These Are the Snowiest Ski Resorts in Each Region

It’s already March and spring is lurking. It’s been a couple weeks since we took a good long look at the snow situation across North America, so we thought we’d round things up for our stormchasers and snow-science nerds in the room.

At a Glance: Regional Snow Rankings

1. Northwest, led by Mount Baker, Wash.
2. Canada, led by Kicking Horse, B.C.
3. Rockies, led by Jackson Hole, Wyo.
4. Southwest, led by Palisades Tahoe, Calif.
5. Northeast, led by Jay Peak, Vt.
6. Southeast, led by Snowshoe Mountain Resort, W.Va.

Scroll for a detailed summary of six different ski regions, along with the ski areas leading the way in conditions and snow quality. All data is sourced from Snow-Forecast.com, which has developed a pretty neat algorithm for ranking snow conditions using a weighted index combining current snow, the upcoming forecast, and a ski area’s popularity. All data is sourced from Snow-Forecast.com. For the latest resort-level forecasts and updates, visit snow-forecast.com.

The Best Ski Conditions, By Region

Northwest

The Northwest ranks as the strongest region in this week’s Snow-Forecast picks. Across its 28 resorts, five report powder or fresh snow on or off piste; two have recorded measurable new snowfall recently; 11 show two inches or more in the three-day forecast.

Snowiest Resort in the Northwest

Washington’s Mount Baker stands out with approximately nine inches forecast over the next three days. A five-inch top-up two days ago refreshed conditions. Base depth is 103 inches, rising to 170 inches on the upper mountain.

Runners Up

• Stevens Pass, Wash., has around six inches forecast in the next three days. Upper-mountain depth is 64 inches, with all 13 lifts operating.
• At Mt. Hood Meadows, Ore., snow depths are 31 inches at the base and 49 inches higher up. Conditions are packed powder and groomed snow.

Rockies

The Rockies are performing above average this week. Across 34 resorts, 24 (71 percent) report powder or fresh snow; 14 have received measurable snowfall recently; 12 show two inches or more in the three-day forecast.

Snowiest Resort in the Rockies

Jackson Hole, Wyo., reports 67 inches at mid-mountain and 98 inches up top. Surface conditions are old snow, with around two inches forecast. All 13 lifts are open.

Runners Up

• Grand Targhee, Wyo., has 53 inches at the base and 83 inches (211 cm) on the upper slopes. Conditions are packed powder and groomed snow, with about three inches forecast. All six lifts are running.
• Park City, Utah, maintains 61 inches on the upper mountain with powder reported on and off piste. Around three inches are forecast. Forty of 42 lifts are operating.

California

Across 16 resorts, five report powder or fresh snow; one has recorded measurable snowfall recently; eight resorts have most lifts open.

The Snowiest Resort in California

Palisades Tahoe reports 43 inches at the base and 65 inches on the upper mountain. The last snowfall was 11 days ago and no new snow is forecast. Twenty-nine of 30 lifts are operating.

Runners Up

• Mammoth Mountain shows a 76-inch  at the base and 122 inches up top. The last measurable snowfall was 11 days ago. Surface conditions are packed powder and groomed snow. Twenty-four of 25 lifts are running.
• Heavenly reports a 22-inch base and 52 inches higher up. Fresh snow last fell 11 days ago. Surface conditions are packed powder and groomed snow. Twenty-three of 27 lifts are open.

Northeast

The Northeast trends below average this week. Across 21 resorts, five report powder or fresh snow; 16 have received measurable snowfall recently; three show two inches or more in the three-day forecast.

Snowiest Resort in the Northeast

Jay Peak, Vt., reports 24 inches at the base and 60 inches higher up. A light dusting yesterday refreshed surfaces. All nine lifts are open.

Runners Up

• Sugarloaf, Maine, has 14 inches at the base and 18 inches up top. A light dusting two days ago improved conditions. Surface conditions are packed powder and groomed snow. Thirteen of 15 lifts are operating.
• Vt.’s Killington reports 17 inches at the base and 38 inches higher up. A light dusting yesterday refreshed surfaces. Lift access remains limited, with 14 of 32 lifts running.

Southeast

The Southeast sits last in the regional standings, though skiing remains available. Across three resorts, only one shows two inches or more in the three-day forecast and one has most lifts open.

Snowiest Resort in the Southeast

Snowshoe Mountain Resort, W.Va., reports a 55-inch base on the upper mountain. Surface conditions are variable. Around four inches are forecast.

Runners Up

• Ober Gatlinburg, Tenn., shows 25 inches at the base and 40 inches up top, but with no new snowfall expected, groomed terrain the best option.
• N.C.’s Sugar Mountain has a 42-inch base and an 86-inch base on the upper slopes. Surface conditions are frozen granular. No snowfall is forecast.

Canada

Canada ranks second overall this week by resort score. Across 79 resorts, 23 report powder or fresh snow; 64 have received measurable snowfall recently; and 23 show two inches or more in the three-day forecast.

Snowiest Resort in Canada

Kicking Horse, B.C., reports three inches of fresh snow with soft conditions across the ski area. Upper-mountain depth is 84 inches. All five lifts are open.

Runners Up

• Whistler Blackcomb, B.C., has around nine inches forecast over the next three days. A five-inch snowfall two days ago improved coverage. Upper-mountain depth is 90 inches. Twenty-five of 26 lifts are running.
• B.C.’s Whitewater received six inches of fresh snow, leaving powder conditions across the mountain. Base depth is 97 inches, rising to 99 inches up top. Around two inches are forecast this week. All five lifts are operating.

International Shout Out: Japan

Looking abroad, Japan has the best snow conditions this week, with a fresh pulse of snowfall expected to bring totals into the mid- to upper teens in some spots, and follow-up accumulations maintaining an active wintry pattern.

Look at the resorts of Gassan Glacier, Yokotsudake Kokusai, and Hakodate Nanae across northern Honshu and parts of Hokkaido, specifically, where the upper slopes will retain solid base depths.

Bottom Line: For the Best Conditions This Week, Ski the Northwest

• The Northwest leads overall this week, with the highest average resort scores in the Snow-Forecast algorithm. Deep snowpacks and favourable forecasts place it at the top of the rankings.
• For fresh snowfall over the next three days, the Northwest averages around four inches across the top five resorts.
• The deepest upper-mountain snowpack among the leading resorts is at Mount Baker, Washington, at currently 170 inches.