Top 5 Steepest Ski Areas of North America
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2022
- After reading about mediocre resorts making the top 50 list every year in Ski Magazine, I decided to put together my own lists of ski areas. You may not agree with my lists and I encourage you to include your favorites with your justification in the comments below.
This is the first in a series of Top 5 videos I am putting together as I believe steepest terrain is an important criteria for any destination resort. Others will include Best Sidecountry, Best Vacation Destination, Worst Locals, etc.
See the 2024 update video at: • Top 5 Steepest Ski Are...
Other Videos in the Series:
Top 5 Powder Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Powder Ski Areas...
Top 5 Spring Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Spring Ski Areas...
Top 5 Sidecountry Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Sidecountry Ski ...
Top 5 Lunch Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Lunch Ski Areas ...
Top 5 Teaching Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Teaching Ski Are...
Top 5 Fun Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Fun Ski Areas of...
My Top 5 Favorite Ski Areas of North America: • My Top 5 Favorite Ski ...
5 Hidden Gem Ski Areas of North America: • 5 Hidden Gem Ski Areas...
Top 5 Early Season Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Early Season Ski...
Top 5 Destination Ski Areas of North America: • Top 5 Destination Ski ...
Top 5 Showoff Runs in North America: • Top 5 Showoff Runs in ...
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Excellent list. I can confirm that Jackson and the Bird have some crazy runs for sure. Well done video!
Aspen Highlands is amazing but you do have to earn the turns for sure!
Thanks for the kind words.
Cool video! I like how you distilled a lifetime of experience into a unique top 5 ski ranking. I was just telling an avid skier friend (Odd Sea Adventures) that he should make a video similar to this. He, like you, has a large number of resorts under his belt. I think we all have a friend like that and pick their brain for ski intel
Thanks. I get a lot of people asking for recommendations while on the chairlift.
Very nice! And glad NM made your list.
Of course, Taos is one of the greats! Thanks for the kind words.
Great, and very relevant video mate! Keep them coming!
Thanks, I had hoped to have another one for today but it needs a bit more work and so I hope to get it out tomorrow.
I'm not even a skier and this video is incredible! Great job!
Thanks!
Kicking Horse and Revelstoke would be nice, steeper than most places on this list.
Definitely need to get to both of those. Thanks for the comment.
My friends who have skied Kicking Horse, nicknamed it Kicking Ass. They said it was awesome and very steep which is what they wanted.
@@mtadams2009 I've gotten a lot of comments about Kicking Horse and so it is on my short list of places to visit.
I totally disagree, neither of those places even exist as far as I can find.
@@tonyjofenig6833 They are in Canada.
Great list...have skied all except Taos. Alta is my favorite mountain...High Rustler is an amazing run. Love the entire Wildcat area as well
Thanks. There are a few more areas I need to get to. When I do, I think it is only fair to update the list. I will try to do that this winter.
Good job! I agree with your comment about the "J-holes".
But, back in the 90's I got to ski a run with Doug Coombs and some other JH Air Force. They were incredibly nice and without ego.
Thanks for the kind words. I agree with you that a number of the locals are really nice people. Unfortunately it only takes one or two rude ones to leave a bad impression. Don't worry though, every resort has them.
Unfortunately I smiled a little bit when I heard them called J Holes because I’ve met quite a few. Although I will say that on a powder day, people at Snowbird can be real dicks too 😂😂😂. Great people most f the time, but they are like crackheads when there is more than 18” of snow involved and get all kinds of nuts. Literally almost been in fights in the tram line before 🤦🏼♂️😂😂
I grew up skiing Jackson Hole and after revisiting squaw valley I was blown away by the terrain there. The amount of steep terrain off of KT is insane.
You are right, there is a lot of steep terrain off of KT-22. I remember it being amazingly steep. Then I went back a few years ago and for some reason it looked a lot more tame, which is why I took it off the list. Great skiing though, especially this season.
@@matthewbennettutah Even though I grew up skiing at Jackson Hole I think that Palisades is better, Some of the steepest terrain I've ever skied was at Palisades this spring. I also visited Alta this winter and fell in love, Some amazing terrain and snow.
@@jacksongladish4 Glad you got to experience Alta. I like it but am probably a bit biased. This year has been amazing with over 900 inches of snow.
Great Video! I love steep skiing as well and Snowbird is definitely the best resort I've ever been to but Philippe's at mammoth mountain felt to me like the steepest run I've ever been on
Mammoth definitely has some great steeps. I think every major resort has at least one amazingly steep run and so I came up with the top 5 based on having a number of them.
@@matthewbennettutah super accurate list though
@@C.oleCarson Thanks.
I went to snowbird. That mountain kicked my behind so badly that I bought a hat and shirt so I could never forget that place!
It can do that.
I especially like how you and Jim became ski buddies! I also like your criteria of lift accessibility. Seriously, when I'm able to take a western vacation there's plenty to explore without going for a hike! I love skiing Alf's High Rustler and am amused that locals will not help you find it! I've even been mis-directed by ski patrol when I was first searching for the famous" High Boy". It's almost like a favorite inside joke with the locals I've talked to after I finally found my way to Alf's.
Thanks for the kind words. Jim is still enjoying lift-service skiing at Mammoth and I talked to him about it yesterday. As for locals not telling you where to find their favorite runs, I think that is fairly common. Glad you were able to figure out how to get to High Rustler. There are a lot of "hidden" runs at Alta and sometimes the only way to find them is to follow a group of people and see where they are headed. Just make sure you can ski pretty much everything.
Pebble Creek ski area in southeast Idaho deserves a try. It’s not well known if you’re not from near that area because it’s a small ski area aceragewise and it’s for the budget-minded. I grew up learning to ski there. Despite being relatively small it has a sizable vertical drop of 2,200 feet and many of its runs are surprisingly steep and tree choked. They don’t exactly follow the fall line, either. The downside to this area is plentiful snow seasons are hit or miss.
I'll have to add Pebble Creek to my list.
Love Taos. Crested Butte is also very steep.
I agree Taos is great and Crested Butte also has some very steep stuff.
Taos hike to terrain is very steep.
Great idea for a series.
Thanks.
Great video!
Thanks!
You are definitely missing Kicking Horse in Golden, BC ... I ski every weekend at Snowbird/Alta and I can tell you Kicking Horse has some awesome runs at feuz bowl on whitewall and ozone and all along the ridge drops .... loved the place
Yes, I definitely need to get to Kicking Horse and have heard great things about it.
You're missing the Greatest Of All Time - Whistler Blackcomb. Over several years I've spent several months skiing both Whistler Blackcomb and Jackson Hole, and Whistler is Jackson on a steroid rage.
Whistler is pretty awesome. When I compiled the video, I didn't remember the steeps everyone keeps reminding me about. I'll have to get back up there and update the video.
@@jpx1508 That is a great line about rescue from ski patrol vs. a helicopter. I'll have to remember it.
@@jpx1508 Thanks.
I would agree; while I do love my home mountain, Whistler is incredible. The difference is that (previous to climate change) it never rained in ski season at Jackson, whereas Whistler rains a ton.
@@Osnosis That rain at Whistler is something I considered when I created the original list.
Great video thanks
Thanks. I appreciate the kind comment.
Thanks for the video. In your next trip to Tahoe check out The Chutes at Mt. Rose. Some fun steeps to be enjoyed there.
I keep hearing that so there must be some truth to it.
This might shock you but believe it or not, Mt. Bohemia in northern Michigan. Seriously. I'm a pretty big powder snob and that place blew me away at how gnarly it is for being in the midwest.
I have heard Mt. Bohemia is pretty good. I am thinking about taking a month in the middle of winter to hit a bunch of mid-west resorts that nobody ever talks about and Mt. Bohemia is on that list.
@@matthewbennettutah As a native of the midwest I strongly suggest spending the whole week at Bohemia. Everything else is groomed ice and mud. Or grass spraypainted white. You'd be surprised at how many people from Indiana that can fool.
@@gabesolomon4887 That is good advice as I have spent my fair share of skiing spray-painted grass.
I love Boho, got to go in Jan, we didnt get a lot of snow before, but we still had an amazing trip!
@@johnroden3431 If I get the chance to take a winter off from work, I'd like to tour the country and hit a bunch of the smaller areas like Mt. Bohemia. It would really grow my list.
The steepest run I have experienced is Adrenalin at Alpental Wa. if you have the nerve and make you first turn far skiers right past a lone tree it is a thrill.
Alpental is a great ski area. That is where I first learned to ski and love it. I have been back a few times in my adult life and love how well it skis.
@@sgvincent100 I think it is a good idea to at least give a nod to steep runs at other areas even if they don't make the list.
Upper International from Chair 2 at Alpental is the steepest run directly served by a lift in the country. That may be why it is a perennial location of the Subaru Vertfest where racers ski up the mountain under the lift then race back down Adrenalin on mountaineering skis.
@@melodigrand I'm very familiar with International at Alpental. What a great little area. I left it off the Steeps list due to the short length of the steeps compared to other areas on the list.
@@matthewbennettutah Yes less than 1000 ft. I hear the pros schuss it on skis with cross country bindings at Vertfest but I haven't seen that.
Very nice list. Before I started this video, I put down Big Sky, Snowbird, Alta, Jackson Hole, and Squaw. I’ve not been to Taos. In other words, I totally agree with your list! 👍🏻
It is always nice to get some validation. Thanks.
Growing up I skied Toas a lot love that place
Taos is awesome!
you should check out Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, Montana. It has a great variety of terrain, and is definitely a locals hill.
I keep hearing that. It is on my list of new places to try.
+1 for Bridger, although most of the steep stuff is off the ridge which requires a bit of a boot pack. So not sure it fits the criteria for this list.
@@Kodlak15 It is still worth trying to get to. I've added it to my list to try and get to this year.
@@matthewbennettutah 100%. I went to Montana State University and spent some time there! Really cool mountain, and amazing snow 👍
@@Kodlak15 Thanks for the recommendation.
Snowbird, Big Sky, and Jackson Hole are definitely 3 of my favorite places to ride. Whister too! My oldest son (17yr old) and I just did the Big Couloir a few weeks ago at Big Sky. It was a great run!
Those are all great places. Glad you got to do Big Couloir.
We were there! Phenomenal closing week.
@@vjr5261 Good to hear.
Thanks for listing Bear Valley - a very classic CA Ski Area. I have also skied Taos in New Mexico it's great - Santa Fe is very good too in New Mexico - I now live in Northern NM and very close to both of these areas. However!!! - take a look at Wolf Creek in Colorado - historically most snow in Colorado!
Wolf Creek made my powder list. I enjoyed several days there when I visited. It isn't the steepest place but it does have a lot of powder.
Great video!
Absolutely, Wolf Creek is a great hill, like you said the most snow in CO!
Good list, can you try some some more NE resorts? Castlerock on Sugarbush is nuts and also DJs Tramrun on cannon is pretty nuts too, but both need a good amount of natural snowfall...There are some pretty good steeps up here all over Vermont, NH and Maine. Even hiking into Tuckermans right around this time is the bees knees. Easy access through Manchester-Boston regional AP.
Thanks for the recommendations out East. I had hoped to get out there this winter but kept hearing about how it would snow, get warm, and all the snow would melt. I think if I hit it right, I would have had some good snow but that is tough to plan. I have to go to New York every so often for work and plan to bring my skis when I know the snow is good. Perhaps I should do an East-Coast list as I know there are some great places there.
Crested Butte is definetely worth a mention. A lot of things on north face and Rambo are truly scary.
Thanks for adding to the discussion. There are a lot of comments about Rambo at CB and it has merit.
Rambo isn't even as steep as some of the other stuff there. Highlife and the edge are steeper and much gnarlyer
Rambo is truly insane, 2 weeks ago I went to crested butte and skiied Rambo. U know the run is crazy when u can see more of the bottom then the run. (Rambo has 55 degree pitch. Avg on corbets is 45)
@@alexpurrington8295 u don’t know what ur talking about bro. It is the steepest run in all of America, not counting backcountry
@@casereagles7896 steepest *cut* run in america. Meaning steepest one a resort has cut down trees for. Quite a few runs out there (generally above tree line) that are steeper in america. Not to discredit rambo, thing’s steep af lmao
What's your overall opinion of Mammoth Mountain? While not having the gnarliest terrain I've ever seen, the mix of a world class terrain park, huge acreage, with some seriously challenging stuff makes it (still) my favorite mountain I've ever been to. Cheers for the video though, some good stuff on your channel. Maybe a top 5 personal favorites in the future?
My overall opinion of Mammoth is that it is way under rated outside of the California crowd. I know it is a SoCal destination area and can get crowded but there is a lot to ski. As for Top 5 Personal Favorites, that is a great idea. Thanks.
I think Mammoth is too crowded and too expensive. My favorite so far is Whistler, but since Covid they wouldn't let me in so no dice lol
@@Chris11249 Stupid COVID
Good variety of terrain but the "powder" can be like wet cement. Fun to ski a different trail all day though, and come back to your faves the next day.
@@kurtbader9711 Different trails every day is one of the benefits of large resorts. As for the powder, sometimes it is Sierra Cement but on occasion it can be magical.
Palisades Tahoe has been my "home" mountain for a long time, and you're correct that there's a lot of sidecountry that requires hiking. That said, Magoo's off of Granite Peak, just about anything in Silverado (when the chair is open), Funnel off of Emigrant, Strainer and Poulson's Gulley off of Red Dog, and all the usual suspects off of KT and Headwall are fairly accessible and fun steeps. Agreed that Big Sky off the tram is some of the most incredible territory I've ever skied, and am working up to Big Couloir next season (having witnessed a number of epic wipeouts on it, ski patrol is really great about responding, but they really don't need to go far to get where everyone lands). Fun video, thanks!
Palisades has some great terrain. It is tough keeping the list to just 5.
If you include the Funnel, then you definitely should include Scott's over on the Alpine Meadows side.
@@commontater8630 Scott's is a lot of fun.
@@matthewbennettutah That it is.
Great video man
Thanks.
Matthew Bennett if this vid takes all of North America into consideration then Blackcomb is the steepest there is in my opinion. 2 words spankeys ladder. Most unmarked Inbounce skiing I’ve seen in North America feels like Alaska heli skiing on a pow day
@@Mars-fu8wb These are the types of comments I was hoping to see more of. I've had one other person in my travels talk about the steeps at Blackcomb but I don't remember it being so. Perhaps I need to get back up there and specifically give Spakey's Ladder a shot. I'll be sure to put out an updated video afterwards.
Matthew Bennett sure thing also be sure to check out the lines off chainsaw ridge
@@Mars-fu8wb Definitely!
As a longtime Alta/Snowbird skier I have had more fear skiing the Steeps of Crested Butte. Rambo is listed as the steepest trail in North America and 98% of onlookers pass.
I seriously considered Crested Butte but pulled it from the list because runs like Rambo require a lot of snow. It is tough to keep the list to 5.
Crested Butte was my 1st real backcountry skiing adventure.... As far as lift served terrain
I spent a the first week in Mar '22 at CBMR. By far, it is the gnarliest place I've skied. But much of the North Face, where a lot of the steepest stuff lives, requires a little hiking or climb to get to. Or get back from. However, the faces off the High Lift, and especially the 6 chutes on the West Side, would more than qualify CBMR for your list!
@@jonathankamien837 Crested Butte does have some very steep terrain. Keeping the list to 5 is tough and the good-snow requirement and the hike was just enough to push it off the list. I still love skiing there though.
Pavliacini at Arapahoe Basin
Wipe out and Dropuot at Mammoth
KT22 at Squaw Valley
Thanks for the recommendations.
Mount Alyeska in Girdwood Alaska. Over 40% of the mountain is black diamond many of that is double. We’ve had over 850 inches of snow this year, and we’re still skiing
I have heard that the mountain is steep.
The North Face at Alyeska and perhaps part of the Headwall have some runs that would have a pretty decent pucker factor for most skiers. Christmas Chute is mentioned below, but Zug's Slide, along with it entrance, can be a little gnarly...but folks have already talked about this below....just sayin'...their patrol are masters at mitigation.
@@philostroski8216 Patrol there for over 17 years😎
@@philostroski8216 Thanks for adding a few more runs at Alyeska. I also like the "masters at mitigation" comment.
Awesome video, made me psyched for next season! I’ve never skied any of the places you mentioned; how would Vail compare to your choices?
Vail is a great destination resort with plenty of terrain to keep most intermediate skiers for days. It also has some steeps but I have to keep my list to just 5.
I ski bummed a year at Vail…loved it but could not find a single steep run to get your heart rate up. I’ve been back now that they opened up Cat 3 area (blue sky basin) which has some fun rocks to pop off of…but sadly still no steeps
Vail sucks, have skied steeper lines in Vermont.
I'll admit Alpental and Crystal Mt in Washington are not quite as steep (overall) as the areas on your list (I've skied all but Taos), but the cement-like nature of the snow more than makes up for it. Not to mention that the tree skiing is through dense evergreens and not the lovely deciduous Aspens you find in the rockies. Alta will always be my favorite though, because nothing beats fresh powder without snowboard tracks.
For some, the lack of snowboards is a big draw for Alta.
Crystal and Alpental can be really scary. If you go to Crystal next time, try pucker's gully, or teddy bear, which is a smaller version of Corbet. The Fan and Adrenaline at Alpental will scare most people.
Um the rockies are full of evergreens, have you ever been there
Crystal and Alpental have spots that are definitely as steep and cascade spackle that allow you to ski them. Grew up skiing both and love both. I do believe it's the sheer magnitude and length of many other mountains that sets them apart. 200 feet of crazy steep vert is not nearly as intimidating as staring down a 1K vert + run of no fall zone.
@@proverbalizer yes, but there are enough poplar glades that you can ski trees all day long at many areas without going near the evergreens.
No Arapahoe basin?
No, I still need to get there but plan on it.
When I worked at Squaw back in '89. People said I must have learned my cliff jumping skills at Toas. Reality is there are more cliffs at Santa Fe. And the steeps like Avalanche Bowl, Easter Bowl
and Big Rocks have plenty of chutes to cut your teeth.
Great recommendation. Thanks!
I like reading these reviews.
Thanks. Me too as I have gotten some great recommendations.
Interesting post and parallels much of my thinking, but of course we have our personal experiences over the years. I have over 45 resorts under my belt. I am a 40 year Level III instructor, but have not worked full time since 2000. My mantra was to ski a different resort each year, which has worked out well. I must say, the 3-Bears 'new' chair at Copper Mountain has opened up for easy access some amazing terrain. I skied all of your top 5 except Taos. Telluride and Crested Butte are also on my list. Anyhow, I agree with all of your assessments, especially Big Sky. Ok, also had 3 amazing days in steeps (without hiking - a 4 letter word is hike) at Powder Mountain. Just saying. PS: I am 70.
You would love to ski with my buddy Jim who thinks Powder Mountain is one of the best hidden gems. Thanks for the comments.
The front four trails at Stowe, VT are pretty incredible. Many of the freeride lines you can find at Stowe are steep and not too far off the main trails. And then you can boot pack or skin up to the top to ski some great chutes like Profanity or Hourglass. Hope to make it to all those on your list in the future. Nice video 👍🏽
@@SkiVermont17 Thanks for the kind words and I'll definitely try to get to Stowe.
For your East Coast tour I would definitely recommend Sugarloaf (backside snowfields, White Nitro which is a horrid name), Mad River Glen (Paradise), Sugarbush (Castlerock area), Jay Peak (Face Chutes) and Cannon (Kinsman Glade). Also Smugglers Notch and Stowe but I'm not as familiar with them.
Thanks for the recommendations.
The list is right, but Avalanche and Tramline are steeper at Cannon the Kinsman. However, Kinsman is just an amazing run down a frozen stream.
@@markcarroll9891 Thanks for the tip. I'm still working on details for my New England trip this winter but will keep this in mind.
@@matthewbennettutah oof… hope you didn’t come east this winter, it was awful :(. No snow!
@@Rooneytunes01 I kept hearing it was cold-hot-cold-hot and so I didn't bother this year. Unfortunately I also had to give up my Canada trip so I could go to Japan. Perhaps next year will be better for the East.
Definitely Kicking Horse and in the East Mad River Glen
Thanks for the suggestions. Both are on my list of places to visit.
For me personally - 4th alley at Arapahoe - not very long but lots of trees and no bail out. And there's a place called the nose in Steeplechase at the Highlands. Closed all of Steeplechase for the season 1990 when me and 2 friends kicked an avalanche in that area. Thankfully we stopped above. I'm making my fortune now so hopefully next winter I'll join 'ya!
Those sound like good recommendations. For those interested in figuring out how to make a small fortune skiing . . . start with a large one.
I'm past my prime, but I think Mammoth deserves an honorable mention. Hangmans, Huevos Grandes, Phillipes to name a few. All are easily accessible from the gondola or Chair 14. Even if those don't qualify, the quality of skiing at Mammoth can't be underestimated. It may not get light powder, but the wind-blown chalk is as good as it gets. Great video!!
Tom, Thanks for the kind words. It is really tough to limit this list to just 5 areas and I agree Mammoth has some great steeps.
Shhh... don't tell everyone how good it is.
@@SnowArcs Sorry.
there are a couple of runs at Mammoth that are very snowbird like. but snowbird is special and i try and go every year at least once.
@@urbanrunoff Both Mammoth and Snowbird are great ski areas.
Taos is definately on my bucket list but unfortunately their snow schedule never seems to workout with my family life schedule
I think we all have that problem. Snow conditions can make or break a ski vacation and so you really want to go when conditions are at their peak. You just have to guess when that will be or pay significantly more for last-minute travel.
I went to Park City for two ski vacations back in the 1970s and they have a hill called "The Hoist." It is quite steep and only one day did it have enough snow to be ski-able, so I took it. It is too steep to stop in most places and when you do the snow you kicked up falls and hits you in the head. I don't recall skiing on a hill steeper than The Hoist.
Park City is now massive with their merging of The Canyons (formerly Park West) and they do have some steep stuff. Unfortunately it doesn't really compare to the other areas on this list.
Silverton, CO. Single lift. Have to ski with a guide min groups of 8 during the season. Average slope of 40+ degrees. Enjoy!
I really do want to go.
Hi Matthew. Mt Hood Meadows and Mt Bachelor in Oregon are awesome! If you like Timberline, you'll love Meadows and Bachelor!!
Thanks for the recommendation.
Check out the wall & the wave at Kirkwood & black iron bowl at telluride. Those are fun runs, especially in powder😁
My buddy Jim skied Kirkwood yesterday and said it was amazing. I still need to get to Telluride but it is on my list.
Great video Matthew. This is how ski resorts should be ranked. I hate those top 10 lists made by skiers that ski one week a season on a nice resort. I now live in Sandy UT so Alta and Snowbird are my favours. However before moving to Utah I lived in Bay Area and my favor was Kirkwood. I also has many steep runs. Especially Hell's delight.
Thanks for the kind words and we are probably neighbors. I also spent time in the Bay Area and loved going to Kirkwood where I had some of my best days. See you on the hill.
I just love the idea of a ski owner keeping a DOUBLE BLACK trail as a green and scaring a bunch of Jerrys. What a legend
It is up to the ski area to set their own levels of difficulty. Most people don't realize that and so they assume if they can ski a black at their home area, they can ski a black anywhere. Unfortunately that is not always the case.
@@matthewbennettutah No doubt Coppers got some real double blacks.
@@scottmilburn1773 Yes they do.
You should check out Mt. Baldy in Sothern California. When it has coverage after a big storm.
I've flown over it a few times but have yet to get the chance to ski it. Perhaps I'll get there some day.
Crested Butte, Rambo 55° pitch all trees because they've decided to leave them. Silverton only has 1 lift and 3 sides to choose your descent, be careful with weather as you might get snowed in/out. Lastly Bluebird Backcountry, no lifts only hike able. These resorts are all in Colorado!!
Yes, Colorado has some great skiing. I need to get out more but that is tough when I have a full-time job and the skiing is also good in Utah. Thanks for the recommendations!
I'm surprised you didn't mention Mineral Basin when talking Snowbird. I loved those runs...
Oh I like Mineral Basin too but don't want to give away all of the resort's secrets.
A basin is a local gem for the steep list next time you’re in CO
I keep trying to get there as I understand it is great. It is definitely on my list.
Hey your personal list is kinda light on Vermont mountains! Glad to see Wachusett on there though!
People think I am crazy for skiing out east when I live in Utah but I do try to get there every once and awhile.
I live in Michigan, and currently ski the local hills a lot (they are definitely not mountains, but better than nothing!), I get out West as often as my job allows. But I once lived in Albany, New York for several years, so I’ve had a lot of exposure to skiing in Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont.
In all, I’ve skied over 50 different resorts in 10 different states and 3 Canadian provinces.
In general, the Eastern US is my least favorite. It’s just as expensive, sometimes worse, for lift and lodging prices, as big resorts out West, and the snow quality almost always sucks. Most Eastern resorts are definitely not at all steep, which is fine because when you’re skiing on ice or re-frozen crud, or even the usual “frozen granular”, the last thing you want is wicked steeps. Weekend crowds in the east can be horrible, and the skiers can be quite rude. I never made it to Jay Peak, Stowe, Smuggler’s, or Mad River Glen, so I’m probably missing some of Vermont’s best, but these are my impressions, FWIW.
@@sc100ott Well you have more Canadian resorts than I do and I keep getting raked in the comments for that. I did try to schedule several trips there though. I agree about steeps and snow quality though. Good snow turns you into a hero . . . ice, not so much unless you are really good at it.
Bridger Bowl Montana would love to see you check that one out
I recently finished Bruce Tremper's book "Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain" who started at Bridger Bowl and has a lot of great stories from that area. It is definitely on my list of places to ski.
@@matthewbennettutah let me know if you're in the area. I spend a lot of time there. And there's some amazing Backcountry skiing around here also
@@matthewbennettutah World Record Snowfall of 68″ at Bozeman's Bridger Bowl, December 26th-27th, 2003. This snowfall closed Bozeman's only ski area until December 28th, 2003 (unofficial 87″ top of Bridger Lift
@@SkiSkillsMontana Will do.
@@SkiSkillsMontana That is quite the snowfall record.
Awesome… bro .. luv the sarcasm …
Thanks. Some people don't appreciate it.
Mad River Glen is off the charts too. Lift line is quiet the run!
Definitely on my list.
Ventured to most of the lust given, agreed to list, would add Arapahoe Basin on the Steep’s back bowl & far left runs looking up from base qualify as well. Alta & Snowbird definite fav’s
Thanks for the recommendation. I need to try and get to A-Basin.
First day at Alta, first day of my season, first run of the season my friend took me to Alf's. No warm ups. Wanted to stab him with my pole. Thx for the info on the K-12 being Great Scott. Skied that a few years back but did not know that it was the K-12. Awesome.
Not sure I would want to do Alf's first run of the season. Thanks for watching.
Killington (VT) is a party mountain. Legitimate Code-Brown material can be found at Smuggler's Notch. Nothing fancy, but the terrain is occasionally ferocious. Black Hole, Free Fall, Lift Line, Upper Upper FIS bring legitimate gnar-factor. Even single-black Doc Dempsey's I would rate as the hardest single-black going.
Great comment. Thanks.
@@matthewbennettutah I grew up skiing at Smuggler's. When there was a lot of snow it was great (by eastern standards) but more often than not the steeper (again, by eastern standards) terrain would be closed due to insufficient amounts of snow. Same goes for Stowe.
@@dylankell-kirkman8831 Steep stuff being closed because of poor snow coverage has been something we've felt here in the West for the past decade. Last week we got 71 inches of new snow over 4 or 5 days and the coverage has allowed a lot of great skiing on runs we have not been able to ski for years. Let's hope the snow continues this season both in the West and the East.
Awesome video! I'm curious how these top 5 compare to resorts in the Alps like Val d'Isere, Brevent, Grand Montets, etc.?
That is a great question. The thing that makes a head-to-head comparison difficult is the high variability of snow quality in Europe. That dictates a lot of what is possible to ski. That being said, a lot of hard-core steep skiers try Chamonix and have a tough time coming back to the US.
@@matthewbennettutah I skied Chamonix a long time ago, and a lot of its steeps are lift accessible, but you need ropes to repel down into them. I would put Chamonix in its own category.
@@scottb6047 Yep, I agree.
If you know the terrain at Crystal Mountain, it is as steep as most of these five. Come out and I'll show you the good stuff. Excellent video and credible--you picked great ones. Big Couloir is no joke.
My wife is from the Seattle area and her family loves the area. One year when her brothers were supposed to be going to school, it was opening day at Crystal. They told Mom and Dad they were headed to school but had secretly loaded the car with ski gear. They went to get in the car and Dad was in the back seat ready to go with them.
I think you might want to re-think your pronunciation of “Taos”. That’s all. Nice video, and I appreciate the effort and the quality. These areas deserve more recognition; on the other hand, recognition ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Very special places, indeed.
Nobody has ever corrected me before. I understand though as I often hear Alta mispronounced and it is annoying. Sorry about that.
Hello NH here! You should definitely try Cannon mountain! Hit upper Cannon and work your way down to avalanche! Just a great run!!! Have fun stay safe
Also cannon mt is on the other side of profile mt. The mountain the held the old man's face for many year. Our states symbol! Lots of steep fun
Thanks and I am definitely trying to get more resorts in the East.
@@mattmason138 Not quite, Profile is an old name for Cannon Mountain.
@@matthewbennettutah Avalanche is steep but short. Go to Cannon when Kinsman Glade is open; 1500 vertical feet of steep dense woods.
@@charlesolson9019 Good comments, thanks.
Nashoba Valley, Westford, Massachusetts? I've done the main front slope with a friend in his hot-air balloon. We kept the gondola about 4-6 feet off the snow. I've even skied it. But it ain't like Sugarloaf or Wlidcat.
Yep, I used to ski there every week for a season when I lived in Sudbury. Then I moved to Westboro and skied Ward Hill for a year. You are right that it is not like a lot of other great areas in New England.
A Basin, Pallavicini run. Lift served, very steep, very hard, very fun. No crowds. Loveland is a great place too, tons of snow, cheap (relative to other areas) tough but fun terrain, absolutely no crowds at all. Can be windy. Never skied Telluride but it's supposed to be awesome. In my opinion, after living in Colorado most of my adult life, the majors just suck. They might have great terrain but they are terribly expensive and terribly crowded. Copper is better but only because its terrain is neatly divided between green, blue, and black which helps keep the on-mountain crowds less intrusive. Haven't skied too much outside of Colorado except for Alta and Snowbird. Unbelievable powder if you catch them at the right time. Thanks for a fun video.
Thanks for the kind words. I need to get to Loveland and A-Basin as I understand they are great.
They always say Alta is deeper and Snowbird is steeper! Personally I love the DEEP!
Breck and Telluride have some awesome steeps in both the resort area and sidecountry!
Great recommendations and I need to get to both of them.
Come to Alberta. Sunshine Village has the Delirium Dive and Lake Louise has a whole range of chutes. I imagine both would make your list once you've come to see for yourself. Then drive West to Kicking Horse and Revelstoke in BC, or South to Fernie. You'll find more epic steeps at all three of these places.
I'm sure it would. I actually had a great trip planned and then COVID hit. Since the border with Canada is now open I will definitely try to get there soon.
I would add Mount Norquay right outside of Banff to that list, if you want to talk about extremely difficult steeps… Lone Pine and North American were the two most challenging runs there when I was in college. Truly difficult and steep!
@@JamesWilliams-en3os Good recommendations. Thanks.
@@JamesWilliams-en3os I'll second that. Steep and unrelenting!
Bridger Bowl is worth your attention. Excellent steep chutes and more good skiers per capita than any other ski resort in the country.
I need to get there. For some reason, I have had a lot of positive comments about Bridger Bowl recently. Thanks for the recommendation.
CB and A-Basin definitely deserve to be on the list. Even just the lift-served stuff is code brown material for mere mortals.
Crested Butte definitely has some steep stuff and I understand A-Basin does too. It is tough to keep the list to just 5.
Telluride is an obvious omission from this list. The Plunge, Spiral Stairs, Milk Run, Kant Make Em’, Revelation Bowl, and Black Iron Bowl are all lift served extreme terrain that when combined with the natural beauty of the box canyon, and multiple 14ers in view, is an unparalleled experience. When you visit Silverton you should book a few days at Telluride as well 👌
Thanks for the recommendation as I need to get there. Unfortunately the snow has not cooperated and every trip I have had planned got canceled because of poor conditions. Perhaps in the near future.
Going later in the season is best
@@samuelpanning764 That's a helpful tip. Thanks.
How about the Palli lift at Arapahoe Basin? Some of the steepest trees I've ever found. Love that place.
Great recommendation. I still need to get there.
Yes, Silverton is a must-visit and will have you creating a new video with it being close to the top but having skied all the places you mentioned for the most part I agree. As to the steepest in every state, I'm assuming Timberline is the only place you've skied in Oregon? Because aside from the Palmer Chair--which is somewhat steep-- it is pretty much the LEAST steep of all the major Oregon resorts. I'd highly recommend Mt Hood Meadows nearby that, even at lift-accessed, can have you dropping in on 38º pitches like A-zone or with a slight bit of uphill travel, 50º God's wall. And there are plenty of shorter pitches at Skibowl that have the top run at Timberline beat by a lot. It's a great state to explore for skiing when it's a cold winter.
Thanks for the comments. I really do need to get to more places in Oregon. With Snowbird closing today I may have to try and get to Bachelor before it closes (website indicates May 29th).
I think you should try Sunday River in Maine. It has many steep double black diamonds.
It is definitely on my list. Thanks.
Two more suggestion, Stowe, and Mad River Glen VT. Stowe has their "Front Four" of Star, Goat, National, and Liftline. Mad River Glen is as old school as a ski area can get.
I really want to give both resorts a try, especially Mad River Glen. Like Alta, it is one of the few ski areas that doesn't allow snowboarders and while I have nothing against snowboarders, it does make for a different atmosphere. I want to see if the two areas share a common vibe or if they are totally different.
@@matthewbennettutah The "front four" at Stowe are steep enough (and icy enough) to satisfy most adrenaline junkies.
@@bburkie55 Thanks for the comment.
Definitely. I've skied Jackson, Alta/Bird, Big Sky several times. MRG has stuff as hair raising as anywhere that I've been on two planks. I like Stowe too. It's just too bad they're so expensive now if you don't have the Epic Pass.
@@matthewbennettutah Yes they have very similar vibes. Alta has more acreage of course and a few more amenities and more of an open "western" feel. What makes MRG tough and special is the relentless challenge from top to bottom. You feel every inch of that vertical. The trees are tight anywhere off trail. You'll be skiing bumps on most anything blue or above if you're on trail. And then there are the mandatory drops and frozen waterfalls you'll encounter in certain spots. Very little snowmaking so good natural coverage is a must.
You might want to take a look at The Chutes at Mt Rose, Lake Tahoe. All accessible by Chair, in AND out. Only open when there is a copious amount of snow. Powder days are Sublime!
I spent 5 years skiing the Tahoe resorts but never made it to Mt. Rose. I am told it is another one of those hidden gems that skis better than its reputation. I need to get there.
The Chutes at Rose are for real. Ski right to them from an express lift.
@@lewislefcourt7652 A lot of viewers have made comments about Mt. Rose. Either I have the entire Mt. Rose fan club watching videos or there must be some truth to all these comments.
Take a trip to Banff Canada! Sunshine Mountains Delrium Dive and lift accessible Wild Wild West is remarkable
It is actually on the list for this winter. I'll probably do an updated video after that trip as there are a number of new resorts I plan to hit.
For Oregon have you skiid bachelor?
That is another one I have yet to ski. I understand they also have great terrain.
Stevens pass deserves to be on your hiking list. Come ski cowboy ridge next year. I'll take ya
I really do need to get to Steven's Pass. I have heard only great things about it.
I have to second Stevens Pass in WA. It’s where I grew up so I’m biased. Take the Seventh Heaven chair up and ski directly under the chair starting at the top lift station…not a long run but it’s a rush!
@@jasoncooke5854 I understand it is a great area.
Ski Bowl in Oregon steepest night Ski and the Outback has cliff's straight down is pretty steep, Mt Hood Meadows, Heather Canyon
Thanks for the recommendations. I never thought about "Steepest Night Skiing" but it makes sense. I'll have to give that one a thought.
@@matthewbennettutah Sure. You might consider Bridger Bowl Montana it's got a lot of steep shoots
@@mikeriley1073 I've heard that. Thanks.
Great video... gives me a good visual of some of my friends home turf Alta+Snowbird and Big Sky Couloirs.
That said you're not giving Squaw Valley a fair shake. You didn't even mention KT22, or Head Wall, And so what if you got a hike a bit That's what makes it more exciting to get to the Palisades and also Granite Chief Peak wasn't even mentioned.
You guessed it, Squaw is my home mountain
You are right, Squaw is a great place and has some awesome steeps. The problem is keeping the list to 5 when there are so many great areas. Don't worry, I am getting a lot of grief from my Squaw friends.
Or Silverado and that is lift accessed.
Nice video Mat, but to be about the steepest resorts in North America, you need to ski more resorts outside of the US. I have skied all the resorts on your list except Taos (one day!) and they are truly great resorts, but you need to try the backside bowls of Lake Louise, Goats Eye at Sunshine and all of Red Mountain.
You are right. I actually had a plan to ski all 3 of those resorts and then COVID hit, closing the Canadian border. Now that it is back open, I plan to get up there.
@@matthewbennettutah I will add to Lake Louise being worth a mention here. I've been skiing there for the past 3 seasons. Some very steep and gnarly stuff there: ER3, ER6, Cowboy, Swedes, & the Whitehorn 2 gullies (among others) will all get the juices flowing. I grew up skiing at Squaw Valley so my breath is not easily taken away.
@@BobE_Nagesh Thanks for the recommendation. It is on my list and I hope to get there this season. I really want to do an updated video and need to ski some resorts with steeper terrain.
Nice list the only reason I would put JH at number one on your list is the steeps at JH are just so easy to get to. I can’t say the same about Alta or the Bird. I love all three and it’s your list. I am an east coast skier and what has concerned me the last 20 year is snow conditions. Maybe it’s just bad luck but until this year when I skied Colorado and they just happed to get some snow the two weeks I was there has been the the lack of snow. It sucks to fly west to ski crap. In the 80s and 90s my trips out west were epic. I know they get snow but I have also seen the numbers dropping and it concerns me. For steep terrain you need deep snow pack. Every video from Big Sky looks thin. I like your idea of separating the side country. The first few days out west I am always sucking wind so hiking takes place on day 5 or 6 for me. Most people don’t go out long enough to really get used to the thin air. Take care
You are not wrong about snow conditions. I have the luxury of skiing almost every day and felt really bad for anyone coming west during the months of January and February this year because of lack of snow. At least it stayed cold enough at Alta and Snowbird so that very little melted or turned to ice. I understand the thaw/melt cycle at Tahoe turned all their mountains into blue ice. Here's to hoping the long-term weather pattern changes for the better . . . but I wouldn't hold my breath.
I grew up in CO and remember the frustration of most double blacks being closed most of the time (although in my younger days, I shouldn't/wouldn't have been skiing them anyway)...then I moved to CA and got a chance to ski places like Mammoth and Kirkwood and was amazed at how the slightly wetter snow sticks to insane terrain and most of the double blacks are almost permanently open.
@@proverbalizer There is a big difference between the maritime snow in California and the further inland snow of Colorado. It makes a huge difference for avalanches too.
I was totally going to say Silverton in the comments but you threw it in as an honorable mention. I’ve been skiing Snowbird/Alta/Jackson for a long time. Skied Silverton/Crested Butte/Telluride years ago and remember them being steep but it has been so long I cant remember. Would be curious on your thoughts especially Silverton :)
Thanks for the comments. I had hoped to get to Silverton this year but it didn't work out. Hopefully next year.
Alpental!!! Kicking Horse, and Revyy
Alpental is great but the steep runs are just a bit short to make the list.
Killebrew Canyon at Heavenly honorable mention. Chutes at Mt. Rose too.
Thanks for the recommendations. Hopefully they are getting the snow right now and will be open for skiing in the near future.
Nothing like a Vuarnet Day at Heavenly in waste deep uncut looking out over Lake Tahoe!
@@scottmilburn1773 I agree!
defo try delerium dive at sunshine village, crazy ass run
I had hoped to get there this year but had to cancel because of a trip to Japan. Perhaps next year.
@@matthewbennettutah yea this year was shit for snow either way so maybe next year
@@creakles8948 Good snow makes a big difference when trying a new ski area so I hope next year turns out to be amazing.
For mt hood in Oregon you have timberline which is super flat and beginner friendly. Mt. Hood meadows if my home resort and has some decently steep spots in the heather canyon area. Would love to know how it stacks up.
I need to give it a shot. Thanks for the recommendation.
Many of these runs have lots of powder or packed powder. The East offers the additional challenge of ice on many of the steep runs. It changes the experiences tremendously and an East Coast trip to Whiteface, Killington, Stowe, and Cannon will give you some challenging steeps.
All true: but some of the steepest and whackiest east-coast terrain is at Smuggs.
Snow conditions make a huge difference. Unfortunately the West still gets ice in the Spring. Saturday at Snowbird, figure skates were more appropriate than skis for Regulator Johnson. It made for great race training though.
@@vermontsownboy6957 Good recommendation.
try out breckenridge in colorado! they have some awesome hiking terrain, my favorite is called the six senses
I do want to give Breckenridge a try but when I mention that to people they just tell me how crowded it is. I will still try to get there.
@@matthewbennettutah You're not missing much.
@@mikesweet5848 That's what I keep hearing but I should still try to get there. After all, it is the ski area with the highest base elevation in the US.
@@matthewbennettutah Like every large ski area, it's crowded on weekends, holidays and when kids are out of school but fine on weekdays. Had a great time skiing there.
@@erica1957 That is fairly normal and thanks for mentioning it.
Mt. Alyeska - Christmas Chute or almost any north face line & Crystal Mountain, Washington- powder bowl, penny Dawgs, employee housing, and Puckers. ALL really steep. Match up well with any runs mentioned
Thanks for the recommendations.
The Northway entrances are insane. I wonder how you balance initial steepness vs sustained pitch?
@@markcarroll9891 I think every ski area has short sections of really steep terrain, but it may just be the backside of the offloading ramp and isn't very long. Sustained pitch is what helps distinguish the resorts on this list.
I definitely wish you could go to Vermont and New Hampshire to compare them
I am traveling more to the East Coast and hope to do a trip this winter and add a few more resorts to my list. I have received a lot of recommendations and will try to get a few more comparisons. Perhaps even an Eastern-Skiing focused video.
Montana has some great areas your missing out on so far! Whitefish and Blacktail Mountain. Idaho Schweitzer Resort, and if your in Michigan UP area check out Mount Bohemia! Love your list though, I'm quite jealous lol.
My wife's parents lived up near Schweitzer and were trying to get us to come visit. Unfortunately it made somebody's list and got rather busy over the past couple of years. I also need to get to Whitefish and Mt. Bohemia. I understand it is only 2 chairs at Mt. Bohemia but great snow.
Yes, Bohemia is old school lol. They have shuttle buses at the bottom of the resort that pick you up too. There is lots of good Cliffs and tree skiing there! Another small resort I like is called Schuss Mountain in Bellaire, MI, it's small but such a great atmosphere and great prices. There is no longer a ski area in Kentucky where I'm from lol.
@@johnroden3431 Thanks for your great comment.
CAnnon nh. Saddleback Maine. Crested butte co. Great top 5. I’d also give a shout out to tremblant and le massif Quebec
Cannon and Saddleback are both on my list of places to visit. Love Crested Butte but they had a tough snow year and so a lot of the steep stuff was unskiable when I visited. I also need to get to both of the places in Quebec. Especially since I speak fluent French after having lived in France for a couple of years.
Brundage is shorter runs, but has the best snow in ID, so powder your nose and go there. I agree with your steep list. I didn't have Big Sky on there and now want to get there one season.
My wife and ski racing kids have skied Brundage but I always got stuck going to the other mountain on those divide-and-conquer days. I really need to get there.
Alyeska in Alaska has some of the best steep terrain in North America. Anything on the North Face or Head Wall will really test your metal.
Great comment and I'll give Alyeska a shot.
I have been living in Tucson, Arizona for the last 24 years, but would really like to get back into skiing before it is too late. What would be the best call? Utah? I've heard that Whistler in Canada is great.
That is a tough question to answer. What are you into? Steeps, groomers, atmosphere, snow quality? If it has been a while, I would recommend one of the mega resorts as you won't be disappointed. Whistler would fit the bill but so would Vail, Steamboat, Winter Park, and Park City. I hope this helps.
Depends on whether you’re driving/flying, with family/solo, and whether you want additional/other activities.
@@Osnosis Great things to consider.
Alta has got the best powder going, still you have to check the dumps, follow the snow!
@@scottmilburn1773 What are the best ski areas out West for challenging runs (Black Diamonds)? Is Taos one of them?