The 7 U.S. Ski Resorts With the Best Grooming

1. Sun Valley, Idaho

Sun Valley seems to win awards every season for their pristine groomed terrain, and the quality is hard to deny after experiencing it ourselves.

Known for being America's first destination ski resort, Sun Valley doesn't attract as much snowfall as ski resorts in Utah, and that's okay. Instead of endless powder days, Sun Valley locals are treated to 3,000+ feet of sustained vertical on beautiful, near-perfect corduroy each morning. The allure of scoring fresh tracks on this next-level grooming is so appealing that Sun Valley offers early chairlift rides for passholders and visitors who don't mind splurging.

If you're visiting Sun Valley, pack your all-mountain/groomer skis, sharpen the edges, wax the bases, and prep yourself physically for long days of stacking vertical at high speed on consistent pitch. It's awesome.

If high speeds aren't your thing, don't stress. Sun Valley's dozens of groomed trails are notably steep across Bald Mountain, but refuge can be found in the Seattle Ridge area of the resort. These runs are technically 'Green Circle' rated, but skiers of all abilities can find terrain to their liking. A common expression in the Seattle Ridge lift line after a skier scores their first lap in the area is, "Whoah. I had no idea a Green Circle could be so much fun!"

2. Deer Valley, Utah

Deer Valley Resort's reputation for uncrowded slopes, high-end dining, luxurious accommodations, and trailside multi-multi-million dollar homes isn't a secret anymore.

And now, thanks to its on-going massive 'Expanded Excellence' terrain, lift, and accommodations expansion project, Deer Valley's trail map has been studied by skiers from coast to coast.

What might be forgotten in the buzz, however, is that Deer Valley has continually produced some of the best-groomed slopes known to man. With dozens of Green and Blue-rated wide, corduroy-laced trails spanning nearly a half-dozen peaks, it's hard for beginners and intermediates to not have a good time.

Ikon Pass holders can visit Deer Valley for up to seven days throughout the season. Reservations are required in advance.

3. Snowbasin, Utah

Cognizant skiers might notice quite a few similarities between Snowbasin and Sun Valley Resort, Idaho—the bathrooms? Immaculate. The logos? Eerily similar. The groomed trails? Pristine.

That's because the R. Earl Holding family, the same family who owns Grand America Hotels & Resorts, owns and operates the two ski resorts with pride. They're clearly passionate about the skier experience, both on and off the mountain, and it shows.

Snowbasin gained world fame for hosting alpine skiing racing events during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. The resort will once again host the world's best skiers when the Olympics returns to Salt Lake City in 2034.

If you're up for a challenge, take the Allen Peak Tram up to ski the Grizzly and Wildflower downhill starts. They're exhilarating when groomed and full of powder when they aren't!

4. Killington, Vermont

'The Beast of The East' is a name Killington Resort doesn't take lightly. Not only is the iconic resort one of the largest east of the Mississippi, it arguably has the most robust and advanced snowmaking system in the country.

Vermont winters can be fickle. Sometimes it snows, sometimes it rains. Sometimes, Killington needs to blanket nearly its entire mountain with snowmaking, and they can. According to Killington's website, their snowmaking system can "deliver 9 million gallons of water per day to more than 250 snow guns, covering 45 acres with 12 inches of fresh snow every 24 hours." In total, Killington can cover 600 acres of its terrain thanks to 88 miles of pipe and 2,100 snow-making guns. 

This affords Killington the luxury of producing high-quality snow surfaces during dry spells, while neighboring resorts can't. Killington also has the snow cats to back it up. 17 cats groom more than 40 miles of terrain on a nightly basis. That means fresh, beautifully groomed slopes!

5. Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

Aspen goes the extra mile when it comes to groomed terrain across all four of its world-class mountains. From the meandering beginner-friendly trails on Buttermilk to the 'super highway-wide' groomers at Snowmass, you never have to leave the piste if you don't want to.

6. Mammoth Mountain, California

One of the first things you'll notice about Mammoth Mountain is its sheer size. The towering volcano rises along with the peaks of The Eastern Sierra to create one of the best natural skylines in the world.

Mammoth has hundreds of acres of advanced, un-groomed terrain to spend powder days exploring, but the lower half of the mountain is a groomer skier's dream. With groomed trails of varying levels spanning the entire width of the mountain, it's easy to explore as an intermediate skier.

We suggest lapping Chair 16, Chair 2, and the Panorama Gondola for exhilarating groomed runs. Just make sure you stop and enjoy the view every once in a while, okay?

7. Sunday River, Maine

With seven peaks to explore, Sunday River feels like a western resort with the homegrown charm of New England. Similar to Killington, Sunday River has developed a reputation for immaculate snowmaking and grooming capabilities across a large span of its terrain.

Snowmaking is the name of the game when it comes to a long and prosperous season on the East Coast, and Sunday River has the firepower to back it up. The resort's hundreds of snowmaking guns, including 550 new guns over the last three years, can pump 11,500 gallons of water per minute. That's enough to fill Fenway Park in under 17 hours.

In layman's terms, if it's cold enough to make snow, Sunday River will have excellent groomed terrain for you to enjoy.

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