The best ski resorts for beginners in the US

Learning to ride: it’s an exhilarating – and sometimes frustrating – experience. But, man, does it give you the skills to unlock those mountains and have the time of your life. Learning where to ride, however, is probably the most crucial part. And with a whopping 525 ski resorts across the US, there’s often one burning question: which ones are best for beginners? 

In short, not all slopes across the US are created equal. Choose somewhere too gnarly, and you might be put off before you even clip in. However, pick a ski resort with too many bunny slopes, and your progression will stall. Yep, it can be a challenge spotting the difference between a lame ‘n’ tame ski resort for first-timers and a rad one. 

Luckily, Dope Mag is here to help. We’ve rounded up the 10 best ski resorts for beginners across the US – from the picturesque Pacific Northwest to awe-inspiring Colorado. These ski resorts blow others out of the water when catering to newbies thanks to features like wide-open slopes, mellow gradients, world-class ski schools, and more. So, let’s take a look … and get you on that mountain ASAP. 

Top beginner ski resorts in the US

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Steamboat Ski Resort, Colorado 

Okay, we reckon Steamboat Ski Resort has the perfect trifecta for beginners: an awesome ski school, mellow slopes, and it’s easy to get to. What more could you want? Oh, epic scenery? Steamboat’s got that in spades! Fresh snow every day of the week? They’ve got it on order.

Arrive at Steamboat, and you’ll feel you belong. That’s because there are zero newbies-aren’t-welcome vibes. Instead, you’ll find an entire beginner area alongside super encouraging riders – including the resort’s 550 instructors. If you’re with lil’ rippers, there’s a host of magic carpets and super gentle slopes (we’re talking between 7 to 10% gradient). Once you’ve got the hang of speed control and Pizza turns, head higher up on the Steamboat Gondola. 

As you progress, Steamboat has boat-loads of rolling, gentle terrain (nearly 14% of the mountain! And it’s a big mountain …) traversing chunky stretches of vertical. Hey, we’ve all got to initiate our quads somehow! If you’re into those green trails, though, our faves are Right O-Way and Sundial to Broadway. And don’t forget to embrace Steamboat’s terrain shaping. This innovative feature incorporates mini banks and hills into the mellow beginner runs so you’ll naturally turn and reduce your speed. Nifty. 

Top tip: Get yourself involved in Steamboat Ski School, which guarantees success. Yep, if you’re not shredding green circle runs after your first lesson, the following ones are free until you can! 

Park City Mountain Resort, Utah

As a newcomer, you might feel cut off from the real thing. Not with Park City. The USA’s largest ski resort places you right in the center of the action, surrounded by big faces and impressive peaks from day one. And it doesn’t just offer you a morsel of its astonishing 7,300 acres. Instead, you’ll have over 550 acres of beginner runs to play with – bigger than some entire ski resorts! 

To find the best beginner terrain, start at High Meadow Park, a dedicated beginners-only area. The slopes are perfect for first-timers. And, as you progress, ride Adventure Alleys, three adventure trails to test all you’ve learned and give you an off-trail, groomed experience. You’ll also find ample learner terrain on the old Canyon side of the resort above the gondola. 

If you’re happy with greens, stay on the side closer to town and have fun cruising around the Silverlode and Bonanza lifts. The runs here are often longer than average – awesome for reaping time on the hill rather than wasting time on lifts. And when you hit the lower-intermediate level, riding straight down into the town’s historic Main Street is 100% worth doing. Once you’ve unclipped, there’s only one thing to do: check out that après scene, baby! 

Top tip: If you like to prep before a trip, head to the Park City website. Here you’ll find tons of useful info under ‘Lessons’, including a list of do’s and don’t’s when starting out.

Winter Park Resort, Colorado 

Fly into Denver and be ripping up the States’ longest-running ski resort in less than two hours’ travel time? Not bad. And not only does Winter Park Resort have a stellar rep, but it’s also hella fun for beginners. Don’t believe us? Hit up the areas around Discovery Park and High Lonesome Express to discover wide-open areas for total newbies and riders with a week or so under their belts. 

As a beginner, you’ll want to stick to Winter Park Mountain. However, as you become more advanced (and we mean advanced), you can set your sights on Mary Jane, Winter Park Ski Resort’s second mountain, known for its gnarly black diamond mogul runs.

If you don’t believe in divide and conquer, then no sweat – Winter Park has a wide variety of lessons available. And the best part? They’re super reasonably priced compared to other Colorado ski resorts. But while the prices are low, the snowfall levels are high. In fact, Winter Park hosts the best ten-year snowfall in Colorado and receives an average of 30 feet of snow a year. So, pack your snorkel, too. 

Top tip: For a much-needed pit stop, head for Hill House. It’s right by the Coca-Cola Tubing Hill runs (which you have to try!), offering incredible views – and even better gourmet hot chocolate. 

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Oregon

Mt. Bachelor might be a dormant volcano – but it’s ready for an explosion of new riders. Yep, the PNW’s largest ski resort is where everything clicks into place as you progress from Pizza to French Fries – and bunny slopes to big blues. And it’s all thanks to Mt. Bachelor’s terrain. 15% of its diverse 4,300 acres are dedicated to learners and newbies (not bad!) and you’ll find the main beginner area to the left of the West Village Lodge. 

And, if you need a helping hand, join the resort’s super affordable Ski or Ride in 5 program. This includes rentals, lift tickets, and five lessons to see if it’s for you (we guarantee it will be). And the cherry on top is you’ll receive a free season pass after completing the program! We know – we can’t quite believe it either! 

Everyone needs a break and a refuel, right? Mt. Bachelor gets this and has built the Sunrise Lodge, a food and drink service next to the Woodward Learning Zone. You’ll find Pinnacles Espresso, perfect for a pre-lesson coffee jolt, and The Sun Bar, a ski-up-to bar with a sun-filled patio and plenty of drinks for that post-lesson relaxation session. 

Top tip: Want to push your skills? Check out The Lava Tube trails. These beginner trails wind through the glades and are perfect examples of the volcano’s unique undulating terrain and lava-flow-created fall lines. Pretty rad, right? 

Vail Ski Resort, Colorado 

It’s pretty sick to say you learned to ride in Vail. This ski resort has an awesome reputation as one of Colorado’s oldest ski resorts, as well as having some of the most impressive terrain in the state. Oh, and don’t forget the flashy atmosphere with fine dining, premier lodging, and burn-a-hole-in-your-credit-card shopping. In short, it offers everything you could ever want from a ski trip – including an incredible learner experience. 

You’ll find the main beginner area in front of the Vail Village Bar. Here, you can jump on the Gopher Hill lift and test your budding skills on the green run down. When ready, head for Gondola One, which takes you further up to Mid-Vail. This is where you’ll find long, winding greens taking you through the forest – such as Trans Montane. It’s pretty magical. 

And you don’t have to worry about sketchy conditions here. That’s because Vail receives over 29 feet of snow per year across its mind-boggling 5,289 acres of terrain – 18% of which is marked for beginners. But you don’t have to navigate Vail’s expansive area alone. Just join one of several world-class ski schools available. Our top shout is to go for the First Timer Package, which includes three days of group lessons, equipment hire, and a lift ticket. You’ll be cruising around the mountain in no time.

Top tip: Make sure you visit the Adventure Ridge fun zone in between lessons! Honestly, it’s amazing, with sledding, snow tubing, snowmobiling, snow biking, and ice skating available. You can get to it via a gondola and refuel with the restaurants up top. Honestly, it’s easy to spend a whole day there and forget about your 2 pm ski lesson! 

Sun Valley Ski Resort, Idaho

One ski resort, two mountains. Yep, Sun Valley Ski Resort might seem daunting, but it’s actually the perfect place for perfecting life on one plank or two, with 36% of its terrain targeted to beginners. For starters, we totally recommend going to Dollar Mountain. There are only three lifts and a few runs available here, however, the mellow vibes and mellower terrain are perfect for first-timers. Dollar Mountain’s beginner area is only a short walk from Sun Valley’s base village. 

Once you’re ready to progress, set your sights on Bald Mountain – or ‘Baldy’ as the locals call it. It’s on the other side of town and has a reputation for being trickier than Dollar Mountain. And, yes, that includes the greens and blues – they’re infinitely more challenging than your standard beginner runs. Once your skills are at that level, head for the summit, choose Bowl Lane (a green), then Broadway Face (another green), and carry on cruising greens back to base. And our favorite part? There are no lift lines! So, you can quickly level up, lap after lap, with zero wait time! 

However, Sun Valley totally gets that you will want to mix things up and have a break from learning. So, it pulls out the stops with an ice skating rink, bowling alley, restaurants, bars, and more. Our favorite alternative activity is hands-down snowmobiling through the Sawtooths at Smiley Creek. Oh, and soaking in the hot springs, of course. 

Top tip: Once you’ve initiated your legs to Bald Mountain, head for lunch at the Lookout Day Lodge, serving stunning views at 9,150 feet alongside insane tacos. Then, blast down Upper College, a nearly mile-long green run that takes you down to Sun Valley’s base village. 

Aspen Snowmass, Colorado 

Okay, it can be daunting learning to ski or snowboard. But, this is especially true if you’re travelling with more experienced riders and are worried about holding them up. If that’s the case, set your sights on Aspen Snowmass. This ski resort comprises four mountains (Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, and Snowmass) and is great for all abilities – and that includes first-time riders. So, pro members of your crew have more than enough terrain to keep them happy while you learn the ropes (or slopes). 

And this is all thanks to Aspen Snowmass’s whopping 5,517 acres of terrain. Newbies and little ones will love the learner zones and intermediate areas woven throughout. Check out Snowmass’s Elk Camp Meadows, Fanny Hill, and Assay Hill for a taste of what we mean. Oh, and there’s also the resort’s Beginner’s Magic, an adults-only lesson program for beginners. You’ll meet at the Elk Camp Gondola and hang out in the lounge reserved just for you! Then, it’s onto the slopes for your lesson, of course. 

Aspen Snowmass’s lift system is so high-tech that it’s a dream to be taken to wide-open takeoff zones and link your first turns on rolling, gentle trails. And things get even dreamier when you unclip after your last run. That’s because there’s no worrying about trekking to your accommodation in clunky ski boots while juggling skis and poles. Instead, around 95% of Aspen-Snowmass’s accommodation is ski-in, ski-out – the perfect excuse to try out a few après bars after a day’s riding. Hey, that’s totally part of the learning experience, too, okay? 

Top tip: With little shredders? Take them to the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center. It’s a 25,000-square-foot forest-themed adventure playground that’ll have them linking turns before you know it. It also provides arts and crafts, childcare, playtime, and hot cocoa breaks. Hmm, can we join in? 

Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, California 

Learning to ski or snowboard on perfectly groomed corduroy is the dream, right? Then head to Palisades Tahoe in California. It’s over 6,000 feet in altitude and gets more than 37 feet of snow yearly – so don’t forget to take a pic of your newly-learned turns cutting up the corduroy. 

Those smooth, groomed highways are all over the mountain. In fact, there are over 40 beginner-level groomers, ranging from high-altitude, short slopes to lengthy, winding trails taking you back to base. And with all that snow around, trying pow as a newbie is totally possible. Just dip your toes (or tips) into fresh powder throughout Palisades Tahoe’s glades and tree-filled learner runs. These learner trails are mostly blue, though. So, if you’re a first timer, stick to the Meadow and Subway Beginner Areas. 

More into lessons than trying anything solo? Palisades Tahoe has your back. Just choose from its range of private and group beginner lessons. Or how about an unlimited number of lessons? Yep, there’s no cap with Palisades Tahoe’s Alpine Unlimited program. In fact, the program pays for itself after the eighth lesson. Well, they say practice makes perfect …

Top tip: You can’t visit Palisades Tahoe without seeing the insane Lake Tahoe. Just take the Aerial Tram to the summit and soak up those views. And don’t worry – the top of the mountain doesn’t mean tricky slopes. Instead, you’ll find plenty of beginner slopes to cruise down after feasting on that scenery. 

Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado

Some ski resorts give newbies a small slice when dishing out beginner terrain. Beaver Creek, though, goes whole hog, with almost 40% of its nearly 2,000 rideable acres dedicated to newcomers: including a beginner-only mountain at Arrowhead and Bachelor Gulch Ridge. Heck, you won’t even have to ride the same trail twice! 

Beaver Creek also makes sure beginners don’t have to sacrifice those views. It has a boat load of green trails and learner terrain near the summit so that you can sharpen those panoramic camera skills alongside your riding. Kids will go nuts here, too, because they can practice their tree riding early, thanks to darting in and out of the copious conifers. Our favorite place to practice tree runs is definitely McCoy’s Park. 

Though it’s the ski school is where Beaver Creek really shines. In fact, Beaver Creek’s Ski and Snowboard School is one of North America’s top learning programs, complete with video analysis for you and The Ranch for the little ones: a top-notch slopeside beginner facility. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the kids hating their ski instructors – all Beaver Creek’s instructors are handpicked for their awesome personalities and patience. 

Top tip: Don’t forget those freshly baked cookies! At 3 pm daily, Beaver Creek’s incredible customer service rolls out the goodies alongside resort personnel to carry your equipment. It’s something we could definitely get used to. 

Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado

Breckenridge might have a bit of a big-mountain reputation (it does have a 13,000-foot summit and multiple mountain peaks!), but don’t let that put you off. In fact, 48% of its rideable terrain comprises well-groomed trails, perfect for newbies and budding intermediates. Start your shred journey at Peak 9, full of beginner slopes and gentle learning areas. 

Plus, you can expect a high-spec infrastructure and a first-class ski school! Yep, Breckenridge’s ski school knows exactly what it takes to get you from first turns to dropping pillows. And you don’t have to worry about learning to turn on ice or dodging rocks thanks to Breckenridge’s tip-top snow maintenance. The staff keeps those trails manicured for your riding pleasure.

Our favorite thing about Breckenridge is that you can see the town at the base from wherever you’re learning – perfect for setting your sights on ‘home’ and envisioning a beer and pizza at the end of the run. Because you deserve a reward after a day’s learning, right? 

Top tip: If you’re feeling the nerves, check out Breckenridge’s range of specialized ski lessons, created to make you feel as comfortable as possible. These include Women’s Programs designed by women, taught by women, and only for women. 

Wrapping up 

Wowsers – you’re spoilt for choice when finding the best ski resorts for beginners, right? Whether you fancy Colorado or California, there are plenty of destinations to take you from clipping in for the first time to linking turns with ease.

However, we know getting to that level – and becoming an intermediate and advanced rider – is always a work in progress. And that’s one thing we always want to hear about! So let us know how you’re getting on by joining our Dope Community Facebook Group. You’ll also get to join our members-only meetups, see what other riders are up to, and get exclusive peeks of our new collection. We’ll see ya there – and on the mountain! 

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