Storm days might be a skier’s best friend. Without them, after all, there would be no snow and, even worse, no powder skiing. Whistling winds, icy roads, and blasts of moisture-dense weather are happily endured because, at some point in the future, they’ll eventually give way to skiing’s holy grail—the bluebird day.

The benefits of skiing under a clear sky can’t be overstated. It’s warmer, oftentimes, and the sun’s rays add definition to the snow, making it easier to navigate around moguls and variable terrain. In contrast, when whiteout conditions prevail, some of the most interesting terrain—namely wide open bowls—can’t be touched unless you have a penchant for flying blind.

Tree skiing presents a solution, but that only goes so far. Sometimes, we want to see all of the mountain and not have to think twice about every turn we make. Should you prefer to avoid skiing inside of a stormy ping-pong ball, these are seven of the sunniest ski resorts in the United States in no particular order.

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1. Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona

Skiing? In Arizona? You bet.

Arizona Snowbowl is the largest of a handful of ski resorts in the The Grand Canyon State, and certainly its most well known. Similar to other ski resorts scattered across the American Southwest, Arizona Snowbowl is known for attracting long periods of extended sunshine in the absence of a winter storm.

Pack the sunscreen, clean off your best pair of shades, and get ready to ski in the glorious Arizona sunshine. Plus, how many of your buddies can say that they’ve skied in Arizona? Bragging rights for life.

2. Lee Canyon, Nevada

Located just an hour’s drive from the Las Vegas Strip, Lee Canyon is one of North America’s southernmost ski resorts.

The ski area isn’t known for deep annual snowfall, but plenty falls when cold storms move across the desert and snow on Lee Canyon’s high altitude peaks. When it’s not snowing, Lee Canyon serves up springtime vibes and sun-soaked slopes.

If you’re planning on skiing Lee Canyon, pack a wide range of layers. One day you might be skiing in a t shirt and the next in GoreTex. Viva Las Vegas!

3. Palisades Tahoe, California

Palisades Tahoe, California, like several other ski resorts on this list, claims that it sees more than 300 days of cloudless, sunny skies each year. But the Lake Tahoe area ski resort isn’t just known for goggle tans and bluebird days. Heavy snow—and bottomless powder—is another of Palisades Tahoe’s calling cards.

During the 2022/2023 ski season, Palisades Tahoe saw a record-breaking 723 inches of snowfall. That winter, sun, presumably, was less common than usual on the slopes, but local skiers, after they got done digging out their cars for the umpteenth time, probably didn’t mind. After all, when the visibility is bad, and the snow is deep, you can always ski in the trees. During more usual winters, Palisades Tahoe receives 400 inches of powder, which is still nothing to scoff at.

4. Sun Valley, Idaho

With a name like Sun Valley, you’d better hope that you can deliver clear skies to skiers. The popular destination ski resort in Ketchum, Idaho, does, in fact, live up to its namesake with about 205 days of sun, according to Visit Sun Valley.

Bluebird days are part of the allure at Sun Valley, but the resort takes its appeal further with top-notch grooming and luxurious amenities. There’s a reason celebrities—including the famed author Ernest Hemingway and the bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger—like to visit the ski resort. Top-to-bottom cruisers here are tough to beat. If you visit, make sure you pack sunscreen, though. The altitude and bright, reflected snow can lead to blistering sunburns.

5. Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

New Mexico is among the sunniest states in the United States. Unsurprisingly, then, its ski resorts, including Taos Ski Valley, are excellent places to score bluebird days. Taos Ski Valley’s claim to fame is that it sees 300-plus days of sunshine each year. Pair that number with the resort’s 1,294 acres of terrain—which ranges from tough turns off the Kachina Peak Lift to gentler lower mountain fare—and you’ve got the recipe for a good time.

6. Mammoth Mountain, California

Like Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, California, was buried in historical fashion during the 2022/2023 ski season. The Sierra Nevada mountain range, which both resorts call home, can be pretty wild—a boon for hardcore skiers who prefer the deep stuff. Yet, given this is California we’re talking about, once those storms settle, blue skies and approachable temperatures tend to be on tap.

According to the resort, Mammoth Mountain sees 300 days of sunshine each year. This is a benefit when exploring upper mountain areas that reach beyond the treeline, which Mammoth Mountain has plenty of. The Upper Panorama Gondola delivers skiers to a unique realm of ridgelines and wide-open bowls above 11,000 feet.

A commitment from the resort to late-season skiing sweetens the deal. Mammoth Mountain has a reputation for remaining open into the warmer, sunnier months when nice weather is virtually guaranteed. In 2023, it didn’t stop spinning the lifts until August.

7. Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico

Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico, is humble, small, and an excellent option for skiers who like to pair snowsports with sunshine. The ski area—in true New Mexico fashion—sees 300 days of sunshine each year, according to Visit New Mexico. When the skies are clear, visitors to Pajarito Mountain can catch glimpses of the surrounding Jemez Mountains.

History buffs will be entertained, too, as Pajarito Mountain’s unique story is associated with a poignant and secretive chapter of World War II. Scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory played a central role in the ski area’s founding. For them, the mountains, it would seem, provided a relief to the grueling and philosophically challenging work associated with The Manhattan Project.

8. Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado

Another member of the 300 days of sunshine club, Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado, marries clear skies and tough, technical terrain that will appeal to advanced skiers.

To soak in as much sun as possible at Telluride Ski Resort, climb the towering 13,150-foot Palmyra Peak. This in-bounds, hike-to portion of Telluride Ski Resort’s footprint isn’t for the faint of heart, but the views and exciting turns make the slog worth it. A Camelbak full of water—and maybe some ibuprofen—will make the journey easier.