From the towering Rockies to the crisp air of the Northeast, the USA offers a dynamic ski experience for school groups looking for an unforgettable adventure. With its legendary resorts, including Killington, Mammoth and Cannon & Waterville, the USA has long been a top destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
In this blog, we take a closer look at the key ski regions of the USA, highlighting why they offer excellent value for school groups. From their world-class facilities to vast ski areas, we’ll show you why the USA is a fantastic choice for school ski trips.
Whether you’re drawn to the glamour of Colorado or the charm of New England and Vermont, the USA offers a ski trip experience your students will never forget. Read on to explore the best school ski destinations across America.
What sets skiing in the USA apart from anywhere else?
Huge variety of ski areas
The USA offers an impressive variety of ski destinations, from the high Rockies of Colorado to the picturesque slopes of New England. Each region offers something unique, with some of the best vertical drops and most varied terrain in the world.
Top-tier ski schools and facilities
Renowned for its well-maintained resorts and highly rated ski schools, the USA ensures your students are skiing in safe hands. American ski schools offer fantastic lessons and facilities to help students develop quickly, no matter their skill level.
Incredible après-ski and educational opportunities
Beyond skiing, school groups in the USA can enjoy a wealth of educational opportunities, from exploring local history in quaint mountain towns to discovering the rich geography of America’s diverse landscape.
Snow-sure slopes and long ski season
The USA enjoys a long ski season with consistently good snow conditions. Colorado’s high-altitude resorts, for instance, have snow from late November until well into April, giving school groups plenty of time on the slopes.
Ski resorts in the USA
School ski trips to Cannon & Waterville
Student groups are spoilt for choice at Cannon & Waterville. Whether it’s the scenic runs on New Hampshire’s highest skiable peak at Cannon Mountain, or the top-class ski resort of Waterville Valley – host of 13 World Cup ski events – there’s plenty to help your students feel inspired. But the fun doesn’t stop there. There are also several exciting après options once you’ve left the slopes, from ice hockey matches or a large games arcade, to tax-free shopping at the Mall of New Hampshire.
School ski trips to Killington
Spread across an incredible six mountains, Killington is New England’s largest resort and worthy of its reputation as the ‘Beast of the East’. The region is perfect for mixed abilities, and is a popular option for stateside school ski groups, who we know love its huge diversity of terrain. Boasting 155 trails, Killington gives excellent scope for progression and its beginner programmes are superb. Even better, you can expect great snow all season, thanks to high annual snowfall and extensive snowmaking.
School ski trips to Loon
Featuring all the charm of a European resort, Loon is a magnificent option for school groups who want to benefit from a familiar atmosphere while enjoying North America’s trademark terrain, snow surety and service. It’s located in the White Mountain National Forest, just off the Kancamangus highway, and benefits from brilliant panoramic views and easy access.
School ski trips to Mammoth
California’s highest mountain and North America’s third-largest resort, Mammoth lives up to its name with over 150 trails that stay open from November until late May. Enjoying around 300 days of sunshine a year, (yet a heavy and reliable snowfall), there’s scarcely a dull day throughout the season – although your group will want to remember your SPF!
Off the slopes, the lively atmosphere of this authentic American ski town is always popular with students, who can let loose in the evenings with swimming, bowling, shopping, or a trip to the cinema.
School ski trips to Stowe
Our groups love this quintessential New England resort, which has skiing on Vermont’s tallest peak, Mount Mansfield. Described as a ‘skier’s paradise’ Stowe is one of the state’s most expansive and modern resorts, giving school groups a superb skiing experience. Stowe’s slopes are served by state-of-the-art lifts and superb snowmaking facilities. Off the slopes, your group could be scoring strikes in the bowling alley, skating across the ice-rink and eating ice-cream in the town of Waterbury where Ben and Jerry’s originated.
School ski trips to Sugarloaf
Maine’s best-kept secret, known to locals as ‘The Loaf’ due to its striking resemblance to an iced bun, Sugarloaf is renowned for offering the most challenging skiing in New England. Ideal for schools, the pedestrianised village has been developed in true Nordic style, with all amenities conveniently on hand.
Sugarloaf offers almost 1,700 acres of skiing over a vertical drop of almost 2,300ft, making it the largest US ski resort east of the Rockies. A winter playground for all levels of skier or boarder, the skiing gets progressively harder as you go higher, although there is an easy run for beginners from top to bottom.
School ski trips to Whiteface & Lake Placid
See your students’ inspiration soar as they follow in the footsteps of Olympic heroes at Whiteface – host to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. The combined view of the surrounding Adirondack peaks and the beautiful Lake Placid make this resort one of the USA’s prettiest, while its huge vertical drop offers something for students seeking a challenge.
School ski trips to Winter Park
Expect unbeatable snow cover at stunning Winter Park, which sits at high elevation in the heart of the Rockies. Straddling several interconnected mountains, Winter Park delivers on snow, terrain, and climate, and is home to an excellent ski school where even your least confident beginners will have perfected their snowplough turns by the week’s end.
School ski trips to Wintergreen
Nestled on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, Wintergreen is a fantastic ski resort located approximately three hours from Washington, D.C. The resort boasts 23 trails and caters to all levels of skier, while its 100% snowmaking with state-of-the-art machines covering the entire area ensure reliable ski conditions from Christmas to the first week of March. Although a compact ski area of 20 kilometres, it packs a punch with two high-speed, six-passenger chairlifts to transport your group quickly from the base lodge to the trails, maximising their time on the slopes. Combined with a stopover in the USA capital, our Wintergreen school ski trips offer a truly memorable combined mountain and city experience.
Ready to book your school ski trip to the USA?
With a strong emphasis on service, cutting-edge ski facilities, and varied terrain, the USA’s ski resorts offer an exciting opportunity for students to experience world-class skiing alongside the vibrant cultural diversity and breathtaking natural beauty of the American mountains. The combination of vast open slopes, fascinating après-ski activities, and a distinct local culture ensures that a ski trip to the USA will be an educational and unforgettable adventure for your students. What’s more, whether you're drawn to the towering peaks of Colorado, the stunning landscapes of California, or the historic charm of New England, the USA provides something for everyone.
To find out more about our school ski trips to the USA, or enquire about booking a trip to a specific resort, please call us on 01273 648248. You can also fill out our webform, and our school ski experts will get back to you as soon as we can.