The ski street journey is perhaps a dying breed. With the recognition and comfort of flying, a great deal of snowsports vacationers get by with boarding passes and airport shuttles. That’s lots good, however piling into the automotive together with your greatest friends, whereas arguably much less sensible, will at all times maintain a sure romantic attract.Perhaps it’s that issues inevitably get screwed up—whereas that flat tire throughout a blizzard would possibly suck within the second, it’ll make an ideal story to inform your youngsters sooner or later. Whenever you fly and head straight to the slopeside resort, quite a bit will get left behind, like that funky gasoline station at milepost 200 that sells antlers, weapons, scratch tickets, and, for some motive, stay trout. We’d go so far as to argue that driving is the purest type of ski tour. So, to get the inventive juices flowing, listed here are three epic street journeys that’ll satiate hardcore skiers. However first, a couple of floor guidelines. Every certainly one of these journeys begins and ends in an space with a serious airport. That means, you will have the choice of renting a automotive in the event you’re coming from far afield. Second, these itineraries are mild on driving and heavy on snowboarding. They solely have a couple of hours between every resort.
1. Kamloops to Calgary
Robb Lanum/Getty Photographs
Resorts
Revelstoke Mountain ResortKicking Horse Mountain ResortBanff Sunshine VillageLake LouiseMt. Norquay
Whole mileage: 307
Our journey begins up north on the Powder Freeway. Technically talking, the Powder Freeway isn’t some mystical stretch of filth coated in recent snow—it’s a cluster of resorts in British Columbia’s Kootenay Rockies. With this itinerary, we’ll hit a couple of of them, counting on the ever-trusty Trans-Canada route.Kamloops, British Columbia, is the jumping-off level. From there, you’ll head east, ultimately arriving within the picturesque Banff, Alberta, however not earlier than making a couple of pit stops.Each resort on this journey brings one thing rugged and distinctive to the desk. Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts an almost 10-mile-long run referred to as The Final Spike—be sure to have loads of poutine on board earlier than making an attempt this one—and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort options adrenal gland activating steeps. From Banff, you possibly can hit three resorts with one residence base: Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, and Mt. Norquay.
Who’s It For?
If you wish to ski one thing you possibly can brag about on the bar, this journey’s for you. At Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, you possibly can hike and journey Ozone, a venue that’s been utilized by the most important and greatest mountain competitors circuit on this planet, the Freeride World Tour. Banff Sunshine Village affords its personal hair-raising large mountain space, Delirium Dive.
The Notable Pitstop
Lake Louise is a ski resort, but it surely’s additionally—you guessed it—a lake. Situated throughout the street from the eponymous resort, this glittering blue alpine physique of water is the proper place to soak within the pure great thing about the Banff, Alberta, space. If you would like a break from the Airbnb grind and don’t thoughts shelling out some additional money, a luxurious resort—Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise—stands on the banks of Lake Louise.
Associated: 7 of the Most Scenic Ski Resorts in North America
2. Bozeman to Salt Lake Metropolis
christiannafzger/Getty Photographs
Resorts
Bridger Bowl Ski AreaBig Sky ResortGrand Targhee ResortJackson Gap Mountain Resort
Whole mileage: 532
Contact down in Bozeman, Montana, and also you’re already off to an excellent begin. The famed Bridger Bowl Ski Space is simply exterior city, so keep for a day or two to familiarize your self with the native ski scene. Then, it’s off to Massive Sky Resort earlier than the actual journey begins. This street journey winds into Wyoming—checking off Grand Targhee and Jackson Gap Mountain Resort—and concludes within the ski resort-dense Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, an space the place, if you wish to catch some extra turns, you possibly can rip a couple of days at Alta Ski Space or Snowbird.
Who’s It For?
This itinerary has vary. Bridger Bowl is a non-profit mountain. In distinction, Massive Sky and Jackson Gap Mountain Resort are heavyweights within the resort business. They boast large terrain footprints, thriving base villages, and quite a few facilities—Grand Targhee’s someplace in the midst of the mom-and-pop to vacation spot spectrum.Consider it this fashion: hitting Bridger Bowl on the identical street journey as Jackson Gap Mountain Resort will allow you to higher perceive what you want. It’s a sampling-focused expertise that prioritizes selection.
The Notable Pitstop
Skiers have a tendency to love two issues: altitude and snacks. Corbet’s Cabin, which stands at 10,450 toes and is well accessible from the Jackson Gap Mountain Resort Aerial Tram, has each. The Cabin is understood for its waffles, which are available in a number of varieties and have toppings like peanut butter, bacon, and Nutella.
3. Bend to Seattle
Jeffrey Murray/Getty Photographs
Resorts
Mt. BachelorMt. Hood MeadowsMission RidgeStevens Move
Whole mileage: 531
The Pacific Northwest is an oddly slept-on area. Regardless of its status for deep snow, many skiers don’t suppose to plan ski journeys to Oregon or Washington. Perhaps it’s the Cascade Concrete—due to the maritime climate, Pacific Northwest snowfall typically is available in scorching and heavy, making for difficult snowboarding in the event you don’t know what you’re doing. However that shouldn’t deter you—every pitstop on this journey is greater than well worth the go to. From the 360 descents obtainable at Mt. Bachelor to the hidden, committing tree zones of Stevens Move, there’s lots to write down residence about.
Who’s It For?
Snowboarding within the Pacific Northwest is completely different. As beforehand talked about, it may be moist typically, and also you need to be sure that the waterproofing in your coat is strong earlier than heading out—however when it’s good, it’s good. Skiers thinking about checking off attention-grabbing strains and venturing into unchartered territory could have a gasoline on this journey.
The Notable Pitstop
Between Stevens Move and Wenatchee stands Leavenworth, a Bavarian-style city. Relying on who you’re, you would possibly discover the place unusual or endearing—both means, it’s price trying out. Each constructing within the city’s fundamental space has Bavarian facades, a styling that dates again to the Sixties when city leaders determined to attract guests by present process a visible makeover. Coupled with the inclusion of a number of occasions, the technique labored, and Leavenworth sees hundreds of thousands of vacationers every year. Plus, there is a Bavarian-style McDonalds.
Associated: 6 Lesser-Recognized Ski Locations That Ought to Be on Your Radar
Be the primary to learn breaking ski information with POWDER. Subscribe to our publication and keep linked with the newest happenings on this planet of snowboarding. From ski resort information to profiles of the world’s greatest skiers, we’re dedicated to conserving you knowledgeable.
Submit your greatest clips for an opportunity to be featured on POWDER. Tune in and watch handpicked, high-quality ski movies streaming all day lengthy on POWDER TV, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
