Hitting the Slopes this Season?

According to a new study by Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), air ticket purchases made through United States travel agencies for flights to top ski destinations in the U.S. and Canada is on the rise. Travel to ski destinations in December 2016 grew nearly 10 percent from December 2015. Is skiing on your group tour radar this winter season? Here are the top five ski destinations based on December 2016 growth.

Gunnison, Colorado

Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley is home to some of the best skiing in the entire Rocky Mountain region. Most of it is located at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, but skiiers could also try Monarch Mountain, Cranor Hill and the Eleven Experience in Irwin.

Hailey-Sun Valley, Idaho

Pairing skiing with a destination named for the sun might not be your first instinct, but Bald Mountain's 3,400 vertical feet of fall line terrain has Sun Valley coined as "the Alps of America."

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

While snow seldom falls in the city, Vancouver offers easy access to some of the best downhill and cross-country ski facilities in North America. Hit the slopes at Whistler and Blackcomb, Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour and Sun Peaks, among others.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole is known for three outstanding local ski area: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee Resort and Snow King Resort.

Denver, Colorado

The Mile High City is a great arena for ski enthusiasts. Check out the Winter Park Express, a double-decker Amtrak Superliner train that ties together the area's rich skiing and railroad history as it carries passengers through some of Colorado's most beautiful landscapes, all the way to Winter Park Resort.

 Written by Cassie Westrate, staff writer for Groups Today.