With winter on the way, lovers of snow and winter sports are excited about the upcoming new season. Every mountain getaway and the area surrounding the lodge or resort is busy with various winter activities you can enjoy. While there are many different places you can go to enjoy your winter wonderland, here are a few that are considered to be the best ski resorts in the West.



When people think of California, they often picture the sand and surf of the coastline, the vineyards of the Napa Valley, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood or the excitement of the famous amusement parks. However, there are some excellent California ski resorts and numerous places to pursue your favorite winter sports and activities.

Located on the Eastern slopes of Central California's Nevada Mountain range, the Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort is considered by many to be one of the best ski resorts you can find in California. Mammoth almost always enjoys at least 150 inches of snowfall each season, but some years the actual snowfall reaches an amazing 250 inches, which is enough to keep the most enthusiastic skiers happy.

One of the reasons that Mammoth is among the best of them is that it boasts of the Hangman's Hollow. This is known as the siren-of-the-steeps for experts skiers from around the world. In addition, Mammoth also has a full terrain that offers cross-country skiing and also, an Olympic-size half pipe.

The Mt. Shasta Resort is in the heart of another California area that is both well-known and very popular, making it another on the list of best ones in the West. The Mt. Shasta resort is located in the Siskiyou mountain range, which is near the northern border or California. Within the Mt.

Shasta national recreational area there are many activities available such as hiking, snowmobiling and a skiing area that even includes a bunny flat. After a long day on the slopes, the Black Bear Restaurant is well-known and highly recommended for delicious meal and in addition, they also offer delightful homemade pies for a well-earned dessert.

A bit farther north from Mt. Shasta is Oregon, which is filled with numerous slopes and top ones as well. Timberline Lodge is an historic chalet that sits right at the timber line of the majestic Mt.

Hood in the Cascade Range and which has long been hailed as one of the best resorts. Because Timberline Lodge sits higher than many mountain ski resorts, you will often find that you can ski all year round on the nearby Palmer Snowfield, which is near this great snowy retreat.

Continuing on the northward track, the mountain ones of British Columbia are easy to add to the list of best ski resorts in the West. Whistler is another famed area where you are also able to ski any time of the year with few rare exceptions.

In addition to the Whistler-Blackcomb area, the fabulous skiing and other winter sports, there is also incredible scenery. After dark, there is a lively night life in the area which you can enjoy after a long day of shredding the slopes.

These are just a few of the best ski resorts that you can find throughout Western United States and Western Canada. Ski vacations in the West are a popular way to get away from the daily grind of the work week. If you also happen to live in a western state, then most of these top ones are close enough to enjoy a weekend ski package, simply to feel rejuvenated for the coming week.