Every ski resort, whether it’s a cozy Mom and Pop or a massive mega resort, has its own unique charm and amazing views. But the most beautiful resorts? Their views don’t just wow you, they make you literally stop in your tracks and soak it all in. You know, that feeling the dictionary calls being awestruck. This list of North America’s most beautiful ski resorts is based on our own experiences and the opinions of our friends. It might not be perfect, but hopefully it gets you thinking: which mountain view left you truly awestruck?
Heavenly
If there’s one view etched into my memory, it’s Heavenly’s breathtaking vista of Lake Tahoe. After one of those famous Tahoe storms dumps feet of fresh snow overnight, the next day dawns clear and cloudless. As you exit Canyon Express and turn onto Ridge Run, the view unfolds before you: a deep, piercing cobalt blue sky, mountains blanketed in fresh snow like smooth fondant, and Lake Tahoe nestled perfectly among the peaks, its waters surprisingly unfrozen amid the winter landscape.
Honorable Mentions: Heavenly gave me my first glimpse of Tahoe, which is probably why its view hits so deeply for me. But many of my friends swear that Diamond Peak and Homewood top Heavenly’s scenery. Both are incredible and absolutely worth checking out. Just like choosing the best pizza in New York, it all comes down to personal preference.
Telluride
Time and again, one resort keeps coming up in my conversations with friends as one of the most beautiful in North America: Telluride. The moment you arrive and see the box canyon with towering peaks all around, you’re in awe. On the slopes, even more views unfold, the plunging San Miguel Valley, the town of Telluride below, and the handful of 14ers in the mighty San Juan Range.
As our friend and journalist Pam LeBlanc so perfectly puts it, “and when you ask me what’s my favorite view there, the answer is all of them.”
Mt Baker
Baker is special. And not just because it gets dumped on all winter or hosts the legendary Mt Baker Banked Slalom. It is the views. The kind that smack you in the face the moment you step out of your car. Towering peaks rising straight up, making you feel like you have walked into the vestibule of the Church of Snowboarding with its ceiling being the North Cascades.
There are endless scenic spots around Mt. Baker Ski Area, but my personal favorite sits at the bottom of Chair 8. From there, Mt. Shuksan rises more than 5,000 feet above you. Its steep, complex face practically shouts, “LOOK AT ME!” Hanging glaciers glow blue in the light, ready to remind you that this place is alive and powerful.
And tucked onto that massive peak is one of North America’s top 50 classic ski descents, the NW Couloir, which Cody Townsend checked off during his quest to ski all 50.
Lake Louise
When describing the views from Lake Louise Ski Resort, you will quickly run out of adjectives. If your younger self had drawn a mountainous winter landscape, Lake Louise might be exactly what you imagined. Deep in the heart of Banff National Park, the resort is surrounded by ancient hanging glaciers clinging to massive peaks. Razor sharp summits jut out of the landscape as if a giant pressed one side to reveal them. No matter where you are, backside, bottom, or top, the views are endless. The question is, what will be your favorite view? For me, it was the canyon on the backside.
Taos Ski Valley
The town of Taos and Taos Ski Valley are like two brothers with different personalities that fit perfectly together. In town, classic adobes with teal window frames and strings of red chile peppers capture that unmistakable New Mexico charm. Up in Taos Ski Valley, Alpine-style architecture blends into the mountains.
Everywhere you look is photogenic, but the spot that truly delivers the “awe” factor is Kachina Peak, the area’s most iconic summit. As Santa Fe journalist Dan Gibson puts it:
“The view northward is one of my favorites in the world because it takes in the sprawling runs of Taos Ski Valley and Sangre de Cristo summits on the Colorado border, and the sawtooth San Juan Range. Close at hand is Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest point at 13,167 feet.”
Snowmass
There is a reason Colorado consistently draws more skiers than any other state in the US. Beyond its reliable high-quality snowfall, the state is home to some of the most beautiful ski resorts in the country. Among its iconic landscapes, the Maroon Bells stand out as one of the most sought-after destinations. In winter, one of the best views of these distinctive bell-shaped, wine-colored peaks rising over 14,000 feet is from the Elk Camp on Snowmass.
White Pass
In the state of Washington, one peak dominates the view from countless ski resorts and even the city of Seattle—Mt. Rainier. Each vantage point is incredible, offering a glimpse of the sleeping giant volcano. What makes the view from White Pass stand out is that it looks at the mountain from the southeast side. As our friend Marc Galt of Ski the Northwest likes to say, “It is like looking at the dark side of the moon. You know it is the moon, but it looks backwards.”
Big Sky
Big Sky Resort sprawls across the massive flanks of the Matterhorn shaped Lone Peak. With 5,850 acres and over 300 trails, it’s one of North Americas biggest resorts. From first timers to experts, there’s something here for everyone.
While the summit views are jaw dropping, the perspective of Lone Peak from Andesite Mountain is the one that stayed with me long after my visit. It is not just the sheer beauty of the mountain, it is the realization that every line you are staring at is skiable, all within the resorts boundary.
Wildcat Mountain
When it comes to East Coast skiing, one resort stands above the rest for sheer beauty: Wildcat Mountain. This place racks up awards for its views, and once you see it, you’ll get why. As our friend and New Hampshire journalist Josh Laskin puts it, “It’s quite literally across the street from the east side of Mt. Washington, so you get a relatively close up view of some of the most rugged terrain on the East Coast.”
That terrain is no joke. Mt. Washington is one of the few East Coast locations included in North America’s top 50 classic ski descents, thanks to the legendary Tuckerman Ravine. From Wildcat’s summit, you can see the whole thing laid out in front of you, plus Huntington Ravine. You can even spot the John Sherburne (Sherbie) ski trail slicing through the woods from the base of the bowl.
As Josh likes to say, “It’s sick.”
Breckenridge
Breckenridge rolls over five mountains with tree-lined gullies and alpine bowls, offering terrain for every ability. Over a third is intermediate, making it perfect for families. Add the charming town of Breck, and it’s easy to see why this is one of North Americas most popular resorts.
The 2005 addition of the Imperial Express SuperChair made history as the world’s highest chairlift, climbing to 12,480’ and opening 500+ acres of steeps, chutes, and glades. Colorado local John LaConte says it best: “Getting to nearly 13,000’ by chairlift is unique. On a clear day, the Rockies stretch out before you as far as the eye can and provides you an idea of just how big Breckenridge is. It’s too good to pass up.”
