You have probably skied thousands of runs in your life, maybe tens of thousands. Most of them blur together. Another powder lap, another groomer, another Tuesday on the hill. But every once in a while, you link up a line that burns itself into your memory forever. Maybe the snow was perfect. Maybe the sun hit the face just right. Maybe the crew made it legendary. Maybe it was the first time you pushed into terrain you were not sure you could handle. Or maybe the run itself is so cool it is almost impossible to have a bad time.
Some runs just hit different. And in North America, we have more iconic inbounds resort lines than almost anywhere in the world. Here are 20 ski resort runs you need to ski before you die.
Quick note before we drop in. These are in no particular order, and the skills required are all over the map. Some are friendly to strong intermediates. Others demand expert confidence and good conditions. Scope entrances, respect closures, and pick your days.
If you would prefer to watch the video version of this post head over to the Rise & Alpine YouTube Channel. Trust me, it’s better than reading, but if you like reading, all the power to you.
1) Alf’s High Rustler, Alta, Utah
Locals call it High Boy. It is a perfect, steep, wide fall line right above the base that skis like a stage. Cutting first tracks into High Boy is an honor. Spring afternoons turn it into a show for the lift line. The views down Little Cottonwood Canyon are the cherry on top.
Why it hits: Pure fall line, crowd energy, and classic Alta vibe.
Best when: Cold, chalky days or a reset with sunshine.
2) Peak To Creek, Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
A leg burner for the ages. Over 5,000 feet of vertical, more than 1,500 meters, and roughly 11 kilometers from Whistler Peak to Creekside base. You get everything in one shot if coverage is good, alpine vistas to lower mountain rollers and berms.
Why it hits: True top to bottom storytelling on skis.
Best when: Consistent winter snow or soft spring slush.
3) Whitehorn 1, Lake Louise, Alberta
The backside at Louise is heaven, and Whitehorn sits right in the middle. Steep, wide, and sustained with views of the Victoria Glacier and the surrounding giants of the Canadian Rockies.
Why it hits: Long pitch with ridiculous scenery.
Best when: Cold and chalky, or a midwinter refresh.
4) The Hobacks, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Not one run, but a massive zone of continuous fall line. Start in the wide open bowl, then flow into perfectly spaced trees for more than 2,500 feet of vertical. Missed a line you wanted Try again. The Aerial Tram takes you from base to summit in minutes.
Why it hits: Volume, flow, and endless ways to paint your turns.
Best when: Soft snow and clear visibility.
5) Terminator 1, Kicking Horse, British Columbia
There are no hall passes at Kicking Horse. T1 starts with a knife edge hike that gets your legs buzzing before you even clip in. From the top, the views are outrageous, then the skiing turns spicy. Lines like Truth, Dare, and Consequence traverse above serious exposure.
Why it hits: Real consequences, real reward, and a summit feel inside a resort.
Best when: Stable snow and good visibility.
6) The Cirque, Snowbird, Utah
Snowbird is steep, deep, and sustained. The Cirque is its amphitheater. From the high ridge you can drop into cliffs, chutes, trees, and open faces that run the length of the mountain. It is a choose your own adventure for experts.
Why it hits: Variety, scale, and classic Wasatch energy.
Best when: Storm cycles or cold chalk.
7) Long Shot, Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
Long Shot is not gnarly. It is pure flow. About three and a half miles of carving until your quads scream. Intermediates feel like heroes. Advanced skiers feel like kids. Earn it with a short hike, soak in Maroon Bells views, then cruise Burnt Mountain to Two Creeks.
Why it hits: Rhythm and joy from top to bottom.
Best when: Fresh cord or a light refresh.
8) Revelation Bowl, Telluride, Colorado
Less about difficulty, more about where you are. The San Juans wrap around you in every direction. It feels like you are skiing on a balcony above the world. The terrain is approachable for strong intermediate and advanced skiers.
Why it hits: Beauty that messes with your focus.
Best when: Bluebird days after a storm.
9) Lone Peak Summit Routes, Big Sky, Montana
The summit experience is the star. Big Couloir is the headliner for experts with the legs and nerve. Liberty Bowl is a wide open, more approachable summit descent for strong skiers. No easy way down from the top, which is part of the magic.
Why it hits: 360 degree views, real exposure, big mountain feel.
Best when: Clear skies and stable snow.
10) Blackcomb Glacier, Blackcomb, British Columbia
A rare run that feels like backcountry for almost everyone. Take the T bar, hike a little, then drop into a huge glacier bowl. Follow Glacier Road out with views across Spanky’s Ladder terrain. The entrance has steepened with glacial recession, and the famous ice cave is gone, but the overall experience still slaps.
Why it hits: Scale, scenery, and that remote feeling inside a resort boundary.
Best when: Cold temps and fresh snow.
11) Highlands Bowl, Aspen Highlands, Colorado
Hike the ridge at over 12,000 feet, catch your breath, then send a legendary open face. It is the closest many skiers will get to a fourteen thousand foot vibe without touring gear.
Why it hits: Earned turns and a perfect bowl.
Best when: New snow and clearing skies.
12) Shale Slope off Polar Peak, Fernie, British Columbia
Polar Peak is a storybook summit. The Currie Headwall frames the view, and the terrain options are all business. Shale Slope is the signature line, wide and exposed to the elements, with plenty of ways to make it your own on the way down.
Why it hits: Summit aura with multiple expert options.
Best when: Wind buff or soft storm snow.
13) The Back Bowls, Vail, Colorado
Not a single run, more like a giant playground. Expansive open terrain with a consistent pitch that lets you draw as many lines as your legs can handle. Approachable for advanced skiers who want a big mountain feeling without a tech exam.
Why it hits: Scale and freedom.
Best when: Storm days and the morning after.
14) Delirium Dive, Sunshine Village, Alberta
Gated access, beacon check, partner required. The Dive flips Sunshine’s mellow reputation on its head. From the top, views across the Rockies are massive, then the line choices get serious.
Why it hits: Real avalanche terrain inside the ropes, plus that gate beep gets the heart going.
Best when: Patrol opens it mid cycle and the light is flat enough to keep crowds light.
15) Lake Chutes, Breckenridge, Colorado
Ride the Imperial Express, the highest lift in North America, then bootpack along the ridge for the chutes that define Breck’s legend. Imperial Bowl and Whale’s Tail are also worth your time for wide open alpine turns.
Why it hits: High elevation setting and a proper bootpack to earn your drop.
Best when: Cold and chalky, or wind buff under blue skies.
16) Taynton Bowl, Panorama, British Columbia
Formerly heli terrain, now lift served. A huge alpine bowl with sustained steep pitches, natural features, and multiple chutes that flow into gladed skiing. It feels like backcountry, then you pop back to the lift.
Why it hits: Big mountain character with resort convenience.
Best when: New snow and decent visibility.
17) Greely Bowl, Revelstoke, British Columbia
A classic Revy lap that packs open turns and long fall line into a zone you will repeat all day. Greely showcases the resort’s rhythm, bowls up high and trees as you descend, with that famous vertical stacking beneath you.
Why it hits: Nothing tricky, just quality turns that stack up fast.
Best when: Storm Snow
18-20) Your Pick
You were counting, right I am leaving this slot for the line you think I should ski next. California, Washington, Oregon, bring the heat.
One Overhyped Run You Can Skip
Rambo, Crested Butte, Colorado. Unless you are a complete masochist like me, it is more twigs than snow most days. Funny, yes. Fun, not often.
Last Run?
That is the list. Argue with it, add to it, and then go ski your face off. Drop your must ski runs in the comments, tell me what I missed, and tell me why. If you have a local’s tip on timing, entrance lines, or when a zone skis best, share it so everyone gets a better lap.
