North America’s Biggest Lift Upgrades This Winter

Most of the time, we barely think about the machinery hauling us uphill. But every so often, a new lift comes along that changes the way a mountain skis. A well-placed lift can open terrain that was previously out of reach, cut ride time in half, replace an aging relic with a modern workhorse, or finally resolve a massive bottleneck.

This winter, ski resorts across North America are doing all of the above.

From a lift serving new expert terrain in one of the Wasatch’s most closely guarded zones to key updates designed to smooth out a mountain’s flow, the 2026-’27 season will debut a new crop of lifts to improve infrastructure across the board.

Here are the new rides we’re most excited to experience this winter.

Biggest Lift Upgrade of the Year

Park City’s Silverlode Express, Utah’s first eight-pack

In a saga that’s dragged on for the last four years, Park City finally got approval in May to build a high-speed eight-passenger lift in place of the current Silverlode Express six-pack. The resort is also replacing the Eagle and Eaglet lifts with a six-passenger chair. These upgrades will increase lift capacity, ease congestion at lower elevations, and provide faster service to beginners and ski school participants.

It’s worth noting here that the same group of locals that opposed the project back in 2022 based on crowding concerns and permit issues has filed another appeal, which is still being considered. A final decision is expected in early August, so there’s a chance that these upgrades could be shelved once again.

Serving the Most New Terrain

Powder Mountain’s steep new lift and technical terrain

Continuing its multiyear renaissance, Powder Mountain will add to its technical skiing offerings with the debut of 1,000 acres of expert terrain known locally as the DMI (don’t mention it) zone.  The new terrain will be accessed via a new fixed-grip triple, which will be one of the steepest lifts Skytrac has ever built.

Fastest Speed Upgrades

Sun Valley’s Lookout Express slashes ride time

In a bid to claim one of the most efficient lift systems in skidom, Sun Valley adds a couple more upgraded lifts to its résumé this winter. The marquee update is the replacement of Bald Mountain’s Lookout Express with a high-speed six-person chair, trimming ride time down to 8.5 minutes. Also on Bald Mountain, the current fixed-grip quad Christmas Lift will be replaced with a high-speed quad.

Most Impactful Replacement

Whistler’s Showcase Chair replaces glacier T-bar

It’s not high-speed, nor does it access new terrain, but Whistler’s upgrade of the Showcase T-bar to a fixed-grip quad will introduce the resort’s legendary glacier skiing to far more people. It’s also quite the engineering project, which involves anchoring the towers on exposed bedrock rather than onto the glacier itself. When it opens this season, it will vastly increase skier capacity and flow in the Blackcomb Glacier zone.

Most Anticipated

Homewood’s new direction—and new gondola

After years of uncertainty—including rumored plans to turn the north Tahoe ski area into a private resort—Homewood is finding its footing. Construction has begun on a new gondola that will replace the Madden triple chair—the main route out of the base—and also serve a new mid-mountain lodge. The eight-person gondola is slated to debut this winter, while the lodge is part of the resort’s updated master plan.

Most Under-the-Radar

Powderhorn’s major modernization and first express lift

This winter will mark Powderhorn’s 60th birthday, and it’s getting a new lift to celebrate the milestone. Powderhorn is replacing the circa-1972 West End double with a high-speed quad. The Wild West Express will slash ride time in half while providing a more comfortable ride and accessing the same terrain. The lift itself is recycled from Aspen Snowmass; the former Elk Camp chair is getting a full makeover, including a new electrical drive, chair grips, and improvements to both the top and bottom terminals.

The Grand Finale, For Now

Deer Valley’s latest lift serves another 200 skiable acres

Debuting 11 new lifts over three seasons, Deer Valley has more than doubled its skiable terrain with its East Village resort addition. This winter sees another chairlift in the resort’s Expanded Excellence master plan start spinning around the bullwheel. The Hail Peak Express will serve 200 skiable acres and seven named runs on the far eastern edge of the resort. The new addition brings Deer Valley’s total skiable acres to 4,500.