The 6 Best Ski Resorts To Visit for Christmas 2025

The prayers of thousands of skiers across the West may have finally been answered. It’s been a dreary ski season in places like California, Oregon, and Washington, but just in time for Christmas, the weather is expected to make a sharp turn.

That’s already prompted the opening of some ski resorts that were closed, like Crystal Mountain, Washington, and could lead to several more as the holidays get underway. To help you make the most of the December snow, we’ve detailed a few big winners.

While we can never guarantee powder days in advance, these ski resorts across North America sure seem to be Santa’s favorites. 

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1. Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia

How does well over 150 inches of snowfall to date sound? If you said, “Yes, please,” you might want to make your way over to Revelstoke Mountain Resort in a jiffy. 

Enticing footage has surfaced from the British Columbia stalwart in recent days, shot by the likes of Ross Tester and Toby Rafford, two professional skiers who know how to make the most of deep snow. While we can’t ski like them, we wouldn’t mind spending a few hours following (carefully) in their tracks. 

We’re pleased to report that the British Columbian powder bonanza hasn’t ended yet. Another moisture band is pointed at the West Coast again, and Revelstoke Mountain Resort is set to benefit. Pack your snorkels. 

2. Banff Sunshine, Alberta

Just over the province line, Banff Sunshine is also enjoying a snowy start to the 2025-26 season. The ski resort fired up its lifts on November 2, marking its earliest opening in decades. The flakes haven’t slowed down since, with an impressive 150-plus inches piling up so far this winter. 

While you’re at it, you should probably stop by Lake Louise, too, another famed Banff area mountain that’s also swimming in snow. 

3. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Whistler Blackcomb saw a bit of a lopsided earlier season, with fluctuating freezing levels leaving the base area damp and wet. At the same time, the upper mountain has been picking up plenty of snow. The lower elevations are finally catching up, too, with the Creekside base and Whistler Village sporting a nice white coat. More importantly, many of Whistler Blackcomb’s best-known lifts are already in play, like the Peak Express.

That concludes the British Columbia portion of this article, but, as you’ve probably gathered, the Canadian province is the place to be this Christmas. Every resort mentioned here is a good bet. So are others. Go ahead, throw a dart at a map and see where you’d end up—odds are great you won’t be disappointed.

4. Jay Peak, Vermont

Good lord, Jay Peak. The Northeast Kingdom showstopper has had a barnstorming season so far, with storm after storm laying down the powder thick. It’s made for a funny, backwards-seeming state of affairs. West Coasters have bemoaned the lack of snow. Jay Peak diehards, meanwhile, are dodging the “East Coast powder day” allegations in dramatic fashion. 

Recently, the resort put it in terms we ski bums can understand via a clever social media post. As of December 20, Jay Peak had tallied more than “three Danny DeVitos” worth of snow. That’s a lot, and more is on the way, with a foot-deep refresh possible before Christmas arrives. 

You can hear the latest from Jay Peak’s winter wonderland by tuning in to local snow forecaster Tim Kelley. 

5. Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont

Stowe Mountain Resort is a bit further south than Jay Peak and hasn’t stacked up quite as much powder as its neighbor. Still, with more than 100 inches of snow tallied since November, the ski resort has plenty of momentum going into Christmas. And, like Jay Peak, another refresh is in the cards, with a nice little storm tracking to hit Stowe this week. 

6. Mammoth Mountain, California

Among the California ski resorts assailed by warm and wet weather, Mammoth Mountain has fared the best. It kicked off its season on November 20 after a short delay, and has kept the lifts spinning since.

While December hasn’t proven particularly productive for the ski resort so far, the week of Christmas is set to change the status quo. The National Weather Service is calling for feet of snow through and on Christmas Day, blanketing the resort during a classic Sierra Nevada grand slam. 

One word of warning, though. Given the amount of snow in the forecast—and the accompanying high winds—there's a chance Mammoth Mountain will have a tough time opening on Christmas. Be prepared for lift delays. However, those who weather the storm will be rewarded. This is shaping up to be one of the deepest storms so far this season, provided the forecast holds. How’s that for a Christmas present?

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