When it comes to skiing with kids, not all ski resorts out West are created equal, with one state that is a clear winner over them all. The Mormons were right. Utah, it is the promised land. For ski families that is.

Having recently lived and skied in the Cascades, the Sierras, and the Rockies, we know. This post will tell you the best ski resorts in each ski region, with some colorful stories sprinkled in to share our experience (and suffering). By the end, I hope that this post will convince you to just skip them all, load up the whole family and make tracks to Ski Utah.

Not All Skiing is Created Equal

We found when it comes to negative ski experiences, it’s sure a slippery slope out on the West Coast. I am a late-learner skier, who had only skied the far West Coast. I thought it was inevitable to run into lots of aggressive skiers on the mountains. Then, we moved to Utah. What a tremendous relief, it wasn’t that skiing as a sport was inherently aggressive, it was simply that we were skiing in the wrong place.

Utah ski resorts are kind, friendly, and chill. The vibe up on the mountain every day is joyful. I’d just fast forward five years to now. But sometimes life limits your choices, so I’ll discuss our experiences skiing California, Nevada and Oregon too. Here is the rundown.

If You Have to Ski California Tahoe, Go to These Ski Resorts

If you must go to Tahoe, on the California side, then head to Kirkwood Ski Resort. Kirkwood is the clear winner here because we’ve been there a dozen times with not one negative experience, unlike most other California Tahoe resorts.

Northstar Ski Resort is a pretty good choice. It is overall very family friendly. Our kids did Northstar ski team when they were little, and it was good. The mountain has great beginner terrain. Northstar still has the Tahoe vibe though. After I witnessed an elderly male skier scream, swear, and throw children’s skis in rage (for being on the ground where the team kids end for the day) I thought this is so inappropriate. Now I realize it is just so California Tahoe.

Or, Skip Tahoe and Head South to Mammoth

Having been to Mammoth Mountain several times, we vote it as a pretty great family-friendly mountain. You get the LA crowd at Mammoth, which is a very different crowd than the Bay Area crowd at Tahoe. With fun terrain, and an early open and late close every year, Mammoth Mountain is pretty mighty. With the summit at 11,053 feet, it feels like you are on top of the world (physically and figuratively) at Mammoth.

If You Have to Ski California Tahoe, Avoid These Ski Resorts

Here we go, more California Tahoe, don’t worry I will get to Nevada Tahoe shortly. I think Palisades Tahoe isn’t going to be the best family friendly experience, unless you are on the Alpine Meadows side. After a full season there, I am honestly happy to never go back. Palisades is flooded with aggressive Bay Area techies. Our kids were on the ski team at Palisades for a season, and we had a bunch of bully experiences, even the adults. I am pretty sure my husband got hazed skiing there on KT22 by a fellow team parent.

With kids, steer clear of Heavenly Ski Resort. Heavenly is not heavenly if you have kids. It’s sort of hellish, actually. It’s filled with doped up young male snowboarders with high testosterone and an underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex. This is a bad combination when you have small children that you are trying to protect on the ski hill. They are crazy.

Mentioning California Tahoe would not be complete without giving a shout out to the South Rim. We skied Sierra at Tahoe, and it was a positive experience and very family friendly. But be wary, we were only there a few days. All the other Tahoe resorts mentioned above we’ve clocked some real time at, so can confidently assess the vibe.

In Nevada Tahoe, You Can’t Go Wrong at any Ski Resort

Yes, Tahoe is Nevada too! And it’s so pretty. High desert and Lake Tahoe views, with friendly smaller mountains and fun terrain. We’ve skied both Diamond Peak Ski Resort and Mount Rose, and both are great mountains with no negative experiences to mention.

This is likely because it is Nevada Tahoe. And Nevadans aren’t pricks (unlike Californians). So we would go back to Nevada Tahoe anytime, for a few runs in our old stomping ground (with the exception of the Nevada side of Heavenly – same issues as above apply). Mount Rose is definitely easier to get to from Reno, but Diamond Peak has some pretty magical views. Now that I have fully exhausted the Tahoe discussion, I’ll switch to skiing the magnificent Cascades. Hello, Oregon.

In Oregon Cascades, Mount Bachelor Stands Alone

Not all Cascade Range mountains are created equal. Some have around 300 acres, some 4,000 acres. However, Mount Bachelor‘s advertising is a little misleading as I’ve previously written about in our life in Bend, Oregon post. Mount Bachelor is not 4,323 acres the whole ski season. Still, it’s got some amazing backside terrain, when it is actually open.

Despite false advertising and some bizarre experiences, Mount Bachelor gets an overall good rating in our book. The backstory is that Oregon tends to have some stoned-on-the-job personnel issues. This is not safe when operating a ski lift. Our younger daughter was dangling 40 feet away from the load area before the lift operator noticed she was dangling off the chair. Mount Bachelor has some real downsides, but we had pretty good times too.

I’d go back for some spring skiing with the family, with slight caution. Mount Bachelor will always have a big place in our hearts, because it was the last ski mountain where we had our best ski buddy ever, our beloved tuxedo. He was always in the van waiting for us, with his sweet calico sister, when we got in from the storms.

Onto Mount Hood, because you can’t leave out the King of the Cascades. Disclaimer, we have not family skied at Mount Hood, but our kids ski there every summer for race camps. It’s become my favorite alpine destination, to summer camp, hike, and get on snow, all in the same day.

Mount Hood has a massive amount of terrain. The mountain has three ski resorts: Timberline Lodge and Ski Area; Mount Hood Ski Bowl; and Mount Hood Meadows. Though I have no perspective on if it is actually family friendly, I’d say Hood’s summit view alone, is worth daring to find out.

The Worst Ski Resort in the Cascades and in America: Mount Ashland

Now to the worst ski resort in the country, Mount Ashland. The tiny 240-acre good ol’ boy hill. Insular vibes, child endangerment, and employees lashing out on visiting ski families. It’s not just our experience, they have a track record. Some stories involve lift operators not caring if children slip off the chair into a ravine straight off the beginner lift. Or lift operators are fired on the spot for being completely off-the top yelling at parents of small children, after almost seriously injuring their child.Right in front of community witnesses. Seems to be a pattern here.

Even after multiple bad experiences, we still gave Mount Ashland a chance. The last straw was on the bunny hill. We were happily putzing around while our small kids were learning to snowboard. The operations manager growled at me to get off the hill as they were closing, even though they weren’t closing for another 30 minutes. (Mount Ashland is also notorious for closing lifts early because the liftees just want to go home). I responded to the operations manager, this is why we ski at Bachelor and Tahoe now, because it is not cool to ruin a happy bunny hill day just because he was in a bad mood. He responded, go back to Tahoe you c-. (Yes, derogatory female anatomy term on the bunny hill). He was not fired or reprimanded. Considering the hostile managers with their foul language, I would not give Mount Ashland family friendly rating.

Mount Shasta is Your Best Family Ski Place in the South Cascades

There is a silver lining! As I mentioned previously, Mount Shasta Ski Park is just a little over an hour away from Mount Ashland, just a quick 1 hour drive South on the I-5. With 635 acres of terrain, and a super family friendly small town feel, this is a ski resort that takes you back in time. We hopped over to Mount Shasta multiple times while living in the region, and always had a great time.

Located in Northern California, or, the State of Jefferson, Mount Shasta is where civility and respectability still exist. It’s a breath of fresh air, and the fresh air is even better, because it’s Mount Shasta sacred air. Plus, you are literally skiing where Heaven and Earth meet. What more could you ask for?

Save the Best for Last: Family Ski Utah, and Every Resort is Amazing

Just honestly skip everywhere I just mentioned, and go to Utah. It is the most family friendly skiing beyond my wildest imagination, after surviving the Sierras and Cascades. We love Park City, Canyons, Deer Valley, Snowbird, Snowbasin, Solitude, Alta, I could just keep on naming ski mountains here. And we are so excited to venture out to the many more happy-go-lucky good vibe mountains here in this ski paradise.

You just can’t go wrong, pick a mountain and you will have a great time. We’ve been here months now, and every interaction has been super positive. Park City Mountain even has yellow jackets out there on the mountain to make the mountain safer. Utah’s state emblem is the beehive, representing community, hard work, and creativity. These values shine on all their ski mountains.

Park City Mountain’s motto is “this is your mountain.” And it’s not just a tagline, it is a felt experience. I have met happy skiers from all over the country, and Park City is their mountain, and it feels like home to all.

Even on the busiest of days, with the sprawling terrain and mainly courteous skiers, it feels like there is plenty of space for everyone. Sure, Home Run can get congested at the end of a weekend day, but that is the case for every major ski resort in the country. Plus, between Park City and Canyons there are so many places to play, hike, and get lost in the woods. It’s where you can explore all winter long.

Colorado Skiing, California Skiing, Utah Skiing

We ventured out to Colorado for the first time, also, and after 1 day at Breckenridge, I declared that skiing in Colorado is like skiing in California. My husband said that was about the worst insult I could have given. So even though we are a days drive away, I don’t really feel passionately about making a goal to ski all the Colorado Mountains. I just don’t need to, because we live in Utah.

I’ll say it. Utah is, the best snow (and ski culture) on earth.