The 2025-2026 SKI Magazine Rankings are In

[thetrailboss]

Some interesting resorts moving around. I don't understand how in a great snow year that both Jay and MRG moved down in the rankings.

The Reader-Ranked Top 20 Resorts in the East for 2026

The results are in! There's a brand-new top dog in the East.

www.skimag.com

Discuss.

 

[skef]

Well, that’s… a list. Most definitely. A list. Of resorts.

Engineered to foment discussion. And such.

 

[thebigo]

Does show that the public is catching on to the shit job vail is doing in New England. Two epic mountains make the list, ikon is six for six in New England plus tremblant. Even Indy checks in with four.

 

[Smellytele]

Confused with likelihood to return. As the winner got 1/20 and the 20th place got a 20/20

 

[thetrailboss]

Confused with likelihood to return. As the winner got 1/20 and the 20th place got a 20/20

I was as well. I think it is meant to reflect a ranking of 1 to 20.

 

[cdskier]

Confused with likelihood to return. As the winner got 1/20 and the 20th place got a 20/20

That confused the hell out of me at first as well. I think that is the ranking (i.e. 1st out of 20 as in survey respondents rated it as the resort they were most likely to return to). Super weird that they didn't just list it the same way as the ranking. Why put two different rankings in two vastly different formats?

 

[thetrailboss]

Having two Maine areas top the list on the east is very interesting. It shows how far Saddleback has come.

I find interesting that Killington is not higher. I think that it should move up next year after more improvements and local ownership continues to implement their plans.

I also find it interesting that MRG dropped so far and based, at least in part, about "parking" issues. That seems pretty odd to me.

Looks like Jay got dinged for its aging lift infrastructure and resulting lines. Makes sense.

No Sunapee at all. That is weird as it is a very busy area.

 

[Edd]

Putting Saddleback’s challenge alongside Jackson Hole and Snowbird…..

Saying BW has the best snowmaking in the east doesn’t feel remotely true.

 

[4aprice]

Wonder how Cannon will fare with the Tram down?

 

[thetrailboss]

Putting Saddleback’s challenge alongside Jackson Hole and Snowbird…..

Saying BW has the best snowmaking in the east doesn’t feel remotely true.

I was surprised by how high BW ranked. Considering that it is independent and not on any pass program was very interesting.

 

[thetrailboss]

Wonder how Cannon will fare with the Tram down?

Oh that will likely drop it.

 

[thetrailboss]

As to the west: no surprise that Big Sky is finally at the top. Considering the serious amount of money invested in the place, I am surprised that they have not been ranked higher. My only negatives with Big Sky is that it does not get as much snow as Utah (and it needs it for the terrain) and it can be very cold up there.

The comments for Park City do not match the ranking. And the comment that operations in 2024-2025 were better than in the past was very odd considering that last year was the strike over Christmas.

Pow Mow's position reflects the concern about the recent changes.

Solitude dropped a lot. Moving from 8 to 26. Definitely due to the parking and crowding issues. The volitle nature of their ranking (not in top 30, to 8, to 26) also is curious.

I am surprised that Steamboat is not higher considering the recent improvements. And it ranked 28 out of 30 for liklihood to return? Wow.

Loveland was the #1 in terms of liklihood to return, but yet only sits at 24. Must be the other categories hurt it. I can see that wind, basic facilities, and slow lifts are negatives.

Vail's move up from 21 to 12 is very interesting and counter to the Vail hate.

I am not sure why people ding Snowbird as to "lifts". Perhaps they mean lift lines? Snowbird has pretty much high speed lifts everywhere. When I first skied there they had twice as many double chairs as they have now.

Interesting that Jackson is where it is considering that folks generally like it. Perhaps the cost and accessiblity are weighing it down.

I expect Deer Valley will move up next season after the expansion. But 9th place is much worse than what they used to be. For years they were legitimately number one.

Alta's ranking certainly outperforms where I would expect it to be considering that it is relatively low-frills.

The big surprise for me is how high Grand Targhee is on the list--and that it beat Jackson Hole. With the exception of the new six pack, a lot of the lifts are starting to get old and they have a fair number of fixed grips still. Like Alta, folks apparently really appreciated character in this survey.

The Aspen resorts are about where I would think they would be.

Snowbasin moving to third is interesting. They also had a good snow year and have been improving lifts.

 

[4aprice]

Winter Park hanging in there between Park City and Arapahoe

 

[Keelhauled]

Vail's move up from 21 to 12 is very interesting and counter to the Vail hate.

My unpopular opinion is that Vail Mountain is a fantastic and largely well run ski resort. The only lack is true expert terrain and for >95% of skiers what they have is more than enough. Otherwise the mountain distributes crowds well, the infrastructure is top notch, the base village is pleasant and because Vail Resorts doesn’t run much real estate is actually less “corporate” than slope side at other mountains. It’s not a day skiers mountain but it doesn’t pretend to be and as a ski vacation #12 is very fair and arguably still a little too low.