Best
Peaks Overall
The rank-order of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming ski resorts we’ve been to based on overall mountain experience.
#1 in the Northern Rockies
Jackson HoleTeton Village, WY
Teton Village, WY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
81
- Extremely demanding terrain
- Snow quality
- Crowd flow on non-tram lifts
- Breathtaking scenery
- Lack of beginner and low intermediate terrain
This Teton resort lives up to its extremely demanding reputation. Beginners need not apply.
#2 in the Northern Rockies
Big SkyBig Sky, MT
Big Sky, MT
MOUNTAIN SCORE
76
- Snow quality
- Size
- Diverse terrain for all ability levels
- Extremely demanding expert runs
- Breathtaking scenery in upper mountain areas
- Ease of navigation
- Slow or issue-prone lifts in some areas
- Crowd flow under stress-case conditions
- Inconvenient or impractical on-mountain facilities
- Limited or difficult extreme terrain access
- Tram access an extra-cost add-on
This massive resort offers one of the most well-rounded terrain experiences in North America, but a number of logistical problems persist.
#3 in the Northern Rockies
Sun ValleyKetchum, ID
Ketchum, ID
MOUNTAIN SCORE
72
- World-class family-oriented terrain
- Stunning upper-mountain bowls
- Top-of-the-line facilities
- Lower crowds than other Rockies resorts
- Charming slopeside town
- Less reliable snowfall and conditions than other Rockies resorts
- Very little consistently open expert terrain
- No lodging directly on-site
This Idaho mountain offers a world-class terrain experience for families, but snow and conditions are not as consistent as at other Rockies resorts. Despite a recent terrain expansion, the mountain still isn’t ideal for experts.
#4 in the Northern Rockies
Grand TargheeAlta, WY
Alta, WY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
71
- Excellent snow quality
- Incredible glade terrain
- Consistent conditions
- Limited crowds
- Local feel
- Modest footprint and vertical drop
- Perennially foggy conditions
- Limited expert terrain
This Wyoming resort isn’t the largest or craziest out there, but it offers incredible snow and a distinctive, remote vibe.
#5 in the Northern Rockies
WhitefishWhitefish, MT
Whitefish, MT
MOUNTAIN SCORE
70
- Distinctive glade terrain
- Reasonable crowds
- Lively nearby town
- Available night skiing
- Value
- Perennial low-visibility conditions
- Modest vertical compared to other destinations
- Flat terrain in certain areas
- Occasional extreme cold spells
This northern Montana resort isn’t the biggest out there, but as far as independent ski resorts go, it’s hard to beat.
#6 in the Northern Rockies
SchweitzerSandpoint, ID
Sandpoint, ID
MOUNTAIN SCORE
69
- Standout off-piste near-treeline terrain
- Limited lift lines
- Local feel
- Value
- Frequent low-visibility conditions
- Occasional rain spells
- Extremely limited beginner terrain
- Convoluted backside lift setup
Despite its remote location and modest size, this Idaho panhandle resort offers a few solid advantages for destination-goers, especially during peak times.
#7 in the Northern Rockies
TamarackTamarack, ID
Tamarack, ID
MOUNTAIN SCORE
67
- Modern, walkable base village
- Fast lifts
- Great cruising terrain for all abilities
- Long vertical drop
- Some frustrating flat catwalks
- Moneyed vibe and variable snow quality in lower mountain areas
- Difficult to reach compared to competitors
Despite having one of the most volatile histories in American destination skiing, this Idaho resort now offers a compelling footprint for skiers and riders of different abilities.
#8 in the Northern Rockies
Bogus BasinBoise, ID
Boise, ID
MOUNTAIN SCORE
67
- Diverse terrain
- Modern lift setup
- Affordability
- Expansive night skiing operation
- Most difficult runs are south-facing
- Busy weekends and holidays due to proximity to Boise
- Smaller than advertised
While not quite up to the standard of top destination resorts, this Idaho mountain’s proximity to Boise, cheap tickets, modern amenities, and long hours make it possibly the best hometown mountain in the country.
#9 in the Northern Rockies
Bridger BowlBozeman, MT
Bozeman, MT
MOUNTAIN SCORE
66
- World-class expert terrain
- Family-friendly atmosphere
- Local feel
- Lift ticket value
- Slow lifts
- Modest size compared to fly-to destinations
- Avalanche beacon required for some terrain zones
Despite being a family-friendly, local ski resort without the luxuries of destination resorts, this Montana resort offers some of the most extreme terrain in the country for a refreshingly affordable cost.
#10 in the Northern Rockies
Snow KingJackson, WY
Jackson, WY
MOUNTAIN SCORE
60
- Formidable tree and mogul terrain
- Local feel
- Spectacular town views
- Low lift ticket prices
- Small footprint
- Lackluster beginner and intermediate terrain
- Inconsistent snow conditions on back side
This small, local Wyoming resort offers cheap lift tickets and demanding slopes—and has seen significant revitalization for the 2021-22 season. But a number of shortcomings still make the mountain less than ideal for beginner and intermediate visitors.
#11 in the Northern Rockies
Lookout PassMullan, ID
Mullan, ID
MOUNTAIN SCORE
56
- Impressive quantity of snow
- Low crowds
- Remarkably affordable, even for its region
- Lack of high-speed lifts
- Small size
- Little expert terrain
- Lack of on site lodging
Lookout Pass lacks the infrastructure and the size to compete with the large destination resorts of the Northern Rockies, but it does offer affordable, uncrowded slopes with great snow.
#12 in the Northern Rockies
Sun Valley - Dollar MountainSun Valley, ID
Sun Valley, ID
MOUNTAIN SCORE
53
- Beginner-oriented experience
- Competitive terrain parks
- High-speed lift service in most areas
- Unconventional treeless topography
- Lack of crowds
- Small footprint
- Very short vertical drop
- Extremely variable openings for advanced trails and Elkhorn zone
Sun Valley’s beginner zone is way too small and variable to warrant a trip to on its own. But for those in town already, its unconventional footprint may be worth stopping by.