Destination: Biggest on the Pass

WHERE TO SKI THE SUPERLATIVES AT 11 IKON PASS DESTINATIONS

An Ikon Pass puts some of the planet’s most extreme verticals, longest seasons, and abundant acres well within reach. These legendary destinations and fabled terrain test even the best skiers’ and snowboarders’ skills and endurance, giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “go big or go home.”

Ski and ride them all — but before crushing these biggest-on-the-pass gems, be sure to download the Ikon Pass app to track your vertical, earn badges, and see how you stack up on the slopes.

LARGEST SKIABLE LIFT ACCESS

Palisades Tahoe

It’s hard to wrap your head around the vast expanse of skiable terrain available at Palisades Tahoe in California — an incredible 6,000 acres in the breathtaking Sierra. In the past, skiers and riders had to choose between Palisades’ iconic steeps and Alpine’s expansive bowls; however, now thanks to the resort’s 2.4-mile Base to Base Gondola that connects the two valleys and ascends nearly 2,000 feet, you get all the legendary terrain, all on one pass.

HIGHEST SUMMIT

Aspen Snowmass

With the highest summit of any Ikon Pass destination in North America, Aspen Snowmass delivers big on altitude. Head to Snowmass and make your way to the top of The Cirque, which tops out at a whopping 12,510 feet. Take a moment to relish the Rocky Mountain high and the stunning Colorado scenery before tearing down the Cirque Headwall and exploring the rest of Aspen Snowmass’ varied terrain.

HIGHEST VERTICAL & LONGEST RUN

Revelstoke

An oasis for extreme winter sports enthusiasts, this Canadian gem is home to North America’s most vertical descent and one of the world’s longest runs. If you love a quad burn, check out Revelstoke’s legendary Last Spike — at 9.5 miles of winding, non-stop thrills, it’s the longest run in North America accessible with an Ikon Pass. Revelstoke also offers the most lift-accessed vertical across all ski destinations in North America, an incredible 5,620 feet, which keeps the die-hards coming back for more.

LONGEST SEASON

Mammoth Mountain

When warmer weather creeps in, the winter action keeps moving at Mammoth Mountain. With its high altitude, solid snowpack, and heavy northern exposure, this Southern California gem has consistently been able to provide the longest season of any Ikon Pass destination — an average length of more than 215 days. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see skiers and riders hitting lines well into the summer months, thanks to record snowfall in the Mammoth Lakes region.

LONGEST CONTINUOUS VERTICAL RISE

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

In the heart of Teton Village you’ll find the Aerial Tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which boasts the longest continuous vertical rise of any United States lift. Climbing 4,139 feet into Wyoming’s thin air, “Big Red,” as it’s affectionately called, can accommodate 100 passengers on its 9-minute ride to the summit. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the Jackson Hole Valley and even some world-famous, top-of-the-world waffles from Corbet’s Cabin.

MOST ACRES PER SKIER

RED Mountain Resort

Located in Rossland, British Columbia, RED Mountain Resort offers an unparalleled experience for those seeking wide-open, untracked slopes — a rarity in today’s world of skiing and snowboarding. Ranked number one in most acres per skier in North America, RED’s expansive alpine playground includes a sprawling 3,850 acres of skiable terrain across five distinct peaks, nearly 3,000 feet of vertical drop, and, you heard it here first, the only snowbound taco truck in Canada.

LONGEST, FASTEST GONDOLA

Steamboat

Ski Town U.S.A.® is now home to North America’s longest, fastest 10-person gondola, Wild Blue, which can transport skiers and riders from Steamboat’s base area to the Sunshine Peak summit in just under 13 minutes. In total, the Wild Blue Gondola features 171 cabins, which equates to another 3,200 people per hour transported onto the mountain, a nearly 50 percent increase, so you can spend more time skiing Steamboat and less time in long lines.

LARGEST CANADIAN SKI AREA

Sun Peaks Resort

This Western Canadian gem boasts the largest ski area in Canada of any Ikon Pass destination, with an enviable 4,270 acres of skiable terrain. Leave the crowds behind as you ski or ride Sun Peaks Resort’s 139 snowy trails, 10-acre terrain park, and two alpine bowls that are spread out across its three lift-accessed mountains in the heart of British Columbia.

LARGEST VERTICAL RISE LIFT

Sun Valley Resort

Over in Idaho, the team at Sun Valley Resort recently replaced their existing Challenger and Greyhawk lifts with a cutting-edge Doppelmayr 6-pack — now the largest vertical rise chairlift in North America, and North America’s first D-line lift that includes a mid-station. This new lift honors its predecessor’s name, Challenger, and can cover 3,138 vertical feet in an astonishing eight minutes.

LONGEST AUSTRALIAN RUN & LIFTED POINT

Thredbo

Only Thredbo, the Australian wonder from down under, can offer powder-hungry skiers and snowboarders access to both the country’s longest run and the country’s highest lifted point. Make your way to the top of Karels T-Bar — 6,683 feet above sea level — to ring the bell and take a selfie at the highest lifted point in Australia before cruising down the legendary 3.7-mile run underneath. Thredbo is also now home to the Southern Hemisphere’s only Alpine Coaster, new for Winter 2024.

LONGEST CONSECUTIVE LIFT

Sugarbush

When skiing in Vermont’s scenic Mad River Valley, make sure to take a turn on Sugarbush’s Slide Brook Express Quad — the longest and fastest detachable quad in the world, traveling 11,012 feet between Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen. The alpine icon that is Sugarbush has a long and storied history, beginning in 1958 with the greatest vertical rise in the East, the first gondola in the United States, and even the first bar, Wünderbar, to open at a ski resort: we’ll toast to that.