Snow King Mountain - Jackson

The praise goes first to the location: the lifts sit a couple of minutes from Jackson's town square, and a ticket costs a fraction of what neighbouring Jackson Hole charges. Reviewers report thin crowds and almost no lift lines even after a storm, plus terrain under the gondola that ranks among the steepest in North America - tree and mogul lines the locals come for. Night skiing under floodlights and attentive instructors get warm mentions.

Criticism centres on how little there is for shaky skiers: green runs can be counted on one hand and drop away steeply right off the lift, with almost nothing between them and the blacks. Snowfall is modest, so the surface turns hard, icy and bumped out fast. Visitors also complain about slow lifts, confusing signage and a hill that sits in shade much of the day and feels cold. On-mountain food is called unremarkable.