Alyeska is the largest ski resort in Alaska, with eight lifts, around 1,600 acres of skiable terrain and a 762-metre vertical drop from the summit of Mount Alyeska down to the daylodge. The runs are mostly intermediate and advanced; what makes the place special is the snow, the views — every lift looks straight down onto Turnagain Arm and across to the Kenai Mountains — and the casual Alaskan vibe of the lift lines.
The season runs roughly mid-November to mid-April, with daylight hours stretching from short December days lit by the Northern Lights to long April afternoons skiing until 9 p.m. In summer the resort runs the tram for sightseeing, opens a downhill mountain-bike park, and hosts hiking on the mountain.
The Hotel Alyeska, a Japanese-owned chateau-style hotel at the base, is the largest accommodation in Girdwood and operates year-round.