With access to over 90 resorts all over the globe, including more than 50 partner resorts, the Epic Pass gives skiers and snowboarders the ability to experience some of the largest and most renowned ski destinations in the world. From North America to Japan, and Europe to Australia, many resorts are not only steeped in amazing ski-culture and community, but they also provide vast and diverse terrain offerings with what feels like endless, interconnected slopes to explore. Although there are a few larger ski resorts that are connected by driving, this list only includes resorts with a skiable interconnection between the various ski areas.
These are the top 7 largest ski resorts on the Epic Pass, based on the findings from a 2019 study by Christophe Schrahe and Montenius, that includes a combination of skiable acres and kilometers of ski runs.
#7 Vail Mountain Resort, Colorado — 234 km (145 miles) / 5,289 acres
The only area on the list that is a single-mountain ski resort, Vail Mountain, Colorado still boasts an exceptionally large amount of terrain. With 32 lifts all across the front side, back bowls and Blue Sky Basin, skiers and snowboarders have access to 278 trails, over half of which are marked as advanced. The mountain summit sits at a lofty 3,527 meters (11,570 feet) and allows for a vertical drop of 1,052 meters (3,450 feet), among the highest in the state. Also, this region of the Rockies is well known for receiving cold, dry, fluffy powder, seeing an average of nearly 9 meters (354 inches) of snow a season. Thanks to Vail Resorts and the Epic Pass, Vail Mountain and a slew of other massive resorts all over the world are accessible with just this single pass.
#6 Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia — 254 km (158 miles) / 8,171 acres
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, is the largest ski resort in North America based on skiable acres, but when ranked by kilometers of ski runs, it paints a slightly different picture. Still, the two extremely large mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb provide guests with a combined 36 lifts and over 200 marked runs across 16 alpine bowls and three glaciers. Additionally, the resort is known for receiving an average of almost 11 meters (432 inches) of snowfall a season. With a summit elevation of 2,284 meters (7,494 feet) and a notable vertical drop of 1,609 meters (5,280 feet), the high-alpine terrain transitions to glades and groomers. A ski from the summit to the base can feel like traveling through different climates. From a variety of slopes for all abilities, to world-class terrain parks, to some of the best above-treeline resort skiing in Canada, Whistler Blackcomb is not only enormous in size, but offers a multitude of great opportunities to explore and enjoy.
#5 Skicircus Saalbach, Austria —270 km (168 miles) / 10,000 acres
Skicircus Saalbach in Austria, an Epic Pass Partner Resort, is made up of a unique blend of slopes. These include an abundance of family-friendly terrain to plenty of off-piste, freeride-focused skiing, to an all-time après-ski scene. The massive interconnected area of Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang, and Fieberbrunn offers skiers and snowboarders approximately 140 marked pistes across 70 lifts. The close proximity to Zell am See and Kaprun, also on the Epic Pass, turns this entire region even larger with over 400 km of slopes and 121 lifts; although it is not interconnected directly by skiing, but a short bus ride instead. At Saalbach, the summit sits at a modest 2,096 meters (6,877 feet), but still features a single-lift vertical drop of 1,266 meters (4,153 feet). Receiving an average of over 5.5 meters (220 inches) of snow, coupled with a broad variety of slopes for all skill-levels, Saalbach Skicircus makes for an excellent ski journey.
#4 Park City Mountain Resort, Utah — 275 km (171 miles) / 7,300 acres
Park City Mountain Resort in Utah is the largest ski resort in the United States, and home to some of the best quality snow in the country. Across the two mountain areas of Park City and Canyons, 41 lifts give skiers and snowboarders access to over 330 named trails. The light, fluffy snow in the Wasatch Range is known to stack up. An average of 9 meters (355 inches) a season makes the off-piste powder skiing especially outstanding. On top of that, a summit elevation of 3,056 meters (10,026 feet) provides 983 meters (3,226 feet) of vertical drop spanning throughout multiple peaks and bowls. As the only Epic Pass resort in Utah, and considering its sheer size and amount of skiable terrain, Park City Mountain is a popular ski destination.
#3 Ski Arlberg, Austria — 305 km (190 miles) / 11,000 acres
Ski Arlberg in Austria, another Epic partner, is a favorite amongst powder-chasing, freeride-loving skiers and snowboarders chasing big-mountain riding. A total of 88 lifts connect seven regions consisting of St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Oberlech, Zürs, and Warth-Schröcken. In addition to more than 300 named pistes, over 200 km of skiable terrain serves as an immense, ungroomed, freeride playground. The summit sits at 2,811 meters (9,222 feet) and gives riders the ability to ski a vertical drop of 1,507 meters (4,944 feet) back to St Anton. Not only does the area average around 9 meters (350+ inches) of snow a season, but with such expansive and varied terrain offerings, it’s no surprise that Ski Arlberg is such an epic destination. Note that Epic Pass holders must book a stay at participating Arlberg lodging options to use their pass to ski at the resort.
#2 Verbier 4 Vallées, Switzerland — 410 km (255 miles) / 19,000 acres
Verbier 4 Vallées, an Epic Partner and the largest ski resort located entirely in Switzerland, actually consists of six interconnected ski resorts. Bruson, La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon, and the most well-known, freeride favorite, Verbier, make up a network of over 200 groomed pistes and more than 70 lifts. The famous Bec des Rosses face in Verbier is home to the final stop on the Freeride World Tour, and some of the gnarliest skiing around. With a summit of 3,330 meters (10,925 feet) and a massive vertical drop of around 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) on marked trails alone, the terrain options are vast and abundant. Whether you’re a diehard skier looking for humongous mountains and big lines or all about the après scene, Verbier 4 Vallées creates an unforgettable experience with the best of both worlds.
#1 Les 3 Vallées, France — 600 km (373 miles) / 25,950 acres
The largest ski resort in the world, Epic Partner Les 3 Vallées in France is absolutely massive—to say the very least. Seven interconnected ski resorts— Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Saint Martin de Belleville, Brides-les-Bains, and Orelle— offer an incredible 334 groomed slopes, made accessible by 161 lifts. On top of that, there are 25 skiable peaks, 10 of which have an elevation of more than 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). A summit elevation of 3,230 meters (10,597) provides an impressive vertical drop of over 1,900 meters (6,332 feet). With some of the most stunning, panoramic views of Mont Blanc, the French Alps, and the plethora of surrounding peaks, combined with seemingly endless terrain to ski, Les 3 Vallées should be on every winter enthusiast’s bucket list.
