The 10 Largest Ski Resorts in America
As the 2025/26 ski season approaches, skiers and snowboarders are gearing up for the winter ahead. With somewhere in the neighborhood of 480 ski resorts in the United States, there are a lot of places to click in, but if you’re looking to ski huge swaths of terrain on a single pass or in a single day, you are going to want to find the largest ski areas in America. And that is just what we have for you today.
Below we’ll rank the top 10 largest U.S. ski resorts by skiable acres based on the latest data as of July 29th 2025 (sourced from our own information we gathered as well as trusted outlets like OnTheSnow, and Ski Mag). We’ll cover key details like ownership, fun facts, and visuals to help you compare sizes and more. Plus, we’ll break down multi-resort passes like the Epic and Ikon to maximize your access and savings.
America’s Largest Ski Areas
This ranking focuses on total skiable acres, but remember: not all terrain is lift-served—some includes hike-to or cat-skiing areas. We’ve noted where that applies to help you plan realistically.
- Powder Mountain, Utah
- Skiable Acres: 8,484
- Ownership: Privately owned by Reed Hastings (Netflix co-founder) since 2023, formerly the Summit Series group.
- Interesting Facts: Claiming North America’s largest skiable acres, Powder Mountain emphasizes uncrowded slopes by capping passes. Five thousand acres are accessible to the public, while the other acreage is part of the Powder Haven portion of the ski resort, which is only accessible to homeowners. Much of its terrain relies on cat-skiing or hiking (lift-served is ~2,000 acres), with 500+ inches of annual powder. The DMI backcountry area features guide-only chutes, and it limits crowds for a premium experience.
- Park City Mountain Resort, Utah
- Skiable Acres: 7,300
- Ownership: Vail Resorts, merged with Canyons in 2014.
- Interesting Facts: America’s largest lift-served resort, it hosted 2002 Olympics and links to Main Street via Town Lift. With 330 trails (50% advanced) and Sundance Film Festival vibes, it’s ideal for intermediates and experts seeking urban-alpine fusion.
- Palisades Tahoe, California
- Skiable Acres: 6,000
- Ownership: Alterra Mountain Company, post-2018 merger of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows.
- Interesting Facts: Spanning Olympic Valley (3,600 acres) and Alpine Meadows (2,400 acres), connected by Base to Base Gondola. 1960 Olympics host with 270+ trails, 400 inches snowfall, and KT-22 for freeskiing. Renamed in 2021 for cultural sensitivity.
- Big Sky Resort, Montana
- Skiable Acres: 5,850
- Ownership: Boyne Resorts, family-owned with U.S. portfolio.
- Interesting Facts: “Biggest skiing in America” with 4,350-foot vertical and Big Couloir for experts. Lone Peak (11,166 feet) offers 360-degree runs on a dormant volcano; uncrowded with 42% advanced terrain.
- Vail Ski Resort, Colorado
- Skiable Acres: 5,317
- Ownership: Vail Resorts, founded 1962.
- Interesting Facts: Iconic for seven Back Bowls (2,785 acres) mimicking backcountry. Hosted World Championships; upscale village and “Like Nothing on Earth” motto highlight powder glades.
- Heavenly Mountain Resort, California/Nevada
- Skiable Acres: 4,800
- Ownership: Vail Resorts, since 2002.
- Interesting Facts: Borders two states with Lake Tahoe panoramas from every slope. Tahoe’s highest at 10,067 feet, 400 inches snowfall, long season; Cal Trail offers epic views.
- Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
- Skiable Acres: 4,323
- Ownership: POWDR Corporation.
- Interesting Facts: Pacific Northwest’s largest, with 360-degree skiing on a volcanic cone (9,065 feet). 124 trails, 3,365-foot vertical; dry powder and long season draw crowds.
- Mammoth Mountain, California
- Skiable Acres: 3,500
- Ownership: Alterra Mountain Company, acquired 2017.
- Interesting Facts: Volcanic Sierra setting with June-extended seasons (400 inches snowfall). 3,100-foot vertical, 25 lifts; diverse parks and steeps in a long-season paradise.
- Snowmass, Colorado
- Skiable Acres: 3,342
- Ownership: Aspen Skiing Company, in Aspen Snowmass complex.
- Interesting Facts: U.S.’s longest lift-served vertical (4,406 feet). Family-friendly with 94 trails (47% intermediate); bowls, glades near Aspen’s culture.
- Keystone Resort, Colorado
- Skiable Acres: 3,148
- Ownership: Vail Resorts, since 1970.
- Interesting Facts: Family-focused with night skiing, world’s largest Zamboni-rink. Three peaks, Outback experts; 48% intermediate, Kidtopia programs.
Visualizing the Scale: Charts to Compare Resorts
To make sense of these massive terrains, here are some charts highlighting skiable acres, vertical drops, and other key metrics. These visuals help you see at a glance which resorts offer the most skiing.
Bar Chart: Skiable Acres
This bar chart shows the sheer size of each resort, with Powder Mountain towering over the rest. But note that not all that terrain is lift-serviced or accessible by non-club members.
Scatter Plot: Acres vs. Vertical Drop
This plot reveals a moderate negative correlation (-0.51) between acres and vertical—bigger resorts often have gentler overall drops, while compact ones pack more steepness.
Pie Chart: Ownership Distribution
Ownership impacts pass options—Vail Resorts dominates with 40% of the top 10.
Key Insights for Skiers and Snowboarders
- Ownership Trends: Vail Resorts leads with four entries (Park City, Vail, Heavenly, Keystone), emphasizing mega-resort growth. Alterra owns two (Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth), Boyne one (Big Sky), POWDR one (Mt. Bachelor), and private owners hold Powder Mountain. Aspen Skiing Company rounds out with Snowmass.
- Unique Features: Powder Mountain’s exclusivity, Palisades’ Olympic ties, Big Sky’s vertical thrill, and Keystone’s family perks stand out. Mt. Bachelor’s volcanic 360-skiing and Mammoth’s extended seasons add variety.
- Size Considerations: Acres vary by measurement—Powder Mountain includes non-lift areas, while Park City’s are fully lift-served. Always verify lift vs. total for your style.
