While not well known for its beginner terrain, Olympic does have dedicated learning areas. Unlike most resorts, most of the green terrain is at the top and comes with some of the best views on the mountain. Beware though, there is no easy way down. Newbies can take the tram or Funitel to access the upper mountain terrain and then take the lifts back down to avoid the connecting steep blue runs

More than a third of Olympic's terrain is classified as intermediate and some of the trails marked black are "doable." Snow King, Shirley Lake and Solitude are all rife with Blues. Take the Siberia Express for access to peak to base cruisers. Intermediates must be careful when boarding lifts and choosing routes as the advanced terrain is very advanced and lifts like KT-22 load at the main base but have no easy way down.

Expert options here are seemingly endless. K-22, Granite Chief, Headwalll, and Silverado have some of the best extreme runs in the U.S. Olympians and X Games athletes flock here (Julia Mancuso and Johnny Moseley have trails named after them). It's rare to find this much extreme skiing at one resort. Expert terrain is not just steep but includes unmarked rocks, cliffs, trees. This mountain very much follows the "just send it" mantra!