You’ve probably heard about Aspen, Telluride or Jackson Hole. These ski resorts are ranked constantly as the best places to ski in North American from a quality of the snow, infrastructure, level of the slopes, accessibility, after skiing and surroundings perspective. But there are other resorts that also offer many of those amenities and are much larger for those seeking a never-ending ski experience.
These are less renowned and sometimes only accessible via municipal or regional airports. Private aviation plays a major role in taking ski adventurers to these locations, offering departures from any city and arrivals to the closest possible airport to the ski venue. Private jet providers like Monarch Air Group have been chartering private ski flights for more than 15 years throughout North America.
There are various locations, not only the ones mentioned in the ranking below of the 10 largest ski resorts in North America via private jet, that demand a private aircraft to approach smaller and tighter airstrips. The flexibility, comfort and luxury of this segment does not hurt either, the perfect all-around experience for savvy skiing travelers.
Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia, Canada): Leading the ranking is the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, which offer no less than 12,800 square miles of ski area. The resort is in British Columbia, Canada, relatively close to Vancouver (83 miles).
One of its most emblematic attractions is the Peak 2 Peak, an iconic three-wire cable car that connects the two mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb, among which is the village/station) and reaches a height above 1,430 feet in a route that exceeds two miles between towers, providing exceptional views over British Columbia.
Closest runway: Vancouver International Airport – 84 miles from destination.
One of its most emblematic attractions is the Peak 2 Peak, an iconic three-wire cable car that connects the two mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb, among which is the village/station) and reaches a height above 1,430 feet in a route that exceeds two miles between towers, providing exceptional views over British Columbia.
Closest runway: Vancouver International Airport – 84 miles from destination.
Park City (Utah - United States): It ranks second with 10,600 square miles, and a total cost of 182.5 million dollars disbursed from the management of Vail Resorts ski resorts, makes it, so far, the biggest investment for a ski resort. The station offers more than 300 tracks of all levels.
Closest runway: Salt Lake City International Airport – 37 miles from destination.
Closest runway: Salt Lake City International Airport – 37 miles from destination.
Big Sky (Montana-United States): It is the third-largest in North America with 8,900 square miles, but it would be the largest in the United States if the Yellowstone Ski Club area was considered, as it would ascend to a total of 12,500 square miles of skiing, practically the same size as Whistler. The ski slope is also among the largest in North America, while also considered as the most popular ski resort in Montana.
Closest runway: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport – 45 miles from destination.
Closest runway: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport – 45 miles from destination.
Vail (Colorado - United States): Its 8,300 square miles take it to fourth place in the ranking and the largest in Colorado. It is equipped with 28 modern ski lifts and located in Eagle County, next to the city of Vail. You can either use Eagle County Regional Airport or Denver International to get there.
Closest runway: Eagle County Regional Airport – 35 miles from destination.
Closest runway: Eagle County Regional Airport – 35 miles from destination.
Heavenly (California - United States): Its 7,500 hectares of land place it first in California. It’s a well-known station with 24 ski lifts and 3,800 feet of slope on the shores of Lake Tahoe, with a cable car taking you from the resort to the slopes, while you enjoy scenic views. Although it has all the necessary services, it does not offer accommodation.
Closest runway: Reno-Tahoe International Airport – 56 miles from destination.
Closest runway: Reno-Tahoe International Airport – 56 miles from destination.
Sun Peaks (British Columbia - Canada): With 1,728 hectares, it ranks second within Canadian resorts, offering tracks for advanced levels and modern fast lifts. It is also considered by many to be one of the best places to enjoy snowboarding.
Closest runway: Kamloops Airport – 61 miles from destination.
Closest runway: Kamloops Airport – 61 miles from destination.
Lake Louise (Alberta - Canada): With 6,600 square miles of skiing, Lake Louise is very close to the beautiful Banff, both sharing a pass along with Sunshine ski resort. It has 7 modern ski lifts and a skiable slope of about 30 feet. It also offers one of the longest ski seasons in the world, which runs from mid-November to the end of May, holding an average of 30 feet of dry powder snow accumulated each season.
Closest runway: Golden Airport – 89 miles from destination.
Closest runway: Golden Airport – 89 miles from destination.
Mount Bachelor (Oregon - United States): 5,750 skiable square miles places this station, virtually unknown to the international skier, in eighth place in the ranking of the largest in North America. Equipped with 10 ski lifts, it provides all the services that a station of this size requires. It averages almost 26 feet of accumulated snow per year, which guarantees a long season that normally runs until May.
Closest runway: Redmond Municipal Airport – 24 miles from destination.
Closest runway: Redmond Municipal Airport – 24 miles from destination.
Squaw Valley (California - United States): 5,600 square miles places it in the ninth position of the ranking. There is a pending extension of land, which if it’s officially added it would become the third-largest in North America. The Squaw Valley ski resort is in Lake Tahoe and has 27 ski lifts that take skiers to an area located between 6,200 and 9,055 feet of altitude. Interesting fact: It hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Closest runway: Reno-Tahoe International Airport – 48 miles from destination.
Closest runway: Reno-Tahoe International Airport – 48 miles from destination.
Mammoth Mountain (California - United States): The ranking closes with the 5,450 square miles of Mammoth Mountain, a paradise in winter and summer seasons given its proximity to Yosemite. It offers 28 ski lifts to transport skiers to the station's tops, located between 7,950 and 11,050 feet of altitude.
Mammoth is usually one of the places with the most reliable snow, generally, the first to open in the United States and the last to close, typically in late June.
Closest runway: Mammoth Yosemite Airport – 12 miles from destination.
Mammoth is usually one of the places with the most reliable snow, generally, the first to open in the United States and the last to close, typically in late June.
Closest runway: Mammoth Yosemite Airport – 12 miles from destination.
Established in 2006, Monarch Air Group is a leading provider of on-demand private jet charter, aircraft management and long-term aircraft lease. Among Monarch’s customers are Fortune 500 corporations, small and medium-sized companies, private families, leading entrepreneurs, Government agencies and world-leading NGO’s.
