What are the best ski resorts out West for intermediate level downhill skiers?

[SkiDad]

Each year, we drive from Wisconsin out to Colorado for a family ski trip. We are not interested in jumping off cliffs, we mainly enjoy skiing intermediate runs. So far, we have skied Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Buttermilk, Durango, Steamboat, Vail, Winter Park and Wolf Creek.

We are looking for another resort to travel to and would appreciate any recommendations. It is difficult to judge a resort from the statistics alone. We could include other places besides Colorado (Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho). We have 1 teenager. All of us ski (no snowboarders).

We have stayed in hotels and condos, but prefer to stay as close to the resort (or shuttle) as possible to avoid lengthy hikes with clunky ski boots and carrying skis. We usually buy groceries and eat most meals in our condo to save costs.

Can you help us consider any other resorts that may be great for intermediates? We would also appreciate affordable condo recommendations and would be glad to provide our opinions on the places we have visited.

Thanks!

[lauras]

Utah should be your next ski destination - you'd have to drive a little further, but there are many resorts to choose from and the skiing is first rate. The snow quality is superb - light, fluffy, dry -- and the prices tend to be lower than Colorado.

Park City has three ski areas right there in town and you can stay at the base of any one of them. There's Deer Valley, Park City Mountain and The Canyons, and the town of Park City has restaurants and shops if you don't want to cook in the condo. For intermediate skiers, you might also look into Solitude and Alta, also just outside of Salt Lake City and not far from Park City. Snowbird is a terrific resort but I think is best for a slightly advanced intermediate, but the skiing is fantastic. Brighton, near Solitude, is a good mountain but more popular for snowboarders.

If you go to Idaho, Sun Valley is a terrific ski mountain for intermediates with long wide runs. Prices will be a bit steeper for condos than in Utah.

[todobigo]

Your family might also enjoy Grand Targhee, about an hour from Jackson Hole. It has that big mountain, big forest beauty of Jackson Hole, but a friendlier base and lots of great intermediate runs drenched in powder. My family stayed at the base in one of their simple hotel rooms; it was very affordable and there are lots of cute, not pricey dining options in the base village. There are condos, and they're really nice, but we couldn't afford one and just missed out on the pool.

Also, Targhee is on the Idaho border and the small towns near there are much less precious and less costly than Jackson -- I think your family might like it.

[TahoeKidsGuide]

Lake Tahoe is a great place to for intermediate skiiers. Each of the following ski resorts have a good percentage of their runs marked for intermediate skiiers: Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Homewood Mountain Resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe, and Squaw Valley Resort. You can check each website to see these percentages. Starting with a lesson your first day is a nice way to gain some comfort and get some good advice from your ski instructor. TahoeKidsGuide (take a look at our site for detailed information about events and activities at Lake Tahoe.)

[TahoeKidsGuide]

Originally Posted by TahoeKidsGuide

Lake Tahoe is a great place to for intermediate skiiers. Each of the following ski resorts have a good percentage of their runs marked for intermediate skiiers: Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Homewood Mountain Resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe, and Squaw Valley Resort. You can check each website to see these percentages. Starting with a lesson your first day is a nice way to gain some comfort and get some good advice from your ski instructor. TahoeKidsGuide (take a look at our site for detailed information about events and activities at Lake Tahoe.)

All that said, we would suggest Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee, CA. It's about 10 minutes from Lake Tahoe itself. There are condos in the village at the base of the mountain. If you check out the website you will find packages and times of year that are relatively affordable. If you time your visit right, you can rent one of these condos for $200 per night or so

[ihitchhiker]

I haven't been to Aspen for a while, but I recall that Snowmass is Intermediate heaven. There are numerous long, wide runs that go from top to bottom. It might be expensive now, but we really loved the village there. Next to it is Buttermilk which is a bit more laid back and easy.

[pinella]

Sun Valley is another terrific ski area for families.The runs are really long and so much fun. You can stay in the village where there is lots to do - the main lodge even has a bowling alley in the basement. The ski lodges are some of the most beautiful in the world. It's been around forever - you should try it at least once if you love to ski.

[reiselaender]

I agree that Park City in Utah would be a good idea for snowboarding. Other resorts in Utah that you might want to try are The Canyons, Deer Valley, and Snowbird, which are also considered as snowboarders' paradise.

I see you haven't mentioned Snowmass, also in Colorado. They have various slopes to choose from from beginner, to intermediate, and even advanced skiers.

So far, that's all I can think of.

[lauras]

Breckenridge is another terrific family ski resort. It has excellent children's programs, a well laid-out mountain and plenty to do apres ski or on a non ski day. The town of Breckenridge is a classic old west town with shops and restaurants and much of the lodging is a short walk to the ski lifts.