Opening day is upon us, with most major ski resorts expected to open by Thanksgiving weekend, kicking off the winter 2024–25 season. Each year, , our şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Inc. partners, surveys its readers about which resorts offer the most value, their favorite family-friendly amenities, banging bumps, where to catch the liveliest après scene, and more. All responses are recorded—many of them mentioned below—and highlight what each ski area does best.

No one resort is the ultimate ski destination for every single person. We know that. You know that. But the experiences and opinions of your fellow skiers go a long way when it comes to deciding which mountain to knock off your bucket list next. To see the full list of the top 50 resorts in the U.S. and Canada, with , check out its .

1. Snowbasin, Utah

Strengths: Value, lifts, access
Weaknesses: Lodging, après, nightlife
Price and Pass: Adult lift tickets from $159, or use your Ikon or Mountain ­Collective Pass.

Why Skiers Love It: The notion that a top ski destination should be considered a best-kept secret seems inconceivable, yet that descriptor filled the comment section in ł§°­±ő’s annual Reader Resort Survey. Hidden in the Wasatch Back region, the 3,000-acre resort is popular with locals and visitors alike. skiers appreciate the easy access to Ogden (20 miles away), the fast lift network, the 325 average annual inches of snowfall, and the quality hospitality. “Staff are friendly, and you can tell they love to work there,” said one skier.

The resort earned the second-highest score in the value category, demonstrating that readers feel it delivers great bang for the buck. Raves were heaped on everything from the relative lack of crowds—holidays excepted—to the delicious food and variety of terrain (“Hands-down some of the best in Utah,” said one visitor). ­Skiers also loved the sparkling, marble-adorned bathrooms.

Snowbasin, which opened in 1939, doubled in size in the late 1990s after it was designated a venue for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Today it spans three peaks, drops 3,000 vertical feet, and operates 13 lifts—the DeMoisy Express six-pack debuted last season, doubling uphill capacity to the popular intermediate Strawberry area. Upscale facilities include national-park-style day lodges with those bougie bathrooms. With the returning to the region, we can expect even more upgrades, as Snowbasin is slated once again to host the alpine skiing events.

If you’re coming solely for the skiing—from the wide, well-groomed boulevards of Elk Ridge to the powdery chutes of Lone Tree—Snowbasin will deliver. It has preserved its local vibe while offering the amenities of far more expensive resorts. In other words, it’s got something special. One aficionado said it best: “The first look at the mountain as I turn off Trapper’s Loop gives me in the feels every time!”

Room for Improvement (According to Readers): Snowbasin isn’t a true destination resort, because there’s nowhere to stay at the base. The closest lodging is about ten miles away in tiny Huntsville, and the nearest hub, with hotels, dining, and an après scene, is 30 minutes downvalley in Ogden.

Where to Stay: The boutique Compass Rose, in Huntsville, has 15 modern-farmhouse-inspired rooms, as well as a complimentary light breakfast every morning. Families with kids will love the room configuration—two pairs of bunk beds plus a queen.

Dining and Après: Hit the Angry Goat Pub and Kitchen in downtown Ogden for the expansive menu of spruced-up American pub fare, unique house cocktails, and 200 craft beers.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

The post SKI Magazine’s Readers Ranked the Best Resorts in the U.S. and Canada. appeared first on şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online.