Stunning views at Lake Louise.
Stunning views at Lake Louise.

Personally, I choose where to ski based on the terrain, snow conditions, and general vibe of a mountain, not the views from the top. But there are plenty of people who get out onto the slopes just for the views of nearby mountains and landscapes. That’s why some of these summit chairlifts wind up so crowded despite the lack of good snow or trails from the top.

Obviously good views on top of good snow, terrain, and general vibe will give a mountain a boost on my list, but it’s not my main priority. For those who do choose it as their main priority, PeakRankings created a list of the 18 most beautiful ski resorts in North America.

Frankly I think there area a few East Coast/New England mountains that could have made the list, but I’m pretty biased towards that side of the continent. Tons of mountains are stunning, don’t get me wrong, but a nice stretch of flat with some rolling hills right as the sun is peaking through the clouds just hits right. PeakRankings list is as follows:

18. Mount Baker, Washington
17. Panorama, British Columbia
16. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
15. Revelstoke, British Columbia
14. Mount Bachelor, Oregon
13. Vail, Colorado
12. Snowbird, Utah
11. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
10. Le Massif, Quebec
9. Alta, Utah
8. Banff Sunshine Village, Alberta
7. Big Sky, Montana
6. Heavenly, California
5. Telluride, Colorado
4. Alyeska, Alaska
3. Homewood, California
2. Kicking Horse, British Columbia
1. Lake Louise, Alberta

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