The United States is home to some of the best snowboarding resorts in the world.
You are never too far away from a top ski and snowboard resort, and in this guide, we’ll highlight some of the very best ones.
Mammoth Mountain, California
Mammoth Mountain is where you will find the highest lift-served summit in the Golden State, stretching to an impressive 11,053 feet.
It’s considered to be one of the best resorts in the world for both snowboarding and skiing and while it’s open all year long, winter is when this CA resort really comes to life.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, North Lake Tahoe
The Squaw Valley mountain resort hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and welcomes skiers and snowboarders onto more than 6,000 acres of terrain, spread across two mountains.
Beginner snowboarders can learn the basics on stable terrain while experts can tackle steep slopes and chutes.
The Squaw Valley resort has breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and there are dozens of shops, restaurants, and bars on-site as well.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
With tough terrain, high annual snowfall, and a family-friendly vibe, Jackson Hole has a little something for every snowboarder and skier.
It has been one of the best places to snowboard and ski for half a century now, and you can pick up season passes for upwards of $1,000.
Aspen Highlands, Colorado
Often considered to be one of the best skiing and snowboarding spots in the USA, as well as a great winter vacation destination, the Aspen Highlands have slopes for beginners, intermediates, and experts.
You can tackle the slopes during the morning and explore the beautiful town of Aspen in the evening.
Sun Valley, Idaho
Challenging terrain, along with steep and sheltered slopes, make this location one of the best places to snowboard.
Dollar Mountain is great for beginners and intermediates while those seeking more of a challenge can hop over to Bald Mountain.
Stowe, Vermont
There are two mountains here: Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield, and they are served by a great ski lift system.
There are a few slopes aimed at beginners, but most seem to focus on intermediate snowboarders.
The ski and snowboard resort is also home to luxury accommodation, just what you need to make your vacation complete.
Vail, Colorado
Vail is one of the oldest skiing resorts in the United States and snowboarders are also welcomed.
It includes a superpipe for you to practice your snowboard or skiing tricks and the slopes and trails are based on some of the best resorts in northern Europe.
Can I Snowboard at Deer Valley?
Deer Valley, Utah is one of just a few winter resorts in the United States that has banned snowboarders.
Located in the Wasatch Mountain Range, a few dozen miles from Salt Lake City, Deer Valley is one of the most popular ski resorts in the United States.
If you’re looking for an award-winning ski resort, it’s worth a visit, if you’re a snowboarder, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
As you can imagine, the prohibition hasn’t gone down very well with snowboarders.
In fact, Burton Snowboards has previously offered a $5,000 reward for anyone who records footage of themselves snowboarding at the resort.
On the plus side, Park City Mountain Resort has embraced the snowboarding community and is right next to Deer Valley.
What About Alta and Mad River Glen?
Alta, like Deer Valley, is located in the Wasatch Mountains.
Also like Deer Valley, this popular ski destination doesn’t allow snowboarders.
See what happens when snowboarders try to ride Alta in Utah.
Spoiler alert: The police are called.
The same is true for Mad River Glen, in Vermont.
These three resorts are currently the only ones in the United States that completely forbid snowboarders.
Why do some ski resorts ban snowboarding?
After all is said and done, the main reason snowboarding is banned is because skiers don’t like how snowboarders, specially beginner snowboarders, scrape the snow off the mountain when they learn to stop or slow down.
Other reasons reported by ski resorts and/or skiers for banning snowboarding include the following:
- Snowboarders have a blind spot in the back of their head and that makes them inherently unsafe.
- Snowboarders turn differently than skiers do, so they are more likely to hit a skier.
- Snowboarders are disrespectful.
Believe what you want, we just report what we have heard.
What is the Ikon Pass?
The Ikon Pass is a single-season pass that covers 45 popular ski and snowboarding resorts across the USA.
There are several pricing options available and if you’re an experienced and dedicated rider, it’s the cheapest way to experience the slopes.
Some of the resorts covered by the Ikon Pass include:
- Mammoth Mountain
- Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
- Snowbird
- Deer Valley
- Alta
- Sugarloaf
Summary: Best Snowboarding and Ski Resorts in North America
If you venture northwards, you’ll find even more great snowboarding hotspots, including Whistler Blackcomb, Big White, Revelstoke, and Lake Louise.
Just make sure you do your research beforehand, confirming that the resort actually allows snowboarders and is able to meet your needs (family-friendly, suitable for beginners, within budget, etc.,).
In North America, we’re incredibly lucky to have access to all of these great resorts, so get out there and start enjoying them!
