Across much of the U.S., skiers and riders enjoyed a snowy start to the 2024-25 ski season. But it was a false alarm for some parts of the country, leaving the true powder hounds patiently cruising groomers while waiting for the good stuff to fly.
In northern New England, a strong start gave way to cold but dry conditions in late December and January. Meanwhile, Utah is playing catch-up after a relatively slow start. Like New England, parts of Colorado had some early storms that helped set the state up for a successful December, and most of its mountains have had approximately average snowfall for this time of year.
Luckily, temperatures in most ski destinations have remained below freezing, allowing resorts in drier places like New Hampshire and Maine to make plenty of snow. And thanks to a Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend storm, many East Coast resorts finally had some much-needed help.
Weather forecasts and ski-area conditions can change overnight, so it’s best to wait as long as possible before booking a ski trip. But for those who want to start planning, there’s plenty of snow to shred from coast to coast. Here’s where to find it.
New England
Except for Vermont, New England’s 2024-25 season had a strong start, followed by a disappointing January. But if it ends up like the past few seasons, things should pick up in late February and March.
In December, a few smaller storms had skiers and riders in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont enjoying natural snow off-piste, but it wasn’t long before rain and a stretch of cold, dry weather put a damper on the early-season optimism. The sustained cold has allowed most ski areas to make snow and drop ropes.
Vermont is avoiding this pattern, with constant snowstorms resulting in some jealousy from Maine and New Hampshire skiers. Resorts across Vermont, including Sugarbush, Killington (which recently announced a $30 million infrastructure investment over the next year) and Stowe, have been faring well.
Jay Peak Resort, Vermont
In typical fashion, Jay Peak has been getting hammered with snow. With a season total of over 200 inches, the mountain is outperforming many Colorado resorts, including Vail and Breckenridge.
“The season so far has been fantastic,” Andy Stenger, Jay Peak’s director of mountain and base area operations, told TPG in an email. “We’ve had great natural snow and terrific snowmaking weather. It’s been one of the best starts we’ve had in years.”
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
If East Coast powder is what you’re after, Jay Peak is the place to be. But check the forecast before heading over — the mountain’s lifts can be prone to wind holds, preventing people from accessing a good portion of the terrain.
Black Mountain, New Hampshire
Black Mountain, centrally located in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, has only reported a snowfall total of 31 inches this season, typical of most of the area’s resorts. Despite this, the locals have plenty to be optimistic about.
Indy Pass purchased Black Mountain before the 2024-25 ski season, and the resort has been undergoing major upgrades in anticipation of becoming a co-op for next season. In addition to snowmaking upgrades that increased the system’s capacity by 20%, the base and summit lodges have been fully renovated, and trails have been expanded. They’ve also added a new snowcat that can push snow back onto thin snow spots on the trails, which they hope will help keep the mountain open well into spring.
Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire
Waterville Valley’s location just southwest of Black Mountain has been beneficial this season. So far, the resort is reporting 76 inches of snow, and around 75% of the terrain is open. That’s nearly double the snowfall many of its Northeastern counterparts have received.
The resort is undergoing a massive 10-year expansion that will include the addition of 140 acres of terrain, new restaurants, new base area infrastructure and a gondola connecting the resort to the town. Waterville will also host the Freestyle World Cup the weekend of Jan. 24.
Mountain states
Early in the season, skiers and riders in Utah watched from the sidelines as neighboring Colorado got hammered by a few November and December storms. Now, ski areas in both states tend to have average snowfall amounts so far this year. Wyoming also had a slow start, but a few storms delivered just in time for December vacation week, giving skiers plenty of terrain to choose from. Idaho is currently in a dry spell; luckily, Schweitzer Mountain is over its snowfall average for this time of year, so there’s plenty to keep skiers busy while waiting for the next storm.
Vail, Colorado
Vail Mountain has received 154 inches of snow this season — around average, according to OpenSnow, which compares resorts’ reported snowpack depths against the average. November was one of the snowiest months in recent years, allowing the operations team to open a lot of terrain relatively early.
“It’s been a great season so far thanks to a strong start,” said John LaConte, a reporter for Vail Daily. “The snowpack always does better in mid- and late-season when it has a good base to fall on, so the early season can be a big determinant on how the rest of the season pans out.”
Despite the impressive November, LaConte continued, only five of Vail’s seven legendary back bowls are currently lift-accessed due to the closed Monglia Platter lift. Still, nearly all of the resort’s terrain is open.
While no major terrain-related upgrades are new for the 2024-25 ski season, there are several new places to eat and drink. The Powerline Pub, located at the top of Gondola One, and Avanti Vail, a new food hall in the Golden Peak base area, both debuted this season.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
After a bleak start, December brought Jackson Hole some much-needed snow just in time for the holiday vacation week. But now, the resort is reporting 209 inches, which is enough for top-to-bottom and off-piste skiing, despite having a below-average snowpack for this time of year.
While waiting for the deep days Jackson Hole is known for, skiers can grab a cocktail and bowl of chili at the Tram Dock, which replaced the former RPK3 restaurant at the base of the Aerial Tram in December. Trapper’s — an upscale eatery that also opened in December — is great for larger plates, like the cedar-plank roasted salmon, while taking in the views from the Sweetwater Gondola midstation.
Deer Valley Ski Resort, Utah
At 109 inches to date, Deer Valley is having a relatively average season so far (although perfect snowmaking temperatures did allow them to open early). This time last year, the resort’s base depth was just a few inches deeper, but February and March delivered. If this season is similar, skiers heading to Deer Valley in the coming weeks will have plenty to do.
But the real story at Deer Valley is the ongoing expansion that will eventually add 3,700 acres to the resort, doubling its size and making it one of the largest ski areas in the U.S. On Dec. 28, the resort unveiled phase one with more than 300 new skiable acres and 20 new runs as part of the resort’s new East Village. There’s even a new Grand Hyatt — the first and (currently) only hotel in the East Village — for those who want to use their World of Hyatt points. Deer Valley will also debut a new cat skiing adventure in February, offering skiers a unique way to access some of the new terrain.
California
According to OnTheSnow, which tracks snow reports at ski resorts worldwide, California’s snowpack is well below average. But on the bright side, much of the state looks better than it did last year. As expected, the amount of snow you’ll find depends on where you are.
“Tahoe’s north and south shores have much different weather patterns, but it seems to be more ‘famine’ than ‘feast’ in South Lake Tahoe,” says Alex Silgalis, founder of the ski-focused blog Local Freshies. “The storms have been further north, which has resulted in Palisades doing well, but [coverage at] Sierra Tahoe and Heavenly seems to be a bit thin. Of course, anyone familiar with Tahoe knows the snow can turn on at a moment’s notice.”
He noted that Kirkwood is doing well due to its higher base elevation, despite being a bit farther south than the other Tahoe-area resorts.
Palisades Tahoe, California
With the summit having already received 152 inches of snow, Palisades is on track to have a decent, but not record-breaking, year. According to OpenSnow, Palisades is just below where it should be. But the mountain is still in pretty good shape.
“Conditions here have been fantastic, especially with the great snowfall we received earlier this season,” the resort’s PR manager, Patrick Lacey, told TPG in an email. “Currently, 5,700 of our 6,000 skiable acres are open, with Silverado being the only area not yet available.”
This season, Palisades Tahoe is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a Warren Miller Entertainment film segment and several upgrades, including a $1.4 million investment in snowmaking over the past year, three new snowcats, renewable energy initiatives, and a half-million-dollar rental and demo shop renovation. Palisades is also a great option for Ikon Pass holders.
Mammoth Mountain, California
Despite Mammoth Mountain being below its average snowpack depth for this time of year, skiers and riders enjoyed the resort’s snowiest November in the past 14 years. Thanks to the strong start, Mammoth Mountain — currently at a snowfall total of over 150 inches at the summit — has all its terrain open daily.
The resort also replaced the old Broadway Express lift with a brand-new chairlift earlier this season, increasing uphill capacity by 25% and reducing the lift line during busier days. In December, United Airlines began offering direct service to Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (BIH), just 45 minutes south of the resort, from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Denver International Airport (DEN).
Pacific Northwest
Much of the Pacific Northwest had an impressive start to the 2024-25 ski season, with early-season storms allowing many resorts to open with plenty of natural terrain. Currently, most resorts in the region report snowpack depths that exceed the average for this time of year, making it one of the better places to head for a ski trip.
But things have slowed down for the time being. According to a Jan. 16 blog post by OpenSnow forecaster Luke Stone, parts of Washington are in a dry spell that could last into February. Some resorts, like The Summit at Snoqualmie and Mt. Baker, could pick up a few inches later in January.
Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington
Nov. 20 was a day for the history books for Mt. Baker pass holders. The resort opened to pass holders with 95% of its terrain thanks to some big November storms and is currently reporting an impressive 120-inch base at the summit. Baker reported a season total of 264 inches as of Jan. 2, but it’s had at least one significant storm since, and more could develop toward the end of the month.
Located less than 60 miles from Bellingham, Mt. Baker is more of a locals hill — it isn’t building any new high-end hotels or offering on-mountain foie gras, but it’s perfect for avid skiers and riders who value deep snow and impressive terrain over apres-ski amenities or accommodations.
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Oregon
Thanks to a record-breaking November, Mt. Bachelor, located just outside of Bend, Oregon, started the December vacation week with the deepest snowpack in the country. In fact, its Nov. 15 opening was the earliest in 26 years. As of Jan. 18, the ski area reported a season total of 244 inches and a 98-inch snowpack depth.
Bachelor worked on several upgrades ahead of the 2024-25 ski season, including expanding the Sunrise Lodge and creating new rental options.
Bottom line
The ski season is shaping up to be good in most of the U.S., with the potential for more snow in the coming weeks. While the Pacific Northwest started with the most snow in the country, the region is currently waiting out a dry spell. The East Coast has largely avoided major melting in the past few weeks, but aside from northern Vermont, it hasn’t seen many powder days. Other ski destinations seem to be around average snowpack depths, with little to write home about.
Weather can change quickly in the mountains, and conditions can vary greatly between two resorts just a few miles away. So, religiously check the forecast and snow reports before booking your trip to find the best snow possible.
Related reading:
Source link
Hey, I am a multifaceted professional excelling in the realms of blogging, YouTube content creation, and entrepreneurship.
With a passion for sharing knowledge and inspiring others, I established a strong presence in the digital sphere through his captivating blog articles and engaging video content.