“Chairlifts” means no gondolas or trams (sorry Kicking Horse). This list also only includes lifts I have skied, so it may be missing the Peak Chair at Whistler.
1. KT-22, Squaw Valley CA
Vertical drop: 1755'
My favorite run: Chute 75
Is KT overrated or underrated? Everyone has a different take on this. Regardless, hitting KT on a powder day is a unique experience unlike anything else. In just 5 minutes KT gets you from the bustling touristy Squaw village to the top of some of the steepest and scariest inbounds terrain on the planet. KT’s enormous size also means that you’ll never run out of things to ski and the snow conditions tend to stay solid, even a few days after a storm.
2. The Stoke, Revelstoke BC
Vertical drop: 2077'
My Favorite run: Meet the Neighbours
This chair is incredibly underrated. It’s most of the goodies of Revelstoke on one chairlift. North Bowl, South Bowl, Vertigo Ridge, it’s all here. Revy’s general lack of skiers also means that snow conditions will stay good for several days after a storm and makes Squaw look mobbed.
3. Plunge #9, Telluride CO
Vertical drop: 2138'
My Favorite run: Spiral stairs
Plunge is one of the best lifts in the world if you just want to ski bumps. Want to burn your legs out on bumps? Plunge is there for you. The runs are extremely long and by the time you get to the bottom, you won’t mind the slow chair. Telluride’s warm and sunny climate also means that the bumps on Plunge tend to stay softer than they would at some other resorts.
4. Sublette, Jackson WY
Vertical drop: 1630'
My Favorite run: Alta 1
Sublette is overshadowed by the tram but services plenty of good terrain by itself. The gnarliest inbounds terrain at Jackson (outside of corbets) can all be accessed from this lift. Some even say that Alta Zero is harder than Corbets.
5. Headwall, Squaw Valley CA
Vertical drop: 1756'
My Favorite run: Sun bowl to Horse Trails
Headwall is overshadowed by KT but services plenty of good terrain by itself (notice a pattern here?). The bowls surrounding the summit provide some of the best steep terrain at Squaw, and runs further down CII ridge provide some of Squaw’s gnarliest cliffs.
6. Deep Temerity, Aspen Highlands CO
Vertical drop: 1708'
My favorite run: the liftline (can’t remember what it’s called)
Deep Temerity forever changed the skiing experience in Aspen. It not only allowed for longer runs down the existing Steeplechase, but allowed for longer runs in the Highland Bowl. This lift and Highland Bowl forever shaped the identity of Aspen Highlands and is why expert skiers love it so much.
7. Silverado, Squaw Valley CA
Vertical drop: ~1400'
My favorite run: Trail 90
Silverado is the greatest lift that nobody has skied. Due to its low elevation and gnarly nature, it very rarely operates. When it does operate though, Silverado is no joke. It has some of the most bizzare and wild terrain anywhere. Where else can you find a 100 foot cliff inbounds? If this lift could get running more often, it would be better known for the hidden gem it really is.
8. Gold Hill #14, Telluride CO
My favorite run: Little Rose
Vertical drop: 1475'
Gold Hill is well known among hardcore skiers and Telluride locals. The runs right under the lift are actually quite reminiscent of KT-22’s west face. Gold Hill also provides access to Revelation bowl as well as hiking access to the legendary Gold Hill Chutes.
9. Supreme, Alta UT
My favorite run: Big Dipper (conditions were terrible the day I skied Alta)
Vertical drop: 1224'
Alta is deemed by many as the best ski area in North America, and Supreme is their standout lift. No surprises with this one, cliffs, bowls and chutes. The new High Speed chair installed for the 2017–18 season revitalized this area made this lift reach a new level of popularity.
10. Mineral Basin, Snowbird UT
It’s a bowl. “Runs” in an open bowl are a social construct.
Vertical drop: 1435'
While Mineral is overshadowed by the tram, it still provides excellent bowl skiing just off the back of Snowbird. This lift is one of three standout chairlifts at Snowbird, with the others being Little Cloud and Gad 2.
Honorable mentions (lifts I have not skied that would probably make this list):
- Pallavinci, Arapahoe Basin CO
- Peak Chair, Whistler BC
- Chair 23, Mammoth CA
- Chairlift, Silverton CO
