Within the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California are more than 3,500 skiable acres offering nearly 240 days of time on the slopes. As one would expect of California, sunshine is ample here; with an average of 173 sunny days per year, this is one of the sunniest ski resorts in America.

But that sun doesn't keep the snow away! Last winter, Mammoth received more snow than ever, with 489 inches at the resort's main lodge and 715 inches at the mountain's summit.

Mammoth Mountain Stats

Elevation: 7,949 – 11,050 feet

Ski Lifts: 33

Number of Trails: 151

Longest Run: 3.7 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 875 acres green
• 1,399 acres blue
• 699 acres black
• 526 acres double black

Matterhorn Ski Paradise, Switzerland

One of the highest peaks in Europe is the renowned pyramidal Matterhorn, aka the "Jewel of the Swiss Alps." Alas, you won't be able to ski off the 14,692-foot peak itself, but you will be able to look at it while enjoying fresh powder at nearby Zermatt. The area 

You can ski nearly 10 miles on one trail in Zermatt, which is divided into Rothorn, Gornergrat and Cervinia on the Italian side.

Matterhorn Ski Paradise Stats

Elevation: 5,315 – 12,792 feet

Ski Lifts: 69

Number of Trails: 145

Longest Run: 9.9 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 46.6 miles blue
• 136.7 miles black
• 16.8 miles double black
• 23.6 miles ungroomed

Mt. Bachelor, Oregon

Formerly called Bachelor Butte, Mt. Bachelor is located in the Cascades and features nearly 4,000 skiable acres. The Oregon mountain ranks as one of the largest ski resorts in North America. 

Dropping 3,363 feet from the summit to the base, skiers and boarders can enjoy a long season — an average 183 days — with snow coverage well into April, even when other resorts are closing up for the season.

Mt. Bachelor Stats

Elevation: 5,699 – 9,065 feet

Ski Lifts: 13

Number of Trails: 101

Longest Run: 3 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 603 acres green
• 1,510 acres blue
• 1,295 acres black
• 949 acres double black

Paradiski, France

In France's Tarentaise Valley, the villages of Les Arcs, Peisey Vallendry and La Plagne make up the Paradiski ski resort, which boasts 10,000-foot summits and is the world's second-largest interconnected ski area. Club Med is home to five luxury resorts here (bet you didn't realize Club Med also specializes in ski resorts!) in the home to the Albertville Olympic Games, which took place in 1992.

Although this is alpine skiing, there are plenty of easy trails and slopes dedicated to beginners, giving even newbies a chance to enjoy the French Alps.

Paradiski Stats

Elevation: 3,937 – 10,663 feet

Ski Lifts: 130

Number of Trails: 264  

Longest Run: 4.3 miles

Skiable Terrain:

•  12 miles green
•  137 miles blue
•  79 miles red
•  36 miles black

Park City, Utah

Once Park City absorbed Canyons Ski Resort, it overtook Vail as the largest ski area in the United States, encompassing an astonishing 7,300 acres. The two resorts are connected by a Quicksilver gondola, making it easy (and enjoyable) to visit both resort areas.

Park City is also the sunniest resort in Utah with an average 66 days of sun during the ski season, which runs from mid-November through mid-April.

 

Park City Stats

Elevation: 6,801 – 10,000 feet

Ski Lifts: 41

Number of Trails: 347 

Longest Run: 2.8 miles

Skiable Terrain:

•  655 acres green
•  3,722 acres blue
•  2,190 acres black
•  1,315 acres double black

Portes du Soleil, France/Switzerland

With 250,000 acres, 404 miles of slopes, and 12 French and Swiss ski resorts connected between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva, this resort is a grande dame of snow!

Choose from Abondance, Avoriaz, Champért, Chatel, La Chapelle d'Adondance, Les Gets, Montriond, Morgins, Morzine-Avoriaz, St. Jean d'Aulups, Torgon or Val-d'Illiez Les Crosets Champoussin — but you only need one pass to ski them all.

Portes du Soleil Stats

Elevation: 2,953 – 8,091 feet

Ski Lifts: 197

Number of Trails: More than 300

Longest Run: 6.8 miles

Skiable Terrain:

•  61 miles green
•  195 miles blue
•  166 miles red
•  56 miles black

Sella Ronda, Italy

Located in the Italian Dolomites, the Sella Ronda is a ski resort that includes Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba and Val di Fassa. Follow the route that encircles the mountains and its four valleys of Northern Italy and you'll find long runs and high vertical drops.

Each resort here—17!—offers ample space to ski and snowboard. Val Gardena, for example, has 109 miles of slopes and 79 lifts, while Val di Fassa provides another 130.5 miles of slope and 83 lifts.

Sella Ronda Stats

Elevation: 4,055 – 8,333 feet

Ski Lifts: More than 243

Number of Trails: 1,275

Longest Run: 6.5 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• More than 130 miles blue
• More than 190 miles red
• More than 35 miles black

Squaw Valley, California

Already an enormous U.S. mountain, Squaw Valley, at 3,600 acres, expanded another 2,400 acres when it absorbed Alpine Meadows into its giant ski resort in 2011. Moreover, it has some of the highest vertical drops in California.

Alpine Meadows Base Lodge received a $1.4-million renovation last year, as well as new snowmaking facilities, so now's a great to time to plan a visit. 

Squaw Valley Stats

Elevation: 6,201 – 9,049 feet

Ski Lifts: 41

Number of Trails: More than 270

Longest Run: 3.1 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 1,498 acres green
• 2,578 acres blue
• 1,9,20 acres black

Sun Peaks, Canada

It's not as well-known as some other Canadian ski resorts, but British Columbia's 4,270-acre Sun Peaks is one of the largest in North America. 

Although it's large, there are just 12 lifts, which means you will find long runs, and the average ski season is a robust 161 days. Plus, the resort is highly regarded among experts; Powderhounds.com gave Sun Peaks its highest rating among all Canadian ski resorts.

Sun Peaks Stats

Elevation: 4,117 – 7,060 feet 

Ski Lifts: 12

Number of Trails: 135 

Longest Run: 5 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 425 acres green
• 2,476 acres blue
• 1,238 acres black
• 129 acres double black

Val d'Isere and Tignes, France

These two conjoined ski resorts were formerly known as Espace Killy for the French Olympic Gold Medal-winning skier Jean-Claude Killy, who took home numerous awards in 1960. Providing two ski resorts in one ski area, this is France's third-biggest ski resort.

Val d'Isere and Tignes are a part of the Tarentaise Valley in the Rhone-Alpes. Located near the Italian border, you'll find glacier skiing on Glacier du Pissaillas and a black vertical drop of nearly 3,300 feet on the Face de Bellevarde.

Val d'Isere and Tignes Stats

Elevation: 5,085 – 11,319 feet

Ski Lifts: 72

Number of Trails: 157 

Longest Run: 4 miles

Skiable Terrain:

•  23 miles green
•  68 miles blue
•  41 miles red
•  25 miles black

Vail, Colorado

As one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, the Vail name conjures images of European-style slopes and villages in the heart of Colorado. The mountain became a ski area in the mid-century, and since then, Vail Resorts has opened 37 ski resorts across North America and Australia, including Beaver Creek and Breckenridge.

But its original resort remains one of the best and largest — it touts nearly 5,300 acres, including the Back Bowls for freeride skiers.

Vail Stats

Elevation: 8,117 – 11,568 feet

Ski Lifts: 30

Number of Trails: 195 

Longest Run: 4 miles

Skiable Terrain:

•  951 acres green
•  1,532 acres blue
•  480 acres black
•  1,322 acres double black

Via Lattea, France

Via Lattea, or the Milky Way, straddles the Italian and French Alps and is made up of a number of ski resorts. Find 249 miles of slopes across Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario, Pragelato, Claviere, Montgenevre and Sestriere, the latter of which is hosting the FIS Ski World Cup in January 2020.

One of the sunniest ski resorts in the Piedmont, Via Lattea also offers a longer ski season that stretches, on average, 155 days from the end of November through the end of April.

Via Lattea Stats

Elevation: 4,528 – 9,262 feet

Ski Lifts: 71

Number of Trails: 249

Longest Run: 4.3 miles

Skiable Terrain:

•  59.7 miles blue
•  136.7 miles red
•  52.2 miles black

Whistler-Blackcomb, British Columbia

At 8,171 acres, the one-two punch of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains comprise the largest ski resort in Canada. And the resort is among the most renowned in the world to boot; Whistler was home to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Operating as one of Vail Resorts, this ski behemoth received a multi-million-dollar upgrade last year, including the addition of a number of heated, fast-moving gondolas to reduce wait times.

Whistler-Blackcomb Stats

Elevation: 2,215 – 7,493 feet

Ski Lifts: 32

Number of Trails: 240 

Longest Run: 6.8 miles

Skiable Terrain:

• 1,470 acres green
• 4,493 acres blue
• 1,797 acres black
• 573 acres double black