Rankings
Best Ski Resorts for Tree Skiing
There's something magical about ducking into the trees when the groomers are scraped and finding untouched powder three days after a storm. These resorts have the glades -- perfectly spaced, well-covered, and deep enough to get properly lost in.
Steamboat
IkonColoradoSteamboat averages 349" of snow per year across 3,668 acres of terrain.
Whitewater Ski Resort
IndependentBritish ColumbiaWhitewater Ski Resort averages 465" of snow per year across 1,300 acres of terrain.
Fernie Alpine Resort
IndependentBritish ColumbiaFernie Alpine Resort averages 349" of snow per year across 2,504 acres of terrain.
Kiroro
IndependentJapanKiroro averages 433" of snow per year.
Red Mountain
IndependentBritish ColumbiaRed Mountain averages 300" of snow per year across 2,919 acres of terrain.
Big White Ski Resort
IndependentBritish ColumbiaBig White Ski Resort averages 295" of snow per year across 2,765 acres of terrain.
Rusutsu Resort
IndependentJapanRusutsu Resort averages 394" of snow per year.
Silver Star Mountain Resort
IndependentBritish ColumbiaSilver Star Mountain Resort averages 235" of snow per year across 3,282 acres of terrain.
Jay Peak Resort
IndependentVermontJay Peak Resort averages 359" of snow per year across 385 acres of terrain.
Mt. Hood Meadows
IkonOregonMt. Hood Meadows averages 430" of snow per year across 2,150 acres of terrain.
Hakuba Valley
IndependentJapanHakuba Valley is known for consistent snow and expansive terrain.
Niseko
IndependentJapanNiseko averages 630" of snow per year across 2,191 acres of terrain.
Alta
IkonUtahAlta averages 547" of snow per year across 2,614 acres of terrain.
Alyeska Resort
IndependentAlaskaAlyeska Resort averages 669" of snow per year across 1,610 acres of terrain.
Big Sky
IkonMontanaBig Sky averages 400" of snow per year across 5,800 acres of terrain.
How We Score
Each resort gets a 0-100 score based on weighted attributes specific to this category. We pull from real data: average annual snowfall, skiable acres, vertical drop, summit elevation, pass coverage, proximity to major airports, and editorial “best for” tags from our resort profiles.
Scores are normalized so the best resort in each attribute gets 100 and the rest scale proportionally. The final score is a weighted average -- heavier weights go to the attributes that matter most for each category.
This isn't pay-to-play. No resort can buy a higher ranking. It's math, data, and a little editorial judgment.