Top 10 Resorts in the West for Après-Ski (2024)
This article originally appeared on Ski Mag
The art of apres-ski is a key part of ski culture. Gathering at a local spot with friends to riff on the day’s adventure is a highlight for many of us. While most ski areas have a least a lodge bar to gather at, some offer a much deeper apres-ski scene full of local characters, live music, food and drink specials, and more. The resorts below, which ranked highest in their apres offering in the 2024 Reader Resort Survey, are just such places.
See the Full Rankings: The Top 3o Resorts in the West for 2024
Top 10 Resorts in the West for Apres
No. 10: Park City, Utah
Score: 7.88
Other Strengths: Nightlife, Access
Weaknesses: Value, Parking
What Readers Say
“This resort has something for everyone plus great access to apres, dining, and nightlife in and around Park City.”
“Huge with great variety of terrain. Great snow and grooming. Easy access from airport and the best ski town, with lots of hotels and condos to choose from. There’s some apres action at the base villages and plenty more in town.”
No. 9: Heavenly Mountain Resort, Calif.
Score: 7.97
Other Strengths: Nightlife, Lodging
Weaknesses: Challenge, Value
“The casinos on the Nevada side offer a different type of apres-ski that you really can’t get anywhere else.”
“I love having South Lake Tahoe so close, there are some fun breweries and good restaurants with great apres specials.”
What Readers Say
No. 8: Steamboat Resort, Colo.
Score: 8.09
Other Strengths: Local Flavor, Family Friendly
Weaknesses: Access, Challenge
What Readers Say
“Steamboat is a great combination of mountain town and ski resort. It’s one of the last places where I don’t feel like I’m going to a mall with the ski slope attached.”
“Steamboat has something for everyone. A wide variety of terrain; hard for anyone to ski it all in one day. The town has a wide variety of restaurants, bars, hotels, and resorts, and more more activities than skiing. And don’t forget the hot springs!”
No. 7: Telluride Ski Resort, Colo.
Score: 8.11
Other Strengths: Dining, Terrain Variety
Weaknesses: Access, Value
What Readers Say
“Love the terrain, the ski school, the food, the apres ski and the short lift lines.”
“The on-mountain dining and apres is really special, smaller venues all with incredible vibes and views to match.”
No. 6: Breckenridge Resort, Colo.
Score: 8.12
Other Strengths: Terrain Variety, Nightlife
Weaknesses: Challenge, Guest Service
What Readers Say
“The town! Great dining and apres! The terrain is varied and up to whatever level/challenge you’re up for.”
“Varied terrain--something to suit everyone and plenty of space to spread out. Great town with plenty to do after the lift shut down. Shuttle buses very useful although routes could be simplified.”
No. 5: Vail Mountain, Colo.
Score: 8.19
Other Strengths: Terrain Variety, Lodging
Weaknesses: Guest Service, Value
What Readers Say
“I love the size of the mountain, the Back Bowls, nicer, high-end amenities, services, employees, variety, great dining, fun apres in the village, great lodging, no lift lines this year, great snow. All in all, the best place on Earth to ski.”
“The resort is huge and the terrain is vast and varied. You really never get bored here. The base areas are full of good restaurants, hopping bars (if that’s your thing), plenty of different types of lodging, and shoppings. You don’t need a car because there are always busses running.”
No. 4: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo.
Score: 8.22
Other Strengths: Challenge, Overall Satisfaction
Weaknesses: Access, Value
What Readers Say
“Jackson Hole is a skier’s mountain, but also has a great mountain-town vibe, and great apres-ski dinner options.”
“I like that there are nonstop flights, outstanding terrain, plenty of lodging options in town and at the village, lots of restaurants, great apres in town, plenty of non-ski activities, amazing backcountry options, and when the snow is good, this place is perfect!”
No. 3: Sun Valley, Idaho
Score: 8.37
Other Strengths: Lifts, Guest Service
Weaknesses: Value, Access
What Readers Say
“Sun Valley is always the best! No lift lines, outstanding mountain, great apres, excellent snow quality…it doesn’t get better than this!”
“It’s my hometown resort so I’m a bit biased. Love the runs, the sunshine, and hanging with friends apres-ski.”
No. 2: Aspen Snowmass, Colo.
Score: 8.49
Other Strengths: Overall Satisfaction, Lifts
Weaknesses: Value, Access
What Readers Say
“While Aspen gets more known for its cost, opulence, and tony visitors; as far as strictly the ski experience is concerned it’s second to none in the U.S. when weighing snow quality, lack of lift lines, food and apres.”
“Plenty of options for intermediate skiers. Easy to get around without a car. Lots of lodging options, from historic hotels in downtown Aspen to slopeside condos at Snowmass. Great dining and apres and different price points.”
No. 1: Whistler Blackcomb, B.C.
Score: 8.72
Other Strengths: Terrain Variety, Challenge
Weaknesses: Snow, Grooming
What Readers Say
“Amazing skiing, great apres, fantastic experience!”
“Wonderful terrain variety, many lodging choices close to the slopes, lots of good restaurants, great walking village and so much to do after the ski day ends.”
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