USA ski holidays 2008

Canada may have the world renowned Whistler and Banff, but the USA's well-known Colorado resorts of Aspen, Copper Mountain and Vail are up there among the best places to ski on the continent.

The four ski areas that make up the Aspen Snowmass - Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass - are renowned for attracting celebrities, as well as offering superb skiing conditions.

The high altitude ski area of Aspen Mountain (which peaks at 3,418m) has been going since 1947, and offers 76 runs geared towards intermediate and expert skiers, with eight lifts, including one new gondola. Aspen Highlands has the most to offer the experts, with 36 per cent of the runs suited to the most experienced skiers. The area also offers the steepest run at the resort – with the Go-Go Gully at a super-steep 48 degrees.

Snowmass has slightly more to offer beginners, particularly with its new mid-mountain Elk Camp Meadows area, but most of the runs are suited to intermediates, with a total of 91 trails and 24 lifts.

Buttermilk is best for families and beginners, as well as attracting snowboarders.

As well as Colorado, Utah is another top place to ski in the USA, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002.

Some of the best resorts in the state include Deer Valley and The Canyons.

The Canyons are set to open on November 17th this season, with the resort offering lots for snowboarders and skiers alike. There are five bowls, six natural halfpipes and two terrain parks for snowboarders, as well as a total of 155 runs and 3,700 acres to ski.

Intermediates and experts are the best catered for – with 46 per cent of the slopes classified as black runs and 44 per cent getting blue square status.

More upmarket and better for beginners is Deer Valley, which this season is opening a new quad lift.

Finally, the best known of California's ski areas are based around the border area close to Lake Tahoe and the lake area further south, where resorts have superb names such as Heavenly, Squaw Valley and Mammoth.

For more information see the ski pages of the Colorado, Utah and California tourist boards.