A mile doesn’t necessarily seem like that far of a distance, especially when we’re talking about driving, biking, running, or even walking. But when you’re thinking about a mile of vertical, 5,280 feet starts to seem pretty massive. Going from sea level to 5,280 feet can get pretty intense. Starting at an already high altitude and going a mile up means you’ll almost certainly feel the difference. In fact, there are only two ski resorts in North America with over a mile of vertical, and they’re both in Canada.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia – 5,283 feet
With a highest lift-accessed elevation of 7,497 feet and a base elevation of 2,214 feet, British Columbia’s Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort has just over a mile of lift-accessed vertical. Technically Whistler Blackcomb’s lowest point sits at 2,140 feet at the Creekside base, making the total vertical closer to 5,357 feet, but you can’t ski directly from the highest point on Blackcomb to Creekside.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia – 5,620 feet
Revelstoke Mountain Resort‘s official vertical is the highest in North America, with 5,620 feet, or 1,713 meters, of descent. That’s from the top of the Stoke Chair, which climbs to 7,300 feet, to the resort village, which sits at 1,680 feet. However, if you’re for a little extra, the Sub Peak elevation (which requires a hike) sits at 7,677 feet. Therefore the total top-to-bottom vertical is 5,997 feet, quite a bit more if you’re willing to put in the work.
