Lake Louise is not a posh, luxury ski resort — no base village, no ski-in/ski-out lodging, just one of the largest, most dramatic ski mountains in North America with a complete focus on the skiing. For those willing to handle the cold and a little more travel hassle, the payoff is six distinct clusters of serious terrain, a long and reliable season, and some of the most photographed scenery in skiing.

Beaver Creek sits in Vail's shadow by design — exclusive, expensive, and deliberately harder to reach. For skiers willing to make the extra drive, the payoff is impeccable grooming, approachable bowl terrain, and crowds noticeably lighter than anywhere comparable in Colorado.