7 of the Coldest Ski Resorts in North America

6. Revelstoke Mountain Resort

On the coast of British Columbia, maritime ski conditions and generally warmer temperatures prevail. Heading east across the province delivers skiers into a different, chillier climate. Among the ski resorts in this eastern area is Revelstoke Mountain Resort, famous for its enormous vertical descent, deep snow, and cold weather.
 
Thankfully, skiers don't need to brave the resort's cold without breaks. Peppered throughout Revelstoke Mountain Resort's piste are a few warming huts where you can take a beat, warm up, and plan where to ski next without your feet going numb.

5. Jay Peak Resort, Vermont

Jay Peak Resort, Vermont, is famed, first and foremost, for its snow. The resort bills itself as receiving the most flakes each winter in the East. During some seasons, these powder totals surpass—or at least rival—those of Western ski areas.

In true Vermont tradition, though, Jay Peak can also be bitingly cold and windy. Fret not, though. Should those brutal temperatures prove too much to handle, Jay Peak offers an escape hatch—the Pump House, Vermont's only indoor waterpark.
 
The toasty oasis is open winter-long, but you could also keep skiing and try hand and boot warmers when the mercury plummets. After all, cold temperatures usually mean better snow.

4. Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire

At Cannon Mountain, cold temperatures are to be expected. The Northeast ski area sits in New Hampshire, the home of the famously frigid Mount Washington, a peak where winter temperatures have fallen into the negative 40s. Cannon Mountain's weather, while not this extreme, will still turn your lips blue on the right—or wrong—day.

3. Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

Perched atop the Continental Divide, Loveland Ski Area, Colorado, presents a contrast to busier and more famous ski destinations near Denver. It has a homey vibe, fewer crowds, and, per its inclusion on this list, a reputation for cold weather and frigid winds.
 
The ski area has two other notable traits. For one, it's quite high, with a 10,000-foot plus base elevation that surpasses many other ski resorts. This presents a possible challenge for out-of-state visitors—the altitude can and will get to you if you're not prepared. Bring water and something to take the edge off prospective headaches.

Loveland Ski Area is also a consistent front-runner in pursuing the season's first chair. Over the past five years, on average, it opened on October 29th and kept the lifts spinning until May 8th.

2. Whiteface Mountain, New York

There's New York City, and then there's the rest of New York where, at places like Whiteface Mountain, blasts of arctic cold are common than celebrity sightings. Atop Whiteface Mountain's summit, temperatures have fallen well into the negatives. Chilly winds can make the cold even harder to bear.

Brave skiers will be rewarded, though, particularly in The Slides, a challenging experts-only zone at Whiteface Mountain that opens periodically depending on the snow conditions. If you plan to ski The Slides, don't just bring warm ski clothes—the zone's access status varies, and skiers may need to bring avalanche safety equipment to enter it.

1. Moose Mountain Ski Resort

Once, in an undated resort update, Moose Mountain Ski Resort shared something startling. "We haven't seen anything colder than -40 on our weather station … wondering if that's the lowest it goes?" the update reads. That's Alaska, for you.

According to The Weather Channel, the state holds the nationwide record for the lowest record temperature, surpassing Montana's record by ten negative degrees. So, as you might expect, in Fairbanks—Moose Mountain Ski Resort's home—bone-chilling weather is commonplace in the winter.

On those icy days, Moose Mountain Ski Resort provides an outlet and an opportunity to get the blood flowing for Fairbanks residents with 750 acres of skiable terrain. The ski area's south-facing aspect helps, too—facilitating turns under the Alaskan sun—as do views of the Alaska Range and the White Mountains. Still, consider bringing a thermos of your favorite warm beverage for the drive home.