As a beginner skier, it’s very important to choose the right ski resort with the best terrain for newbies.
The best ski resorts for beginners will have a great ski school with awesome ski instructors, lots of easy ski runs, and wide-open slopes for making turns back and forth at your own pace. These are the best places to learn to ski.
This insanely good list of the best ski resorts for beginners will help you choose the right destination when planning your ski vacation.
When I was a beginner, I wanted a lot of space to practice my turns. I didn’t want to worry about running into someone else or other skiers running into me! Having room to learn and a great ski instructor is essential for a new skier or snowboarder.
We’ve included the ski resorts in the U.S. that have incredible world-class ski schools, an array of green beginner ski trails, and great programming for lessons for beginners. These resorts have exceptional kids’ options too.
Whether you’re a new adult skier or are planning a ski trip with beginner children or teens, you’ll find this list to be very helpful when deciding where to go!
In This Article
Best Ski Resorts for Beginners
Buttermilk Ski Area, Colorado
Buttermilk Ski Resort is one of the four ski resorts within Aspen Snowmass. On Buttermilk Mountain, you’ll find that 74% of the trails are either beginner or intermediate skill levels. 35% is beginner terrain on Buttermilk Mountain. This makes Buttermilk a perfect ski resort for beginners and those skiers and snowboarders who advance from beginner level to intermediate quickly.
Buttermilk has a perfect area at the base of the mountain for first-time skiers to meet their wonderful ski school instructors and get set up for their group lessons. Because it’s a small ski resort, it also makes it easy for your family to meet up and find each other later in the day, after the lessons! Read all about Buttermilk’s ski school and lesson options here.
Buttermilk Ski Resort also has terrain parks for kids and adults who want to learn how to ski in terrain parks and eventually do ski and snowboard tricks!
What’s also fantastic about Buttermilk ski resort is that you can make your way over to Snowmass Mountain very easily to explore even more beginner and intermediate terrain. And, you won’t need a new lift ticket! Buttermilk Mountain to Snowmass Mountain is about a 15-minute drive.
This means you can ski or snowboard at Buttermilk when you purchase an Aspen Snowmass lift ticket or use your Aspen Snowmass Ikon Pass days.
Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado
Beginner skiers and snowboarders will love Beaver Creek, Colorado. The Haymeadow Express Gondola area is the perfect place for the beginner to start in Beaver Creek. This section of the mountain is exclusively designed for beginner skiers and snowboarders and includes access to Ski School instructors and their excellent programs!
Learn all about Beaver Creek Ski School here.
Haymeadow Express leads to a few different areas with gorgeous views and great ski terrain for beginners and intermediate skiers alike. Beaver Creek Ski Resort has a reputation for nicely groomed runs and perfect corduroy. These conditions on the slopes are ideal for beginner and intermediate-level skiers.
Plus, Beaver Creek serves warm chocolate chip cookies at the end of the day! And any beginner skier or snowboarder deserves a treat after a tough day of learning to ski!
Big Sky Resort, Montana
Big Sky Resort is an expansive Montana ski resort with plenty of terrain for beginner skiers or snowboarders. In total skiable acres, Big Sky boasts 5,850 acres of skiing! Green runs makeup 23% of the terrain providing excellent options for beginners. Once a beginner skier wants something a little bit more challenging, Big Sky had plenty of intermediate terrain also!
Big Sky Resort’s ski school has a wide variety of choices, making it an awesome resort for beginners of all ages. World-class private instructors are available, as well as lots of options for group lessons. For the kids, you can choose from the Small Fry Try Lessons or the Teen Mountain Experience, a group lesson to learn to ski and explore together on a guided experience with similar-aged kids.
This post is all about the best ski resorts for beginners.
Steamboat, Colorado
Steamboat Ski Area is known as a family-friendly ski resort and part of that reputation comes from its incredible ski school! Whether you’re looking for a group lesson or a private one, you’ll find an incredible selection of instructors who have been highly rated over the years.
For the very little ones, Palomino Pals is a perfect choice for ski lessons. From there, the programs go a bit up in age to Mavericks and then Sundance Kids. There are many options to choose from for the right amount of ski instruction, lunch, rest time and fun.
If you’re an aspiring snowboarder and want to learn how to confidently get started, Steamboat’s Ski School is fantastic. You can choose from a private clinic to Burton’s “Learn to Ride” snowboard program and they’ll get you up and linking turns in no time! L
At Steamboat, if ski school students aren’t skiing on green-rated runs after their first day of lessons, the lessons are free! This makes Steamboat Ski Resort one of best ski resorts for beginners.
If you’re looking for the Best Places to stay in Steamboat, go here!
Park City Mountain Resort, Utah
If you’re looking for wide-open, groomed trails to learn how to ski or snowboard, Park City is an excellent choice! Park City Mountain is the largest ski resort in North America with over 7,300 skiable acres and over 330 trails. 8% of the ski runs at Park City are designated for beginner skiers and snowboarders.
Once a beginner learns to ski and graduates to the intermediate skill level, they have 42% of the mountain to ride!
Park City Mountain Resort also has a world-class ski school. For beginners specifically, Park City has the “Green Run Guarantee” that will have you up and riding in three lessons! The fourth lesson is free if you aren’t. Participants must be age 7 or up to take part in the Green Run Guarantee.
Ski or snowboard lessons consist of either group or private at Park City. The ski instructors will take a look at your skills and craft a perfect experience for you that will challenge you.
The way Park City Mountain is designed, you’ll be able to naturally progress from the beginner’s area of High Meadow Park to Adventure Alleys across the mountain.
Snowmass Ski Resort, Colorado
Snowmass Ski Resort is located near Aspen, Colorado, and shares the same lift ticket as Aspen Mountain. (also on this lift ticket are Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk) Snowmass Mountain is the largest resort of the four ski areas with 3,332 skiable acres.
Snowmass Ski Area is a very beginner-friendly ski resort. Although only 5% of the terrain is considered green run and beginner terrain, this is quite a lot because the mountain is so large! Guests will find opportunities for private or group lessons for adults or children. Read more about Snowmass’s world-class ski school here.
One of the best features in Snowmass for children who are beginner skiers or snowboarders is the Treehouse! The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center is a state-of-the-art facility at the base of Snowmass Mountain.
This post is all about the best ski resorts for beginners.
Copper Mountain, Colorado
Copper Mountain is one of the closest ski resorts to Denver which makes it one of the most convenient mountains for beginners to visit. Only 78 miles (a quick hour and a half) from downtown Denver. If you’re flying into Colorado, it’ll take about an hour and a half from Denver International Airport to get to Copper Mountain Ski Resort.
Copper Mountain Ski School offers a wide range of opportunities to learn the sport of skiing or snowboarding! If you’re an adult beginner, Copper Mountain offers Adult Group Lessons, which include the options of either “First Timer” or “Level 2+”. Level 2+ is for those who have skied before. Or, opt for an Adult Private Lesson.
Beginner ski slopes at Copper Mountain are mostly located at the Kokomo Express and Woodward Express chair lifts. Beginners can enjoy green runs under both of these lifts with plenty of space to learn, make turns at their own pace and enjoy the wide trails.
One of the wonderful things about Copper Mountain is how the mountain is designed with its distinct areas. (check out Copper Mountain’s trail map here) Meaning, once beginner skiers learn how to ski and feel comfortable with their skills, they can move over to the American Eagle Lift and Super Bee Lift which both service intermediate terrain or “blue” runs.
Deer Valley Resort, Utah
Deer Valley Resort is a favorite ski resort for beginner skiers for a few reasons. First of all, they have a lot of beginner-rated ski terrain. This truly helps when you’re learning – that you won’t be on the same beginner trail over and over. And, you won’t need to share the terrain in these areas with more advanced skiers. Explore Deer Valley’s trail map here.
These “green” beginner ski trails are elegantly groomed, which makes them easy to ski on, especially when you’re starting out as a new skier. The beginner runs have areas designated for slow skiing and learning to ski, making them very approachable for the newbie and helping you build confidence in your new skills. Beginners are surrounded by other beginners, all at the same speed.
Also, Deer Valley Ski School is known for its highly personalized attention. At the ski school, they pride themselves on offering the Gold Standard of ski instruction and customized experiences.
If you’re interested in truly elevating your skills as a skier, Deer Valley is one of the best places to do it. The world-class instructors will take you to the next level in skiing. Note: Deer Valley Resort is a ski-only resort. Snowboarding is not allowed at Deer Valley.
Winter Park Resort, Colorado
Winter Park is another favorite ski resort in Colorado for learning how to ski. Being very close proximity to Denver, it’s one of the most convenient ski resorts to the Front Range (Denver). If you or someone in your group is a new skier or snowboarder, Winter Park is an easily accessed ski resort with great terrain to learn on! If you’re planning on flying into Denver International Airport, your drive will be an hour and 40 minutes to Winter Park.
Beginner terrain at Winter Park consists of 8% of their total 166 trails. Intermediate trails are 18% of their terrain thus making Winter Park a truly great place for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Check out the Winter Park Trail Map here to scope out all of the green runs to start on!
This post is all about the best ski resorts for beginners.
Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont
Stowe Mountain Resort, located in Vermont, is a lovely ski resort on the east coast to learn to ski! At the Spruce Camp Base Lodge, you’ll find a magic carpet (a magic carpet is an easy way for beginner kids to get up the mountain before using a chair lift). Also, there are designated lifts that are specifically for beginner skiers and snowboarders. These lifts access very easy green beginner runs in that area for all newbies to feel comfortable skiing!
Stowe Mountain Resort is 16% beginner trails and 55% intermediate making it truly perfect for starting out new to the sport. You’ll have plenty of space to try out your new skills on Stowe Mountain! Check out Stowe’s trail map here.
At Stowe, you’ll find another world-class ski school ready to teach kids, teens, and adults how to ski and get started. The best way to start snowboarding is with a lesson and Stowe’s very talented professional instructors will help you learn! Review all of Stowe’s private and group lesson options here to decide which will be best for you. You’ll be linking turns in no time.
In Conclusion
As a new person to the sport of skiing or snowboarding, there are so many amazing ski resorts to learn how to ski! These western and eastern ski resorts pride themselves on their incredible lesson programs for children and adults.
The snow is soft in the west which also makes it a great place to start so you’re a little more comfortable when you fall. Try one of these best ski resorts for beginners and you’ll have a fabulous experience on the mountain learning a super fun new sport!
If you need a great packing list for your next ski trip, check out this article. it’s got everything you need for an amazing ski trip!
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