Skiing and snowboarding are all about the pull of gravity and bombing down a mountainside. However, the unsung heroes of downhill skiing are the lifts that zip us back up to the top. With over 3,800 ski lifts across approximately 800 ski resorts in North America, these engineering marvels come in various types. They range from high-speed quads flying up impressive mountain peaks to vintage rope tows chugging along at small hills.
While no single database catalogs every lift by type, we’ve tapped into resources like Skilifts.org, Skiresort.info, Storm Skiing, Vail Resorts, and Alterra Mountain Company to estimate the distribution of lift types across the U.S. and Canada. In this post, we look into the North American ski lift infrastructure. We share three distinct charts to visualize the totality of ski lifts in North America, share intriguing facts, and offer insights to entertain and inform you, snow sliders.
Understanding Ski Lift Types in North America
North America’s ski lifts are a mixed bag. From mega-destinations like Whistler Blackcomb to little family-run hills like Magic Mountain in Idaho. This wide variety of ski hills leads to a wide variety in ski lifts. But based on aggregated data, the estimated 3,845ish lifts break down into six main categories:
- Fixed-Grip Chairlifts (~50%, 1,923 lifts): Traditional double, triple, or quad chairs move at a steady pace. They are common at smaller or older resorts.
- High-Speed/Detachable Chairlifts (~30%, 1,154 lifts): Modern quads, six-packs, or eight-person chairs detach from the cable. This allows for faster loading and unloading, which is commonly found at large resorts.
- Surface Lifts (~15%, 577 lifts): Includes T-bars, J-bars, Pomas, and magic carpets, primarily for beginner areas or small hills.
- Gondolas (~4%, 154 lifts): Enclosed cabins for 6+ passengers, offering weather protection and high-capacity transport.
- Aerial Trams (~0.3%, 13 lifts): Large cabins on fixed track ropes, used for steep ascents or iconic routes.
- Combined/Hybrid Lifts (~0.7%, 27 lifts): Unique setups like chondolas (chairlift and gondola cabins on one line) or dual-stage lifts.
Chart 1: Distribution of Ski Lifts by Type
This pie chart illustrates the estimated proportion of each lift type across North America. It highlights the dominance of chairlifts and the rarity of trams.
Insight: Chairlifts (fixed-grip and high-speed) make up 80% of North America’s lifts, reflecting their versatility and efficiency. Aerial trams, with only 13 in operation, are a rare treat. These are found at iconic resorts like Jackson Hole and Cannon Mountain.
Chart 2: Top Resorts by Total Lifts
This bar chart compares the lift counts of North America’s top five resorts with the most lifts. It showcases the scale of major destinations.
Insight: Palisades Tahoe and Park City lead with over 40 lifts each, offering unparalleled access to vast terrain. Whistler Blackcomb’s 32 lifts include the famous Peak 2 Peak gondola, connecting two mountains in a single ride.
Chart 3: Lifts in the United States vs. Canada by Number and Type
This bar chart compares the number of different lift types between the United States and Canada, showcasing variations in ski lift infrastructure.
Insight: The United States has a higher total number of lifts, with a strong emphasis on high-speed chairlifts, reflecting the scale of its major resorts like Vail and Palisades Tahoe. Canada, with fewer lifts overall, has a notable proportion of gondolas and surface lifts, catering to diverse terrain and beginner-friendly areas, as seen at resorts like Whistler Blackcomb. Aerial trams and chondolas remain rare in both countries, with the U.S. having slightly more due to its larger number of resorts.
Fascinating Facts About North American Ski Lifts
- Oldest Operating Lift: Black Mountain’s J-Bar in New Hampshire, installed in the 1930s, is North America’s oldest lift. It is a relic of skiing’s early days when rope tows were powered by car engines.
- Rare Single Chairs: Only two single chairlifts remain in North America—Mad River Glen (Vermont) and Mt. Eyak (Alaska). Mt. Eyak’s lift use parts from Sun Valley’s 1936 lifts, the world’s first chairlifts.
- Peak 2 Peak Marvel: Whistler Blackcomb’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola spans 2.7 miles. It connects two mountains with a 1,427-foot free span, making it one of the longest unsupported gondola sections in the world.
- Highest Capacity: Revelstoke’s Revelation Gondola boasts over 8 million vertical transport feet per hour (VTFH). It outpaces most lifts by efficiently moving skiers up its steep terrain.
- Tram Exclusivity: Only 13 aerial trams operate in North America, including Jackson Hole’s iconic “Big Red” Tram and Cannon Mountain’s Aerial Tramway, the first in the U.S. (1938).
- Lift Innovation: Sunday River’s Chondola combines chairlift and gondola cabins on one line, offering flexibility for skiers and sightseers alike.
Entertaining Tidbits: The Quirky Side of Ski Lift
- Hollywood Cameos: Ski lifts have starred in films like Aspen Extreme (1993), showcasing Aspen’s Silver Queen Gondola, and Ski Patrol (1990), featuring Snowbird’s Tram.
- Haunted Lifts?: Rumor has it that Telluride’s Revelation Lift, at 12,515 feet, is so high that skiers report “ghostly” winds. These winds howl through the chairs—probably just the thin air playing tricks!
