The Major Mountain Ranges and Their Ski Areas

Exploring the ski areas of North America by mountain range, we highlight the unique geography of skiing, as each range shapes snow conditions, vertical drops, and the overall experience. Beyond the well known resorts, this article takes a comprehensive look at all ski areas—major resorts, small community hills, family-run operations, and even tiny spots with a single rope tow. Below, we’ll break down ski areas by major mountain ranges.

North America has approximately 828 ski areas, with the majority concentrated in key mountain ranges across the U.S. and Canada (Mexico’s lone artificial-snow area, Monterreal, is negligible in this context). These counts include everything from large resorts to small mom and pop hills. Here’s the breakdown, covering both major resorts and lesser-known areas.

1. Appalachian Mountains

Stretching along the eastern U.S. and into Quebec, the Appalachians offer accessible skiing with a mix of natural and machine-made snow. Ideal for East Coast skiers, the range has variable snowfall—some years bring ice, but grooming keeps slopes reliable. It’s home to both big resorts and tiny community hills.

Number of Ski Areas: 176
Popular Spots: Killington (Vermont), Stowe (Vermont), Mont Tremblant (Quebec), Sugarloaf (Maine), plus local gems like Mad River Glen (Vermont) or Hidden Valley (Pennsylvania).
Useful Info: Best from mid-January to early March for snow reliability. Driveable from cities like New York or Boston. Multi-area passes like Epic or Ikon offer value, while smaller hills have affordable day passes. Great for beginners; vertical drops average 1,000-2,000 feet. Tip: Look for glade skiing after fresh snow, even at smaller areas.

2. Pacific Coast Ranges

Covering the Cascades in the U.S. Northwest and Coast Mountains in British Columbia, this range gets heavy snowfall from Pacific storms. Known for volcanic peaks, deep powder, and occasional ocean views, it includes both resorts and small Nordic or backcountry spots.

Number of Ski Areas: 144 (includes Cascades and Coast Mountains)
Popular Spots: Whistler Blackcomb (BC), Crystal Mountain (Washington), Mount Baker (Washington), Mount Hood (Oregon), plus lesser-known Loup Loup Ski Bowl (Washington).
Useful Info: Ski December to April; February brings epic dumps. “Cascade concrete” can occur on warm days, but powder is legendary. Close to Seattle or Vancouver. Verticals often exceed 2,000 feet; backcountry requires avalanche awareness. Tip: Try cat-skiing or explore small telemark-friendly areas.

3. Rocky Mountains

The Rockies, spanning New Mexico to Alberta, are North America’s skiing core, famed for champagne powder, high altitudes, and vast terrain. They host both massive resorts and obscure local hills.

Number of Ski Areas: 132
Popular Spots: Vail (Colorado), Aspen (Colorado), Jackson Hole (Wyoming), Big Sky (Montana), Lake Louise (Alberta), plus hidden spots like Monarch Mountain (Colorado) or Brundage Mountain (Idaho).
Useful Info: Ski November to May; January-February for peak powder. High altitudes (10,000+ feet) require acclimation—hydrate! Verticals up to 4,000+ feet with ample off-piste. Multi-mountain passes dominate. Tip: Save money at smaller areas like Loveland (Colorado) to dodge crowds.

4. Columbia Mountains

In interior British Columbia, the Columbias are a powder haven for heli-skiing and steep terrain, with a mix of resorts and smaller community areas.

Number of Ski Areas: 39
Popular Spots: Revelstoke (BC), Kicking Horse (BC), Red Mountain (BC), plus smaller Whitewater (BC).
Useful Info: Ski December to April; March offers stable snowpack. Known for light, dry “interior powder.” Verticals reach 4,000+ feet with expert terrain. Less crowded than the Rockies. Tip: Pair with hot springs for recovery.

5. Sierra Nevada

California’s Sierra Nevada combines sunny skies, deep snow from atmospheric rivers, and urban proximity. It includes major resorts and smaller family-oriented areas.

Number of Ski Areas: 24
Popular Spots: Palisades Tahoe (California), Mammoth Mountain (California), Heavenly (California/Nevada), plus Dodge Ridge or China Peak.
Useful Info: Ski November to June (Mammoth often lasts longest). Late winter brings corn snow and bluebird days. Verticals up to 3,500 feet; Tahoe offers lake views. Traffic can be heavy—consider flying into Reno. Tip: Monitor storm cycles for massive overnight snow.

Other Notable Ranges

Alaska Ranges: ~10 ski areas, like Alyeska (Alaska) or Eaglecrest (Juneau). Extreme heli-skiing with 5,000+ foot verticals. Best March-April for daylight and stability.
Laurentian Mountains: ~80 areas in Quebec (overlaps with Appalachians). Mont Tremblant stands out; enjoy French-Canadian culture and après-ski poutine.
Wasatch Mountains (Utah subset of Rockies): 17 areas, like Alta and Snowbird, known for the “Greatest Snow on Earth.”

To visualize the distribution, here’s a bar chart showing the number of ski areas per mountain range:

Breakdown of Ski Areas by Mountain Range

Here’s a table summarizing the numbers, covering all ski areas, from resorts to small hills.

Mountain Range	Number of Ski Areas	% of Total (approx.)	Key States/Provinces
Appalachian Mountains	176	21%	NY, VT, NH, QC, PA
Pacific Coast Ranges	144	17%	WA, OR, BC
Rocky Mountains	132	16%	CO, UT, WY, AB, MT
Columbia Mountains	39	5%	BC
Sierra Nevada	24	3%	CA, NV
Others (Alaska, Laurentians, Midwest hills, etc.)	313	38%	AK, QC, ON, MI, various