Top 10 Most Extreme Ski Resorts in North America

The top 10 most extreme ski resorts in North America ranked. Ski travel guides are here to help you research for your next ski vacation. Ski and Snowboard guide Galen Bradford presents the top 10 ski areas for experts in the North America. Galen was a ski patroller at Palisades Tahoe for 6+ years and author of his new Ski Travel Guide, "Palisades Tahoe: The Definitive Ski Guide" available now!

Ski Travel Guides official rankings for ski and snowboard areas in North America:

::::Video Timestamps::::
0:00 Introduction
0:19 Big Sky, Montana
1:37 Alyeska, Alaska
3:30 Crested Butte, Colorado
4:05 Revelstoke
5:45 Whistler, Canada
9:00 Kickinghorse, Canada
9:40 Snowbird, Utah
11:05 Palisades Tahoe, California
12:35 Silverton, Colorado
13:34 Jackson Hole, Wyoming

#1.) Jackson Hole, Wyoming
#2.) Silverton, Colorado
#3.) Palisades Tahoe, California
#4.) Snowbird, Utah
#5.) Kickinghorse, Canada
#6.) Whistler, Canada
#7.) Revelstoke, Canada
#8.) Crested Butte, Colorado
#9.) Alyeska, Alaska
#10.) Big Sky, Montana

Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Galen Bradford
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Big Sky, Montana
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Alyeska, Alaska
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Crested Butte, Colorado
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Shutterstock
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Canada
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Kickinghorse Mountain Resort, Canada
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Mason Watkins
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Palisades Tahoe, Lake Tahoe
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Silverton, Colorado
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Chugach Powder Guides, Girdwood Alaska
Photo/Logo/Video Credit: Snowbird, Utah

[martingautreau]

I have worked for both Whistler and Kicking Horse. To all the Americans come on up To BC, you will not regret it.

[johnhelms]

It’s a good list. I have a hard time with Kicking Horse because almost all of the terrain requires lots of climbing. I want to add one that shouldn’t be on the list, but should: Mount Bohemia in Michigan’s UP. It’s all expert and gets tons of snow. I have skied Big Sky, Alyeska (pre-tram), Snowbird, Alta, Jackson, Ajax, A Basin, Taos, Wolf Creek, Vail, Targhee, Stowe, Jay, and many other mountains noted for expert terrain, but the most fun day I ever had was a magical day at Mount Bohemia with powder everywhere.

[robpace]

kinda shocked Mammoth is not on the list.. but kinda glad as well.

[diseasedwhale]

Love the energy! While I would’ve made the list a little different, it’s still solid and getting me stoked nonetheless!

[kendestine]

Yes! Free Alta! Can’t we all just get along?

[davehoover]

Keep pumping Jackson Hole and California!!! Cheers from Grand Targhee! My fav is Kicking Horse, when the snow is there, it is tough to beat.

[toddzorn]

Great list - I love the Bird and Jackson! You got me researching Silverton now …

[FairytaleApps]

Really good list, will be putting a couple of these on the schedule this year!!! What's the best for families?

[strobliss]

awesome list. Honorable mention A basin. Love that place, just a little too small maybe to crack the top ten. A basin has the most soul of any place I've been to in Colorado.

[OBkyote]

I like this guy! I’m a snowboarder and piece to the sliding on snow, long live the freedom of choice!😊

[cvn]

Been to some but gonna try to get to most before I'm too old.

[nstycrv]

if you could retire and ski, which slope would you want to -live- on (ski in ski out) home or condo in Colorado? Breckenridge, Vail, Winter Park, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Copper Mtn, Beaver Creek, Aspen Snowmass, Crested Butte, or other???

[BeckySpainKeller]

Yes!!! Agree! Jackson Hole!! Woot woot. And drinks at the Mangy Moose afterward

[C.oleCarson]

Awesome list! Respect for putting squaw high on the list, many of these lists have it wayy to low

[TR-yonx]

IMO Jackson Hole is not #1 KHR is. It's probably why the FWT is held there and not at Jackson Hole. If you say 'extreme ski resorts' it's a no brainer. Ski magazine did a review of KHR a couple years after it opened and said that most double diamond runs in BC are similiar in difficulty except for KHR; at KHR it's two turns and pull your chute. Also, I ski Whistler every week and they get tons of snow but often wet. KHR has dry snow that every night gets wind blown and the chutes get filled in like a fresh pow day.

[overwatchxrescue]

Great list! How do you think the ski resorts at Banff/Lake Louise compare to these ones?

[glennhalverson]

Sorry man skied them all and far as lift served goes Big Sky for sure. The Big Couloir is longer and steeper than Corbetts and that’s just the beginning. #2 is definitely Kicking Horse, badass hill.

[bikeguy]

You dont need a guide to ski Silverton in the spring. Also Fantasy Ridge at Solitude is some of the gnarliest terrain you will ever find at a ski area.

[thePontiacBandit]

I'm surprised that the best powder in NA and the hardest terrain is at #7. Both Revy and KHR could be top 3. But I'm an East coaster, I'm easily impressed. A bad day for any of those resorts is like heaven to me.

[markosterman]

A great list for sure! Would be fun to do a North American / Europe comparison. Chamonix, La Grave, Tignes, Verbier…. Europe wins out for the trams. And probably for the crazy stuff that isn’t even slack country, right there as you get off some of the lifts.