"Some ski trips start building the adrenaline before you even park in the ski area lot. Sometimes the road to get there can feel like a journey of its own, climbing over high passes, tracing narrow canyon walls, and then suddenly opening to big mountain views that make you want to stop and soak it all in. A handful of routes across North America turn the drive itself into part of the reward, serving up scenery that rivals the runs you came for."
"The approach to Mammoth Mountain on Highway 395 runs through some of the most striking terrain in the Eastern Sierra. The highway moves between wide open basins and sharp mountain walls, with long views that seem to stretch forever. As you get closer to the mountain, the peaks stack higher and the scenery shifts from high desert to alpine, giving the drive a dramatic finish."
"The road to Mt. Baker feels like a slow reveal. Leaving Bellingham, SR 542 rolls past quiet farms and wooded hills before tightening into a route that threads through small towns and dense forest. As the peaks start to rise, the drive becomes a steady climb toward open vistas, deep valleys and the snowy upper reaches of the mountain. It's one of those approaches where the scenery builds with every mile, setting the mood long before you reach the lifts."
Several North American ski-area approaches offer drives where the approach equals the destination. Highway 395 into Mammoth Mountain transitions from high desert basins to stacked alpine peaks, delivering long, dramatic views. SR 542 to Mt. Baker moves from farms and wooded hills into tight forest and then opens to vistas, deep valleys and snowy upper reaches. The route from Anchorage to Alyeska follows Turnagain Arm along tidal flats and steep shoreline peaks before narrowing toward Girdwood. Little Cottonwood Canyon Road provides a dramatic ascent into alpine terrain, making the drive a memorable part of the trip.
Read at SnowBrains
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