Compared to almost all other adventure sports, skiing is expensive. Even once you own all the gear, unless you only ski in the backcountry, you have to pay for a lift ticket. The free ride up to the top of the hill is pretty nice, you might admit, compared to walking up. Sometimes it’s so nice, we’re willing to pay $100 per day for it, which breaks down to a little over $13 an hour.
We wondered: Who has the most expensive lift tickets in the country? So we did some research to find out the Top 20 highest-priced lift tickets. Our gut said mostly resorts out West (which was true, except for Stowe), but we checked out every ski area in the U.S., just to make sure. So below you’ll find the Top 20, then below that you’ll find the most expensive lift ticket in each state, and below that (if you’re really that curious) you’ll find a list of the price of every lift ticket in America, by state.
There obviously are more affordable ways to ski (season passes, discount web sites, local specials, hiking), but this is the most fair measuring stick: What would an average person pay at the ticket window for a normal day of skiing on a Saturday? That’s what we looked up. Here’s what we found.
The 20 Most Expensive Lift Tickets In America
1. $145
Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado
Vail, Colorado
2. $140
Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado
Keystone Resort, Colorado
3. $138
Copper Mountain Resort, Colorado
4. $129
Steamboat Ski Resort, Colorado
Winter Park Resort, Colorado
5. $129
Aspen Highlands/Aspen Mountain/Snowmass/Buttermilk, Colorado
6. $120
Northstar at Tahoe, California
7. $119
Alpine Meadows, California
Squaw Valley, California
8. $115
Heavenly Ski Resort, California
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
9. $114
Deer Valley, Utah
10. $112
The Canyons, Utah
Park City Mountain Resort, Utah
Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado
Most Expensive Lift Ticket In Each State
Alabama
Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort, $30 (also only ski resort in Alabama)
Alaska
Alyeska, $75
Arizona
Sunrise Park Resort, $63
California
Northstar at Tahoe, $120
Colorado
Vail, $145
Beaver Creek, $145
Connecticut
Mohawk Mountain Ski Area, $60
Idaho
Sun Valley, $109
Illinois
Chestnut Mountain Resort, $50
Indiana
Perfect North Slopes, $47
Iowa
Sundown Mountain: $44
Maine
Sunday River, $89
Maryland
Wisp Ski Resort, $69
Massachusetts
Jiminy Peak, $79
Michigan
Otsego Club & Resort, $82
Minnesota
Lutsen Mountains, $74
Missouri
Hidden Valley Ski Area, $47
Montana
Big Sky, $103
Nevada
Mt. Rose, $89
New Hampshire
Bretton Woods, $85
New Jersey
Mountain Creek, $67
New Mexico
Taos Ski Valley, $82
New York
Whiteface Mountain, $89
North Carolina
Sugar Mountain, $70
North Dakota
Frost Fire, $40
Ohio
Snow Trails Ski Resort, $47
Oregon
Mount Bachelor, $79
Pennsylvania
Blue Mountain Ski Area, $77
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, $77
Rhode Island
Yawgoo Valley, $45 (also the only ski resort in Rhode Island)
South Dakota
Terry Peak, $49
Tennessee
Ober Gatlinburg, $65 (also the only ski resort in Tennessee)
Utah
Deer Valley, $114
Vermont
Stowe, $108
Virginia
Wintergreen Resort, $75
Washington
Crystal Mountain, $76
West Virginia
Snowshoe Mountain, $89
Wisconsin
Granite Peak, $69
Wyoming
Jackson Hole, $115
Lift Ticket Price of Every Ski Area In The United States:
Alabama
Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort, $30
Alaska
Arctic Valley, $35
Alyeska, $75
Eaglecrest, $46
Hilltop, $30
Moose Mountain, $39
Mount Eyak, $30
Skiland, $34
Arizona
Arizona Snowbowl, $62
Elk Ridge Ski Area, $40
Mount Lemmon Ski Valley, $40
Sunrise Park Resort, $63
California
Mount Shasta Ski Park, $49
Alpine Meadows, $119
Boreal, $64
Donner Ski Ranch, $59
Granlibakken, $30
Heavenly Ski Resort, $115
Homewood, $77
Kirkwood—Kirkwood, $96
Northstar at Tahoe, $120
Sierra-at-Tahoe, $93
Squaw Valley, $119
Sugar Bowl, $95
Soda Springs, $44
Tahoe Donner, $47
Badger Pass, $48.50
Bear Valley, $72
Dodge Ridge, $68
June Mountain, $72
Mammoth, $105
China Peak, $69
Alta Sierra, $40
Bear Mountain, $64
Mount Baldy Ski Lifts, $69
Mount Waterman, $50
Mountain High, $69
Snow Summit, $64
Snow Valley Mountain Resort, $58
Colorado
Arapahoe Basin, $85
Aspen Highlands/Aspen Mountain/Snowmass/Buttermilk, $129
Beaver Creek Resort, $145
Breckenridge Ski Resort, $140
Copper Mountain Resort, $138
Crested Butte Mountain Resort, $103
Durango Mountain Resort, $79
Eldora Mountain Resort, $89
Howelsen Ski Area, $25
Kendall Mountain, $20
Keystone Resort, $140
Loveland Ski Area, $63
Monarch Ski Area, $69
Powderhorn Resort, $61
Silverton Mountain, $139
Ski Cooper, $48
Ski Granby Ranch, $61
Steamboat Ski Resort, $129
Sunlight Mountain Resort, $60
Telluride Ski Resort, $112
Vail, $145
Winter Park Resort, $129
Wolf Creek Ski Area, $63
Connecticut
Mohawk Mountain Ski Area, $60
Mount Southington, $56
Ski Sundown, $58
Woodbury Ski Area, $39
Powder Ridge, $55
Idaho
Bogus Basin, $49
Brundage Mountain, $60
Cottonwood Butte, $20
Kelly Canyon, $40
Little Ski Hill, $15
Lost Trail Powder Mountain, $40
Lookout Pass, $40
Magic Mountain, $31
Pebble Creek, $43
Pomerelle, $39
Rotarun, $20
Schweitzer Mountain, $72
Silver Mountain, $53
Snowhaven, $17
Soldier Mountain,
Sun Valley, $109
Tamarack, $52
Illinois
Chestnut Mountain Resort, $50
Ski Four Lakes, $28
Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park, $45
Ski Snowstar, $34
Villa Olivia, $39
Indiana
Paoli Peaks, $42
Perfect North Slopes, $47
Iowa
Mount Crescent Ski Area, $39
Seven Oaks Snow Ski Area, $34
Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, $30
Sundown Mountain, $44
Maine
Big Rock, $69
Big Squaw, $25
Black Mountain of Maine, $25
Camden Snow Bowl, $39
Eaton Mountain—Skowhegan
Hermon Mountain, $27
Lonesome Pine Trails, $20
Lost Valley, $40
Mount Abram, $49
Mount Jefferson Ski Area, $20
Powderhouse Hill, $5
Quoggy Jo—Presque Isle, $8
Saddleback Maine, $69
Shawnee Peak, $63
Spruce Mountain, $25
Sugarloaf, $84
Sunday River, $89
Titcomb Mountain, $20
Maryland
Wisp Ski Resort, $69
Massachusetts
Berkshire East Ski Resort, $60
Blandford Ski Area, $44
Blue Hills Ski Area, $40
Bousquet Ski Area, $45
Butternut, $55
Jiminy Peak, $79
Nashoba Valley Ski Area, $52
Otis Ridge, $35
Ski Bradford, $48
Ski Ward, $45
Wachusett Mountain, $63
Michigan
Alpine Valley, $42
Apple Mountain Ski Resort, $35
Big Powderhorn Ski Area, $55
Bittersweet Ski Resort, $41
Blackjack Ski Resort, $51
Boyne Highlands Resort, $69
Boyne Mountain, $69
Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf Resort, $46
Cannonsburg Ski Area, $37
Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, $61
Hickory Hills Ski Area, $21
The Homestead, $42
Indianhead Mountain Resort, $58
Marquette Mountain, $45
Mont Ripley Ski Resort, $42
Mount Bohemia, $57
Mt. Brighton Ski Resort, $49
Mt. Holiday, $32
Mt. Holly Ski and Snowboard Resort, $42
Mt. McSauba Recreation Area, $18
Mt. Zion Ski Area, $15
Mulligan's Hollow Ski Bowl, $16
Norway Mountain Ski and Snowboard Resort, $39
Nub's Nob, $67
Otsego Club & Resort, $82
Pando Winter Sports Park, $22
Pine Knob Ski Resort, $42
Pine Mountain Resort, $42
Porcupine Mountains, $35
Shanty Creek Resorts, $60
Ski Brule, $46
Snow Snake Ski & Golf, $27
Swiss Valley Ski and Snowboard Area, $39
Timber Ridge Ski Area, $39
Treetops Resort, $50
Minnesota
Afton Alps, $54
Andes Tower Hills, $39
Buck Hill, $40
Buena Vista Ski Area, $38
Detroit Mountain, $40
Coffee Mill Ski Area, $35
Giants Ridge, $50
Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area, $31
Lutsen Mountains, $74
Mount Kato, $39
Powder Ridge, $40
Ski Gull, $31
Spirit Mountain, $45
Welch Village, $49
Wild Mountain, $44
Missouri
Hidden Valley Ski Area, $47
Snow Creek, $44
Montana
Big Sky, $103
Blacktail Mountain, $38
Bridger Bowl, $52
Discovery, $42
Great Divide, $40
Maverick Mountain, $35
Montana Snowbowl, $45
Red Lodge Mountain Resort, $51
Showdown, $42
Teton Pass, $39
Turner Mountain, $37
Whitefish Mountain, $71
Nevada
Diamond Peak, $64
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, $70
Mt. Rose, $89
New Hampshire
Arrowhead, $9
Attitash, $75
Black Mountain, $55
Bretton Woods, $85
Cannon Mountain, $74
Cranmore Mountain Resort, $70
Crotched Mountain, $62
Dartmouth Skiway, $47
Granite Gorge, $49
Gunstock Mountain Resort, $78
King Pine, $52
Loon Mountain, $83
McIntyre Ski Area, $36
Mount Sunapee Resort, $79
Pats Peak, $64
Ragged Mountain, $79
Waterville Valley Resort, $75
Whaleback, $45
Wildcat Mountain, $75
New Jersey
Campgaw Mountain, $38
Mountain Creek, $67
New Mexico
Angel Fire Resort, $66
Pajarito Mountain, $49
Red River Ski Area, $67
Ski Apache, $67
Ski Santa Fe, $70
Sipapu, $44
Taos Ski Valley, $82
Sandia Peak, $50
Ski Cloudcroft, $40
New York
Beartown Ski Area, $21
Belleayre Ski Center, $64
Big Tupper Ski Area, $25
Brantling Ski Slopes, $30
Bristol Mountain Ski Resort, $66
Buffalo Ski Club, $55
Catamount Ski Area, $63
Dry Hill Ski Area, $35
Gore Mountain, $82
Greek Peak, $64
Holiday Valley, $68
Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun, $42
Holimont, $62
Hunter Mountain, $76
Kissing Bridge, $62
Labrador Mountain, $50
Mount Peter Ski Area, $45
McCauley Mountain, $30
Peek'n Peak, $56
Plattekill Mountain, $59
Royal Mountain, $40
Song Mountain Resort, $50
Snow Ridge Ski Resort, $39
Swain, $50
Thunder Ridge Ski Area, $50
Titus Mountain, $45
Toggenburg Mountain, $50
Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center, $42
West Mountain, $45
Willard Mountain, $40
Whiteface Mountain, $89
Windham Mountain, $78
Woods Valley Ski Resort, $43
North Carolina
Appalachian Ski Mountain, $59
Cataloochee Ski Area, $62
Sapphire Valley, $56
Beech Mountain, $65
Sugar Mountain, $70
Wolf Ridge, $56
North Dakota
Bottineau Winter Park, $31
Frost Fire, $40
Huff Hills, $30
Ohio
Alpine Valley Ski Area, $43
Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort, $43
Mad River Mountain, $45
Snow Trails Ski Resort, $47
Oregon
Cooper Spur, $32
Mount Hood Meadows, $74
Mount Hood Ski Bowl, $50
Summit Ski Area, $35
Timberline, $64
Hoodoo, $48
Mount Bachelor, $79
Willamette Pass, $49
Anthony Lakes, $35
Ferguson Ridge, $20
Mt. Ashland, $46
Spout Springs, $35
Warner Canyon, $32
Pennsylvania
Alpine Mountain Ski & Ride Center, $55
Bear Creek Mountain Resort, $63
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort, $60
Blue Mountain Ski Area, $77
Boyce Park, $22
Camelback Ski Area, $65
Eagle Rock Resort, $42
Elk Mountain, $65
Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort, $60
Jack Frost Big Boulder, $53
Liberty Mountain Resort, $69
Mountain View at Edinboro, $33
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, $77
Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, $60
Ski Big Bear, $57
Ski Denton, $39
Ski Roundtop, $66
Ski Sawmill, $37
Montage Mountain Ski Resort, $59
Tussey Mountain Ski Area, $39
Whitetail Ski Resort, $71
Rhode Island
Yawgoo Valley, $45
South Dakota
Ski Mystic Deer Mountain, $42
Great Bear, $26
Terry Peak, $49
Tennessee
Ober Gatlinburg, $65
Utah
Alta, $84
Beaver Mountain, $48
Brian Head, $54
Brighton, $72
The Canyons, $112
Deer Valley, $114
Eagle Point Ski Resort, $48
Nordic Valley, $52
Park City Mountain Resort, $112
Powder Mountain, $69
Snowbasin, $89
Snowbird, $95
Solitude, $77
Sundance, $65
Vermont
Bear Creek Mountain Club, $63
Bolton Valley Resort, $69
Bromley Mountain, $71
Burke Mountain, $64
Cochran's Ski Area, $20
Jay Peak Resort, $72
Killington Ski Resort, $92
Mad River Glen, $75
Magic Mountain, $63
Middlebury College Snow Bowl, $55
Mount Snow, $90
Okemo Mountain, $92
Pico Mountain, $69
Quechee Lakes Ski Area, $42
Smugglers' Notch, $70
Stowe Mountain Resort, $108
Stratton Mountain Resort, $98
Sugarbush Resort, $91
Suicide Six, $64
Virginia
Bryce Resort, $63
Massanutten Ski Resort, $68
The Homestead, $44
Wintergreen Resort, $75
Washington
49 Degrees North Ski Area, $54
Bluewood Ski Area, $44
Crystal Mountain, $76
Echo Valley Ski Area, $25
Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area, $35
Leavenworth Ski Hill, $17
Loup Loup Ski Bowl, $45
Mission Ridge Ski Area, $55
Mount Baker Ski Area, $57
Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, $52
Stevens Pass Ski Area, $69
The Summit at Snoqualmie, $64
White Pass Ski Area, $62
West Virginia
Canaan Valley Resort, $50
Oglebay Resort, $26
Snowshoe Mountain, $89
Timberline Four Seasons Resort, $64
Winterplace, $66
Wisconsin
Alpine Valley Resort, $45
Bruce Mound Winter Sports Area, $23
Camp 10, $32
Cascade Mountain, $49
Christie Mountain, $35
Christmas Mountain Village, $42
Devils Head Resort, $52
Granite Peak, $69
Kewaunee County Winter Park Ski Hill, $10
Keyes Peak, $12
Mont Du Lac, $30
The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort, $49
Mt. Ashwabay, $24
Mt. LaCrosse, $49
Navarino Slopes, $26
Nordic Mountain, $36
Nutt Hill, $18
Powers Bluff, $8
Standing Rocks, $12
Sunburst Ski Area, $40
Triangle Sports Area, $3
Trollhaugen, $45
Tyrol Basin, $48
Whitecap Mountains, $45
Whitetail Ridge, $30
Wilmot Mountain, $45
Wyoming
Grand Targhee, $73
Hogadon, $42
Jackson Hole, $115
Pine Creek, $43
Sleeping Giant, $34
Snow King, $47
Snowy Range, $45
White Pine, $46