There’s more to a U.S. ski vacation than Colorado and Utah. These 6 states deserve a closer look.

When Americans think about skiing, a handful of states tend to dominate the conversation. Colorado and Utah are famous for their expansive resorts and abundant snowfall, California has ski resorts up and down the state and Vermont has long been the center of East Coast ski culture. These destinations have earned their reputations, but they’re only part of what a U.S. ski vacation can offer.

Look beyond them, and you’ll find impressive collections of ski resorts across the country — with slopes descending Oregon’s volcanoes or leading straight into a historic New Mexico mining town. Lake-effect powder offers a good reason to explore Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and lower-profile resorts in Idaho provide strong alternatives to Sun Valley.

New Mexico

New Mexico is best known for its desert landscapes, adobe architecture and Southwestern culture, and visitors can enjoy all three alongside excellent skiing. In the northern part of the state, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains rise above 13,000 feet, offering high-elevation skiing, abundant sunshine and a landscape far different from the desert scenery most travelers associate with New Mexico. 

Taos Ski Valley is the headliner, with steep chutes, challenging expert terrain and a summit elevation exceeding 12,000 feet. Angel Fire Resort offers long, groomed cruisers overlooking the Moreno Valley; Red River Ski Area has slopes that descend directly into its historic mining town; and Ski Santa Fe features high-elevation skiing through aspen and evergreen forests with views of the Rio Grande Valley.

Alaska

For many travelers from the Lower 48, an Alaska ski trip involves a longer journey. But that’s exactly what makes it such an interesting choice. Its enormous mountains, heavy snowfall and remote wilderness offer an experience unlike anywhere else in the country, with opportunities to ski amid glaciers and coastal scenery.

Alyeska Resort, in the Chugach Mountains south of Anchorage, offers steep terrain, expert runs and an average of more than 600 inches of annual snowfall near its summit. Skiers enjoy views of rugged mountains, glaciers and the waters of Turnagain Arm. Eaglecrest Ski Area, on Douglas Island near Juneau, offers 640 acres of terrain, a 1,620-foot vertical drop and powder skiing with views of the surrounding waterways. Reaching Juneau requires a flight or ferry, as the capital has no road connection to the rest of North America.

Oregon

Oregon’s Cascade Range delivers substantial snowfall and some of the Pacific Northwest’s most extensive ski terrain. Its mountains offer a serious alternative to the Rockies, with ski runs descending the slopes of towering volcanoes.

Mount Bachelor, near Bend, offers more than 4,300 acres of terrain, with open bowls, tree skiing and runs spreading around the flanks of a dormant volcano. Mount Hood Meadows is known for its steep pitches, while nearby Timberline features high-elevation skiing beneath Mount Hood’s summit and an exceptionally long season that can extend into summer.

Idaho

Idaho’s ski scene extends well beyond Sun Valley, one of the country’s best-established destination resorts and one of its oldest. But lower-profile ski areas give travelers plenty of reasons to explore the state in winter.

Schweitzer offers nearly 3,000 acres of terrain, including open bowls and glades, overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. Brundage Mountain is known for its tree skiing, while Bogus Basin, near Boise, is the spot for night skiing close to the city. Tamarack Resort combines groomed cruisers with views of Lake Cascade. After a few days on the slopes, trade your skis for snowshoes and explore the resort’s designated trails that wind through forests and open meadows.

West Virginia

The Appalachian Mountains may not immediately come to mind when planning a ski vacation, but West Virginia offers some of the best downhill skiing in the Mid-Atlantic region. Its ski resorts sit at some of the highest elevations in the Mid-Atlantic, with slopes cutting through dense Appalachian forests and mountain valleys.

Snowshoe Mountain offers more than 60 trails and glades spread across multiple ski areas, including the steeper terrain of its Western Territory. Timberline Mountain features a 1,000-foot vertical drop and the two-mile Salamander Trail, a gentle run from summit to base, while nearby Canaan Valley Resort has a family-friendly atmosphere with gentler slopes, cross-country skiing and snow tubing.

Michigan

Michigan might not have the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains, but it makes up for its modest elevations with an impressive collection of ski areas, abundant lake-effect snow and a deeply rooted winter sports culture. And with 40-some ski areas across its two peninsulas, Michigan has more places to ski than most Americans realize.

Boyne Mountain is one of Michigan’s largest family destination resorts, with more than 60 downhill runs and SkyBridge Michigan, a 1,200-foot pedestrian suspension bridge overlooking the surrounding countryside. Crystal Mountain offers 59 downhill trails and more than 15 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. Farther north, Mount Bohemia in the Upper Peninsula has steep, ungroomed terrain, with no beginner runs. An average annual snowfall of about 270 inches, fueled by lake-effect snow from Lake Superior, helps deliver powder conditions rarely associated with Midwestern skiing.