The Rocky Mountains are home to some of the highest peaks in the United States, and it’s no surprise that many of the highest ski resorts are located in this region. In Colorado, for example, the ski resorts in Summit County, such as Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin, are all located at high elevations due to their proximity to the Continental Divide. Loveland Ski Area, also in Colorado, is known for having one of the highest peaks among ski resorts in North America, with a peak elevation of 13,010 feet.

But it’s worth noting that while the peak elevation of a ski resort may be high, the elevation of the base area and ski runs may be much lower. This can affect the elevation at which you are actually skiing most of the time.

When we refer to the “highest” ski areas, we are talking about ski resorts or ski areas with the highest elevations above sea level (not how much pot is consumed). The peak elevation of a ski resort or ski area is often used to determine its height, which is the highest point at the resort that is accessible by lift or hike.

However, it’s worth noting that the altitude of the base area and ski runs can also be a factor in determining the overall altitude of a ski resort. Ski resorts with a high summit does not necessarily mean you’ll be spending your time skiing at such a high altitude.

So to give a more nuanced understanding of America’s highest ski areas we looked at both the summit height as well as the base hight then gave an average of the two. We understand this method is not perfect, but it should give you a better understanding of which ski resorts sit at the highest altitudes in the United States.

The Highest Ski Resorts in the United States

Silverton, Colorado

Peak elevation: 13,487′

Base elevation: 10,400′

Average elevation: 11,943′

Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

Peak elevation: 13,010′

Base elevation: 10,800′

Average elevation: 11,905′

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Colorado

Peak elevation: 13,050′

Base elevation: 10,520′

Average elevation: 11,785′

Monarch Mountain, Colorado

Peak elevation: 11,952

Base elevation: 10,790′

Average elevation: 11,371′

Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado

Peak elevation: 12,998′

Base elevation: 9,600′

Average elevation: 11,299′

Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico 

Peak elevation: 12,075′

Base elevation: 10,350′

Average elevation: 11,212′

Ski Cooper, Colorado

Peak elevation: 11,700′

Base elevation: 10,500′

Average elevation: 11,100′

Winter Park Resort, Colorado

Peak elevation: 12,060′

Base elevation: 9,000′

Average elevation: 10,530′

Keystone Resort, Colorado

Peak elevation: 12,408′

Base elevation: 9,280′

Average elevation: 10,844′

Note: Altitude sickness can be a concern for some visitors to high-elevation ski resorts. It’s always a good idea to acclimate to the elevation gradually and stay hydrated while skiing or snowboarding at high altitudes.

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