The Top 10 Resorts With the Most Challenging Terrain in the West
Trees, couloirs, and cliffs, oh my! When high angles get your blood pumping, these are the ski areas that should be on your go list.
Stepping into the Big Red tram at the base of Jackson Hole, it’s hard not get a certain child-like sense of awe. And for good reason. Being swept up over 4,100 vertical feet at an inspiring rate over breathtaking views and iconic runs can be exhilarating, not to mention what happens when you get out.
With an expansive 2,500 acres of terrain at your feet, Jackson offers a unique sense of adventure with some of the most steep and challenging terrain in the region. While already known for its adrenaline-inducing fall lines including the infamous Corbet’s Couloir and the Alta Chutes, Jackson has turned some attention recently to enabling skiers of all abilities and raising the next generation of world-class shredders.
Beginner and family skiing both get a boost this year with the grand opening of the Solitude Station lodge, which acts as the new home of the Mountain Sports School, as well as offering new rental and dining facilities. Located at the mid-station of the Sweetwater Gondola and a brief two-minute ride from the base, it’s the perfect base camp for the ski family.
After a record-setting number of skiers visited Jackson Hole last year amid more than 500 inches of snow, the new lodge and terrain access hopes to also spread skiers out across the slopes, reducing crowds and increasing stoke. Which is not hard to find at Jackson Hole.
Average Snowfall | Acres | Lifts | Trails |
459″ | 2,500 | 12 | 133 |
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is on the Ikon Pass and the Mountain Collective. Ikon Pass holders get 7 at the resort. There’s no access included on the Ikon Base Pass, but pass holders can add 5 days at the resort for $150. Mountain Collective pass holders get 2 days at the resort and 50 percent off additional tickets.
From lodging and and dining to off-slope activities and local tips, here are the SKI editors’ picks for what to do in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
A hot, buttery waffle at the cozy Corbet’s Cabin at the top of the Tram is a must.
Paintbrush, a steep, cliffy, overlooked run tucked underneath the Laramie Traverse off Thunder, is always soft or chalky.
Go for anything fresh-baked at Persephone, a local favorite French bake shop, and you won’t be sorry.
Whether you’re an expert or not, ride the tram to Corbet’s Cabin for fresh-baked waffles and amazing views. You can always ride it back down.
Bundle up for a scenic sleigh ride amid majestic elk and bighorn sheep at the National Elk Refuge.
Boost your skiing ability with one of the resort’s week-long Steep and Deep clinics. Identify what you want to learn, and get paired with an instructor to tour Jackson’s infamous terrain and hone the skills necessary to ski the gnar with confidence and style.
The town of Jackson is flush with great eats served up with a dash of local flair and history. Hand Fire Pizza opened last year in the old Teton Theater, serving up delicious thin-crusted pies in a gorgeously renovated space. Pair the Sweet Italian Sausage pizza with a Melvin 2×4 IPA, brewed just down the road.
Piste Mountain Bistro will refuel you with grass-fed burgers and lamb loin.
Located in Teton Mountain Lodge, The Spur’s rustic barn-wood walls and fireplaces offer the cozy atmosphere you crave after a cold day on the hill. Its nachos, buffalo wings, and spicy margaritas satiate both body and soul.
Hike up the near-vertical White Spider and ski any of the lines in Casper Bowl. The cliffy bowl is lightly skied and typically good for a few powder stashes.
Trees, couloirs, and cliffs, oh my! When high angles get your blood pumping, these are the ski areas that should be on your go list.
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