Skiing is a very popular winter sport, but some states have lots of ski resorts and some have none. The determinants are geography and climate, which translate into mountains – or at least hills – and snow.
To discover which states have the most ski resorts, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the National Ski Areas Association. Supplemental data on each state’s largest resort was gathered from Mountain Vertical.
New York claims the No. 1 spot, with 49 winter resorts. It has the right geography and climate and is one of the most populous states. It also has three major mountain ranges – the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and a portion of the Appalachians – that get plenty of snow most winters.
Perhaps surprisingly, Michigan is No. 2, with 39 resorts, and Wisconsin ties with Colorado for No. 3, with 31 each. Neither Michigan nor Wisconsin are known for their mountains, although they do have hills and get very cold winters. Cross-country skiing is popular in both.
California and New Hampshire are tied for No. 5 with 27 resorts each. Both states are strongly associated with skiing and the fact that they have fewer ski resorts than four other states might be due in part to the fact that some of the ski areas they do have – such as California’s Mammoth and Lake Tahoe – are very big. (For skiing and more, here’s the best winter destination in every state.)
34. Maryland
> Total ski resorts: 1
> Largest ski resort: Wisp Ski Resort
34. Rhode Island
> Total ski resorts: 1
> Largest ski resort: Yawgoo Valley Ski Area
34. Tennessee
> Total ski resorts: 1
> Largest ski resort: Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort
31. Indiana
> Total ski resorts: 2
> Largest ski resort: Perfect North Slopes Ski Area
31. Missouri
> Total ski resorts: 2
> Largest ski resort: Hidden Valley Ski Area
31. North Dakota
> Total ski resorts: 2
> Largest ski resort: Huff Hills Ski Area
27. Arizona
> Total ski resorts: 3
> Largest ski resort: Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort
27. Iowa
> Total ski resorts: 3
> Largest ski resort: Sundown Mountain Ski Resort
27. New Jersey
> Total ski resorts: 3
> Largest ski resort: Mountain Creek Ski Resort
27. South Dakota
> Total ski resorts: 3
> Largest ski resort: Terry Peak Ski Area
25. Illinois
> Total ski resorts: 4
> Largest ski resort: Snowstar Winter Sports Park
25. Nevada
> Total ski resorts: 4
> Largest ski resort: Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Lake Tahoe
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21. Connecticut
> Total ski resorts: 5
> Largest ski resort: Mohawk Mountain Ski Area
21. Ohio
> Total ski resorts: 5
> Largest ski resort: Mad River Mountain Ski Resort
21. Virginia
> Total ski resorts: 5
> Largest ski resort: Massanutten Ski Resort
21. West Virginia
> Total ski resorts: 5
> Largest ski resort: Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort
20. North Carolina
> Total ski resorts: 6
> Largest ski resort: Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
19. New Mexico
> Total ski resorts: 9
> Largest ski resort: Taos Ski Resort
17. Alaska
> Total ski resorts: 10
> Largest ski resort: Alyeska Ski Resort
17. Wyoming
> Total ski resorts: 10
> Largest ski resort: Jackson Hole Ski Resort
15. Massachusetts
> Total ski resorts: 12
> Largest ski resort: Jiminy Peak Ski Resort
15. Oregon
> Total ski resorts: 12
> Largest ski resort: Timberline Ski Resort, Mt. Hood
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14. Washington
> Total ski resorts: 14
> Largest ski resort: Crystal Mountain Ski Resort
12. Montana
> Total ski resorts: 15
> Largest ski resort: Big Sky & Moonlight Basin Ski Resorts
12. Utah
> Total ski resorts: 15
> Largest ski resort: Snowbird Ski Resort
11. Idaho
> Total ski resorts: 16
> Largest ski resort: Sun Valley Ski Resort
9. Maine
> Total ski resorts: 20
> Largest ski resort: Shawnee Peak Ski Resort
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9. Minnesota
> Total ski resorts: 20
> Largest ski resort: Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort
8. Vermont
> Total ski resorts: 24
> Largest ski resort: Sugarbush Ski Resort
7. Pennsylvania
> Total ski resorts: 26
> Largest ski resort: Blue Mountain Ski Resort
5. California
> Total ski resorts: 27
> Largest ski resort: Mammoth Ski Resort
5. New Hampshire
> Total ski resorts: 27
> Largest ski resort: Cannon Mountain Ski Resort
3. Colorado
> Total ski resorts: 31
> Largest ski resort: Snowmass Ski Resort, Aspen
3. Wisconsin
> Total ski resorts: 31
> Largest ski resort: Granite Peak Ski Area
2. Michigan
> Total ski resorts: 39
> Largest ski resort: Mount Bohemia Ski Resort
1. New York
> Total ski resorts: 49
> Largest ski resort: Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort
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