Favorite Alps Ski Resorts

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Sportgastein in Austria is a snow-laden freeride paradise
Sportgastein in Austria is a snow-laden freeride paradise
Skicircus Saalbach looking toward Fieberbrunn has incredible off-piste skiing
Skicircus Saalbach looking toward Fieberbrunn has incredible off-piste skiing
Deep reliable snow sets Livigno apart from many Italian ski resorts
Deep reliable snow sets Livigno apart from many Italian ski resorts
Brevent is one of Chamonix
Brevent is one of Chamonix's many amazing ski resorts
Fresh snow & massive terrain in the Ski Arlberg area of Austria
Fresh snow & massive terrain in the Ski Arlberg area of Austria
Engelberg-Titlis Switzerland combines deep snow & amazing terrain for freeriders
Engelberg-Titlis Switzerland combines deep snow & amazing terrain for freeriders
Pitztal Glacier in Austria consistently provides the powder goods
Pitztal Glacier in Austria consistently provides the powder goods
Kaunertal Glacier has one of the best snow-packs in Europe
Kaunertal Glacier has one of the best snow-packs in Europe
The
The 'small' French ski resort of La Norma is a favourite of Powderhounds
Diavolezza Lagalb near St Moritz Switzerland is a freeriders dream
Diavolezza Lagalb near St Moritz Switzerland is a freeriders dream
Monterosa Ski Italy has some of the world
Monterosa Ski Italy has some of the world's best off-piste descents
The French Alps 3 Vallees is famous for a very good reason - awesome skiing!
The French Alps 3 Vallees is famous for a very good reason - awesome skiing!
Ischgl Austria
Ischgl Austria's Piz Val Gronda is just a small part of this incredible ski area
It doesn
It doesn't get much better than Courmayeur & Monte Bianco for off-piste skiing
Les Arcs France has fantastic freeride terrain
Les Arcs France has fantastic freeride terrain
Andermatt in Switzerland is one of the Powderhounds all time favourite ski resorts
Andermatt in Switzerland is one of the Powderhounds all time favourite ski resorts
Sainte Foy France is another amazing
Sainte Foy France is another amazing 'small' ski resort in the Alps
Switzerland
Switzerland's Zermatt has more high-altitude freeride options than any resort has a right too!
Zuers is our favorite spot in the Ski Arlberg region of Austria
Zuers is our favorite spot in the Ski Arlberg region of Austria
Oh the anticipation ..... Monterosa Ski Italy
Oh the anticipation ..... Monterosa Ski Italy

Favorite Alps Ski Resorts

Our Favourite Off-piste Freeride Ski Resorts in the Alps

If there is one thing we have learned in all our ski travels, it is that the most consistently good ski days are had at only a few places in the world. Sure everywhere is good ‘on its day’, but to get the most ‘best days’ one cannot beat North America (Rockies & northwest US, BC Canada), parts of Japan, & in western Europe, the Alps in Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland. The Greater & Lesser Caucasus in Georgia get an honourable mention as well! Whilst we have skied all over Nth America & Japan, we love skiing Europe (and particularly the Alps & above the Arctic Circle) for all that it offers, not the least of which are most of the longest lift assisted skiable verticals in the world.

With no real regard to any particular ratings, scoring or stats other than ‘most best days’, our favourite Big & Small* Off-piste Freeride Ski Resorts in the Alps of western Europe are:

Austria

  • Gargellen
  • Gastein (particularly Sportgastein)
  • Hintertux Glacier
  • Kaunertal Glacier
  • Kühtai
  • Paznaun valley - Ischgl, Kappl, & See
  • Nauders
  • Pitztal Glacier
  • Sölden
  • Ski Arlberg - Lech, St Anton, Warth-Schroecken, Zuers
  • Silvretta Montafon
  • Skicircus - Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn
  • France

  • 3 Vallèes (surprising perhaps, but it is a mega resort for a very good reason!)
  • Alpe d’Huez
  • Bonneval sur Arc
  • Chamonix - Mont Blanc
  • La Norma
  • Les Arcs
  • Portes du Soleil (the Swiss side as well!)
  • Sainte Foy
  • Tignes - Val d’Isere (but more so Val d'Isere!)
  • Italy

  • Courmayeur - Monte Bianco
  • La Thuile/La Rosiere (actually in France, but we always stay on the Italian side!)
  • Livigno
  • Monterosa Ski
  • Switzerland

  • 4 Vallees
  • Andermatt - Sedrun
  • Arosa - Lenzerheide
  • Davos
  • Diavolezza-Lagalb
  • Disentis
  • Engelberg
  • Glacier 3000
  • Lauchernalp
  • Jungfrau - Schilthorn
  • Zermatt
  • *Note that ‘small’ is a term relative to the size of the ski resort compared to the really huge ones!

    If you want to know the best resorts based on the Powderhounds rating criteria (for ‘overall’, powder, on-piste etc), see the following pages:
    Best Austrian Ski Resorts
    Best French Ski Resorts
    Best Italian Ski Resorts
    Best Swiss Ski Resorts

    If backcountry ski & splitboard touring are your thing, away from the multitude of amazing high alpine routes in the Alps, head to the Lofoten Islands, Lyngen Alps & Finnmark in northern Norway. They are absolutely stunning in March & April.

    Now you know where to go its just a matter of getting there. Click on the resort links to find out more. What are your favourites? Write a review on the specific resort page on Powderhounds to let us know.

    If you have a question about skiing & snowboarding in Europe, CONTACT US.