With snow starting to fall on high mountain peaks, many people are turning their thoughts to ski season. In addition to the multitude of resorts for skiing and snowboarding in Colorado, we’ve rounded up a list of luxurious locales throughout the Western United States where you can utilize your ski pass and explore new territory.
Jackson Hole
Often heralded as one of the top North American ski destinations, Jackson Hole offers phenomenal views of the surrounding Tetons, a charming town with western history, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Perched on the western edge of Wyoming near the border with Idaho, Jackson is named for a beaver trapper who was one of the first non-Native Americans to spend an entire winter in the Teton Valley, which was once primarily a cattle and elk grazing region.
Before a day of outdoor adventure, stop by Perspehone Bakery for a Seeded Avocado Bowl, Croque Madame, or Bread Pudding French Toast. Or fuel up at Cowboy Coffee Company and walk through Town Square, pausing for a photo with the signature elk antler arches while enjoying your latte.
After a day spent on the slopes, warm up and soak your tired legs at Astoria Hot Springs, located 20 miles from Jackson on the Snake River. With five pools including a children’s pool, leisure pool, and secluded soaking pool, it’s a great place to relax after snowy adventures.
Teton Tiger’s Asian-inspired cuisine include stand-out dishes such as wok-seared green beans, handmade dumplings, Bangkok street noodles, and Tikka Masala curry. For an upscale take on classic Italian cuisine, Glorietta Trattoria boasts an impressive wine list to pair with grilled bone marrow, rye cavatelli with elk bolognese or meatballs alla Nonna.
Ikon Passholders can enjoy JHMR by booking reservations for specific days without purchasing an additional lift ticket, so book your flight and get ready to enjoy the steep slopes of Wyoming.
Park City & Deer Valley
Utah’s famed champagne powder along with a bevy of luxurious amenities await you in Park City, after a short flight to Salt Lake City or a scenic drive through Western Colorado and Northeastern Utah.
Park City Mountain Resort offers over 7,300 acres of ski terrain set in the Wasatch Range, making it the largest ski resort in North America. Just three miles from Park City’s Main Street is Deer Valley, a skiers-only resort that boasts over 2,000 acres. Known for its legendary guest service and top-notch grooming, Deer Valley is planning an expansion that will increase terrain by an additional 3,700 acres. Guests can travel between the two resorts with a fifteen minute walk or by taking a complimentary shuttle.
Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley both hosted numerous events for the 2002 Winter Olympics, catapulting them onto the worldwide stage for winter sports. Park City is the home of the Sundance Film Festival each January, bringing the glitterati of the film industry to this ski town with highly anticipated premiers and other special events.
Five5eeds, named for the five children of husband and wife owners Andrew and Tiffany Percy, is a locals’ favorite for breakfast options. Try the acai bowl, pulled pork benedict, or mushroom toast with whipped ricotta. Whether you are hosting a wine and cheese fete or searching for the best sandwich in town, Chop Shop Park City offers the delicious Butler Dip and varied charcuterie boards with meats, cheeses, house pickles, grain mustard, and toasted bread.
For an unforgettable mountain experience, book an evening at the Viking Yurt. After a 25-minute ride in a sleigh pulled by a snowcat, you’ll arrive at a warm yurt where a six-course dinner is served from wooden tables with music from a piano in the background. Enjoy the stunning views of Park City’s lights twinkling below and savor views of the star-lit sky during the sleigh ride down the mountain after dinner.
Yuta, located at the Lodge at Blue Sky, means “mountain top” in Ute, and Executive Chef Jason Franey partners with farmers to deliver menu items that are sourced locally, vary by season, and pay homage to indigenous cultures. Many of the produce ingredients are grown on-site at Blue Sky’s sustainable farm. Exemplary dishes include the caviar hash browns, hiramasa crudo and the wagyu short rib.
Whether you have the Epic Pass (for access to Park City) or the Ikon Pass (for days at Deer Valley) you can ski the famed slopes of these Utah resorts.
Lake Tahoe Area
The Lake Tahoe region, which straddles the border of California and Nevada, is home to several large ski resorts including Northstar, Palisades, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Kirkwood. Each resort offers its own unique characteristics, terrain and amenities and for many guests, Heavenly lives up to its name.
Set in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Heavenly boasts stunning views of Lake Tahoe from its slopes. Locals know that the best views are seen by taking the Sky Express lift to Ridge Run, an intermediate run that tracks along the crest.
Heavenly’s 4,800 skiable acres make it the largest resort in the Tahoe region with 3,500 vertical feet, higher than any ski area on the West Coast. It’s accessible from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport just 56 miles away, which offers non-stop service from over 20 destinations. Heavenly operates on the Epic Pass, so passholders can enjoy days at this location.
The ice rink at Heavenly Village is a favorite stop for guests of all ages, and it’s open from 10am-8pm throughout the winter season. After gliding across the rink, enjoy a coffee or glass of champagne from one of the cafes or enjoy shopping in the galleries and boutiques.
For breakfast before a day on the mountain, stop by Driftwood Café in Heavenly Village. First established in 1960, this family-owned restaurant has been operated by the Hillman family since 1999 and they offer comfort food classics including Eggs Benedict and buttermilk pancakes, as well as local favorites like the High Sierra Omelette.
Maggie’s offers seasonally-inspired dishes for brunch including blood orange and burrata salad, Osso Bucco chilaquiles, and bananas foster coconut pancakes from their location in the Desolation Hotel. For a dining spot with endless vistas, Edgewood makes the most of its lakefront locale with terraced spaces that allow guests at each table to savor views of the Sierras and the lake while noshing on seasonal cuisine.
Whether you are in the mood for a jaunt to the Teton Valley, Sierra Nevadas, or the Wasatch range, enjoy these tips to plan a ski trip to remember.