We always try to get it right. But when it comes to pulling together a list of North America’s favorite ski runs, it can be hard to touch all the bases.
We were totally stoked by the responses we received after two Liftopia blog posts this fall: North America’s Favorite Mogul Runs and North America’s Favorite Groomers.
Responding to the moguls article, one reader put it this way: “You got it. Prima, Pronto, Log Chute, Highline…and Mary Jane in its entirety.”
Another reader, chiming in about groomed runs said, “All runs mentioned here are more than worthy of being honored,” while another got personal, sharing that See Forever, the run we included from Telluride, “changed my life.”
Of course, the original lists didn’t come out of the ether. You helped us pull them together. And even more importantly, you offered more suggestions after those posts went up.
We’re happy to share your additions to our lists today.
PHOTO: Mad River Glen
More of North America’s Best Mogul Runs
We led off with Colorado last time, and we’ll add just a few more.
How about Upper Buckhorn on Aspen Mountain? Although it’s sometimes groomed, Susan S, loves it. She also offered some unique advice for skiing bumps: “Ski straight into the base/middle of each bump, use the bump to execute your turn, get your rhythm, and GROWL at them. It’s all mental.”
PHOTO: Telluride Ski Resort/Casey Day
Other Centennial state suggestions include Chair 9 at Telluride (the Plunge, Spiral Stairs, Kant-Mak-M and more), Hallelujah at Copper Mountain, and Peak 10 at Breckenridge.
Moving West
While we asked for tips on finding moguls in Utah, we didn’t get many, although one suggestion (Champion and White Owl at Deer Valley – both World Cup Freestyle runs) was money.
Another reader explained the dearth of great bumps in the Beehive state this way, “Utah gets too much snow, too often, to have GREAT bumps. (A wonderful problem for them to have!).”
PHOTO: Deer Valley
Utah aside, readers had suggestions for great mogul runs across the west from Thunder at Jackson Hole, to Lorelei and Al’s Run at Taos Ski Valley, to Limelight at Sun Valley.
Ronald P. suggested four, short steep runs at Pajarito, New Mexico (near Los Alamos). According to him Nuther Mother, Sidewinder, Breathless and Precious “rival the best anywhere.”
And while the name might make you think of Colorado, Denver Dollars at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia also makes our expanded list.
Lots of Love for Vermont
Although our original list had a good variety, we clearly missed it by not including Vermont’s Mad River Glen.
One loyal skier described Mad River Glen this way, “The mountain may be tiny by comparison to The Beast (Killington), but the moguls there are unreal,” while another described Mad River Glen as “an entire mountain of perfectly symmetrical bumps.”
PHOTO: Mad River Glen
Other popular Vermont bump runs include Twilight Zone at Magic Mountain, National at Stowe and one more from The Beast – Big Dipper.
Of course, not everyone likes moguls, or as one reader proclaimed, “moguls are for kooks.”
Which is the perfect segue to…
More of North America’s Best Groomers
When it comes to groomed runs, Whistler Blackcomb’s Peak to Creek, isn’t described just as a good groomer, but the best groomed terrain in North America. One man posted this comment: “5000 feet vertical from Alpine to Valley. The rest are battling for second.”
Another described Peak to Creek this way, “Amazing on a sunny spring day, when the snow is buttery soft corduroy. Feels amazing to set off from the peak only to arrive at valley bottom many minutes and turns later. I don’t see how anything else on this list comes close.”
PHOTO: Jeff Boyce, Whistler/Blackcomb
Here are more additions from the front lines of perfect, pristine corduroy.
From Canada, we’ve got Sun Run at Big White, Snow Rodeo and Pitch Black from Revelstoke and numerous runs at Quebec’s Le Massif (here’s the quote “This list needs more Le Massif.”) It’s hard argue this point when you see the views.
PHOTO: Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Back in the U.S, a reader responded to our inclusion of Silvertip at Alyeska testifying that “its physically impossible to take a ‘quick’ run down Silvertip. Every turn is a new jawdropping, surreal and borderline majestic view which forces you to stop in your tracks, wide eyed, and take it all in.”
Similarly, we got a comment about Inspiration, a run at Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana. “You begin at the summit, coming down a gentle cruiser, being ‘inspired’ by the view of the Flathead Valley. Then you’ll feel a slight left side pitch under your skis/board…time to pay attention to the groomer ‘cause you’re a bout to take off on a great run all the way to the bottom.”
PHOTO: Whitefish Mountain Resort
Girdwood, Alaska also got a shout, as did Cornice Bowl and St. Anton at Mammoth Mountain, California.
Ruthie’s Run on Aspen Mountain is a favorite, along with Dynamite at Solitude in Utah, while one reader claims that the absolute best grooming anywhere is at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Keep the suggestions coming, please. We love getting your feedback and building this list together!
Mad river has incredible bumps due to lack of snowboarders(inept) who ruin the mogul lines.
I certainly understand that many people do not enjoy moguls. Skiing them is not easy. But to me, having at least competence in moderate moguls is necessary to be a complete skier. If nothing else, it means you can navigate ungroomed terrain. Groomed terrain is purely artificial — necessary often, especially in the up-and-down climate of a typical Northeastern winter — but anyone who stays on groomed trails is missing much of what the sport has to offer.
Unless it hasn’t snowed in 2 weeks and you get to ski 5600 vertical feet non-stop on amazing groomers at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Top of the mountain to valley bottom again & again & again & again – a different line every time. Brings skiing groomers to a whole different level (and speed!).
For groomers, add Olympic at Kirkwood. And Rock n Roll on Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler.
Any runs down to the Termerity lift at Aspen Highlands will result in burning legs and gratitude the lift out is a fixed grip chair.
How about Park City Utah, Hoist & Thaynes, always have bumps when I’ve been there
Here’s a pick from Vermont, and I was just there on Tuesday. Okemo’s got the groomed thing down pat. I give a salute to the grooming team up there! Vortex at JacksonGore,Upper and Lower Chief main mountain. Heavens Gate on Solitude. Just to name a few. This was a killer shedding day.