‘Upside Down’ isn’t the greatest term to describe these ski areas, but we’ll stick with it anyways. Maybe we should call them ‘inverted’? You tell me…
When you arrive at these ski areas you’re already at, or near, the top of the mountain. Boot up, click in, and start your first run without having to wait in a lift line!

Vertical: 600′
Distance From Nearest Major City: 100 miles (Philadelphia)
Interesting Nugget: An employee of Jack Frost’s sister resort, Big Boulder, was a pioneer in perfecting modern-day snowmaking.


Vertical: 1500′ (Western Territory), 800′ (Snowshoe Basin)
Distance From Nearest Major City: 221 miles (Washington D.C)
Interesting Nugget: The ‘base area’ of Snowshoe sits at 4,848′ above sea level. Higher than any summit in the entire state of Vermont.


Vertical: 2,205′
Distance From Nearest Major City: 54 miles (Salt Lake City)
Interesting Nugget: Powder Mountain is the largest ski area in The Unitedย States by acreage. The area offers an astounding 8,464 acres of skiable terrain.


Vertical: 1,440′
Distance From Nearest Major City: 237 miles (Spokane, WA)
Interesting Nugget: Blacktail was listed on Craigslist with a $3.5M sticker price back in 2018.


Vertical: 600′
Distance From Nearest Major City: 36 miles (Denver)
Interesting Nugget: Echo Mountain was closed from 1975-2005, but has reemerged as Denver’s closest, and most affordable ski area.

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