Where’s the Stoke? 6 Ikon Resorts That Have Something for Everyone
Ikon Pass offers more than 40 destinations that provide a full-mountain experience for skiers of all levels. Early birds can enjoy the best deals on next season’s pass by buying now.
A winter powder package includes steeps, powder caches through trees, child-friendly greens, and park laps. Ikon passes give you access to all of these, often within the same resort.
One essential piece of winter gear is an access pass. And, now is a great time to save on one. By buying now, you’ve filled your calendar with stoke throughout winter 2021-2022, and you’ll enjoy the best prices and deals of the year.
When we say everyone, we mean all skill levels and ages. Parents can share the fun with their kids and save — up to $200 on child passes with the purchase of one adult Ikon Pass.
Buy Now, Ride This Spring
Purchase now for the 2021-2022 season and get immediate spring skiing access to the following destinations. Until seasonal closures, slide into sunshine and spring slopes at:
- Big Bear Mountain Resort
- June Mountain
- Tremblant
- Solitude
- Sugarbush
- Mammoth Mountain
- Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
- Winter Park Resort
With 44 total destinations included with the pass, there are nearly endless opportunities for adventure.
Here, we’ve highlighted six resorts that show off the variety of powdery experiences available with just one Ikon pass.
1. Snowshoe (West Virginia)
The snowiest resort in the southeast, Snowshoe has 60 trails and five terrain parks. One of its unique attractions is night skiing.
But, what really stands apart is that its village is on top of the mountain. Snowshoe Village offers lodging, dining, and shopping, so stays there mean your morning runs are a short walk away.
The park has three distinct areas and a rich history of logging and railroads that can be gleaned from the timber-slang slope names.
The terrain parks vary in skill levels, with some designed to help you progress to bigger rails and drops. Others are all about a family-friendly flow via slalom grooming. Adding to the mountain adventure are snowmobile tracks and offroad RZR tours to explore the backcountry.
Snowshoe’s location gets snow, but the resort also enhances that by making more snow amid a favorable mix of elevation and weather patterns. In fact, the resort offers a snow guarantee (and even insurance) so you can feel comfortable booking your trip in advance.
Great for: Night skiing and picturesque lodging
2. Solitude (Utah)
Solitude Mountain Resort is 1,200 acres of Utah territory in Big Cottonwood Canyon, offering a range of experiences. Fine-tune your technique and enjoy the canyon views on flowy slopes, and then take your skills to the steeps.
If you’re traveling from out of state, Solitude is 34 miles from Salt Lake and a reliable destination thanks to its more than 500 inches of annual snowfall.
Honeycomb Canyon and Fantasy Ridge offer double-black powder caches and an off-piste experience. In fact, Fantasy Ridge now requires backcountry safety equipment.
There’s a Ski & Ride School for newbies and kids, as well as a village full of other activities. The food scene is award-winning, with quick-grab options when you just need a snack to fine dining at The Yurt at Solitude, which offers a four-course meal and limited capacity.
Great for: Amazing views and off-piste runs
3. Sugarbush (Vermont)
Less than an hour away from Burlington International Airport, Sugarbush makes the most of its 4,000-foot mountain setting with six areas hosting 53 miles of trails, freestyle terrain, and backcountry slopes.
Sugarbush likes to promote itself as a two-in-one destination, where you can go plush or vintage, depending on your mood. Lincoln Peak offers fine dining like Chez Henri, serving traditional French cuisine for 5 decades, and slopeside lodging with in-room Jacuzzis to help you relax before bed.
Conversely, Mt. Ellen boasts the state’s highest chairlift, a standout terrain park, and an elite ski racing academy. And, it’s a designated U.S. Ski Team Development Site. The ski bums and locals like this area just fine.
That doesn’t mean you can’t play in both worlds on the same day. A high-speed quad shuttles you back and forth to the two mountain bases.
You can work on skills in learning areas and terrain parks, or enjoy runs with bumps and glades on the way down. There are also 28 wooded areas with different slopes you can explore.
Sugarbush also has slopeside dining, always a great resort feature, no matter which area you ski in. You’re never far from the fun and can savor the scene, and a meal, from the sideline.
Great for: Aprés and terrain variety
4. Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows (California)
Another twofer — the Valley ingrained itself in American ski culture via the 1960 Olympics and the decades of top-grade slopes amid deep powder in the decades since.
It’s home to Moseley’s Run, a steep trail with more than 1,000 vertical feet of sustained drop. Just over the mountain is Alpine Meadows, the more approachable local’s favorite, with lake views and huge bowls.
Beginners have an entire area designed just for them. SnoVentures Activity Zone includes a carpet, mini-snowmobiles, and other activities to ensure that the first time at the mountain is full of fun.
And no matter how serious you are about your turns on the slopes during the day, at night it’s time to unwind. There are plenty of the expected aprés options, but we want to direct you to one in particular: disco tubing.
Great for: Big drops, beginner activities and options
5. Mammoth Mountain (California)
Mammoth is the highest you can take a lift in California. The mountain summit hits 11,053 feet, providing wide-open views of the neighboring Sierras, a 3,100-foot descent, as well as access to Unbound Terrain Parks.
Altogether, there are 150 trails to provide you and your friends or family a variety of ways to test and improve your skills, as well as different ways to explore the mountain.
The Hemlocks attract experienced skiers who want to huck themselves into powder caches in a natural setting. The in-bound, hike-accessed trails offer plenty of ways to get extra air for those with the skills.
This destination has one of the longest seasons of any in the Ikon family. Mammoth is known for its snowpack, with more than 400 inches annually, and it often sticks around into mid-summer.
Great for: Long runs, early- and late-season skiing
6. Winter Park Resort (Colorado)
Colorado’s longest continually operated ski resort has stayed around for a bevy of reasons. It’s the closest big resort to Denver, and travelers can travel by train straight from the airport.
And by big resort, we mean seven territories over 3,000 skiable acres with world-class runs and iconic bowl areas. Aside from traditional downhill skiing and boarding, Winter Park offers uphill tours, tubing, ski bike tours, and more.
It’s known for reliable snow, making it a popular pick for locals and visitors alike. Winter Park likes to promote its laid-back Colorado vibe as well. You can concentrate on putting in your best efforts on the mountain and unwind after, whether that’s with an aprés Mary Jane Ale (is that Colorado enough?) or dining in one of the village’s casual restaurants.
You’ll get plenty of views from 10,000 feet, but you can go a little higher with your crew to take photos at Lunch Rock. At 11,200 feet, the views (and thin air) will be breathtaking — especially those of the Continental Divide and Parry Peak.
Don’t take our word for it? USA Today has twice named Winter Park the No. 1 Ski Resort in North America.
Great for: Tradition, something for everyone
A Down Payment on Winter 2021-2022
Passes start at $399, and these early-bird prices won’t last forever. Consider it an investment in next year’s fun.
This article is sponsored by Ikon Pass. See the different passes and destinations available here.
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