![]() In addition to an adequate snowpack, there are two other prime ingredients required for resorts to be March out-performers: favorable aspects, as quantities of north-facing terrain become more and more important as the season goes on and higher elevations, as an extra 1,000 feet of elevation usually means temperatures about 3 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. Every skier knows there are no guarantees when it comes to weather on the mountain, but there are most certainly ski resorts that represent better bets for finding good snow late. It's also preferable, of course, if, on those bluebird days, the snow doesn't quickly turn into something resembling a heavy amalgamation of mashed potatoes rather than easy-skiing powder. But snowpacks at some other resorts, such as Steamboat, which have less north-facing terrain and may be lower in elevation, fare better earlier in the season and aren't as ideal for finding cold snow during March.Įverybody wants a spring break ski trip whose days alternate between dumping and bluebird. Skiing at Telluride, for instance, improves dramatically as the season wears on, as its high slopes and north faces preserve late season snow very well. If you've perused this site before, you know well that different resorts ski better at different times of the winter. We are always updating the statistics on our site with new wrinkles, new snowfall totals from the season before (this will move averages, but not greatly so, considering most of the averages are based on 40+ years of data), so it's always good to take a whirl through things before planning your upcoming winter, which is something more and more skiers are doing farther ahead of time, given the spread of multi-resort ski passes. We break it all down for March skiers below. With good snowpacks often in place by March skiers don't usually have to worry about terrain being open, but they should try and optimize for surface conditions. It's also the time when many people have a lengthy chunk of available vacation-which is why March's spring break season is the second most popular time for skiing, ranking just behind the crush that is the week between Christmas and New Year's. ![]() It's warm, the sun shines on most days, and, in many cases in the western United States, it's the month that brings the most precipitation. In general, March is a wonderful month to ski. Not all resorts that excel in December and January are great bets during spring. The big takeaway skiers should have after reading this piece: When it comes to snow, March isn't the same as winter break-you should select your destination according to the season. It's also the time when east-facing, south-facing and even west-facing aspects can go into frequent freeze-thaw cycles, which means they're best avoided in the morning hours, but should be skied hard-assuming there is snow on them-after things soften up between lunch and when the lifts close. It's this time of year when north-facing aspects and high elevation make a huge difference. But not all resorts' conditions are equal when the days grow warmer and longer. Spring break ski trips during March and April are usually strong plays across most of North America. Telluride, Colorado - 50% North-Facing, Elevations Up to 12,570 For instance, these resorts are particularly strong in March and April: ![]() The best resorts for spring skiing have lots of high elevations and north-facing terrain. Skiers seeking the best snow conditions in spring should aim to visit those ski resorts whose overall aspects, elevations and historical snowpacks give the best chance of skiing cold snow rather than the warm slushy stuff that freezes hard overnight. While there might be a ton of snow across the West, not all mountains ski equally during the warm days of March. In the Sierra, record rains near the California coast have translated to days-long snow storms that will keep Mammoth and Tahoe skiing perhaps into the summer. Most Rocky Mountain ranges from Colorado up to Jackson Hole have snow depths far above average for this time of year. Our perennial top picks for good spring break and March conditions have seen snow pile up. It has been a remarkable first six weeks of the ski season across most of the North American West. ![]()
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