We all have different bragging rights and personal bests we’re after. For some skiers and snowboarders, it’s all about steep and deep. However, sometimes you want to ride to the top of the mountain, point yourself downhill, and cruise to the base. Skiing a long run, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced skier or snowboarder, is a particularly satisfying end to a ski day. Your legs may be burning, but you’ve earned aprés-ski. So, let us help you find some of the longest ski runs in North America.
The longest ski runs in the East
Tote Road at Maine’s Sugarloaf Mountain runs 3.5 miles down the 2,820-foot drop from the top, winding down to the base. This trail can be accessed from the Timberline High-Speed Quad lift where skiers and riders can take in sweeping views of the Carrabassett Valley at the summit. It holds the title of the ‘longest continuous trail on the East Coast’.
A close second is the Great Eastern Trail at the ‘Beast of the East’. This Killington Resort trail is 3.46 miles long, running from Skye Peak down to the bottom. Juggernaut Trail used to be the longest in the area at 6 miles long but recent construction has split it up. Another Vermont favorite is Long John, located off the summit at Mount Snow. This 3.1-mile green trail is smooth sailing down to the base. It’s the perfect trail for beginner skiers to practice their skills and get a glimpse of the views of the Green Mountains.
Over in New Hampshire, Wildcat’s Polecat Trail winds nearly 3 miles down the 2,100-foot drop from the top, meandering mildly down the mountain with pitch changes. Bonus: Polecat has the most spectacular mountain scenery, with close-up views of Mount Washington.
In New York, Whiteface Mountain’s 2-mile Wilmington Trail is ideal for intermediates off Lookout Mountain. This long cruiser has gorgeous vistas, so look left after disembarking the lift for an extraordinary summit view. It starts with snowy trees on both trail sides and beautiful views of Lake Champlain. Then the trail turns right with views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains. While it can be challenging with several headwalls and a narrow section, when it’s over you can brag that you skied the longest run at a mountain that hosted two Winter Olympics.
Check out Lodging options at Wildcat Mountain and Whiteface Mountain.
The longest ski runs in the Rockies
If you really want some long ski runs, then head west. Start at Aspen Snowmass, where Longshot is said to be the longest continuous ski run in Colorado at 5.3 miles. Be prepared for an intermediate leg burner and an endurance challenge. Note: You’ll have to work for this one, as there’s a 5-minute hike to the run off of the Elk Camp Lift. You’ll definitely have earned that aprés-ski drink after finishing Longshot.
Vail’s old favorite is Riva Ridge, a 4-mile romp for advanced skiers featuring plenty of steeps, bumps, and breathtaking views of the Gore Range from the mountain crest to the base. Note that it’s often only groomed once per week, so this run isn’t for beginners. Riva Ridge was named in honor of a significant World War II battle waged by members of the 10th Mountain Division, several of whom helped start Vail.
Nearby at Vail’s sister resort, Beaver Creek, you’ll find Centennial, the 2.75-mile World Championship downhill course that’s a beauty when groomed. It starts atop the Cinch Express at 11,440 feet and runs along the spike of the mountain. Over at Breckenridge, the 4 O’Clock Run, Breck’s longest trail at 3.5 miles, is accessed off the Colorado Super Chair on Peak 8. Shred down the single black diamond at the top, cruise the blue section in the middle, and then take it easy on green at the bottom. As the name suggests, Breckenridge’s 4 O’Clock Run is a must-ski for aprés-ski bragging.
We’ll wrap things up at the I-70 ski resorts with Schoolmarm at Keystone. This is another terrific beginner cruiser, rolling 3.5 miles from the summit of Mt. Dercum to the Mountain House at the base. It has some fun drops broken up with flatter sections and feels like a highway cruise.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Telluride. If you love corduroy, head for Telluride’s 4.6-mile Galloping Goose, located at 11,811 feet and accessed via the Prospect Bowl Express chairlift. Beginner skiers can take their time meandering down the run that drops skiers off in front of Big Billie’s Restaurant.
There are a couple other noteworthy long ski runs in Colorado. Why Not is Steamboat’s 3-mile green run from the top of the resort’s central mountain. Ride through the trees the whole way, or slip away for some variety as you come across more advanced terrain. Finally, Eldora Mountain, near Boulder, can send you down the 3-mile Muleshoe from the top of Corona via Way Back. Advanced skiers love it for all the changes in terrain.
Check out Lodging options in Colorado.
Next, we head east to Wyoming, where Jackson Hole checks in with the 4,139-foot vertical drop that is Rendezvous Bowl. This is a fabled black diamond run off the peak (serviced by the Tram, a bus-sized funicular that goes from the base to the peak) and provides advanced skiers with a steep but manageable way from the very top. Rendezvous Bowl delivers the thrills of big mountain skiing without the panic of sheer drops and cliffs.
Liberty Bowl at Big Sky Resort in Montana is another one for advanced skiers, featuring 6 miles of rugged advanced terrain. This area isn’t groomed but packs a punch for even the best skiers. Nevertheless, it’s one of the easier ways down Lone Peak, and once you make it past the tough stuff, it’s smooth sailing down Mountain Mall to the bottom. The longest groomed run at Big Sky is Elk Ridge, a 3.5-mile intermediate trail. Located off the backside of Andesite Mountain and accessed from the Ramcharger and Thunder Wolf lift, it offers a consistent, fairly steep slope for riders to venture down.
Alta’s High Rustler, in Utah, is the longest continuous steep run in the United States, starting at a 45-degree angle. Known to locals as “High Boy,” this one will give you bragging rights for years to come. Enjoy more than 1,000 feet of vertical on your ride down to Wildcat Base before doing it all over again. Nearby, at Park City Mountain Resort you’ll find the 3.5-mile Home Run trail, a nice, long green run offering a relatively smooth ride.
Check out Lodging options in Park City.
The longest ski runs in the Far West
Naturally, we start at the highest lift-served ski resort in California, Mammoth Mountain. Road Runner is a scenic 3-mile ski run winding around the back side of the mountain to the Main Lodge. This is an intermediate run, so most skiers can relax and enjoy the scenery. The views of the Minaret Range are fantastic as you glide across the long, smooth terrain.
Up at Lake Tahoe, on the south side of the lake, Olympic Downhill is Heavenly’s longest ski trail at 5.5 miles. Take a right off the top of Olympic Express and practice your carving turns on this consistently medium-steep pitch to the base of Stagecoach Express. You’ll travel nearly 2,000 vertical feet by the end of it.
Check out Lodging options at Mammoth and Heavenly.
The longest ski runs in Canada
At Whistler, “long” means really long on the Peak to Creek Trail, a 7-mile thigh burner that’s one of the longest continuous ski runs in North America. Peak to Creek begins at the top of Whistler Mountain and ends at the Whistler Creekside gondola. Next door, at Blackcomb, the Green Line Down is a 7-mile cruiser down Easy Out. Green Line begins at the top of the 7th Heaven Chair and traverses back and forth to the base of the mountain.
Let’s end at Revelstoke, where Last Spike will test your endurance by the time you’ve skied the entire 9.5 miles. The best news is that beginners in good condition can zig-zag down to the base. The Last Spike runs the length of two lifts, the Revelation gondola and the Upper Stoke chairlift, and is the longest ski run in North America.
Check out Lodging options in Whistler and at Revelstoke.
Header image; ©Breckenridge/Vail Resorts
January 01, 2025
