With winter drawing near, you might be looking for the top destinations across the U.S. for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. To uncover the very best, USA TODAY 10BEST invited a panel of seasoned experts to nominate their favorite spots — from ski resorts, ski hotels, ski towns, on-mountain restaurants, après-ski bars, ski shops, and ski schools to places for cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Then, readers voted for their top picks to determine the winners.
Whether you’re chasing fresh snow, scenic views, or unforgettable experiences, these winners represent the pinnacle of winter adventure.
Click on each category below to see the full winners list:
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Best Après-Ski Bar: Outer Range Brewing Co. in Frisco, Colorado
Enjoy a drink and fantastic food at Outer Range Brewing Co. – Photo courtesy of Sean Greene
Outer Range Brewing Company commits 1% of their equity, profit, product, and time to The Summit Foundation, which gives back to the Summit County community. With a prime location in the Colorado Rockies, their famous Thai-ish fried chicken is a post-skiing favorite.
Full list of winners: Best Après-Ski Bar »
Best Cross-Country Ski Resort: Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado
Explore the Colorado Rockies at Devil’s Thumb Ranch – Photo courtesy of Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa
Devil’s Thumb Ranch features nearly 75 miles of groomed trails, making it a favorite resort for cross-country skiing in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Beginners can sign up for private lessons, while more advanced skiers can push themselves on more difficult trails.
Full list of winners: Best Cross-Country Ski Resort »
Best Place for Snow Tubing: Camelback Resort in Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Camelback Resort wins Best Place for Snow Tubing for third year in a row – Photo courtesy of Camelback Resort
With two-hour sessions and over 40 lanes to choose from, there’s never a dull moment when snow tubing at Camelback Resort in the Poconos. Guests can line up side by side to race against family or friends, and things get totally tubular with the resort’s nighttime galactic snow tubing experience.
Full list of winners: Best Place for Snow Tubing »
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Best Place for Snowboarding: Brighton Resort in Brighton, Utah
Brighton Resort offers terrain parks and trails great for snowboarders of all skill levels – Photo courtesy of Andrew Kooyman, Griffin Siebert
The top of Big Cottonwood Canyon in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains is home to Brighton, a ski resort with a 500-inch annual average of light, fluffy, and dry snowfall. Snowboarders can explore groomed trails geared toward beginners and experts alike, venture into ungroomed areas with natural terrain, or enjoy the human-made jumps and other features in the resort’s terrain parks.
Full list of winners: Best Place for Snowboarding »
Best Ski Hotel: Viceroy Snowmass in Snowmass Village, Colorado
Ski in and ski out at Viceroy Snowmass – Photo courtesy of Viceroy Snowmass
Situated near downtown Aspen in the heart of Snowmass Village, Viceroy Snowmass offers ski-in/ski-out luxury lodging with amenities like heated pools, three on-site restaurants, a full-service spa, a fitness center, and free transportation to Aspen/Pitkin County Airport.
Additional amenities like gas fireplaces, bathrobes and slippers, and soaking tubs really solidify Viceroy Snowmass as a perfect winter vacation spot.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Hotel »
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Best Ski Resort: Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville, Utah
Skiers of all skill levels can enjoy Snowbasin Resort – Photo courtesy of Brooks Roe
Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville, Utah, is one of the oldest continually operated ski resorts in North America and home of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games.
Here in the pristine Wasatch Mountains, you’ll find 114 trails and over 3,000 acres of terrain ranging from steep trails, open bowls, and beginner-friendly groomers. The area features three zones — Strawberry, Needles, and John Paul — and an advanced lift system including gondolas, a tram, and express lifts.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Resort »
Best Ski Restaurant: The Reserve at Tamarack Resort in Tamarack, Idaho
The Reserve wins Best Ski Restaurant for third year in arow – Photo courtesy of Tamarack Resort
The Reserve, a bar and restaurant, feels both upscale and casual at the same time. It’s situated at the center of the village at Tamarack Resort and serves up a fantastic dinner menu, small bites, and an expansive selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. Don’t leave without capping off your meal with their caramel churros and huckleberry gelato.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Restaurant »
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Best Ski School: Ernie Blake Snowsports School in Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
An array of lessons are offered at Ernie Blake Snowsports School – Photo courtesy of Taos Ski Valley
While Ernie Blake has full-day and half-day lessons like most ski resorts, they also offer ski weeks — each with a different theme. Choose from women’s week, race week, snowboard week, and more. There’s also childcare for adults who want to take a lesson without any little ones in tow.
Full list of winners: Best Ski School »
Best Ski Shop: Lone Pine Gear Exchange in Salt Lake City, Utah
Get set for the next ski season at Lone Pine Gear Exchange – Photo courtesy of Lone Pine Gear Exchange
Lone Pine Gear Exchange is your one-stop shop for used demo gear from top brands, consignment gear from the community, and the latest products for Telemarking and racing.
The shop features an excellent tuning service, with waxing, sharpening, and binding adjustment services from their expert staff, as well as custom boot fitting consultations and gear repair. There’s even a Shred Ready coffee shop on-site to keep you alert for your drive up into the powder.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Shop »
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Best Ski Town: North Conway, New Hampshire
North Conway, New Hampshire, makes a great home base for your ski vacation – Photo courtesy of WiseguyCreative.com
A ski town in its own right — the slopes of Cranmore Mountain Resort are just a few blocks off of the White Mountain Highway, the town’s main street — North Conway is also a convenient base for day-tripping to other classic New England ski areas like Black Mountain, King Pine, and Attitash.
Formidable Mount Washington, the tallest peak in New England, can be explored by snow coach or the venerable Cog Railway, and the town’s cozy hotels and B&Bs promise a warm welcome after a winter day outdoors.
Full list of winners: Best Ski Town »
Congratulations to all these winners! Remember to visit 10best.usatoday.com daily to vote in more Readers’ Choice Awards.