Best Ski Cities

Wanna be relatively close to the slopes, but still enjoy the comfort and convenience of big city life? Well this carefully cultivated list of the best ski cities in America is just up your alley! The following list contains 10 cities that are close enough to the ski slopes to be accessed by a quick drive or shuttle ride. In no particular order, here are 10 of the best ski cities in the good old U.S.A., enjoy!   ~Zack Phelan~

Criteria of a ski city

Please don’t confuse this with a list of best “ski towns,” we’re talking cities here. Like with their own major airport, high rise buildings and highways. The criteria for a “ski city” includes:

-Minimum population: 50,000

-Major commercial airport

-At least one ski area within 40 miles

-Additional ski areas within 100 mile radius

Reno, Nevada

Closest ski area

Located just 25 minutes from Reno/Tahoe International Airport is Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, a ski area known as a Reno locals resort and even has a Reno address despite being removed from the city proper. Mt. Rose has 6 chairlifts, 60 runs and 1,200 skiable acres. 

Ski areas within 100 miles

Reno boasts 15 ski areas within a 100 mile radius including: Sky Tavern, Mt. Rose, Diamond Peak, Northstar, Palisades, Tahoe Donner, Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Soda Springs, Donner Ski Ranch, Granlibakken, Homewood, Sierra @ Tahoe, Heavenly, and Kirkwood

Regional mountain Range

Reno, Nevada is situated in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada and it’s city limits stretch well into the foothills and even technically envelope nearby Mt. Rose. 

Mount Rose

“The Biggest Little City in the World!”

– Reno city slogan

264,165


City population

53″


Annual snow in city

122


Regional Chairlifts

15


Regional Ski Areas

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Santa Fe, New Mexico

Closest ski area

“Ski Bueno” on the local slopes at Ski Santa Fe which is just a quick 35 minute trek up road from the center of the city. Ski Santa Fe has 7 lifts and 88 named runs and is usually open November to April.

Ski areas within 100 miles

Santa Fe has 7 ski areas within a 100 radius including: Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito, Sipapu, Red River, and Sandia Peak

Regional mountain Range

Santa Fe resides next to the Southern tip of the Rocky Mountains, which stretch all the way through the Continental U.S. from Canada. 

Tequila Sunrise trail

“The City Different, at every turn.”

– Santa Fe city slogan

87,505


City population

20″


Annual snow in city

43


Regional Chairlifts

7


Regional Ski Areas

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Portland, oregon

Closest ski area

Just a quick 70 minute jaunt up U.S. 26 from downtown Portland lies the largest Night Skiing area in all of North America. Open until 11pm on weekends, Mount Hood Skibowl has 4 chairlifts, 69 runs and 960 acres of skiable terrain.

Ski areas within 100 miles

In addition to Mount Hood Skibowl, only slightly further up the highway on Mount Hood, 4 additional ski areas can be found including: Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood Meadows, Timberline Summit Pass and Cooper Spur.

Regional mountain Range

Portland, Oregon lies just West of the Cascade Range which spans from Canada down to Northern California. Mount Hood is a glacial peak rising to over 11 thousand feet and skiing lasts from November through August.

Magic Mile

“The city that works.”

– Portland city slogan

652,503


City population

4″


Annual snow in city

30


Regional Chairlifts

5


Regional Ski Areas

San Bernardino, California

Closest ski area

Most folks don’t often associate SoCal with the ski scene, but the nearby San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains offer quite a scenic backdrop to the cities especially when they become snowcapped in the Winter time. Snow Valley is the closest ski resort and lies only 30 miles from the city center. The ski area has 12 lifts servicing 29 runs over 240 skiable acres. 

Ski areas within 100 miles

There are a total of 7 SoCal ski areas within 100 miles of San Bernardino including: Snow Valley, Mountain High, Mt. Baldy, Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, Mount Waterman, and the Buckhorn Ski Club

Regional mountain Range

San Bernardino borders both the San Gabriel Mountain Range to the North, and the San Bernardino Mountain Range to the East. 

Night Skiing

“City on the move.”

– San Bernardino city slogan

222,101


City population

0″


Annual snow in city

49

Regional Chairlifts

7


Regional Ski Areas

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Anchorage, Alaska

Closest ski area

The Hilltop Ski Area is located within the Municipality of Anchorage in the foothills to the South of the city center. Hilltop has 3 total lifts and 10 ski trails. 

Ski areas within 100 miles

Anchorage has 5 ski areas in a 100 mile radius, including Alyeska Resort, Hilltop Ski Area, Arctic Valley, Skeetawk and Hillberg which resides inside of the local Airforce base. 

Regional mountain Range

Anchorage sits next to the Cook Inlet in the shadow of the mighty Chugach Range, famous for long Winters and tons of snow!

Alyeska

“Anchorage: Living the Big, Wild Life.”

– Anchorage city slogan

291,247


City population

78″


Annual snow in city

10


Regional Chairlifts

5


Regional Ski Areas

Bozeman, Montana

Closest ski area

Bridger Bowl ski area lies just outside the town of Bozeman, Montana, roughly 16 miles to the Northeast. It boasts 8 chairlifts, 75 named runs and over 2,000 skiable acres and despite its reputation, is very much a locals resort. 

Ski areas within 100 miles

Only 51 miles away, nearby Big Sky is one of the most famous ski areas in North America and its neighbor the privately owned and operated Yellowstone Club offers some world class terrain as well. 

Regional mountain Range

A sub range of the Rocky Mountains, Bridger Bowl and Bozeman reside in Montana’s Bridger Range. 

Bridger Bowl

“The most livable place.”

– Bozeman city slogan

53,293


City population

91″


Annual snow in city

45


Regional Chairlifts

3


Regional Ski Areas

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Flagstaff, Arizona

Closest ski area

Arizona Snowbowl is a large ski area that resides inside of Flagstaff city limits and is a part of the San Francisco Peaks of Northern Arizona. Snowbowl averages over 260″ of snow every Winter and has a ski season spanning from November to May on most years. The resort has 8 total lifts, 55 named runs and 777 skiable acres. 

Ski areas within 100 miles

Although closed for the last few seasons due to the pandemic, nearby Elk Ridge Ski Area has been purchased by Arizona Snowbowl and could soon come back to life. This small community ski area offers skiing, snowboarding, tubing and snow play and is about 37 miles West of Flagstaff.

Regional mountain Range

The San Francisco Peaks are a stand alone mountain cluster in Northern Arizona on which the city of Flagstaff resides.

Arizona Snowbowl trail map

“To protect and enhance the quality of life for all.”

– Flagstaff city slogan

76,831


City population

100″


Annual snow in city

5


Regional Chairlifts

2


Regional Ski Areas

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Spokane, Washington

Closest ski area

The city of Spokane has it’s own mountain of the same name, with a ski area to match. The Mount Spokane Ski & Snowboard Area is a mere 34 miles from the city center and offers 6 chairlifts giving access to 62 runs over 1,700+ skiable acres. 

Ski areas within 100 miles

Including Mt. Spokane, there are 4 other ski areas within a 100 mile radius of Spokane including: 49 Degrees North in Washington and Schweitzer, Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain in the neighboring state of Idaho. 

Regional mountain Range

Mount Spokane is a part of the Selkirk Mountains located in Eastern Washington.

Mount Spokane

“Near nature, near perfect.”

– Spokane city slogan

228,989


City population

44″


Annual snow in city

31


Regional Chairlifts

5


Regional Ski Areas

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Salt Lake City, Utah

Closest ski area

One of 4 large ski areas within a short drive of Salt Lake City, Snowbird claims the distinction of the being the closest and is only 34 miles from the city’s airport. 

Ski areas within 100 miles

The mecca of the World’s lightest and driest powder, Salt Lake City has 11 ski areas within a 100 mile radius including: Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude, Park City, Deer Valley, Sundance, Snow Basin, Nordic Valley, Powder Mountain, Cherry Peak and the currently under construction Mayflower Resort will add a 12th resort to the area in the coming seasons. 

Regional mountain Range

The mighty Wasatch Range cuts through the heart of Utah and is a Western extension of the Rocky Mountains. Most incoming storms to the region pass over the Great Salt Lake which dries out the snow and creates some of the lightest powder in the World. 

Alta

“Different by nature.”

– Salt Lake City slogan

200,133


City population

54″


Annual snow in city

109


Regional Chairlifts

11


Regional Ski Areas

Denver, Colorado

Closest ski area

The undisputed King of Ski Cities, Denver, Colorado has ski areas spattered on either side of Interstate 70 all over the Rocky Mountains, but the closest to the city is Echo Mountain which is 36 miles from the city center and has 3 total lifts, 13 runs and 226 skiable acres. 

Ski areas within 100 miles

Denver has an impressive 10 ski areas within a 100 mile drive including: Echo Mountain, Winter Park, Eldora, Loveland, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mt, Vail, & Granby Ranch.

Regional mountain Range

The city of Denver marks the end of Great Plains and the beginning of the Rocky Mountains which splay off in 3 directions on the Western edge of city. 

Mary Jane

“The mile high city.”

– Denver city slogan

715,522


City population

56″


Annual snow in city

114


Regional Chairlifts

10


Regional Ski Areas

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