Are You Skiing USA This Winter? These Slopes Are Tops

Jen Murphy
·2 min read
Photo credit: Alamy
Photo credit: Alamy

These storied American capitals of ski may be well-known, each has plenty of surprises this season, both on and off the mountain.

Big Sky, Montana

Photo credit: Courtesy of Montage Big Sky.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Montage Big Sky.

Reputation: Double black diamond terrain. Surprise: The new Montage Big Sky has significantly expanded family and beginner options. On Mountain: Ski ­European-style after hours with a guide, dine on canard à l’orange at the mountaintop Everett’s 8800, then ski back under starry skies. Off-Piste: Montage Big Sky has its own beginner area, plus a rink, tubing hill, and snowshoe trails: family heaven. Après: The glass-enclosed Vista Bar in Mountain Village serves craft cocktails with a view of Lone Peak.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Photo credit: Courtesy of Caldera House.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Caldera House.


Reputation: Extreme skiing proving ground. Surprise: The back­country terrain is freestyle snowboarding paradise (and Grand Teton is enchanting dusted with snow). On Mountain: Instant cool parent status when you treat your teens to a day of snowboarding with Shaun White—arranged by Caldera House hotel. Off-Piste: Guests at newly renovated Four Seasons Jackson Hole can go on a daylong excursion tracking the elusive gray wolf. Après: The lively saloon at the Virginian (“the Virg”) has reopened under new owners.

Aspen, Colorado

Photo credit: BRENT MOSS PHOTOGRAPHY
Photo credit: BRENT MOSS PHOTOGRAPHY

Reputation: A see-and-be-seen mountain where your ski apparel counts more than your skill. Surprise: The hot après spot is bling-free (and there’s challenging terrain on the backside of Aspen Mountain). On Mountain: Explore the backcountry with local legend Chris Davenport, who will teach you about safety in the field. Off-Piste: The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies features the work of the Bauhaus designer. Après: Hunter S. Thompson’s old watering hole, Woody Creek Tavern, has been respectfully revamped; the gonzo journalist would approve.

Alaska

Photo credit: Courtesy of Eagle's Nest.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Eagle's Nest.

Reputation: Low on frills; you come here for vertigo-inducing runs. Surprise: In January, the operator Third Edge Heli debuts its own exclusive-use lodge, Eagle’s Nest. On Mountain: Their private trips into the wilderness of five different ranges are all custom, so families can request mellower terrain. Off-Piste: Have the helicopter land at nearby Alyeska Resort to soak and steam in its new Nordic Spa. Après: Pop bottles of Cristal at the spa’s Two Trees Bistro while sampling Alaskan “seacuterie.”

This story appears in the October 2022 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW

You Might Also Like