With the start of Beijing Winter Olympics , a skiing boom has also begun around the world. Skiing quickly surpassed its origins as a sport for brave climbers and is now a mainstream winter activity throughout the family. Ski resorts have also kept pace with demand, adding hotels, restaurants, ski entertainment and a variety of indoor and outdoor entertainment activities.
Although the world's most famous ski resorts are all in Europe and North America, after the 1998 Winter Olympics , a skiing trend also emerged in Japan. And the fans' pursuit of year-round snow has also made Andes more concerned. There are many factors to consider when choosing the best ski resort for your holiday, but for this list, the ski experience itself—the diversity and challenges of the terrain, snow conditions and elevator access—dominates when choosing these preferred ski resorts, which is a skier’s bucket list.
It is worth noting that many of these mountains provide remote areas with terrain that is unpredictable in nature and should not be tried without qualified and well-equipped remote area guides.
1 Whistler Blackcomb Mountain, Canada
Whistler is a snowboarder on the mountain
Whistler Blackcomb is now part of the Vail Resorts group, combining the excellent terrain of the two mountains, making it the premier ski resort in Canada and North America’s largest winter sports zone . The integrated ski terrain provides over 200 slides, accessible via 37 lifts. More than three kilometers of these, the PEAK 2 PEAK cable car connects two mountain tops and is the longest unsupported lift span in the world.
These excellent technical facilities combine with a variety of terrain – the big open bowl on Whistler Hill and the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb Hill (you can year-round skiing ) – and world-class beauty facilities make Whistler a favorite for serious skiers.
Whistler Blackcomb is also a favorite among freestyle skiers and boarders . Five different parks covering 99 acres of snow are designed for freestyle of all levels, ranging from easy jumps and railroad tracks to Nintendo Terrain Park and Olympic-sized pipelines. Professionals are trained here, and there are a wide variety of them, making this a great place to learn basic knowledge.
unrivalled views across the Pacific Ocean, vast terrain suitable for all skill levels and a charming full-service resort located on the base make it an equally good choice for families and recreational skiers. There is enough snow and mountains to detour, and it is only a two-hour drive from Vancouver .
Whistler is just one of several outstanding ski resorts in BC . Many of them are located in the province, but are still easily accessible by car or short flight from Vancouver.
2.Gaucheville, France
0Gaucheville, France
Although Gaucheville has high-end villages and reputation, Gaucheville is designed for serious skiers who seek unforgettable snow thrills for life. As part of the world's largest alpine skiing district Les 3 Vallées region, Cocheville has 600 km of interconnected ski trails spanning 10 peaks above 2,500 meters above sea level and provides 150 km of alpine skiing grounds, accessible via 60 cable cars.
Average of four meters of natural snow per year has been carefully maintained and sorted out, Cross-country skiing can be called a legend . Black Run includes a corridor considered one of the most difficult black runs in the world; steep black tycoon running is also a good choice.
If you want to ski in densely packed places, head to the Jockeys and Jean Blanc ski trails from the top of Col de la Loze to Le Praz. Let Blank be former World Cup downhill runner . Ultimately, you'll find restaurants in any of the five villages (seven of which are Michelin -star restaurants), although this season won't see the usually dazzling rear ski scene, making it the most popular ski resort in France.
3. Swiss Zermatt
There are few places that can be compared with the cross-country skiing opportunities of Zermatt . Zermatt, along with Roshong, Stoke and Matterhorn Glaciers, is the gateway to one of the most exciting cross-country skiing experiences in the world, a 178-km (111 mile) hiking route from Zermatt to Chamonix in the French Alps is known as the Advanced Route . Guides are mandatory, as are professional skills and high altitude endurance; the route connects a network of mountain huts, hostels and huts, which usually take eight days to complete.
4. The Wealth Mountain Resort in Colorado, USA
Colorado The largest ski resort and one of the largest ski resorts in the world, Wealth provides enough terrain to keep avid skiers of any skill level busy. The neat long runway overlooks the luxurious hotels, upscale restaurants and shops of the equally manicured town of Vail.
Experts headed to the seven back bowls to find bumps and clearings, and is expected to maintain its best condition per year 350 inches of snowfall. Weal is not only famous for its size—31 cable car serves over 5,289 acres of skiing —but also famous for its variety. Three separate terrain parks make riders happy, and skiers in remote areas find powder paradise here.
5. Aspen Snowmas, Colorado, USA
Overlooking the Maroon Valley from the top of Aspen Heights
Among several ski resorts in Colorado, Aspen Snowmas consists of four ski resorts surrounding Aspen and Snowmas Village. Snowmas, Aspen Hill, Aspen Heights and Buttermilk have a total area of more than 5,500 acres, with Snowmas alone accounting for more than 3,000 acres. Although it is the smallest of the four, buttermilk has been famous for hosting winter X-Games since 2002. The 2021 competition is scheduled to take place from January 28 to 31.
While most of the remote areas are for experienced skiers, Aspen’s unusual is that it has some simple areas that are safe for newbies with unswept terrain. This is one of the first places on the African continent where backcountry skiing has started to become popular, and it is still in the lead. Aspen Powder Tours takes skiers and riders to the powder storage room behind Aspen Mountain, where the elevator system is inaccessible.
6. France Valdezer
Ski legend Jean-Claude Kielli swept three gold medals with amazing results on Winter Olympics , making his hometown one of the most famous ski resorts in Europe. Val d'Isere shares an alpine valley with the adjacent Tignes, providing with more than 1300 kilometers of interconnected ski terrain , served by more than 150 ski lifts.
The valley is surrounded by peaks and is as high as 3,450 meters above sea level, and is part of the Parc National de la Vanoise. The altitude ensures that it will snow in late spring; skiing in Glacier du Pisaillas usually lasts until June, usually until July.
Valdezer and Tignes offer some of the best skis for experts, with more than two dozen challenging black slides. But it is the special cross-country skiing terrain for skilled skiers to win bragging rights . Most of the cross-country skiing in Tigne is located above the tree line. For a 45 thrilling (and unique scenery), head to the North Wall of Pramecou; it is highly recommended to hire a guide here, even for experienced alpine skiers.
7. Cortina d'Ezzo, Italy
Cortina d'Ezzo
In Cortina alone, there are more than 3 cable cars transport skiers from the city center to the snow on the top of the highest ridge, from where they can slide back to town in an exciting run or spend a day on high altitude snowfields. Skiing here is one of the most popular activities in Italy. Not just experts, Cortina's terrain is about half the intermediate level. There are also sled trails and skaters’ Olympic skating rinks.
new 10 people in 2022 The cable car connects the Tofana and Cinque Torri areas, allowing skiers to reach the Sellaronda and Dolomiti Superski areas from Cortina.
8. Telluride, Colorado, USA
Telluride is one of the most popular ski resorts in Colorado. The height of the San Juan Mountains allows the resort’s base to start at an impressive 8,725-foot altitude, and the lifts take skiers to 12,515 feet. Among them is over 2,000 acres of ski-capable terrain . It is this impressive vertical and expansive hiking terrain that brings extreme skier to Telluride.
But it is also a resort suitable for family travel, with ski resorts at all levels, the base has a mountain village that can be skied in and out, and is connected to the town of Telluride through a free cable car. Experienced skiers can slide directly from the steep trails into Telluride.
9. Niseko
Niseko and the distant Yamtishan
are located in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan. The four connected ski resorts are called Niseko United Ski Resort, about 90 kilometers away from Sapporo ; they include Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, Hanazono and An'nupuri. Between them, they provide some excellent and variable terrain on the volcanic slopes, with many trails facing the near perfect cone of Sheepho Mountain called " Hokkaido m Fuji "
Modified trails, wooded clearings, unmodified powder bowls and snow parks covered half of the mountain, while on the other side is the vast mountainside full of unpatrol Wild adventure Filled with natural half tubes, steep slides and almost unlimited skiing . Niseko is known for its powders and the low temperatures that produce it, so be prepared for cold weather.
Although it is known for its glades and non-skiing alpine skiing, over two-thirds of the trails in Niseko are suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers. The resort offers helicopter skiing, cat skiing, snowmobile, snowshoeing and hot spring spa – the highlight of any trip to Japan.
Niseko offers various activities for children and their outstanding skiing and snowboarding lesson plan has won it the title of the best family ski resort in Japan in the Asian Ski Awards.
10. France Chamonix
Skiing in Chamonix
Mont Blanc 's iconic name, the first Winter Olympics and the world's largest height difference ski resort together make Chamonix one of the most famous and popular ski resorts in France.
The highest peak in Europe is 4,807 meters above sea level, and Mont Blanc guarantees Chamonix the best snow conditions in the Alps and lasts the longest. The surrounding glaciers help keep the altitude low and the powder dry. Snow falls on some of the most challenging terrain in the world for skiers.
Chamonix includes several different areas: Grands Montets, with an altitude ranging from 1,235 meters to 3,300 meters, providing the world's largest height difference professional running. At the Les Houches Ski Resort, you will find the famous Verte, the only ski run in the province of Upper Savoy that has been approved for the World Cup. The tree-shaded and often glazed, it has a vertical height of 870 meters for 3.5 km, including a series of jumps.
Chamonix is known for its first-class cross-country skiing.It’s not just about experts, though—at Les Houches there are all levels of skiing, as well as cross-country ski trails.
11. Austria St. Anton
Saint Anton
Saint Anton is a legendary name in the hearts of skiers. It was the starting point of the first ski club in the Alps in 1901. Its 280km terrain, with an altitude of 2,800 meters, is not suitable for beginners or even most intermediates as it includes some of the most challenging runs anywhere in the Alps.
Tycoon is as legendary as the resort itself, cross-country skiing is great because it is one of the most snowy resorts in the Alps. For the most amazing experience, hire a guide to the stunning views around Sonnenkopf; ask about the Schinder slide or the route to the falls into Langen.
Regional Alberg Cable Car Pass provides access to 340 km of slopes and ski trails, including nearby Austrian ski resorts Lech and Zürs, both of which offer plenty of opportunities for beginner and intermediate skiers. You can take the shuttle bus to these places, and some of the ski runs at these resorts are also connected to St. Anton via Flexenbahn, a cable car that connects the other side of the Flexen Pass.
New excitement is coming as the spectacular 85km Celebrity Race is completed. The track takes experienced skiers from St. Anton/Rendl to Warth via Zürs and Lech and then back to St. Anton. This track covers the entire Ski Arlberg ski area.
St. Andong Village is a gathering place for alpine hotels, shops and restaurants, and the ski lift starts from the village. Often known for its lively ski scenes, St. Anton's nightlife may be more low-key this season.
12. Austrian Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel on a sunny winter day
in the Austrian Alps with easy access to Innsbruck and Salzburg , Kitzbühel looks like a tourist poster for the Alpine ski town, its mural buildings and mountain huts. While its sophisticated boutiques and luxury hotels may give it the aura of a chic Swiss resort, Kitzbühel has comfortable warmth and accommodation and welcomes families on a budget. The charming Kitzbühel is more than just a pretty face.
For serious skiers seeking white knuckle drops, there is a legendary 85% vertical, and skiers compete in Hahnenkamm every year, the most challenging of any downhill race. For less skilled skiers, there are gentle slopes and long and wide cruisers. The Little Bikram District is designed for riders and freestylers.
If 170 km of ski trails and slopes in Kitzbühel are not enough, take a short bus to SkiWelt and take more than 280 km of trails. Both areas are included in the nine areas covered by Kitzbühel Alps AllStarCard.
13. St. Moritz, Switzerland
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is known as the first winter resort in Europe and remains one of the most charming ski resorts in Europe, with sufficient qualifications to make it stand out among the many ski resorts in Switzerland. While it may be known for its glitz and social scenes, there is no doubt about the ski challenge of the mountains around it. It hosted two Winter Olympics and five Alpine World Ski Championships, most recently in 2017.
St. Moritz is strong on medium terrain, but about 30% is rated black and has plenty of cross-country ski trails, some remote areas and some marked routes. Because it is not known for cross-country skiing, it remains a conservative secret, meaning it is less used in remote areas and therefore not being tracked like a more well-known destination.
For the steepest and most challenging terrain, head to Diavolezza and Lagalp, where the deep bottom ensures quality snow.
14. Park City Mountain/Canyon, Utah, Utah,
Park City
015 At the end of 2015, Park City Resort and Canyon merged into part of the Wealth Resort, making it the second largest ski resort among many ski resorts in Utah, . With 7,300 acres of ski terrain, Union Resort offers something for everyone, including a comfortable bubble lift and a heart-pounding cable car suspended in one of the resort’s eponymous canyons.
Both still maintain their respective bases, which is good because going from one trail network to another is still a time-consuming challenge (although it becomes easier). So it's better to choose one or the other every day; for experts, the best option is the canyon, which is the larger of the two, as it has more challenging terrain.
About half of the terrain is rated black, and it is characterized by clearings, canyon running, steep waterfall trails and a large number of tycoons. The most challenging one might be the terrain entering from the ninety-nine 90 fast quad. If you encounter bumps, look for Devils' Friend outside the Super Condor Express quad.
Canyons has its own ski village, including resorts, spas, shops and restaurants. Park City Resort, veritable in Park Town, offers a wider range of activities and services at the bottom of the hillside.
15. Cerro Catedral, Patagonia , Argentina
Andes has the highest mountain range on the earth outside the Himalayas, providing plenty of vertical space, and there is no place that takes advantage of this advantage than the Cerro Cathedral in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina. Named after the peaks of the cathedral spire, the views of Cerro Catedral are breathtaking with views of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and the surrounding snow-capped Andes.
Here, in the southern part of the Andes, where the snowiest is richest, the ski season lasts from June to October, but early August to early September guarantees the deepest snow and the best snow powder, as well as the least crowds.
has 1,150 feet of vertical area and 3,000 acres of skiable area, and the experts are spoiled. Cross-country skiing and tree skiing is great, there are several miles cable car access to remote areas and hiking areas filled with steep slides and bowls. Favorites are La Laguna District and Alaska lower finger. To experience the best terrain, go with the ski guide. Freestyle skiers and riders have a dedicated terrain park.
You might mistake the base's cabin for an Alpine village, and over 5,000 beds are within walking distance of the main elevator.
16. Deer Valley, Utah, USA
Sunrise over Deer Valley and Jordanelle Reservoir
Deer Valley will rank first or close in almost all readers' polls on favorite North American ski resorts. Perfect Beauty , mountain owner, free ski storage, help to remove snowboards from the car, well maintained, cottage with hot fireplace, food on the slopes and daily limit for 7,500 skiers (snowboards are not allowed here) Keep the elevator lines short and the trails are not crowded?
Lugu is mainly Customer Service , and its beautiful base village is definitely high-end. But, as they say, you get what you pay, and Deer Valley generates the value of your money.
Deer Valley is known for its 's excellent intermediate skiing , the fact that experts will have 37% of the black diamonds, mainly run by themselves, while the famous champagne powder is authentic. Take a Carpenter Express skiing and watch 002 Winter Olympics competition : You don't know slalom ; freestyle tycoon champion; and white owl, the venue for freestyle aerial events.
On a bald mountain with many black and double black, follow the ruins of Pompeii into the triangle tree, mixing steep and glades in the forest . Mayflower provides double black diamond slides for extreme skiers, Empire Bowl has double black, while Daly Bowl and Daly Chutes are more challenging.
Deer Valley Resort is about two miles from Parker City Center, another advantage is its proximity to Parker City Hill/Canyon, Alta, Snowbird and other top ski resorts in Utah.
17. Swiss Verbier
Swiss Verbier
As part of the Four Valleys ski resort, one pass is accessible to more than 410 kilometers of ski trails, Verbier combines one of Europe's steepest downhills, and some of the best cross-country ski resorts in the world. The Mont-Gelé cable car – an engineering foot across the mountains, in a continuous cable – enters the powdered area of the best non-ski terrain and Mont-Gelé glaciers.
It is a paradise for free riders with breathtaking slides and vertical drops, and is the venue for the annual Verbier Ride Freestyle Events and Verbier Xtreme Freestyle competitions, which are part of the Freeride World Tour.
Professional skiers like the resort’s well-designed long-distance ski trails, while intermediate skiers find good terrain and fewer crowds in Savoleyres. The cable car that runs through the valley to the 2,050-meter high Tortin is known for its record-breaking steep downhills, and also brings you several trails for high and middle skiers.
In addition to the 93 cable cars in four valleys including Thyon, Veysonnaz and Nendaz Resorts, there is a new 10-person Médran 1 cable car in Verbier, which increases the capacity to 3,200 people per hour.
18. Utah Snowbird
Utah Snowbird
combines the most vertical terrain of all ski mountains in Utah with legendary powder – in a wonderful winter it can exceed 6 feet of an average 40 feet of snowfall – it’s easy to see why snowbirds are a favorite of serious skiers. Not only is there a lot of snow, but it lasts longer than any resort in the area.
Snowbird is not only suitable for experts, but also has a lot of appeal to any skier. More than a quarter of the resort’s 2,500 acres are marked as beginners who can enjoy uninterrupted views from an open bowl (Snowbird has the best views of any resort in Utah). More than a third of the trails are suitable for intermediate skiers who will find the trails in the resort’s nine hanging chair cableways.
Boardians love it 4,700 acres of ski terrain and 45-degree steep glade. Connected to Alta – you can ski between them – the resort offers a combination pass for skiers, but Alta does not allow boarders. Snowbird is located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport .
19. Chile Nevado Valley
Chile Valle Nevado Snowboard
In Chile's Andes Mountains, less than 40 miles from Santiago , Vallenevado is part of the resort of "Tres Valles" bordering Colorado and Lapava with interconnected elevators and trails. The resort’s 2200 acres of ski-capable terrain is served by 14 lifts, but what attracts top international skiers are open terrain and the best helicopter skiing in the Andes.
0,000 feet of elevation, southern exposure and extensive snow cover ensure the most reliable snow conditions in the Andes. The views from almost anywhere on the mountain are spectacular. Many challenging remote terrain for elevator access.
infrastructure fully meets skiing conditions and local environment, and the base has many hotels, restaurants, apartments and spa centers. The future plan is to develop the base into a complete Alpine style village.
20. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, USA
Jackson Hole has nearly 40 feet of annual average snowfall, covering 2200 acres of terrain, providing a large amount of skiing activities, and most of them are for intermediate to professional skiers.
While there is no beginning terrain, there are courses and ski camps for children and beginners, as well as adults want to solve the worst running – like the extreme double-black diamond Corbet’s Couloir. You can join a field guide who will take you away from a day, even more challenging adventure, a four-day off-road camping learning technology, travel, avalanche awareness, and terrain choice.
In the winter of 2021-22, Jackson Hall has improved its ability and efficiency in snow making, providing at least two snow tracks for each elevator and expanding the terrain of the open space by 6 acres.
There are accommodations in the hotel, with two restaurants in the middle. Jackson Hall is part of the Econ Hill Collective Pass program.
21. One of the challenging tracks in the Gadina Valley of Italy
includes four-wheel skiing for men's and women's world championships downhill and giant slalom competitions with an average slope of more than 25%. The new expert-only La Ria will open for the 2021/2022 season with a 52% slope. The original non-ski terrain between Seiser Alm and Ortisei has been transformed into a 4,670-meter downhill trail with a slope of up to 58%.
While 65% of the terrain here is suitable for advanced and professional skiers – it is one of the highest in Dolomites – Val Gardena does have many places for beginners and intermediate skiers. This combination makes it ideal for families looking for a more leisurely skiing experience in the Italian Dolomites Mountains.
22. Japanese White Horse
Japanese White Horse
Japan's main island Honshu is the location of the Japanese Alps. Compared with the gentle slopes of the Hokkaido volcanic cone further north, the terrain here is steeper, rugged and changeable. These are serious mountains, filled with steep slopes and slides, and long cruisers.
Two parts of the White Horse Resort are connected at the top of the mountain and you can ski one way. Each has its own appeal, and the White Horse 47 is a boarder’s favorite as its park includes professional-grade half-pipes and challenging jumps. White Horse Five Dragons have more beginner terrain and large night ski areas.
Baima is a family-friendly resort with children's play area and plenty of family accommodation; free skiing for children under five years old.
23. Mozan and Avoriaz of the French Puerta sanks
skiing across the border between France and Switzerland, using an area-wide pass on the interconnected lifts and ski trails of more than a dozen ski resorts. The total length of the slide is 660 kilometers and there are 197 elevators.
Five of them are located in Switzerland and seven are located in France. In the French side, both Mozin and the adjacent Avoriaz are top-notch resorts for recreational skiing, although each has enough experts to run to keep experienced skiers happy, and Mozin has nine trails designated by experts.
Morzine The same number of trails tag beginners, and the other 52 conditions are intermediate and advanced intermediate. In Aphriaz, the 75km trail is red and blue, and can be used by the middlemen. Boarders will find five different terrain parks and a super water pipe; two parks are designed for kids.
These villages are very different, so you can choose between the traditional cabins in Moorzai, the modern specially built hotel and the stylish environment of Alvoriaz.
24. Cadrona, New Zealand
Less than an hour from Queenstown Airport, Cardrona has terrain and non-slope facilities suitable for all ages and skills levels, from its excellent child care and children's lesson plans to one-fifth terrain designated for professional skiers. The rest are almost evenly divided between beginners, intermediates and advanceds.
Terrain is distributed on a series of bowls, all on the tree line, and when the snow is right, there will be good off-road challenges. Boarders can’t find more terrain parks and pipeline options anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. The events held in the famous Cadrona Park in New Zealand attract some of the best boarders and skiers in the world.
facilities, good beginner terrain and mountain accommodation make Cardrona a favorite base for family skiing, as the multi-day cable car pass is also valid at the nearby treble cone ski resort.
25. Treble Cone, New Zealand
Treble Cone is the largest ski resort in South Island , covering an area of 1,359 acres, about 90 minutes drive from Queenstown and half an hour drive from Wanaka Airport. The terrain is perfect for advanced and intermediate skiers, with a 45% rating per trail and plenty of natural free-sliding terrain. Beginners have more limited options, although learning skiers can use magic carpets and discounted platters for free.
The steep mountainside terrain has the highest annual snowfall in New Zealand and offers stunning views of Lake Wanaka and the hillside facing. The running time is shorter than the Alps and even Rocky Mountain resorts (the longest clock is four kilometers), but the lack of crowds and a quick elevator for six people guarantees a lot of snow time.
