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.


Japan Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
Hokkaido
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
Canmore 3.5 2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 0 4 4 4 1 3 0 3 2 0 0 0 5 0 1 5 4 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Sunlaiva 1.5 2 0.5 2 3 3.5 2.5 3.5 5 5 4 2 0 2.5 2 0 0 0 5 0 2.5 5 4.5 3
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
Furano 4 4 3 4.5 4.5 4 1.5 5 3.5 4 4.5 3.5 1.5 5 3 4 2.5 2.5 4.5 2.5 4.5 3.5 4.5 4.5
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
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
Tomamu 4.5 3 2 4 4 3 0 4.5 4 4 4.5 4 2.5 5 4 4 0.5 4.5 3 0.5 3.5 2.5 4.5 4.5
Niseko 5 4.5 3 5 5 3 1 5 2.5 2.5 5 4 3 5 4.5 5 5 4.5 3 3.5 5 1.5 4 5
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
Honshu
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Tazawako 3 3 2.5 4 4.5 2.5 2 5 5 4 3 3 0 3 2.5 0 0 0 5 0.5 2 4.5 5 3.5
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Shiga Kogen 4 5 3.5 4 4 3.5 2 4.5 4.5 3.5 2.5 3.5 1.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 2 5 4 1.5 3.5 3.5 4.5 4.5
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
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 3 3 2.5 2.5 0.5 4 4.5 0.5 4 3 5 4
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
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
Okushiga Kogen 3 3 1 4 4 3.5 2.5 4.5 4.5 4 4 3 2.5 4 4 3 2.5 4 3.5 2 5 3 4.5 4.5
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
Madarao 3.5 3 4.5 4.5 4.5 3 1 4.5 3 4 3.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 3 3.5 2.5 4 4.5 2 4.5 3 4 4.5
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
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
Appi 3.5 3 3 4 4 2.5 1 4.5 4 4 3 3 2 4 4.5 4.5 2.5 4 3 1.5 4 2.5 4.5 4.5
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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
Argentina
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Chile
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Colorado
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
Travel Guides
Utah
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Wyoming
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
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

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 Francebest in Italy, and our picks for the Swiss ski areas


Europe Ski Resorts
5 = outstanding
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Balkans
Cat Skiing Europe
Eastern Europe
France
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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 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
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
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 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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
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
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 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
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
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
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

#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