Biggest vertical drop ski resort in the world
This is a list of our top 100 ski resorts ranked by vertical drop. Vertical drop is
the actual maximum vertical you can ski without taking another lift, and without walking up hill
. Walking on flat-ish terrain counts as long as it’s something people skiing the resort regularly do. It may take multiple lift rides to reach the summit but once you start descending the true vertical will be the end of your run.
View of the town of Revelstoke from Critical Path, February 2018
Resorts ranked by vertical drop
Rank
Resort
Real Vertical
1
Revelstoke
5,620′
2
Whistler/Blackcomb
5,234′
3
Snowmass
4,406′
4
Jackson Hole
4,139′
5
Big Sky
4,016′
6
Panorama
3,979′
7
Telluride
3,845′
8
Kicking Horse
3,790′
9
Timberline
3,690′
10
Steamboat
3,668′
11
Aspen Highlands
3,635′
12
Sun Valley
3,400′
13
Mt. Bachelor
3,365′
14
Beaver Creek
3,340′
15
Fernie
3,320′
16
Taos
3,281′
17
Heavenly
3,280′
18
Aspen Mountain
3,267′
19
Snowbird
3,240′
20
Park City
3,190′
Top 10 Longest Vertical Drops at North American Ski Resorts
For die-hard skiers and snowboarders, vertical drop is more than just a number. It’s a measure of pure adrenaline, leg-burning descents, and the kind of runs that leave you breathless in the best way possible. Whether you're a vertical-foot counter or a powder hound, big vertical is the ultimate prize.
While Europe takes the global crown—Chamonix, France boasts a staggering 9,200 feet of vertical—North America holds its own with some seriously long descents. From the towering peaks of British Columbia to Colorado’s iconic slopes, here are the top 10 longest lift-served vertical drops in North America, spanning both the U.S. and Canada. Get ready to drop in and chase adrenaline.
1. Revelstoke, B.C. - 5,620 feet of vertical
All hail the king of vertical. | Photo: Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Boasting a jaw-dropping 5,620 feet of lift-served vertical—the longest in North America—Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a paradise for skiers and riders who crave extreme adventure. Surrounded by British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains, Revelstoke sits in a prime storm track, delivering impressive snowfall season after season. T
The 10 Biggest Ski Resorts in the World
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When skis float on endless stashes of pow and countless lifts beckon us further and further into the mountains, these are the resort days of our dreams—an experience only the largest ski resorts on earth can show us. For this, we will gladly get sucked into the belly of a ski behemoth: the world of well-serviced lodges, fast lifts, and limitless terrain. But where are these fabled giants of ski-landia? The answer is a little harder to come by than you would think.
Ranking the biggest ski resorts by size seems to be an amorphous concept. The U.S. and Canada rank resorts based on skiable acreage while the European standard is to measure size based on ski run length end to end. But what’s included as skiable acreage and how runs are measured remains fuzzy.
Then we get into the issue of what counts as a resort. Do short bus rides from one ski area to another linked by a pass count? Do private areas count toward skiable acreage at adjacent public resorts? After all, if you happen to know someone like Bill Gates or
The 8 highest ski resorts in the world
Dizzying altitudes and big mountains are something we riders crave. They’re elements that guarantee rad snow, awesome views, and epic adventures. So, when you’re looking to aim
really
high, where should you go, and which resort is the loftiest?
You probably already know the world’s highest mountain (Mt. Everest *cough*). However, you might struggle to name the highest
ski resort
in the world. We’ll give you a hint: it’s not where you think…Don’t Google the answer, though. We’ve got you with our list of the 8 highest ski resorts in the world (alongside a special mention).
Plus, you want to look good and perform amazingly when tackling hardcore heights, right? Then check out our latest collection of men's ski jackets and women's ski jackets, made with all the tech you need to scale mountains – and have the best time!
The 8 highest ski resorts in the world
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, China
15,420 feet/4,700 meters of elevation
2 lifts
3,799 feet/1,158 meters of vertical drop
Breaking the elusive 4,000-meter (13,120 feet!) barrier stands Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in China (surprised, right?). In fact, jus