Last week on social media, we revisited a previous post on North America’s Best Groomed Runs. I asked followers to nominate their favorite runs for an 2024-2025 update. Here’s what we got. If you’ve got more runs to nominate, and I’m sure you do, please leave your suggestions in the comments. Cheers!
This is my nomination from my home mountain. I know skiers and snowboarders who’ve skied all over North America (and the world) and this continues to be one of their favorite groomed runs. It’s got great variation in pitch and tempo, with rollers, steeper sections, even a fun boulder field to the east when conditions allow (okay, so boulders aren’t groomed, but it adds to the variety). It’s not as long as I wish (1600′ vertical feet), but it’s pure heaven when the corduroy is fresh!
Schoolmarm was nominated by Edward, a self-described “old, green skier.” At 3.5 miles long, it’s one of the longest runs in Colorado and flows from the top of Dercum Mountain to the Keystone base, making it convenient and easy to access for skiers of all levels. Given its name, you might assume it’s a good place for beginners to hone their skills. It is, being wide and gentle.
Eagle’s Flight is an intermediate run from the top of Eagle Peak, at the top of the resort. Ski and ride at Lookout Pass and you can ski and ride two states in one day. Located in North Idaho on the Idaho-Montana border, I’m told it’s the easiest resort access in Ski Country, “just 200 yards off of I-90, exit 0.”
I’ve long wanted to go to Whistler Blackcomb and here’s another reason why. A single run from the summit to the base, Peak to Creek is an 11km cruiser, that drops 1529 meters. That’s 6.9 miles and 5,016 feet in one run. That’s a big run and that’s a big mountain.
Gondolier, Stowe, Vermont
Stowe is one of our favorite Vermont resorts. It’s actually one of our favorite resorts anywhere, with classic east coast groomed trails that wind through the pines. Gondolier is an intermediate run at the top of Mount Mansfield.
Birds of Prey Racecourse, Beaver Creek, Colorado
A Colorado challenge like none other, the Birds of Prey downhill course starts easy and then takes a formidable dip over what seems like an infinite edge. The course is injected for racing and the steepest sections stay “firm” all winter long. Sharpen your skis and get ready for some world class turns. Or not. We’ve had days when we couldn’t hold an edge. But it’s still fun!
Sundance, along with several other nominees in this post, was suggested by my friend, and ski industry wonder woman, Adrienne. She knows A Basin better than anyone else I know. Sundance is a half-mile long green run from the top of the Black Mountain Express chair.
Nominated by Eric, for “its views of Lake Tahoe,” the online community concurs, that this run offers great skiing and awe-inspiring beauty. Diamond Peak is often overlooked by visitors to Lake Tahoe, because it’s not on any of the “big” passes. It’s on my list and I’d love to learn more if you’ve been there.
Grand Review, Vail, Colorado
I can think of quite a few fabulous groomed runs at Vail, but Grand Review tops the list on my social media channels. Located in Blue Sky Basin, it takes a little time and effort to get to, but this means you may encounter fewer people on the pistes. Duck in and out of the trees if conditions warrant and you’re looking to vary your experience.
Sneaky’s, Snowmass, Colorado
Sneaky’s got two mentions, one from a Colorado skier (okay, the Brave Ski Dad) and one from a Richie, a Connecticut skier, who knows his Colorado resorts. I’m biased. I adore this run on the Big Burn. We were in Snowmass just this past weekend, and it was skiing beautifully. The views are also…stunning.
Honorable Mention: Naked Lady and Gunner’s View, both at Snowmass, also were nominated. Snowmass is known for its groomed delights (as well as surprisingly extreme terrain), so no surprises here.
You might not see these two resorts paired off very often. But we had two enthusiastic skiers suggest that of all the ski resorts they’ve been to, Deer Valley tops the list for the best groomed terrain. As Brad put it, “I have skied most major resorts out west and some in Europe and the best I have ever seen and skied on are at Deer Valley Resort for sure!!”
And then Tom suggested that if you’re in the East, Hunter Mountain, “the snowmaking capital of the world,” does a good job with grooming, too.
Okay! Let’s hear from you! Use the comment section to share your favorite picks for North America’s best groomed runs.
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