Alaska looms large in skiing’s collective imagination. From Sammy Carlson’s seasonal excursions to Teton Gravity Research’s slate of films, flick after flick has featured the towering peaks of the Last Frontier. The place has an aura of seriousness—if you only surveyed these movies, you might assume that Alaska is a walled garden reserved for elite guides and professional skiers looking to leave their mark on the state’s unmanicured terrain.
But Alaska is far more than an epic ski movie set. There are resorts that cater to your average skier, like Alyeska and Eaglecrest. And numerous heli-skiing outfits provide an opportunity to sample that famed high alpine Alaskan magic—without having to jump off a 50-foot cliff, that is. Alaska has a lot to offer, whether you prefer to keep your butt planted in a chairlift—or have always dreamed of hitching an airborne ride into the backcountry.
These are a few of the best opportunities to get out and ski in Alaska.
Alaskan Ski Resorts
Alaska isn’t stuffed full of major ski resorts like Colorado. Instead, a collection of smaller, local-focused ski areas populate the state, bookended by Alyeska, which occupies the destination end of the resort spectrum. These are three spots to consider visiting during a ski trip to Alaska, starting with Alyeska.