We all have different bragging rights and personal bests we’re chasing. For many skiers and snowboarders, it’s all about steep lines or deep powder. Sometimes, though, you just want to cruise from the top of the mountain to the base and rack up mileage. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced skier or snowboarder, a long run is a particularly satisfying way to end a day on the slopes. Your legs may be on fire, but you’ll have earned your après-ski. Read on for our list of some of the longest ski runs in North America.
The Longest Ski Runs in North America
The Longest Ski Runs in the East
Tote Road at Maine’s Sugarloaf runs 3.5 miles from the top of the mountain down to the base, covering 2,820 feet of vertical. Skiers and riders can take in sweeping views of the Carrabassett Valley from the summit before winding their way down. Sugarloaf bills it as the longest continuous trail on the East Coast.
A close second is Great Eastern at the “Beast of the East.” This Killington trail is 3.46 miles long, running from Skye Peak down to the bottom. Juggernaut used to be the longest trail in the area, stretching 6 miles, but construction split it up. Another Vermont favorite is Long John, off the summit at Mount Snow. This 3.1-mile green trail is smooth sailing down to the base, making it a perfect trail for beginners to practice their skills while taking in views of the Green Mountains. Over in New Hampshire, Wildcat’s Polecat winds nearly 3 miles down the 2,100-foot drop from the top, meandering mildly down the mountain with a few pitch changes. Bonus: Polecat has spectacular mountain scenery, with close-up views of Mount Washington.
In New York, Whiteface Mountain’s 2.1-mile Wilmington Trail, off Lookout Mountain, is ideal for intermediates. This long cruiser has gorgeous vistas, so look left after getting off the lift for an extraordinary summit view. It starts with snowy trees on both sides and views of Lake Champlain, then 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.
The Longest Ski Runs in the Rockies
Head west for some truly long ski runs. We’ll 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 endurance challenge on this intermediate leg burner. Note: You’ll have to work for this one, as there’s a short hike to the start of the trail from the top of the Elk Camp lift. You’ll definitely have earned those après-ski drinks after finishing Longshot.
Vail’s old favorite is Riva Ridge, a 4-mile romp for advanced skiers with plenty of steeps, bumps, and breathtaking views of the Gore Range from the mountain crest to the base. Riva Ridge was named in honor of a significant World War II battle fought by members of the 10th Mountain Division, several of whom helped start Vail. Note that it isn’t groomed every day, so this run isn’t for beginners. Nearby at Vail’s sister resort, Beaver Creek, you’ll find Centennial, a 2.75-mile top-to-bottom cruiser that’s a beauty when groomed. It starts at 11,440 feet, at the top of the Cinch Express, and follows the spine of the mountain.
Over at Breckenridge, Four O’Clock Run stretches 3.5 miles from the upper reaches of Peak 8 toward town. Start on the single-black-diamond section at the top, cruise the blue middle section, and then take it easy on the green at the bottom. As the name suggests, Four O’Clock is a must-ski for bragging rights come après-ski time.
We’ll wrap up the I-70 ski resorts with Schoolmarm at Keystone. This is another terrific beginner cruiser, rolling 3.5 miles from the summit of Dercum Mountain to the Mountain House base area. It has some fun drops broken up by 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, which starts near the top of the Prospect Express chairlift at 11,811 feet. Beginner skiers can take their time meandering down the run, which drops skiers off in front of Big Billie’s restaurant.
There are a couple of other noteworthy long 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 on more advanced terrain. Finally, Eldora Mountain, near Boulder, can send you down the 3-mile Muleshoe from the top of Corona via Way Back. Many advanced skiers like it for all the changes in terrain.
Next, we head northwest to Wyoming, where Jackson Hole’s Aerial Tram climbs 4,139 vertical feet from the base to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. From the summit, the fabled black diamond Rendezvous Bowl gives advanced skiers a steep but manageable way down from the very top, and you can keep going all the way to the base for one of the biggest top-to-bottom descents in the country. Rendezvous Bowl delivers the thrills of big mountain skiing without sheer drops and cliffs.
Liberty Bowl at Big Sky Resort in Montana is another one for advanced skiers, with about 6 miles of rugged terrain that begins on the south face of Lone Peak. This area isn’t groomed, and it packs a punch for even the best skiers, but once you make it past the tough stuff, it’s smooth sailing down Mountain Mall to the bottom. Looking for a groomer? The longest at Big Sky is Elk Ridge, a 3.5-mile intermediate trail off the backside of Andesite Mountain that offers a consistent, fairly steep pitch.
Deer Valley’s Green Monster claimed the title of longest ski run in Utah when it opened in 2025, at 4.85 miles. The beginner-friendly trail winds from the top of Bald Mountain to the resort’s new Deer Valley East Village, and it takes two lifts to reach the top. Previously, Park City Mountain’s Home Run held the title at 3.5 miles. Home Run, another relatively easy trail, is a staple for new skiers building skills or advanced skiers looking for a break from steeper terrain. Looking for a true calf burner? Head to Alta, where High Rustler (known to locals as “High Boy”) is one of the most iconic sustained steep runs in the country. You’ll enjoy more than 1,000 feet of vertical on your way to the Wildcat base on this must-ski expert run.
The Longest Ski Runs in the Far West
Naturally, on the West Coast we start at the highest lift-served ski resort in California, Mammoth Mountain. Road Runner is a scenic 3-mile run that winds around the back side of the mountain to the Main Lodge. It’s an intermediate run, so most skiers can relax and enjoy the scenery, including fantastic views of the Minarets 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 trail at 5.5 miles, and it’s often cited as the longest ski run in the U.S. Take a right off the top of the Olympic Express and practice your carving on its consistently medium-steep pitch to the base of the Stagecoach Express. You’ll drop nearly 2,000 vertical feet by the end of it.
The Longest Ski Runs in Canada
At Whistler, “long” means really long on Peak to Creek, a roughly 7-mile thigh burner that’s one of the longest continuous ski runs in North America. Peak to Creek begins near the top of Whistler Mountain and ends at the Creekside base. Next door, on Blackcomb, the Green Line follows Easy Out on a 7-mile cruise from the top of the 7th Heaven chair, traversing back and forth all the way to the base of the mountain.
We’ll end this guide to the longest ski runs in North America at Revelstoke, where Last Spike will test your endurance over its roughly 15 kilometers (about 9.5 miles). The best news is that beginners in good condition can zigzag all the way down to the base. Last Spike runs the length of two lifts, the Revelation Gondola and the Stoke Chair, and is the longest ski run in North America.
Header image: ©Telluride
