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Best Ski Resorts

We are often asked “which are the best ski resorts in the world” and “which are the top 10 ski resorts”? Our answer is always “it depends on what you’re looking for”! For us Powderhounds, our idea of the best ski resort is one with abundant dry powder that is practically deserted such that there are fresh tracks galore. These hidden gems are a bit of a rarity! The best powder skiing isn’t everyone’s highest priority in choosing the top ski resort. For some people, it’s about the quality of the cruising runs, the nightlife, the restaurants, the family friendliness, or a combination of variables. When choosing the top ski resorts, everyone has different priorities. We’ve provided ratings (from 0 to 5 where 5 = outstanding) on different factors as well as an overall rating. And in case you’re a powder hound just like us, we’ve also highlighted the best ski resorts in the world for powder skiing. See below for ski resort rankings:
Our ratings are based on our experiences of visiting lots of ski resorts. Obviously we haven’t been to all the top ski resorts in the world because that would take more than a lifetime, but we’ll continue to try!

Japan Ski Resorts

Japan has some of the best ski resorts in the world for powder hounds. Many of the top ski resorts for powder (both quality and quantity) can be found in Hokkaido, and many of the resorts are also uncrowded so there are lots of "freshies" to be found! The Japan snow is highly coveted by powder hounds. Also see the best skiing in Japan page.

Sort by columns

Japan Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Off-Piste
Tree Skiing
Expert
Extreme
Snow
Freshies
Uncrowded
Slackcountry
Lifts
Terrain Park
Family Friendly
Daytime Restaurants
Nighttime Restaurants
Nightlife
Ski-in\Ski-Out
Cost
Apres
English
Culture
Powderhounds
Overall
Hokkaido
Kurodake 0 1 0.5 5 5 5 4.5 5 4.5 5 4 2.5 0 0.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 0 4 0.5 2.5 3 5 3.5
Sapporo Teine 4.5 2.5 3 4 4.5 4.5 3 4.5 4 3.5 4.5 3 2 3 2.5 0 0 0 4.5 1 2.5 2.5 4.5 3.5
Asahidake 0 1 0.5 4.5 4.5 3.5 2.5 5 4 3.5 5 2.5 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 2 3 4.5 3
Moiwa 2.5 2.5 2 3.5 4.5 3 2.5 4.5 3.5 4 4.5 2.5 0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 4 2 4 3 4.5 4
Otaru Tenguyama 2.5 2 3 3 4 4 2.5 3.5 5 5 2.5 2.5 0 2 2 0 0 0.5 5 0 1.5 4.5 4.5 3.5
Piyashiri 2.5 2.5 2 2 3 2.5 2.5 5 5 5 3.5 2.5 1.5 2 2 0 0 1 5 0 2 4 5 3.5
Sunlaiva 2 2 0.5 2 2.5 2.5 2.5 3 5 5 4 2 0 2 1.5 0 0 0 5 0 2.5 5 4 3
Kamoidake 2 3 1 2 3 3 2 4.5 5 5 3.5 2 2.5 2 2 0 0 1.5 5 0 1.5 4.5 4.5 3.5
Sapporo Kokusai 2.5 2 1.5 3.5 3.5 3 2 5 4.5 2.5 4.5 3 2.5 3.5 3.5 0 0 0 4.5 1.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 3.5
Furano 4.5 4 3 4 4.5 4.5 1.5 5 4 4 5 3.5 1.5 4.5 2.5 4 2.5 2.5 4.5 2.5 4.5 3.5 4.5 4.5
Hinata 2.5 2.5 2 2.5 3.5 3 1.5 4.5 5 5 3.5 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 1 5 5 3.5
Kiroro 4 3.5 2 4 4.5 3.5 1.5 5 3 4 4 5 1 4.5 3.5 4 2 3.5 2.5 2 4.5 1.5 4.5 4.5
Kokusetsu Horotachi 1.5 2 2 3 3.5 3.5 1.5 4.5 5 5 2.5 1.5 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 1 4 5 3
Niseko Hanazono 4 2.5 1 3 4.5 2.5 1.5 5 2 2.5 5 3 4 5 2.5 2 1 2 2.5 1 5 1 3.5 4
Pippu 2 2.5 2 2.5 3.5 2.5 1.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4 2.5 1.5 2 2 0.5 0 0.5 5 0 1.5 3.5 4.5 3.5
Wassamu 1.5 3 2 2 3.5 2.5 1.5 4.5 5 5 3 1.5 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 1 5 4.5 3
Hakodate Nanae 3.5 2 1 2.5 3 3 1 4 5 4.5 4 3 0 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 4.5 0 0.5 4.5 4.5 3
Hidaka Kokusai 2 3 2.5 2.5 3 3 1 4 5 5 1.5 2.5 0 2 2 1 0 2 5 0 0.5 5 4.5 3.5
Niseko 5 4.5 3 5 5 3 1 5 2.5 2.5 5 3.5 3 4 4.5 5 5 4.5 3 3.5 5 1.5 4 5
Niseko Annupuri 3.5 2.5 2 2 4 2 1 5 2.5 3 5 3 0 3 3 3 2 2 4 2 4 3.5 4 4
Niseko Hirafu 4 3.5 3 4.5 4.5 2.5 1 5 2 2.5 3 3.5 3 5 4.5 5 5 3 3 3.5 5 1 3.5 4.5
Niseko Village 4.5 2.5 2 3 4 2.5 1 5 2.5 3 5 4 0 5 3 3 2.5 5 3 2 5 2.5 4 4
Niyama Kogen 3 2 2 2.5 2.5 2.5 1 4 5 5 1.5 2.5 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 4 4.5 3
Pirika 1 3.5 1.5 2 3 3 1 4 5 4.5 3 1.5 1 3 2 1 0 2 5 0 1 4 4.5 3.5
Rusutsu 3.5 4.5 3 5 5 2.5 1 5 3 3.5 2.5 4.5 2.5 5 3.5 4 2 4 3 2 4.5 3 4 4.5
Sahoro 4.5 2.5 2 4 4.5 3 1 4.5 5 3.5 4 3 1 5 3 3 2 4.5 4 0.5 4 2.5 4.5 4
Tomamu 4.5 3 2 3.5 4 3.5 1 4.5 4.5 4 4.5 2.5 2.5 5 4 4.5 1 4.5 3.5 0.5 4 2 4.5 4.5
Yubari 3.5 3 2.5 3 3 2.5 1 4.5 5 4.5 2 3 0 2.5 1.5 0 0 0 4.5 0 2.5 4 4.5 3.5
Asari 2.5 3 2 3 3.5 2 0 4 5 4.5 3 2.5 2 3 4 1 1 0 5 2 1 4 4.5 3.5
Canmore 3.5 2 1 1.5 1.5 1.5 0 3.5 3.5 4 1 2.5 0 3 2 0 0 0.5 5 0 1 5 3.5 3
Fu's 2.5 2 2 0.5 2 2 0 3.5 5 3.5 1.5 2 0.5 3 2 0 0 0 5 0 2 4 3.5 3
Kamui 3 3 2 4 4 2.5 0 5 4 4 3.5 2.5 0 3 2.5 0 0 0 5 0 3.5 3.5 4.5 3.5
Nukabira 2 2 1 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 4 4 5 0.5 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 5 0 1 4 3.5 2.5
Honshu
Tenjindaira 2 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 4.5 5 5 2.5 0.5 1.5 2 0 0 0 4.5 0.5 2.5 3.5 5 3.5
Hakkaisan 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 3.5 4 4.5 4 4.5 5 4 2.5 1 2 2 0 0 0 4.5 0.5 2 4 5 3.5
Hirayu Onsen 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 3 5 5 3.5 2 0 1 1.5 2.5 0 0 5 0 1 5 4.5 3.5
Suginohara 4 3 1.5 2.5 4 4 4 4.5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 0.5 0.5 3 4.5 0.5 2.5 4.5 4.5 4
Tengendai 2 2 1 1.5 3.5 4.5 4 4 5 5 4.5 1.5 0 1 1.5 0 0 0 4 0 1 5 4.5 3.5
Norikura 4 3 2.5 4.5 4.5 5 3.5 4.5 4 4.5 4.5 3 2.5 3.5 3 2 1 4 5 1 3 3.5 5 4.5
Seki Onsen 0 1.5 2 3.5 4 4.5 3.5 5 3 2.5 4 1.5 0.5 0 1.5 1 0.5 2 4.5 0.5 2.5 4.5 4 3.5
Amihari Onsen 2 2.5 1.5 3 3 3 3 4 5 5 4 2 0 2.5 1.5 2 0.5 3 5 0.5 1.5 4 4.5 3.5
Nozawa Onsen 4.5 3 4.5 4.5 4.5 4 3 4.5 3 3 4 3.5 3 4.5 5 5 3.5 2 3.5 3 4.5 3 4 5
Hachimantai Shimokura 2 2 1.5 2.5 3.5 3 2.5 4.5 4 5 2.5 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 1.5 4 4.5 3
Hakuba 47 1.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 4 3 2.5 4.5 2.5 3 2 3 4.5 3 3 1 1 0 4 2 4.5 3 4 3.5
Happo 3 4.5 3.5 3.5 2 2.5 2.5 4.5 2.5 3 4 3 1.5 4.5 4 3 3 3 4 1 5 2.5 4 4
Myoko Kogen 4.5 3.5 2.5 4 4 3 2.5 4.5 3.5 4 3.5 4 2.5 4 3.5 4 3 3.5 4.5 2 4 3.5 4.5 4.5
Okushiga Kogen 3 3 1 4 4.5 3.5 2.5 4.5 4.5 4 4 3 0 4 4 3 2.5 4 3.5 2.5 5 3 4.5 4.5
Tsugaike 5 2.5 1 4 5 4 2.5 4.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 4 3 3.5 3.5 2.5 2 4.5 5 2 3 3.5 4.5 4.5
Yakebitaiyama 1.5 3 2.5 4 4 4 2.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 3 4 2 3 2.5 2.5 0.5 4 4.5 0.5 4 3 5 4
Zao Onsen 4 4.5 2.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 4.5 5 3.5 2 3 2 3.5 3 3 2 3.5 4 2 2.5 4.5 4.5 4
Ani 2 2.5 1.5 3 5 4 2 4.5 5 5 4.5 2.5 0 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 2 4 5 3.5
Aomori Spring 5 2.5 1.5 3 4.5 3.5 2 4.5 5 4.5 4 4 5 3.5 2.5 2.5 1.5 3.5 4 1.5 4.5 2.5 5 4.5
Cupid Valley 2 2.5 1 2 2 1 2 4.5 4 4.5 2 3 0 2.5 2.5 0 0 1.5 5 0 1 4 4 3
Hakkoda 1 2 3 4.5 4.5 3 2 5 4 3.5 4 2.5 0 0 2 0 0 2 4.5 0 2.5 3.5 4.5 3.5
Hakuba Cortina 2.5 3 2.5 4.5 5 4.5 2 5 3 4 4.5 3 0 3.5 3 2.5 0.5 4 4 1 3.5 3 4.5 4
Goryu 4.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2 4.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 1.5 4.5 3.5 2 1.5 1 4 1 4 3.5 3.5 3.5
Houdaigi 4 3 2.5 3.5 4.5 4 2 4.5 5 3.5 3 3 2 3 2.5 0 0 1.5 4.5 0.5 2 4 4.5 4
Kandatsu 3.5 2 4 4 4.5 4 2 4.5 4 3 1.5 2.5 3 3.5 3 0 0 0 4.5 1 2.5 3 4.5 3.5
Shiga Kogen 4 5 3 4.5 4.5 3.5 2 4.5 4.5 3.5 2.5 3.5 1.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 2 5 4.5 1.5 3.5 4 4.5 4.5
Tazawako 3.5 3.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 3 2 5 5 4 3 3 1.5 3 2.5 0 0 0 5 0.5 2 4.5 5 4
Akakura 4.5 3 2 2.5 4 2 1.5 4.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4 1.5 4.5 3.5 4 3.5 3 4 2.5 4.5 3 4 4
Charmant Hiuchi 1.5 2.5 1.5 4.5 3.5 3 1.5 5 4.5 5 3.5 3 2 2 2.5 0 0 0 5 0.5 1 4 5 3.5
Iwate Kogen 2.5 2.5 1.5 3 3.5 3 1.5 3.5 5 4 3 3.5 0.5 3 2.5 0 0 0 5 0 1.5 4 4.5 3
Kumanoyu 2.5 2.5 2 3 4 3 1.5 5 5 5 3 2 0 2.5 2.5 0 0 2 4.5 0 2 4.5 5 3.5
Lotte Arai 2.5 2.5 3.5 5 3.5 4 1.5 4.5 4 4.5 2 4 0 5 4 4.5 2 4.5 2.5 1.5 3.5 2 4.5 4
Madarao 3.5 3 4.5 4.5 4.5 3.5 1.5 4.5 3 3.5 3.5 2.5 2 4.5 3 3.5 3 4 4 2.5 4.5 2.5 4 4.5
Minowa 3 2 2 4.5 5 3 1.5 4 5 4.5 4.5 2.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 0.5 0.5 1 4.5 0.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 3.5
Onikoube 3 2 1.5 2 2.5 3.5 1.5 2.5 5 5 3.5 2 0 2 2 1 0 2 5 0 2 4 4 3.5
Oze Iwakura 2.5 4.5 3 4.5 5 4 1.5 4.5 4.5 3 2 3 0 3.5 3 1.5 0 3 5 0.5 1 4.5 4.5 4
Ryuoo 4 2.5 3 4.5 4.5 3.5 1.5 4 5 3.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 2.5 1.5 0.5 3 4.5 0.5 2 3.5 4.5 4
Akita Hachimantai 1.5 2 1.5 1 2.5 1.5 1 4.5 5 5 3 1.5 0 1 1 0 0 1 5 0 0 5 4.5 3
Appi 3 3 3 4 4.5 2.5 1 4.5 4.5 4 3 3 2.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 2 4 3 1 4.5 2.5 4.5 4.5
Grandeco 3.5 3 1.5 3 3 1.5 1 4 5 5 2.5 4.5 0 3 3.5 2 0.5 2 4 0.5 3 3 4.5 3.5
Jeunesse 2.5 2.5 2 3 3 2.5 1 4 5 5 2 2.5 0 2 1.5 0 0 0 5 0 1 4 4.5 3
Kagura 5 3 2 3.5 4 3 1 4.5 4 3.5 4 3.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 1 0 1 4.5 1.5 2.5 3 4.5 4
Kawaba 2 2.5 2.5 4 4 4 1 3.5 4.5 3 2.5 3 2.5 3 4 0 0 0 4.5 0.5 2 4 4 3.5
Kurohime 3.5 2.5 2 2 2.5 2.5 1 3.5 5 3.5 1.5 2.5 3 2.5 2 0.5 0 2 5 0 1 4 4 3
Mt Norikura 4 2.5 2 2.5 2.5 2 1 4.5 4.5 4.5 1.5 3 2 3 3 1 0 1.5 5 0 2 3.5 4.5 3.5
Naeba 4 3 3 3 2 4 1 3.5 3.5 2.5 3 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 2.5 4 3 1.5 3.5 2 3.5 4
Nekoma 2.5 3 2.5 3.5 4 3 1 4 5 5 2.5 3 3 3 2.5 2.5 0 0 4.5 0.5 2 3.5 4.5 3.5
Okunakayama Kogen 4 1.5 2 3.5 3.5 3 1 4 5 5 2 2.5 1 3 2.5 1 0 2 5 0.5 3 4 4.5 3.5
Oze Tokura 3 2.5 1.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 1 4 5 4 2 2 3.5 3 2 0.5 0 1 5 0 1 4.5 4.5 3.5
Shizukuishi 2.5 4 2 3 4 3 1 4 5 4 3.5 2.5 2.5 3 2.5 2.5 0.5 3.5 4 0.5 2 3.5 4.5 3.5
Togakushi 3 3 2.5 3 3.5 2.5 1 4.5 5 5 2.5 3 2 3 3 1 0 1 5 1.5 2 4 4.5 4
Maiko 4.5 3 2 3 3 2 0.5 4 3.5 3 1 3 1.5 4 3.5 1 0.5 2.5 4 0.5 2.5 3.5 3.5 3.5
Tangram 2.5 3 2 3.5 4 2.5 0.5 4.5 3.5 4.5 1 2.5 2 4.5 2.5 2 0.5 3 4 0.5 2 2 4.5 3.5
Yuzawa Kogen 4.5 2.5 1.5 1 1 1 0.5 4 3 3 1 2.5 0 4.5 2 5 3.5 1.5 4 1.5 2.5 4.5 3 3.5
Adatara Kogen 1.5 1.5 1 1 1 0 0 3.5 5 5 1 1.5 0 1 1 0 0 1.5 5 0 0 4.5 2.5 2.5
Alts Bandai 2.5 3.5 2.5 3 3 1.5 0 3 5 3 2 3 4.5 4 3 2.5 1 3.5 3.5 1.5 3 2.5 4 3.5
Gala Yuzawa 3 4.5 1.5 0 0 0 0 4 2.5 1 1 3.5 1.5 4 4.5 0 0 0 3 0.5 4.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
Geto Kogen 2.5 3 2.5 4.5 4 2.5 0 5 5 5 3 4 1 2.5 2.5 1 0.5 1.5 4.5 0.5 2 3 5 3.5
Hachimantai Panorama 3 2 0 0.5 0.5 0 0 4.5 5 5 2 2.5 0 3 1.5 1.5 0 2.5 5 0 1.5 4.5 3 3
Hakuba Iwatake 3 3.5 2.5 3 2.5 1.5 0 3.5 3 2.5 2 2.5 2 3.5 4 1.5 1.5 1.5 4.5 2 3.5 4 3 3.5
Hakuba Kashimayari 4 3 0 1 1 0 0 3.5 4 4.5 0 2 0 3.5 2.5 2 0 2 5 0 2.5 4 4 3
Ikenotaira 4.5 3 0.5 2.5 3 1 0 4.5 4 4.5 2 2.5 2.5 3 2.5 1 1 2 4.5 1 2.5 4 4 3.5
Inawashiro 3.5 3 2 3 4 2.5 0 3 5 3 2 2.5 2 4 2.5 0 0 0 4.5 0 1.5 4 4 3.5
Ishiuchi 3 3.5 2 2.5 2.5 2.5 0 3.5 3 3 3 3.5 3.5 4 4.5 1 0.5 3 4.5 0.5 3 4 3.5 3.5
Joetsu Kokusai 3.5 4.5 1.5 2 2 1 0 3.5 4 3 1 3 3 4.5 3.5 3 0.5 4 3.5 0 2 4 3.5 3.5
Marunuma Kogen 4 2.5 1.5 0.5 0.5 1 0 4.5 2 3.5 0.5 3 0 2.5 3 0 0 1 4.5 0 1 4 3 2.5
Nomugi Toge 2 2.5 1 2 2 1 0 4 5 5 2 2.5 0 2.5 2 0 0 0 5 0 1.5 4 4.5 2.5
Oguna Hotaka 3 2.5 2 2.5 3 2 0 4 5 4 2 2.5 1.5 2.5 2 0 0 0 4.5 0 1 3.5 4 3
Tayama 0.5 2 1.5 0.5 1 1 0 3 5 5 1 1.5 0 1.5 1.5 0 0 0 5 0 0.5 4 3.5 2.5
Yokoteyama 2.5 2 1.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 0 5 5 5 2 2 0 2 2.5 0 0 1 5 0 1.5 4.5 4.5 3
Yudonosan 1.5 2.5 1 1.5 2 1.5 0 5 4.5 4.5 1.5 2 4 2.5 2 0 0 0 5 0 1 5 4 3
Travel Guides

Canada Ski Resorts

The Canada ski resorts vary somewhat in their strengths, although many of them are amongst the best ski resorts in the world for family friendliness. You can also see our best ski resorts in Canada page.


Canada Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Off-Piste
Tree Skiing
Expert
Extreme
Snow
Freshies
Uncrowded
Slackcountry
Lifts
Terrain Park
Family Friendly
Daytime Restaurants
Nighttime Restaurants
Nightlife
Ski-in\Ski-Out
Cost
Apres
English
Culture
Powderhounds
Overall
Kicking Horse 3 2.5 5 4.5 3.5 5 5 4 3.5 3.5 5 3 0 4 3 3 2 4 3.5 1 -1 -1 4.5 4.5
Whistler-Blackcomb 4 4.5 5 5 4 5 5 3 2.5 1.5 5 4 4.5 5 3.5 5 5 2 2 5 -1 -1 4 5
Red Mountain 3 3.5 4 5 5 4.5 4 3.5 4 3.5 2 2.5 2.5 4 3 2.5 3 3 5 3 -1 -1 4.5 4.5
Lake Louise 3.5 4.5 3.5 4 3 4 3.5 3 3 3 1.5 4.5 4 4 3.5 2.5 1.5 0 2.5 1 -1 -1 3.5 4
Sunshine 4 3 4.5 4 3 3.5 3.5 3.5 3 3 1 4.5 4.5 3.5 3 2 1.5 3 3 2 -1 -1 4 4
Fernie 4 3 3.5 3.5 4 4 3 3.5 3 3 5 2.5 1.5 4 3 3 3 4 3.5 3 -1 -1 3.5 4
Panorama 3 4.5 3.5 3 3.5 4 3 2.5 3 4 1.5 3 4 4 3.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 -1 -1 3.5 4.5
Whitewater 2.5 3 4 4 5 4.5 3 5 4 4 5 2.5 2 3 3 0 0 0 4.5 2 -1 -1 5 4
Mt Washington 4 3 3.5 2.5 2.5 4 2.5 2 3 3.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 2 2 2.5 2.5 4 2.5 -1 -1 3.5 4
Revelstoke 2.5 3.5 5 4 4 3.5 2.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 2 3.5 2 3.5 2.5 2.5 4 2.5 -1 -1 4 4.5
Apex 3 3 4 4 4 4 2 3 4 5 3 2.5 2 3.5 2.5 2.5 2 2 4.5 3 -1 -1 4.5 4
Castle Mountain 3 2.5 4.5 4 2.5 4 2 3.5 4.5 3.5 2 2.5 1.5 3 2.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 4.5 2 -1 -1 4 4
Hudson Bay 2.5 3 2 2.5 2.5 2.5 2 3 4 5 4 2 2 3 2.5 1 1 1.5 5 2.5 -1 -1 4 3.5
Silver Star 4 3.5 4.5 2 2 3 2 3.5 3 4 1 3.5 2.5 5 4 3 2 4.5 4 2 -1 -1 3.5 4
Big White 4.5 5 3.5 3 3 3 1.5 3.5 3.5 3 1.5 4 4 5 3.5 3 3 5 3.5 2.5 -1 -1 4 4.5
Marmot Basin 4 3 4 3 3 2.5 1.5 3 3 4 2 3 2.5 4 2 0 0 0 4 2 -1 -1 4 3.5
Sun Peaks 4.5 5 4 2.5 2.5 2.5 1 3 3 4 3 3.5 2.5 5 4 3.5 2 5 3.5 2 -1 -1 3.5 4.5
Powder King 3 3 3 4 4 1.5 0.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 3 2 1 3 1.5 1 1.5 1.5 5 2.5 -1 -1 4.5 3.5
Shames Mountain 2.5 2.5 2 3 3 2 0.5 3.5 4 5 5 2 1 2.5 2 0 0 0 5 2 -1 -1 4.5 3.5
Baldy 3.5 3 2 4 4 2 0 4 5 5 2.5 2 2 3.5 2 0 0 0.5 5 2 -1 -1 4.5 3.5
Nakiska 3 3.5 2.5 1 1 2 0 1 2 4 1 2.5 2.5 4 2 0 0 0 3.5 0 -1 -1 2.5 2.5
Norquay 2.5 2.5 2.5 1 1 2 0 1.5 2.5 4.5 1 3 3 4 2 0 0 0 4 2 -1 -1 3 3

South America Ski Resorts

The South America ski resorts are not really up there in the top 10 ski resorts in the world for powder skiing or the quality of the snow, but they provide some incredibly interesting & culturally diverse experiences.


South America Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Off-Piste
Tree Skiing
Expert
Extreme
Snow
Freshies
Uncrowded
Slackcountry
Lifts
Terrain Park
Family Friendly
Daytime Restaurants
Nighttime Restaurants
Nightlife
Ski-in\Ski-Out
Cost
Apres
English
Culture
Powderhounds
Overall
Argentina
Las Leñas 2.5 4 2 4.5 0 5 5 4 4 2.5 5 3 1 3.5 4 3 4 5 2 4 4 2 4 4.5
Cerro Catedral 3 4.5 4 5 4 4.5 4.5 3 2 2 5 4 3.5 4 4.5 3 3 2 3.5 3 3 3 3.5 4.5
Cerro Bayo 3 2.5 3 4 4 4.5 3.5 3 4 4 5 2.5 2.5 3 3.5 1 1 0 3.5 1 2.5 3 4.5 4
Chapelco 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2.5 3 2.5 3.5 4 2.5 4 3.5 1 1 2 3.5 2.5 2 3 3.5 4
La Hoya 2.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 0.5 4 3 4 4 2.5 1 2.5 2.5 3.5 3 0 0 0 5 2.5 1.5 5 4 3.5
Los Penitentes 2 2.5 2 3 0 3 2 2 4.5 4 -1 2 1 2.5 2.5 2.5 2 2.5 4.5 2 1.5 4.5 3.5 3.5
Caviahue 4 2.5 2 2.5 1 2 0.5 3 4.5 4.5 -1 3 0 3.5 2 2 1 2 3.5 2 2 4 4 3.5
Perito Moreno 3 2 1 2 2 1 0 1.5 3 4 -1 1.5 1 4.5 2 1 1 1 5 1 0.5 4.5 2.5 3
Chile
Portillo 3 2.5 3.5 4 0 4.5 4.5 3 4 4 4.5 2.5 0 4 3 3 3.5 4 2.5 3 5 1 4 4
Corralco 2.5 2.5 2 4 0 4.5 4 3.5 5 5 4 2.5 1 4 3 2.5 1 4 2.5 1 4 3 4.5 4
La Parva 3 4 3 4 0 3.5 3.5 3 3 3 4 2.5 -1 3 4 2.5 1.5 3.5 2.5 2.5 2 3.5 3.5 4
El Colorado 4 4 2.5 3 0 3 3 2.5 2 2.5 4 2.5 4 3 4 2.5 2.5 4 3 3.5 2.5 2.5 3 4
Nevados de Chillan 5 3 3 4.5 2.5 4.5 3 3.5 4.5 4 4 3 1.5 4 3.5 3.5 2 5 2.5 2 3 2.5 4.5 4.5
Antillanca 3 2.5 2 2.5 1.5 3 2 2 4 3.5 4 2 0 2.5 2.5 2 1.5 3 3.5 1.5 2 3 3 3.5
Pucon 3.5 1 1 2 0 2.5 2 2 3.5 4 1 1.5 1 2.5 2 0 0 0 3 2 2.5 4 3 2.5
Valle Nevado 3 4 2.5 4 0 2 2 3 4 3 3.5 3.5 4 4 4 3 3 4 2.5 2.5 4 1.5 3.5 4

New Zealand Ski Resorts

Like South America, the NZ ski resorts are not likely to be ranked for the best powder skiing (or the infrastructure). The major strengths of many of the New Zealand ski fields include the lack of crowds, likelihood of getting freshies at lunch time on a powder day, and the lack of expense.


New Zealand Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Off-Piste
Tree Skiing
Expert
Extreme
Snow
Freshies
Uncrowded
Slackcountry
Lifts
Terrain Park
Family Friendly
Daytime Restaurants
Nighttime Restaurants
Nightlife
Ski-in\Ski-Out
Cost
Apres
English
Culture
Powderhounds
Overall
Craigieburn 0 1 5 4.5 0.5 4.5 4.5 2.5 4.5 3 5 1.5 0 0 2 0 2 2 5 3 -1 -1 4 3.5
Mount Olympus 1 1 2.5 4 0 4.5 4.5 3 4.5 4 4.5 1.5 0 1 2 3 2.5 2 5 1 -1 -1 4 3.5
Treble Cone 2.5 3 4.5 4.5 0 4 4 3 3.5 3.5 4 2.5 2 3 2 0 0 0 3 1 -1 -1 4 3.5
Mt Hutt 3 4 3.5 3.5 0 3.5 3 3 3.5 2.5 2.5 3 3 4 3 0 0 0 2.5 1.5 -1 -1 3.5 3.5
Remarkables 4 2.5 3 3 0 3 3 2 3 2.5 3 3 4.5 4 3 0 0 0 2.5 1 -1 -1 3 3.5
Broken River 0.5 2 3.5 4 0 3.5 2.5 3 4 5 5 1.5 1 1 1 1 1.5 2 5 1 -1 -1 4 3.5
Fox Peak 1.5 2.5 3 3.5 0 3.5 2.5 1.5 5 5 3.5 0.5 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 -1 -1 3 2.5
Whakapapa 4 4 3 3 0 2.5 2.5 2.5 3 1 2.5 2.5 2 3.5 3 2 1 2 4 1 -1 -1 3 3.5
Cardrona 5 3 2.5 4 0 3 2 2 3 2 2 3.5 4.5 4.5 3 1 1 1 3 2 -1 -1 3 3.5
Mt Cheeseman 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 0 3 2 2 5 5 3.5 2 1 4 2 1 1 2 5 1 -1 -1 4 3.5
Ohau 2.5 2.5 3 3 0 3 2 2.5 5 5 3.5 2 1.5 3.5 2 2.5 3 0 4.5 3 -1 -1 4 3.5
Turoa 3 3.5 3 3 0 2.5 2 2.5 3 2 2.5 3 2 2.5 2.5 3 3 0 4 1 -1 -1 3 3.5
Porters 3.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 0 2.5 1.5 2 3.5 3 3 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 4 0.5 -1 -1 3 3
Coronet Peak 3.5 4 3 2 0 2.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 2 4 1.5 4 3 1 1 0 3 1.5 -1 -1 2.5 3
Hanmer Springs 1 3 1 3 0 2 1 1.5 5 5 3 2 0 2.5 1 0 1 2 4.5 1 -1 -1 3.5 3
Mt Dobson 4 3 2 3.5 0 2.5 1 2 5 5 -1 2 0 4 1 0 0 0 5 0 -1 -1 3.5 3
Mt Lyford 3.5 3 2 3.5 0 3 1 2.5 5 5 2.5 2.5 2.5 4 2.5 0 0 0 4.5 0 -1 -1 4 3.5
Rainbow 3 2 2.5 4 0 2.5 1 2 5 3 -1 1.5 1 3 1.5 0 0 0 4 0 -1 -1 3.5 3
Roundhill 3 2 2.5 3.5 0 3 1 2 5 5 -1 2 3 4 2 0 0 0 5 1 -1 -1 3.5 3

Best Skiing USA

The USA ski resorts are many & varied, so it's somewhat difficult to categorise them. Some are up there with the best ski resorts in the world for the quality & quantity of powder, although many of the high profile resorts are crowded so freshies don't last long. Some of the strengths of the USA ski resorts include incredible terrain & infrastructure such as child facilities and restaurants.

USA Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Off-Piste
Tree Skiing
Expert
Extreme
Snow
Freshies
Uncrowded
Slackcountry
Lifts
Terrain Park
Family Friendly
Daytime Restaurants
Nighttime Restaurants
Nightlife
Ski-in\Ski-Out
Cost
Apres
English
Culture
Powderhounds
Overall
Alaska
Alyeska 2.5 3.5 2.5 4 2 4 4 4 2.5 3.5 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 -1 -1 4 4
California
Palisades Tahoe 3.5 4 3.5 5 3 5 5 4 1 1 4 4.5 3 2.5 4 3.5 3.5 2.5 2.5 4 -1 -1 3 4.5
Kirkwood 2.5 3 5 5 4 4.5 4 4.5 3 3.5 1.5 2.5 2 3.5 2.5 2 2 3 4 2.5 -1 -1 4.5 4
Sugar Bowl 3.5 3.5 3.5 4 3.5 4.5 4 3.5 2.5 3 -1 3.5 3 3.5 3 1.5 1.5 2.5 3 2.5 -1 -1 3.5 4
Alpine Meadows 2.5 3.5 3 4 2.5 4.5 3.5 4 2 1 3 3 2 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 3 1.5 -1 -1 3 3.5
Mammoth Mountain 3.5 4.5 4 4 3.5 4 2.5 4 3.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 5 4.5 4 4 3.5 3 3.5 3 -1 -1 4 4.5
Sierra at Tahoe 5 2.5 3 4 5 3.5 2.5 3.5 3 3 2 3 3 4 3 0 0 0 3 2 -1 -1 4 3.5
Heavenly 3 4.5 2.5 4 4.5 2.5 0.5 3.5 3 1 1.5 4 3 3 2 5 5 0.5 3 4.5 -1 -1 3 4
Homewood 1 4 3 4 5 1 0 3 5 4 0 3 0 4 3 0 0 1 4 3 -1 -1 4 3
June Mountain 3 2.5 2.5 2.5 3 1.5 0 3 4 4.5 3.5 2.5 1.5 4 2 0 0 0 4 1.5 -1 -1 4 3.5
Northstar 4 4.5 3 2.5 4.5 1.5 0 3.5 2.5 2 2 5 4 4.5 3.5 4 2 2.5 1.5 2 -1 -1 3 4
Colorado
Crested Butte 3.5 3.5 2.5 4 4 5 5 3.5 4 4 0 3.5 3 4 3 4 3 3 4 3 -1 -1 4 4.5
Silverton 0 0 3 5 4 5 5 4.5 4.5 4 3 1 0 0 0.5 1.5 1 0 4 2.5 -1 -1 5 3.5
Snowmass 3 5 3 4.5 4 4.5 4.5 4 2.5 3 -1 4.5 4 5 3.5 3 2.5 5 2.5 2.5 -1 -1 4 4.5
Telluride 4.5 4.5 4 4 3.5 5 4 4 3.5 3.5 3.5 4.5 3.5 4.5 5 4.5 3 5 2 3 -1 -1 4.5 5
Wolf Creek 3.5 3 3 5 5 4 4 5 4.5 4 2 3 0 4 2.5 3 2 0 5 1.5 -1 -1 5 4
Aspen Highlands 2 3.5 4 4 3 4.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 3 -1 3.5 0 3 2.5 2 2 3 2.5 2.5 -1 -1 4 4
Breckenridge 5 4 4.5 4.5 2.5 3 3 3.5 2 1 -1 4 4.5 4.5 3 4 5 4 3 4 -1 -1 3 4.5
Copper Mountain 5 5 3.5 4 3 3 3 3.5 2.5 2.5 4 4 4 5 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 4 -1 -1 3.5 4.5
Monarch 2.5 2.5 2 3 3 3 3 3.5 3 4 3 2.5 2.5 4 2 2 1 0 4.5 2 -1 -1 4 3.5
Beaver Creek 4.5 4 4 3.5 3 3 2.5 3.5 2.5 2.5 -1 4.5 3 4.5 3.5 4 2.5 5 1.5 3 -1 -1 3.5 4.5
Arapahoe Basin 2 3 3.5 3.5 2 3 2 3 2.5 2.5 3 2.5 3 2 2.5 0 0 0 3 0 -1 -1 3.5 3
Aspen Mountain 0 3.5 3.5 3 2.5 3 2 3.5 2 3 -1 3.5 0 2.5 2.5 5 4.5 2 2 4 -1 -1 3.5 3.5
Steamboat 3.5 4.5 4 3.5 4 2 2 4 2.5 3 2 3.5 4.5 4.5 3 3.5 3 3.5 2.5 3 -1 -1 3.5 4.5
Purgatory 4.5 5 2.5 2 2.5 2 1.5 3 2.5 3 2 3 3 5 4 2 2.5 4 4 2.5 -1 -1 3 4
Powderhorn 2.5 3 3 3 3.5 1 1 3 4 4.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 4 2.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 5 3 -1 -1 4 3.8
Buttermilk 4.5 3 2 2 2 1.5 0 2.5 4.5 3.5 -1 4 5 4 2.5 1 1 1.5 2.5 1 -1 -1 3 3.5
Keystone 2.5 5 4 4 4 2.5 0 3 2 1.5 5 4 5 4.5 2 4 4 1 3 3 -1 -1 3 4
Vail 3 3.5 5 5 3.5 2.5 0 4 2.5 2 3 4.5 4 3 5 5 5 2.5 2 5 -1 -1 3.5 4.5
Idaho
Schweitzer 2.5 4 4.5 4 4.5 3 2 3 4 4 4 3.5 3 4 3.5 2.5 2 4 4 2.5 -1 -1 4 4.5
Sun Valley 3 5 4 3 3.5 2.5 1 3 4 4 2.5 4 3 4 5 4 3 0 2.5 2 -1 -1 4 4.5
Montana
Bridger Bowl 4 2.5 2 4 3 5 5 3 3 2.5 2 2.5 2 4 2 0 0 0 4.5 2 -1 -1 3.5 4
Big Sky 4.5 4 4 3.5 2.5 4 4 3 3 3 2.5 4 3 4 2 2.5 2 3.5 3 2.5 -1 -1 3.5 4.5
Whitefish 4 5 4 3 4 3 2.5 4 4 4 2 2.5 3 5 4 3 2 4 4 4 -1 -1 4 4.5
Snowbowl 1.5 2.5 3 4 4.5 4 1.5 2.5 5 4 2 2 1 2.5 3 0 0 1 5 2 -1 -1 4 3.5
New Mexico
Taos 2.5 3.5 3 4 2.5 5 5 3.5 3.5 4 0 3 2 3.5 4 4 3 5 3.5 4 -1 -1 4 4.5
Oregon
Mt Hood Meadows 4 4 2 4 3 4 3 3.5 3 2.5 0 4 3.5 4 4 0 0 0 4 3 -1 -1 3.5 4
Mt Bachelor 4.5 4.5 4 5 5 2.5 1.5 4 4 3 1 4.5 4 4 2.5 0 0 0 4 3 -1 -1 4 4.5
Travel Guides
Utah
Alta 4 3.5 4.5 5 4 5 5 5 4 3.5 4 3 0 4.5 3.5 4 2 4.5 3 3 -1 -1 5 5
Snowbird 2 2.5 5 5 4 5 5 5 2 3 4 4 1.5 3 4 3 3 2.5 2 3.5 -1 -1 4 4.5
Snowbasin 2 3.5 5 4 3.5 4.5 4 4 3 3 4 4 2.5 2.5 5 0 1 0 3.5 1 -1 -1 4 4
Solitude 3 4 4 4 5 4.5 3.5 5 3.5 3 4.5 3.5 0 4 3 3 2 3 3 2.5 -1 -1 4.5 4.5
Park City 3.5 5 5 3.5 4.5 3.5 2.5 4 2.5 2.5 3 5 5 4.5 4 5 4.5 3.5 2 3 -1 -1 3.5 5
Brighton 3.5 3.5 2.5 4 3 2.5 2 5 2.5 3 5 4 3.5 4 2.5 0.5 0.5 2 4 3 -1 -1 4 4
Deer Valley 3 5 3 2.5 3 2.5 1.5 4 2.5 3.5 0 4 0 4.5 5 4 2 5 1 2 -1 -1 3.5 4
Powder Mountain 3 3 3.5 5 5 3 1.5 4.5 4.5 4 4 2.5 3.5 2.5 1.5 0.5 0 3.5 4 3 -1 -1 4.5 4
Brian Head 4.5 3 2.5 2.5 2.5 2 1 4.5 4 4 2.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 2.5 2 1.5 1.5 4.5 1.5 -1 -1 4 4
Eagle Point 3.5 3 3.5 1 1.5 2.5 0.5 4.5 4 4.5 2.5 2 2 3 2.5 2 1.5 3.5 5 1 -1 -1 4 3.5
Nordic Valley 3.5 4 2 1 0 0 0 4 3 4 0 3 3.5 4.5 3 0 0 0 5 0 -1 -1 3 3
Sundance 3 3 3 4 3 3 0 5 5 4 1 3 0 5 4 5 2 2 3 2 -1 -1 4.5 4
Vermont
Washington
Mt Baker 2 1 2 3 2 5 5 4 1 1 4 3 0 1 4 0 0 0 3.5 1 -1 -1 3.5 3.5
Crystal Mountain 4 3.5 4.5 5 3.5 5 3.5 4 4.5 3 4 4 1 3.5 3 1.5 2 1 3.5 4 -1 -1 4.5 4.5
Stevens Pass 4 3 3 5 3 4 2 4 3.5 3.5 4 3 0 3 5 0 0 0 3.5 1 -1 -1 4.5 4
Wyoming
Jackson Hole 2.5 3 5 5 4 5 5 4.5 1.5 2 5 4 2.5 3 3 4 2.5 4 2 4.5 -1 -1 3.5 4.5
Grand Targhee 3.5 4 5 4.5 3 2.5 2 5 4 4 5 3.5 2 4 3 2 1 4 4.5 3 -1 -1 5 4.5

European Ski Resorts

The ski resorts in Europe are amongst the best in the world across all categories. Also see our best ski resorts in Europe, top Austria ski resorts, best skiing in France, best in Italy, and our picks for the Swiss ski areas. 


Europe Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Off-Piste
Tree Skiing
Expert
Extreme
Snow
Freshies
Uncrowded
Slackcountry
Lifts
Terrain Park
Family Friendly
Daytime Restaurants
Nighttime Restaurants
Nightlife
Ski-in\Ski-Out
Cost
Apres
English
Culture
Powderhounds
Overall
Andorra
Ordino Arcalis 3 4 1 4.5 4 4 3 3.5 2 4 4 4 1 3 5 0 0 0 5 4 5 3 3.5 4
Grandvalira 5 4 1.5 1.5 1 1 1 2.5 3 3 2 4 2 5 4 3 3 4 2.5 3 5 1 3 4
Arctic
Austria
St Anton 4 5 5 5 1 5 5 4 3 1 3 5 3 2 4 5 5 3 3 5 5 2 3.5 5
Ankogel 2 3 2 4 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 5 4 4.5 3.5
Nordkette 2 2.5 1 3 1 4 4 3.5 3 3 3 2.5 3 2.5 3 4 4 1 3.5 4 5 4 3.5 4
Soelden 3 5 2 5 3.5 4.5 4 4 3 2 3 5 4 3 4 4 4 2.5 3 4 5 1 3.5 4.5
Kaunertal Glacier 4 4 2 4 1 4 3 5 5 5 4 4.5 4 3 2.5 3 2 0 4 2 5 5 5 4.5
Krippenstein 2 3 1 4 3 3 3 4 4.5 4 4 2.5 0 2 3 2.5 1 2 4 2 5 5 4.5 3.5
Lech 3.5 5 3 4.5 2 3.5 3 4.5 3 2 4 4 1.5 5 5 4 4 3 2.5 4 5 3 3.5 4.5
Mayrhofen 3 5 4 3.5 2 4 3 3 4 3 4 5 4 4 4 4 5 1.5 4 5 5 5 4 4.5
Pitztal Glacier 2.5 4 2.5 5 0 4 3 5 5 5 5 4 2 4 2 2 3 1 4 3.5 5 3 5 4.5
Schlick 4 4 2 3 2 3 3 4 4 4 2 3.5 2 4 3 2 1 1 4.5 3.5 5 4 4 4
Silvretta Montafon 4 5 3.5 5 3.5 4 3 4.5 4 4 4 3.5 4 4 5 4 3 3 4 4 5 5 4.5 5
SkiCircus Saalbach 4 5 3 4.5 3 3 3 3.5 4 3 4 5 3 4 5 4 5 3 3.5 5 5 2 4 5
Stubai Glacier 4 4 3 4 1.5 4 3 4.5 4 4 3 4.5 4 4 4 1 1.5 2 4 4 5 2 4.5 4.5
Zauchensee 3.5 4 3.5 4 4.5 4 3 4.5 5 4 3 3.5 3 4 4.5 4 2 5 4 4 5 5 5 5
Zurs 4 4.5 3 5 1 4 3 4.5 4 3.5 4 5 1 3 5 4 3 3 3.5 3 5 4 4.5 4.5
Gastein 4.5 5 4 4 4 3 2.5 4 4 4 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 2 4 4 5 5 4.5 5
Ischgl 5 5 3 4 2 4 2.5 4.5 2 1 4.5 5 4.5 2.5 4 4 4 4 3.5 5 5 2 3 4.5
Axamer Lizum 2.5 4 2.5 4 2.5 3.5 2 4 5 4.5 3 2.5 0 3.5 3.5 2 2 3.5 5 3 5 4 4.5 4
Galtuer 4 4 2 3 3 3 2 4 4.5 4.5 3 4 2.5 4 4 4 2 4 4.5 4 5 5 4.5 4.5
Gargellen 4 4 4 4.5 3 4 2 5 4.5 4 5 4 2 5 3.5 3 1 3.5 4.5 4 5 5 5 4.5
Hintertux Glacier 4 4 3 4 2 3 2 5 4 4 2 4.5 4 3 4.5 3 3 3.5 4 4 5 5 4.5 4.5
Hochzillertal 5 5 3.5 4.5 4 4 2 3.5 3.5 2.5 4.5 5 3 4 5 4 2 3.5 4 4 5 2 4 5
Kappl 3 4.5 3 5 3 3 2 4 4.5 4.5 3 3.5 2 4.5 3.5 3 3 3 5 4 5 5 4.5 4.5
Kaprun 4 4 2 4 1 4 2 5 4.5 4 4 4.5 4.5 4 4 4 4 1.5 4 4 5 5 4.5 4.5
Kitzbuhel 5 5 5 4.5 3.5 4 2 3.5 4 3.5 2 5 3 4 5 4 5 3 4 5 5 5 4 5
Kuhtai 2 4 3 5 3 3 2 5 5 5 4 3.5 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 5 5
Nauders 4.5 4 3 4.5 3.5 3 2 4 5 4.5 4 4.5 3 5 5 4 3 2.5 4.5 3 5 5 4.5 5
Obergurgl Hochgurgl 4.5 4.5 3.5 4 1.5 3 2 4 3.5 3 3 5 3 4 4 3 3 4.5 4 4 5 2 4 4.5
Obertauern 5 4 2 4 3 3 2 4.5 4 3 3.5 5 3 4 4 4 3 5 4 4.5 5 4 4 4.5
Schladming 4 Berge 5 5 5 2.5 2 3 2 3 2 2 3 5 5 5 5 4 4 3.5 3.5 4 5 5 3 4.5
See 3 4 2 5 3.5 4 2 5 5 5 3 3.5 2 4 4 4 3 3 5 3 5 5 5 4.5
Serfaus Fiss Ladis 5 5 5 4 3 4 2 4 4.5 3 3.5 5 4 5 5 4 3 4 3.5 4 5 5 4.5 5
Venet 2.5 4 2 3.5 3.5 4 2 3 4 4.5 2 2.5 2 4 4 4 2 2 4 2.5 5 4 4 4
Zillertal Arena 5 5 3 3.5 3 4 2 3.5 4 2.5 4.5 5 4 5 5 3 3 3 3.5 4 5 5 4 5
Warth Schroecken 4 5 3 3.5 2 3 1.5 4 4 3 3 4 2.5 4 3 3 2 3 4 4 5 3 4 4
Damuels Mellau 4 4.5 1 3.5 3 2 1 4.5 4.5 4 2.5 4.5 2 4 3 2 1 3 3.5 3.5 5 4 4.5 4
Diedamskopf 3 3.5 3 4 3 2.5 1 4.5 5 4.5 2 3 1 4 3.5 4 1 2 4.5 3 5 4 4.5 4
Fendels 3 2.5 2 3 2 2 1 3 4 4 3 2.5 2 5 4 2 1 3 4 3 5 5 4 4
Glungezer 3 3 1 3 2 2 1 3 3.5 5 3 3 1 4 4 1 1 1 4 2.5 5 5 4 3.5
Hochoetz 2.5 3 2 3 3 1 1 3 4 4 4 3 2 5 3.5 4.5 1.5 1 4 3 5 4 4 4
Hochzeiger 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 2 1 4 4.5 4 3 4 1 4 4 3 2.5 2.5 4 4 5 3.5 4.5 4.5
Radstadt Altenmarkt 3 3 2 1.5 2 1 1 3 3 4 1 4.5 2 5 4 2 1 2 2 3 5 5 3.5 3.5
Snow Space Salzburg 4 5 2 3 3 2 1 3 4 3.5 3 5 4 5 5 4 3 4 3 4 5 5 3.5 4.5
Zell am See 3 5 4 3 3 3 1 3.5 3 3 2 5 3 4 4 5 5 3 3 5 5 5 3.5 4.5
Oberperfuss 2 3 1 2 2 1 0 3 3.5 3.5 3 3.5 1 5 3 0 0 0 4 2 4 4 3.5 3
Patscherkofel 3 3.5 2.5 2.5 3 2 0 3 3.5 3 3 3.5 2 4 4 0 0 0 3 3 5 4 3.5 3.5
Balkans
Cat Skiing Europe
Eastern Europe
France
Alpe d'Huez 5 3.5 5 5 2 5 5 4 4 3 3 4 3 4.5 4 4 3 4 3 4 5 3 4.5 5
Chamonix 4 5 3.5 5 2 5 5 4 3 2 5 3.5 2 2.5 3.5 4.5 5 1.5 4 4.5 5 5 4 4.5
Grands Montets 1.5 3 4 5 3 5 5 4.5 3.5 2 5 3 0 1 3 3 3 2 3 4 5 5 4 4
La Grave 1 0 0 5 4 5 5 4 3.5 2 5 2 0 1 2 2 1 0 3 3 4 5 4 3.5
Brevent Flegere 3 5 4 4 1 4 4 3.5 3 2.5 3 4 3 4 5 5 5 2 4 5 5 5 3.5 4.5
Courchevel 5 5 3.5 4.5 3 4.5 4 4.5 3.5 3.5 4 4.5 2 4.5 4 5 3 4 2 3 5 4 4.5 5
Tignes 5 5 4 5 2 5 4 4.5 2.5 1.5 4 5 3.5 3 3 4 4 5 2.5 4 5 2 3.5 5
Val d'Isere 4 4.5 4 5 3.5 5 4 5 4 2 4.5 4 2 3 3 4 4 4 2.5 4 5 4 4.5 5
3 Vallees 5 5 3.5 5 2.5 4.5 3.5 4 3.5 3 4 5 4 5 4 4 4.5 4.5 3 4 5 3 4 5
La Plagne 5 3 1 3.5 1 4 3.5 4 2 2 2 4 3 5 3 3 2 5 3 3 5 1 3 4
Meribel 5 5 3 5 2.5 4 3.5 4 3.5 3 3 5 4 4 4 3.5 3 4.5 3.5 3 5 2 4 5
Avoriaz 5 4.5 4 4.5 3 3 3 4 3 1 3.5 4.5 4 4.5 5 4 3 5 4 4 5 3 3.5 5
Bonneval sur Arc 3 4 2 4 1.5 3 3 5 5 5 4.5 2.5 1 3 2 2.5 1 2 5 2 3 5 5 4
Les Arcs 4 5 4 5 3.5 4 3 4 3.5 3 4 5 4 4 4 3 3 5 3.5 3.5 5 1 4 5
Les Contamines 5 4.5 3.5 4 3.5 3 3 4 4.5 4.5 4 4 3 4 4 5 3 2 4.5 3.5 5 5 4.5 5
Portes du Soleil 5 5 5 4.5 3 3 3 4 3 2.5 3 4.5 4 4.5 4 4 3 3.5 4 4 5 3 4 5
Val Thorens 4 4.5 2.5 3.5 0 4 3 5 4 4 5 5 3.5 4 4 4 3 5 4 4 5 2 4.5 5
Valfrejus 3 4 3 3.5 2.5 3.5 3 3.5 4.5 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 2 4 4.5 4 4 3 4.5 4.5
La Norma 3 3 1.5 5 4 3.5 2.5 4.5 5 4.5 3 3.5 2 4.5 2.5 3 2 4.5 5 3.5 5 3 5 4.5
St Gervais - St Nicolas 4 5 4 3.5 3 3 2.5 4 4 4.5 2.5 4 2 4 5 5 3 2.5 4 3 5 5 4.5 4.5
Aussois 4 3 2 3.5 1 3 2 3 4 4 2.5 3.5 1 5 3.5 3 1 3 4.5 3 5 4 4 4
Chatel 5 5 3.5 4.5 3.5 4 2 3.5 3.5 3 1 3.5 2 4 4 4 3 4 4 3.5 5 5 4 4.5
La Clusaz 3 4 3 3.5 2.5 3 2 3.5 3 2.5 2 3 2 3 3 3 2 4.5 3 2 3 3 3.5 4
La Rosiere 4 4 3.5 4 2 4 2 4.5 4 3.5 3 4 3 5 3 3 2 3.5 4.5 2.5 5 2 3.5 4.5
Les Deux Alpes 4.5 3 4 4.5 3 3 2 4.5 4.5 2 1 4 4 4 4.5 4 4.5 4 3.5 4 5 3 4 4.5
Les Menuires 4 4 2.5 3.5 2 2 2 4 3 2 3.5 5 2 5 3 3 2 5 3 3 5 1 3.5 4
Megeve 4.5 5 3 3 3 2.5 2 3 2.5 3.5 2 3.5 3 4.5 5 5 4.5 3.5 3.5 4 5 5 3.5 4.5
Montgenevre 4 4 4 4 2.5 3 2 4.5 4 3.5 3.5 4 3 4 4 2 2 3 4.5 3 4 2 4.5 4.5
Sainte Foy 3 4 2 4 3 3 2 5 5 5 4 4 0 4 4 3.5 2.5 4 4 3.5 5 4 5 4.5
Serre Chevalier 4 4 4 4 4.5 3 2 4 5 4 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 3 4 3 5 5 4.5 4.5
Val Cenis 5 4 3 4.5 4.5 4 2 4.5 4 4 3 4 3 5 3 4 2 4 4.5 3 5 3 4.5 4.5
Balme Tour Vallorcine 4 3.5 2 3.5 3 3 1 3 4 3.5 3 3 4 4 2 3 3 3.5 4 3 5 5 4 4
Les Houches 5 3 3.5 2 2 1 1 2.5 3 4 1 3 2 4 4 3 3 2 4 3 5 5 3.5 4
Pralognan la Vanoise 3 3 3 2.5 1.5 2 1 3 3 5 3.5 4 1 4 4 3.5 1 3 4 2 5 5 4 4
St Martin de Belleville 5 3 1 3 3 1 1 4 3 4 1 4 1 5 2 2 1 3 4 2 4 5 3.5 3.5
Georgia
Bakuriani 2 2 1 1.5 3 1 1 1.5 3 3 2 1.5 2 2 2 4 1 2 3 2 3 2 3 3
Gudauri 2 4 1 1.5 1 1 1 3 2 2 5 3 2 1 1 5 3 3 4.5 3 5 4 2.5 3.5
Germany
Garmisch Classic 5 2 4 1 2 2 2 2.5 2 2.5 1 3.5 2 4.5 4 4.5 3 2 4 4 5 4 3 4
Zugspitze 3 4 2 2 0 0 0 4 4 4 1 3 1 3 2.5 4.5 3 1 4 3 5 4 3.5 3.5
Heli Skiing Europe
Italy
Cortina 4 4 5 3 3 3 5 3 2 4 4 2 2 2 4 5 5 2 4 4 4 4 3.5 4.5
Courmayeur 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 4 5 4 2 3.5 4 4 4 4.5 4.5
Monterosa 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 3.5 2 3.5 4 3.5 3 3 5 3 4 5 4.5 5
Solda - Sulden 3 4 3 4 2 4 4 4 3.5 4.5 4 3.5 2 3 4 3 1 3.5 4 3 4 4 4.5 4.5
Arabba Marmolada 3 4 5 4 3 3 3 4.5 4 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 1 3 4 4 5 4 4 4
Santa Caterina 2 4 3.5 4.5 3 4.5 3 4.5 5 5 4 3.5 2 3 4 3.5 2 3 4.5 3 5 5 5 4.5
Bormio 2 5 4 3.5 2 4 2.5 3 4 3.5 2 3.5 1.5 3 4 4.5 4 2.5 3.5 3.5 4 5 4 4.5
Dolomites 5 5 3 2 2 2 2.5 3 2 3 2 5 3 5 5 5 4 3 4 5 4 5 3 4.5
Madesimo 2 5 2 3 2 3.5 2.5 3.5 4 3.5 3 3.5 1 4 3 4 2 3 5 4 4 4 4 4
Sestriere 4 4 4 3.5 3 3 2.5 4.5 4 3 2 4 3 4 3 3 3.5 3.5 5 3 5 1 4 4.5
Cervinia 4 4 2 4 3 2 2 4.5 4 4 5 3.5 3 4 4 4 2 5 4 4 4 2 4.5 4.5
Pejo 2 4 2 3 2 2 2 3 4 4 3 3 2 3 4 2 2 1 4 3 3 4 4 3.5
Tonale 5 4 3.5 3.5 2 3 2 4.5 3 2 3 5 3 5 4 3.5 3 3 3.5 3 5 3 3.5 4.5
Val di Fassa 4 4 4 3.5 2 3 2 3.5 3 3.5 3 5 3 4 4 3 3 2.5 4 3.5 5 5 3.5 4.5
Via Lattea 4 5 4 4 4 2.5 2 4 4 4 3 3.5 3 4.5 4 4 2 3 5 3 5 3 4.5 4.5
Aprica 4 4 4 1 2 2 1 3 2 3.5 3 2 0 5 3 3 2 3 4.5 3.5 4 3.5 3 4
Bardonecchia 2 5 3 2.5 2 1 1 3 2 3 4 3.5 2 4 4 4 3 3 5 3 4 5 3 4
Cesana - Sansicario 3 5 3 2.5 4 2 1 3 3.5 4 2 3.5 1 4 3 3 2 4.5 4 3.5 5 3.5 3.5 4
Cima Piazzi - San Colombano 2 4 1 3 2 1 1 3.5 4 5 3.5 2.5 1 4 4 3 1 3 5 3 5 4 4 4
Claviere 4 3 2 3 3 2 1 3.5 4 5 3 3 2 3 4 3 1 3 5 3 5 4 4 4
Kronplatz 5 5 4 2 1 1 1 3.5 2 2 1 5 4 5 4 4 3.5 3 4 4 5 3 3 4
La Thuile 4 3 2 4 2 2 1 5 5 4 4 3 2 4 4 2 3 1 5 4 3 1 4.5 4
Livigno 5 5 2 4 3 2 1 5 4.5 2.5 4.5 4.5 5 5 3 4.5 4 4 3.5 4 5 3 4 5
Pila 4 4 4 4 3 3 1 4 4 4 3 2.5 3.5 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 5 4 4.5 4.5
Trafoi 2 3 2 4 2 2 1 3 5 5 3.5 2 1 3 2 4 2 2 4 2 4 4 4.5 3.5
Val Gardena 4 5 3.5 2 2 1 1 3 2 2 3 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 5 5 2.5 4
3 Peaks Dolomites 3 4 3 2 1 0 0 3.5 3 4 2 4 2 4 3 3 1 3 3.5 3 4 3 3.5 3.5
Alta Badia 5 5 2 2 2 1 0 3.5 2 4 2 5 3 5 5 5 3 4 3 5 4 5 3 4.5
Belpiano 3 3.5 1.5 3 2 1 0 4 4 3.5 2 4.5 1 4 2 3 1 1 3 2 5 4 4 3.5
Chamois 2 3 0 2.5 2 0 0 3.5 4 5 4 1.5 0 4 3.5 3 1 3 5 3.5 3 5 4 3.5
Champorcher 2 4 2 3 3 3 0 3 4 5 3 2 0 3 3 3 2 0 4.5 3 2 5 4 3.5
Civetta 4 4 3 3 2.5 0 0 3 3.5 5 3 3 2 4 4 3 2 2 4 4 4 5 4 4
Crevacol 2 3.5 3 4 3.5 2.5 0 4 5 5 3 2 0 3 3.5 0 0 2 5 3 3 4 4.5 3.5
Folgarida Marilleva 2 4 2.5 2 3 0 0 2.5 2 1 2 3.5 0 4 3 2 2 3.5 3.5 3 5 1 2.5 3.5
Gitschberg Jochtal 3 4 3 2 1 0 0 2.5 2 4 2 4 3 4 2 2 1 3 3 3 3 1 3 3.5
Madonna di Campiglio 4 5 3 2.5 3 2 0 3 3 2 3 4 4.5 4 4 4 3 3 4 3.5 4 4 3 4
Plose 2.5 4 3 2 2 0 0 2.5 3 3 2 5 2 3 3 4 4 3.5 3.5 4 3 4 3 4
Reinswald 3 4 2 3 3 1 0 4 4 5 3 3 2 4 3 3 2 3 4 3 4 4 4.5 4
Scandinavia
Spain
La Molina Masella 4 4.5 3.5 3 2 4 2 2 2 3 2.5 4 2.5 4 4 3 2 2.5 4 3.5 5 4 3 4
Switzerland
Andermatt Sedrun 3 4.5 4 5 2 5 5 5 4.5 3 5 4.5 2.5 4 3 4.5 2.5 2 4 4 5 4 4.5 5
Engelberg 4 3 3 5 2 5 5 5 4 3 3 4 2 5 3.5 4 2 2 3.5 3 5 3 4.5 4.5
Mürren Schilthorn 2.5 4 4.5 5 2.5 5 5 4 4.5 4.5 3 3.5 2 2 4 3 2.5 4 3.5 2 5 5 5 4.5
Verbier 4 5 3 5 2 5 5 3.5 4 2 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 3 4 4.5
Nendaz Veysonnaz Thyon 5 5 4 4.5 3 4.5 4.5 4 4 3.5 4 4 3 4.5 4 3 2 3.5 4 3 5 2.5 4.5 5
4 Vallees 5 5 4 5 2.5 5 4 4 3 3 4 4 3.5 4 4 3.5 3.5 4 4 3.5 5 3 4 5
Champery 4.5 5 4 5 3 4 4 4.5 4.5 3.5 3 4.5 3 4 4 4 2 3 3.5 4 5 3 4.5 5
Corvatsch 3 4 3 4 2 3 4 4.5 4 4 3.5 4 3 3 4 3.5 2 3 3 2 5 4 4.5 4.5
Glacier 3000 2.5 3 3 5 3 4 4 4.5 5 5 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 1 4 1 5 5 5 4
Jungfrau 2 5 4 4.5 2.5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3.5 3 4.5 4 3 3 3.5 3 3 5 4.5 4.5 4.5
Lenzerheide 4 5 4 4.5 4 4 4 4.5 4 3 3 5 4 3 4 3.5 3 3.5 4 3 5 4 4.5 5
Villars Gryon Diablerets 4 5 3.5 4 3 4.5 4 3.5 4 3.5 3 4.5 4 4 4 4 1.5 3 3 1.5 5 5 4 4.5
Zermatt 4 5 4 5 3 4 4 4.5 4 3 5 4.5 3.5 3 5 4 4 2 2 4 5 4 4.5 5
Corviglia 4 5 3 4 1 4 3 4 3.5 4 3 5 4 4 4.5 4 2 2 2 3 5 3 4 4.5
Crans Montana 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 4 5 4 4 3 3 1 4 3.5 5 2 4 4.5
Davos Klosters 5 5 3.5 5 3 3 3 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 2 3 3 5 3 4.5 4.5
Diavolezza Lagalb 1 3 4 5 1 3 3 4 4 4 5 3 0 1 4 1 1 2 4 2 3 3 4.5 3.5
Grindelwald Wengen 3 4.5 3 4 2 3 3 4 4 3.5 2 5 2 4.5 4 4 3 3.5 3 3 5 5 4 4.5
Saas Fee 4 4 3 3.5 1.5 3 3 3.5 3 4 3.5 3 4.5 3.5 3 5 4 4 4 5 5 5 4 4.5
St Moritz 4 5 3.5 5 1.5 3.5 3 4 4 4 4 4.5 3 3 4.5 4 3 2 3 3 5 3 4.5 4.5
Grimentz Zinal 3.5 4 4 4.5 2 2.5 2.5 4 5 4 4.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 4 2 3.5 4 2.5 5 4 4.5 4.5
St Luc Chandolin 4 4 3.5 3.5 2.5 3 2.5 3.5 5 4.5 3.5 2 1 4 3 2 2 2 4.5 2 5 5 4.5 4
Anzere 3.5 4 3 4 3 2 2 4 5 5 3 3.5 2 4.5 2 4 2 3 4.5 2.5 5 4 4.5 4.5
Champoussin 3 4 1 4.5 2 3 2 4.5 5 4.5 3 3 2 4 3 2 1 3 4 2 5 4 4.5 4
Disentis 4 4 2 4 2 3 2 4 4 5 5 3 1 4 3 2 1 2 3.5 2 5 2.5 4.5 4
Grindelwald First 3 4 3 3 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 3.5 2 5 4 5 2 4 3 3 5 5 4 4.5
Gstaad 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 3 2 3 3 4 3 3.5 3 4 4 4 3 3 3.5 3 5 5 4 4.5
Lauchernalp 2 4 3 4.5 2 4 2 5 5 4.5 3 4 0 2 3 2 1 3.5 4 2 4 5 5 4
Leukerbad 2.5 4 3.5 3 3 2 2 4 5 4.5 4 3 2 3 3 3.5 2.5 1.5 3 1.5 5 5 4.5 4
Meiringen Hasliberg 4 5 3 4 2 3 2 4 4 4 4 3.5 2 4 4 3 2 3 3.5 3 5 5 4.5 4.5
Morgins 4 4 2 4 2 2 2 3.5 3.5 3.5 2 2.5 2 4.5 3 4 2 3 4 3.5 5 5 3.5 4
Ovronnaz 3 3.5 2 3.5 3 3 2 4 4 4.5 4 3 2 2 2.5 3 1 1 3.5 1 5 5 4.5 4
Samnaun 4 4 2 2.5 1 2 2 3.5 3 3 4 4 2 4 4 3 2 4 4 3.5 5 4 3.5 4
Torgon 4 4 2 4 3 3 2 3.5 4 4 2 2 2 3 3 2 1 1 4.5 2.5 5 2 4 4
Aletsch Arena 5 4 2.5 2.5 2 1 1 5 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 3 2 5 4 3 5 4 4 4.5
Arosa 4 5 2 3.5 0 2 1 4.5 3 3 3 5 2.5 4 4 3.5 3 3 3 4 5 3 3.5 4
Belalp 3 4 2 3 2 1 1 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 1 4.5 4 3 2 3 3 2 4 3.5 4 4
Laax 5 5 3 4 3 3 1 4 3 3 3 5 5 3.5 4 3 3 2.5 3 4 4 2 3.5 4.5
Bivio 2 3 2 4 0 0 0 4.5 4.5 5 4.5 1 0 3 2 2 1 2 4 2 4 5 4.5 3.5
Brigels 4 4 3 4 2 1 0 4 5 5 3 3 3 4 3 3 2 2.5 5 3 5 4 4.5 4
Klewenalp 4 3 1 4 3 2 0 3 4 3 3 2 1 4 2 2.5 1 2 3 2 4 4 3.5 3.5
Rosswald 2 2 2 3 0 0 0 4 4.5 4 2 1.5 0 2 2 1 1 3 2.5 2 3.5 5 4 3

Australian Ski Resorts

The Australia ski resorts are a surprise packet that like anywhere, can be awesome on a powder day, but the term 'affordable' doesn't usually come into the equation! You can also have a look at our best ski resorts in Australia awards.


Australia Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Off-Piste
Tree Skiing
Expert
Extreme
Snow
Freshies
Uncrowded
Slackcountry
Lifts
Terrain Park
Family Friendly
Daytime Restaurants
Nighttime Restaurants
Nightlife
Ski-in\Ski-Out
Cost
Apres
English
Culture
Powderhounds
Overall
Mt Hotham 3 3 4.5 3.5 2.5 4 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 3 3.5 3 3 4 3.5 2.5 2 3.5 -1 -1 3.5 4
Mt Buller 2.5 3.5 4.5 2.5 2 2 2 1.5 1.5 1 2 3 3.5 4 3.5 4.5 4 3.5 1.5 4 -1 -1 2 4
Falls Creek 4 4.5 2.5 2.5 2 1 1 2 2.5 2.5 2 3 4 4.5 4.5 4.5 4 5 2 4 -1 -1 2.5 4
Thredbo 3 4.5 3 2.5 2 2 1 2 2 2 2.5 3.5 3 3 3.5 4.5 4 1 1.5 4 -1 -1 2.5 4
Perisher 4 4.5 2 2.5 2 1.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 1 1 2.5 4 4 3 2 2 2 1.5 2.5 -1 -1 2.5 3.5
Mt Baw Baw 2.5 2 1 0.5 0.5 0 0 1 2 2.5 1 1.5 1.5 4 1.5 1 1 0 3 1 -1 -1 2 2.5

#not rated

Ratings are from 0 to 5 where 5 is outstanding


Definitions of Categories

  • Beginner and intermediate terrain: refers to the quality and quantity of terrain available
  • Advanced on-piste terrain: quality and quantity of marked trails; in some resorts trails are marked yet are really off-piste (e.g. Kicking Horse, Whistler)
  • Off-piste: this refers to the quantity and quality of the terrain, but also the likely snow conditions; this refers to in-bounds not out-of-bounds terrain
  • Backcountry: slack-country, "out-of-bounds" terrain close to the resort that is easily accessible i.e. not a hike >15mins; may require a traverse back to lifts or goes to a road
  • Expert: this includes off-piste and easily accessed backcountry for experts
  • Extreme: refers to super steep and narrow terrain, cliffs and other drop-offs
  • Snow: quality and quantity, and likely frequency of powder days
  • Lunchtime freshies: likelihood of finding quality fresh tracks at lunchtime on a powder day
  • Uncrowded: uncrowded lift lines and slopes
  • Lifts: refers to quality and quantity of lift infrastructure including the lay-out
  • Terrain park: size, variability and caters to all levels
  • Family friendly: refers to how well the resort caters to families, both on and off the slopes - includes elements of child care, ski school, accessibility and kids activities
  • Restaurants: quality and quantity of daytime eateries as well as evening restaurants
  • Nightlife: refers to nightime entertainment including bars but not restaurants
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation: refers to the proportion and quality of accommodation on mountain that is truly ski-in ski-out
  • Cost: incorporates costs associated with lift tickets, resort facilities, food & drink, and lodging (where relevant) relative to other resorts across that country/continent
  • Overall rating: incorporates all factors
  • Powderhounds: incorporates powder hound factors - advanced/expert terrain; powder; uncrowded slopes; & finding lunchtime freshies