Skiing in Alaska:  Alyeska Resort

If you've never been skiing in Alaska, you're missing something. Yes, it's a bit of a travel jaunt for those of us living in the "lower 48," but you owe it to yourself to make the trip as Alaska has some of the best skiing in the world.

The Alyeska Resort, located in Girdwood, Alaska, is situated approximately 50 miles from the city of Anchorage, and is one of the finest resorts in the state, having been ranked number 9 of the top 25 killer ski trips by Skiing Magazine. With a top elevation of 2751 feet, a 2501 vertical drop, and 1400 skiable acres, the area gets an average of 631 inches of snow annually. Let me repeat that - an average of 631 inches of snow a year.

Here's the best part:

• Although this is some of the best skiing in the world, you won’t find the slopes overly crowded, and there are no long lift lines.
• There are 9 lifts, including 6 chair lifts and 2 surface lifts, and 1 cable car line.
• There are 68 trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts, with the majority of the trails designed for intermediate skiers.

And for those who enjoy the thrill of night skiing, you'll be glad to know that night time skiing is allowed. Of course, there's not much sunlight in the winter in Alaska, so there may be times during the day you'll feel you're skiing at night. But, when there is sun, you will be able to see beautiful snow capped mountains and hanging glaciers. Depending if it's an active time for the Northern Lights, you may be able to view the famous Aurora Borealis.

The ski season begins at the Alyeska Resort in mid November, and runs through mid April. March and April, of course, will afford you more daylight hours. In fact Alyeska Resort offers skiers the most spring daylight hours in the United States.

Skiing in Alaska is just one winter activity available to you; Other winter activities offered at the Alyeska Resort include dog sledding, ice climbing, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. If tubing interests you, check out the Glacier Tubing Park, which features two lanes of terrain and a surface lift.

We recommend the Hotel Alyeska as a great place for you to stay, where you'll find comfortable rooms, and many dining choices. If you want to be alerted when there's Aurora Borealis activity, you can leave a "Northern Lights wake up call" with the front desk so you won't miss the action.

Synonyms: alaskaskiing and Alaska skiing are used synonymously.   AK and Alaska are used synonymously.

laska, lAaska, AAlaska, Aaska, Aalska, Allaska, Alska, Alsaka, Alaaska, Alaka, Alaksa, Alasska, Alasa, Alasak, Alaskka, Alask, Alaskaa are typos for Alaska.  Kiing, ksiing, siing, siking, sking, skiing, sking, skinig, skiig, skiign, skiin are typos for "skiing."