Ask any winter sports enthusiast about their favorite place to ski or snowboard, and their answer will vary based on typical snow conditions, the level of terrain, and the après-ski scene, among other factors. It’s a highly subjective subject, one that’s typically discussed with qualitative data. But Bounce, a global luggage storage network, decided to use hard numbers to identify the most beautiful ski spots across the U.S. and Canada.
Its official choice for the “most beautiful ski spot” is Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia.
Methodology
At the end of 2024, the team compiled data on the number of followers and the engagement rate of official ski resort Instagram accounts, the amount of Instagram and TikTok posts using the resorts’ hashtags, and TripAdvisor reviews mentioning the words “beautiful, ”stunning,” or “views.” The final review count was then calculated as a percentage of the number of reviews for that destination. Together, these factors were used to give each ski resort a score out of 10.
As of Nov. 11, 2024, the ski area had 476,000 Instagram posts and over 9,000 TikTok mentions, and 34 percent of TripAdvisor reviews included the aforementioned words regarding its scenery. While the resort Instagram’s engagement rate is on the lower end at just 1.2 percent, its follower count is above average. Given its 393,000-plus Instagram followers, it’s clear the ski destination is popular among skiers and snowboarders.
But what makes Whistler Blackcomb so beautiful? For starters, it’s one of the largest North American ski resorts by skiable terrain—and it boasts an extended ski season of around 200 days a year. Travelers can experience the snow and accompanying panoramic views (and take photos and videos) from mid-November to May.
The terrain is also incredibly diverse; skiers zoom down two different mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, which, together, have more than 200 marked runs, three glaciers, and over 8,100 acres of terrain. On a bluebird day, head to the top of either mountain to look out upon the dramatic Spearhead Range.
While the Canadian resort took the No. 1 spot on Bounce’s list, two Colorado destinations weren’t far behind: Crested Butte and Beaver Creek, which came in as the second and third, respectively.
If you’re already looking forward to next year’s ski season—and prioritizing gorgeous scenery alongside your runs—use the top 10 list as trip inspiration.
Whistler Blackcomb, British ColumbiaCrested Butte, ColoradoBeaver Creek, ColoradoWhiteface Mountain, New YorkSugarloaf Resort, MaineVail Resort, ColoradoPalisades Tahoe, CaliforniaBig Sky Resort, MontanaTaos Ski Valley, New MexicoSnowmass Village, Colorado
See the full report on bounce.com.
