26 Top-Rated Ski Resorts in the World, 2024/25

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers and Lana Law
Updated Nov 15, 2024

Quickly outgrowing its beginnings as a sport for intrepid mountaineers, skiing is now a mainstream winter activity for the whole family. And ski resorts around the world have kept up with the demand, adding hotels, restaurants, après-ski entertainment, and all manner of indoor and outdoor recreation. But for skiers, it's the snow that counts, and the terrain of the mountainsides it falls on.

Although the world's best-known ski resorts are in Europe and North America, the 1998 Winter Olympics put Japan firmly on the ski map, and enthusiasts' quest for year-round snow has brought the Andes more attention.

A lot of considerations go into choosing the best ski resort for your vacation. In many areas of the world, ski conditions have been changing rapidly over the last decade, with lower-elevation ski resorts often experiencing shorter seasons and less snow. Some resorts have kept up by adding snowmaking equipment, where possible, and others have not.

For this list, the ski experience itself – the variety and challenge of the terrain, the snow conditions, and lift access – predominate in selecting these top choices for any serious skier's bucket list.

Caution: Many of these mountains offer backcountry terrain that by its nature is unpredictable and should not be attempted without a qualified and well-equipped backcountry guide.

Find the best places to ski with our list of the top ski resorts in the world.

Vail Mountain Resort, Colorado, USA

Vail ski runs with the Gore Range in the distance

Vail is the biggest of Colorado's ski resorts and one of the largest in the world. It offers enough terrain to keep an avid skier of any skill level busy over an extended holiday.

This resort ranks highly for its combination of vast terrain, epic powder snow days, and modern infrastructure. Experts head for the seven back bowls for bumps and glades, which the expected 350 inches of annual snowfall keep in prime condition. Vail is known not just for its size-over 5,289 acres of skiing served by 31 lifts-but for its variety. Three separate terrain parks keep riders happy, and backcountry skiers find powder heaven here.

To alleviate overcrowding, all Vail Resorts limits daily ticket sales. Those without an EPIC pass should reserve ahead to be sure of a ticket.

Another selling point of this resort is the town of Vail itself at the base of the mountain, where you can find plenty of places to enjoy après-ski and luxury hotels and resorts. One thing Vail is not is cheap. Even if you are coming here for a day of skiing and staying elsewhere, keep in mind that parking and lift tickets are expensive. If you do not have an EPIC pass and are planning on skiing for more than a day here, it's best to buy multi-day tickets in advance.

Official site: https://www.vail.com

Whistler Blackcomb, Canada

Skiing at Whistler Blackcomb| Photo Copyright: Lana Law

Whistler Blackcomb combines the superb terrain of two mountains to make it Canada's premier ski resort and the largest winter sports area in North America. The combined skiable terrain offers more than 200 runs accessed by 37 lifts. One of these, the three-kilometer-plus PEAK 2 PEAK gondola joins the two mountaintops and is the world's longest unsupported lift span.

These outstanding technical facilities paired with the variety of terrain — wide-open bowls on Whistler Mountain and the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb (where you can ski year-round) — and world-class grooming keep Whistler a favorite for serious skiers.

Whistler Blackcomb is also a favorite of freestyle skiers and boarders. Five diverse parks covering 99 acres of snow are designed for all levels of freestyle, from easy jumps and rails to the Nintendo Terrain Park and an Olympic-sized pipe. The pros train here, but the wide variety makes this a good place to learn the basics.

Incomparable views that stretch to the Pacific Ocean, plenty of terrain for all skill levels, and a charming full-service resort village right at the base make it an equally good choice for families and casual skiers. There's enough snow and mountain to go around, and it's just a two-hour drive from Vancouver.

In recent years, mild winters have contributed to some less-than-ideal conditions at this resort, particularly near the opening and closing of the season. Snow can be wet and heavy or patchy. The 2023/2024 season was not one of Whistler's better years. If you are planning on skiing here in the late or early season, be aware that you'll likely need to download to the base area. Your best bet is to aim for January, February, and the start of March.

Whistler is just one of several outstanding ski resorts in British Columbia. Many of these are located in the interior of the province but are still easy to reach from Vancouver, either by car or a short flight.

Official site: www.whistlerblackcomb.com

Zermatt, Switzerland

View of the Matterhorn from a gondola at Zermatt | Photo Copyright: Lana Law

Even if it didn't have one of the world's most beautiful mountains as a backdrop, Switzerland's ski resort of Zermatt would be a place skiers dream about. It's the highest winter sports area in the Alps, and it has the greatest vertical drop in Switzerland, plus the magnificent peak of the Matterhorn can be seen from almost everywhere on its 350 kilometers of trails and slopes.

Zermatt has the world's highest 3S Lift, carrying 2,000 skiers an hour to the Matterhorn Glacier, at 3,883 meters altitude, where you can ski year-round. Zermatt also offers you the chance to ski over an international boundary into another country.

Skiing in Zermatt looking out to Italy | Photo Copyright: Lana Law

The Matterhorn's southern face is in Italy, and skiing over the Theodul Pass leads you into the immense trail system of Breuil-Cervinia, in Italy's Val d'Aosta. There's also Europe's longest downhill run, from Matterhorn glacier (Klein Matterhorn) into Zermatt, over 25 kilometers long.

Zermatt Snow Park on the Theodul Glacier, one of the highest in the Alps, is the hot spot for snowboarders and freeride skiers.

Few places can equal the off-piste opportunities of Zermatt. Along with Rothhorn, Stockhorn, and the Matterhorn Glacier, Zermatt is the gateway to one of the world's most exhilarating off-piste experiences, the 178-kilometer (111 miles) mountaineering route from Zermatt to Chamonix, in the French Alps, known as the Haute Route.

A skier in fresh powder next to the Matterhorn — Skiing fresh powder near the Matterhorn

A guide is mandatory, as are expert skills and high-altitude stamina; the route connects a network of mountain huts, inns, and lodges and usually takes eight days to complete.

Official site: www.zermatt.ch

Courchevel, France

Despite its decidedly upscale villages and reputation, Courchevel is for serious skiers looking for snow thrills of a lifetime. Part of Les 3 Vallées region, the world's largest Alpine ski domain, with 600 kilometers of interconnected ski runs across 10 summits higher than 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), Courchevel offers 150 kilometers of Alpine ski terrain accessed by 60 lifts.

The yearly average of four meters of natural snow is meticulously maintained and groomed, and the off-piste skiing is legendary. Black runs include one corridor (couloir) that's considered one of the most difficult black runs in the world; there's also a good choice of steep black mogul runs.

For tight tree skiing, head for Jockeys and Jean Blanc pistes, from the top of Col de la Loze to Le Praz. Jean Blanc is a former World Cup downhill run.

At the end of the day, you'll find restaurants in any of the five villages, including 14 Michelin-starred restaurants in the area. That combined with the chic vibe make it one of the most popular ski resorts in France.

Official site: www.courchevel.com

Aspen Snowmass, Colorado, USA

View up the Maroon Creek Valley from the top of Aspen Highlands

Top among the several ski resorts in Colorado, Aspen Snowmass is made up of four ski areas surrounding Aspen and Snowmass Village. The combined terrain of Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk exceeds 5,500 acres, with Snowmass alone accounting for more than 3,000. The number of Hollywood and sports stars who own property here has given Aspen its reputation as a glamor resort.

Although the smallest of the four, Buttermilk is known for hosting the Winter X-Games in late January, which it has been doing since 2002. These games bring nearly 100 top skiers and winter sports stars to Aspen.

Aspen Mountain is strictly for intermediate and expert skiers, with steep terrain from its three ridge lines all rated black or double-black. The Aztec run is the scene of the annual World Cup Women's Downhill. Aspen Highlands, known for its expert runs, is also a favorite for backcountry skiers, who hike to the high-alpine terrain of the Highland Bowl.

Aspen Highlands is known for its advanced and expert runs. Tree skiers should head to Aspen Highlands to find powder stashes in the steep, wooded Lucky Find area.

Although much of the backcountry terrain is for experienced skiers, Aspen is unusual in having some easy areas that are safe for newcomers to ungroomed terrain. This is one of the first places on the continent where backcountry skiing became popular, and it still leads the pack. Aspen Powder Tours takes skiers and riders by snowcat into the powder stashes behind Aspen Mountain, where the lift system doesn't reach.

Official site: https://www.aspensnowmass.com/

Val d'Isere, France

Skiing legend Jean-Claude Killy made his hometown one of the best-known ski resorts in Europe after his breathtaking sweep of three gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble. Val d'Isere shares the high valley with neighboring Tignes to provide more than 300 kilometers of interconnected ski terrain served by more than 150 ski lifts.

The valley, surrounded by peaks that provide skiing at altitudes as high as 3,450 meters, is part of Parc National de la Vanoise. The altitude assures snow through the late spring; skiing on the Glacier du Pisaillas usually lasts through June and often into July.

Val d'Isere and Tignes offer some of the best skiing for experts, with more than two dozen challenging black runs. But it's the exceptional off-piste terrain that earns bragging rights for skilled skiers.

The off-piste skiing in Tignes is largely above the tree line. For 45-degree thrills (and exceptional scenery), go to the North Face of Pramecou; hiring a guide is strongly recommended here, even for experienced alpine skiers.

Official site: www.valdisere.com

Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy

The five ragged peaks of the Cinque Torri give upscale Cortina D'Ampezzo the most beautiful setting of any of Italy's ski resorts. Known only to avid skiers before it hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina became an overnight sensation for the well-set winter set.

The town is still decidedly high-end, but skiing here is a surprising bargain, thanks largely to the value-packed Dolomiti Superski Pass. This gives access to the lifts and trails of a dozen resorts, most linked to give nearly 400 kilometers of interconnected skiing. Included are the several ski towns between the peaks known as the Gruppo del Sella, and the Marmolada Glacier; this entire area is included in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

More than three dozen lifts in Cortina alone carry skiers from the center of town to snowfields at the crests of the highest ridges, from which they can ski back into town in a single exhilarating run or spend the day on the high-altitude snowfields.

Skiing here is one of the top things to do in Italy. Not just for experts, Cortina's terrain is about half suitable for intermediates. There's also a bobsled run and the Olympic rink for ice skaters.

The 10-person Son dei Prade-Cianzopè-Bai de Dones gondola connects the Tofana and Cinque Torri areas, making it easy for skiers to reach the Sellaronda and Dolomiti Superski area from Cortina with their skis on.

Official site: https://www.dolomiti.org/en/cortina/

Telluride, Colorado, USA

In a beautiful setting with plenty of challenging terrain at an altitude that promises consistent snow, Telluride is one of Colorado's most popular ski resorts. The height of the San Juan Mountains makes it possible for the resort's base to begin at an impressive 8,725-foot elevation, and lifts carry skiers to 12,515 feet.

Between the base and the top of the lifts, skiers have more than 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. It's this impressive vertical and expanses of hike-to terrain that bring extreme skiers to Telluride.

But it's also a resort for the whole family, with skiing at all levels and a ski-in-ski-out Mountain Village at the base, which is connected by a free gondola to the town of Telluride. Experienced skiers can ski the steep trails directly into Telluride.

Official site: https://tellurideskiresort.com/

Niseko, Japan

Niseko with Mt. Fuji in the distance — Niseko with Mt. Yotei in the distance

Four interlinked ski resorts, about 90 kilometers from Sapporo on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, are known as Niseko United; they include Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, and An'nupuri. Between them, they provide some outstanding and varied terrain on the slopes of a volcano, many of the trails facing the near-perfect cone of Mt. Yotei, known as "Hokkaido's Mt Fuji."

Groomed trails, wooded glades, bowls of ungroomed powder, and snowparks cover one half of the mountain, while the other face is a vast mountainside of unpatrolled backcountry adventures, filled with natural halfpipes, steep chutes, and almost unlimited tree skiing. Niseko is known for its powder and for the low temperatures that produce it, so be prepared for cold weather.

Although it's famed for its glades and off-piste alpine skiing, Niseko rates more than two-thirds of its trails for beginners and intermediate skiers. The resort offers heli-skiing, cat skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and hot spring spas - a highlight of any trip to Japan.

Niseko's variety of activities for children and its outstanding program of ski and snowboard lessons (available in English) has earned it the title of Japan's Best Family Ski Resort in the Ski Asia Awards.

Closer to the hub of Sapporo, the smaller Kiroro Resort gets 21 meters of snow per season, claiming the highest snowfall of any ski resort in the world.

Official site: https://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/

Chamonix, France

The iconic name of Mont Blanc, the first Winter Olympics, and ski slopes with the world's greatest height differential all combine to make Chamonix one of the best-known and most popular ski resorts in France.

Europe's tallest peak at 4,807 meters, Mont Blanc assures Chamonix some of the best snow conditions in the Alps, and the longest lasting. The altitude is aided by the surrounding glaciers in keeping temperatures low and powder dry. The snow falls and stays on some of the world's most challenging terrain for skiers.

Chamonix includes several different areas: Grands Montets, at altitudes from 1,235 meters to 3,300 meters, offers expert runs with the greatest height differential in the world. At the Les Houches ski area, you'll find the renowned Verte, the only piste in the Haute-Savoie approved for World Cup races. Tree-lined and often glazed over, its 3.5 kilometers have an 870-meter vertical and include a series of jumps.

Chamonix is known for its superb off-piste skiing. It's not all about experts though – at Les Houches, there is skiing for all levels, as well as cross-country trails.

Official site: www.chamonix.com

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

St. Anton, Austria

A legendary name in the hearts of skiers, St. Anton is where the first ski club in the Alps began in 1901. Its 280 kilometers of terrain at heights reaching 2,800 meters are no place for beginners, or even most intermediates, as they include some of the most challenging runs anywhere in the Alps.

The moguls are as legendary as the resort itself, and the off-piste skiing is superb, as it's one of the snowiest resorts in the Alps. For the most breathtaking experiences, hire a guide and head for the spectacular views around Sonnenkopf; ask about the Schindler Chutes or the Waterfall route into Langen.

The regional Arlberg lift pass gives access to 340 kilometers of slopes and pistes, including those at the nearby Austrian ski resorts of Lech and Zürs, both of which have ample opportunities for beginning and intermediate skiers.

You can take a shuttle bus to these, and some of the pistes in these resorts are also connected to St. Anton by Flexenbahn, a cable car that links to the other side of the Flexen Pass.

More thrills are in store with the completion of the spectacular 85-kilometer Run of Fame. The circuit takes experienced skiers from St. Anton/Rendl through Zürs and Lech to Warth, returning back to St. Anton. The circuit encompasses the entire Ski Arlberg skiing region.

St. Anton village is a sweet cluster of Alpine inns, shops, and restaurants, and ski lifts leave right from the village.

Official site: www.Stantonamarlberg.com

Kitzbühel, Austria

In the Austrian Alps, within easy reach of both Innsbruck and Salzburg, Kitzbühel looks like a travel poster for Alpine ski towns with its fresco-painted buildings and mountain chalets. While its smart boutiques and luxury hotels may give it the aura of a chic Swiss resort, Kitzbühel has a cozy warmth and accommodations that welcome families on a budget, too. Charming as it is, Kitzbühel is more than just a pretty face.

For serious skiers looking for white-knuckle descents, there's the legendary 85 percent vertical, where skiers compete annually in the Hahnenkamm, the most challenging of all downhill races. For less skilled skiers, there are gentle slopes and long, wide cruisers. The small Bichlalm area is specially designed for riders and freestylers.

If Kitzbühel's 170 kilometers of skiable pistes and slopes aren't enough, take the short bus ride to the SkiWelt for 280 more kilometers of trails. Both domains are included among the ten areas covered by the Kitzbühel Alps AllStarCard.

Official site: www.kitzbuehel.com

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Kitzbühel

St. Moritz, Switzerland

With a claim to being Europe's first winter resort, and still one of its most glamorous, St. Moritz has plenty of credentials to make it stand out among Switzerland's many ski resorts. Although it may be known for its glitz and social scene, there's no questioning the ski challenges of its surrounding mountains. It has hosted two Winter Olympics and multiple Alpine World Ski Championships.

St. Moritz is strong in intermediate terrain, but about 30 percent is rated black and there is ample off-piste, some backcountry, and some marked itineraries. Because it is not as well-known for off-piste, it remains a well-kept secret, which means that its backcountry runs are less used, and hence not as tracked as the better-known destinations.

For the steepest and most challenging terrain, head for the Diavolezza and Lagalp, where a deep base ensures excellent snow.

Official site: https://www.stmoritz.ch

Park City Mountain, Utah, USA

Park City Mountain is the second largest of the many ski resorts in Utah. With 7,300 acres of skiable terrain, the combined resorts offer something for everyone, including a cozy bubble lift and a heart-stopping gondola ride suspended over one of the resort's eponymous canyons.

The two still maintain their separate base areas, which is good, because getting from one trail network to the other remains a time-consuming challenge (although it's getting easier). So it's best to choose one or the other each day.

For experts, the best choice is Canyons, the larger of the two, for its greater variety of challenging terrain. About half of its terrain is rated black, and it's characterized by glades, canyon runs, steep fall-line trails, and plenty of moguls. The most challenging may well be the terrain accessed from the Ninety Nine 90 Express quad. For bumps, look for Devils' Friend, off the Super Condor Express quad. Canyons has its own ski village with resorts, a spa, shops, and restaurants.

Park City Resort, true to its name, sits right in the town of Park City, with a wider variety of activities and services right at the base of the slopes.

Owned by Vail Resorts, Park City/Canyons is included in the EPIC pass; those without a pass should reserve ahead for a day ticket, as they will be unavailable when the daily capacity limits are reached.

Official site: https://www.parkcitymountain.com/

Cerro Catedral, Patagonia, Argentina

With the tallest mountains on Earth outside the Himalayas, the Andes offer plenty of vertical, and no place takes better advantage of that than Cerro Catedral, in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina. Named for the cathedral-spire mountain peaks, Cerro Catedral's scenery is breathtaking, with views across Lake Nahuel Huapi and the surrounding snow-covered summits of the Andes.

Here, in the southern Andes, where the snow is most plentiful, the ski season lasts from June to October, but early August to early September promise the deepest snowpacks and best powder, as well as the lowest crowds.

With 1,150 feet of vertical and 3,000 skiable acres, experts are spoiled for choice. The off-piste and tree skiing are superb, and there are miles of lift-accessed backcountry terrain and hike-in territory filled with steep chutes and bowls. Favorites are the La Laguna zone and the lower fingers of Alaskita. To experience the best terrain, go with a ski guide. Freestyle skiers and riders have a dedicated terrain park.

You could mistake the chalets at the base for an Alpine village, and more than 5,000 beds are within walking distance of the main lifts.

Official site: www.catedralaltapatagonia.com

Deer Valley, Utah, USA

On almost any readers' poll of favorite North American ski resorts, Deer Valley will rank #1 or close to it. What's not to like about perfect grooming, mountain hosts, free ski storage, help unloading skis from your car, immaculately maintained lodges with blazing fireplaces, slope-side fine dining, and a daily limit of 7,500 skiers (no snowboards allowed here) to keep lift lines short and trails uncrowded?

Deer Valley is all about customer service, and the lodging and dining in its beautiful base village are decidedly upmarket. But, as they say, you get what you pay for, and Deer Valley produces your money's worth.

The very fact that Deer Valley is best known for its great intermediate skiing means that experts will have the 37 percent black diamond runs largely to themselves, with that famous champagne powder pristine.

Take Carpenter Express to ski the runs that saw the 2002 Winter Olympic competitions: You Don't Know for the slalom; Champion for the freestyle mogul; and White Owl, where the freestyle aerial event took place.

On Bald Mountain, where there's a lot of black and double black, follow Ruins of Pompeii into Triangle Trees for a mix of steeps and glades. Mayflower offers extreme skiers double-black diamond chutes, Empire Bowl has double blacks, while Daly Bowl and Daly Chutes are even more challenging.

Deer Valley Resort is about two miles from downtown Park City, and another advantage is its proximity to Park City Mountain/Canyons, Alta, Snowbird, and other top ski resorts in Utah.

Official site: https://www.deervalley.com/

Verbier, Switzerland

Part of the Four Valleys ski domain, with access to more than 410 kilometers of ski runs on a single pass, Verbier combines one of Europe's steepest descents, with some of the world's best backcountry for off-piste skiing. The Mont-Gelé cable car – an engineering feat that spans the mountain in a single continuous cable -– accesses the best off-piste terrain and the powder fields of the Mont-Gelé glacier.

It's a free-riders paradise, with breathtaking chutes and vertical drops that are the venue for the annual Verbier Ride freestyle event and the Verbier Xtreme freeride competitions, which are part of the Freeride World Tour.

Expert skiers like the resort's well-laid-out runs for long-distance skiing, while intermediate skiers find good terrain and fewer crowds on the runs at Savoleyres. Across the valley, the cable car to 2,050-meter Tortin, best known for its record-breaking steep descent, also brings you to several runs suitable for high-intermediate skiers.

Snowbird, Utah, USA

Combine the most vertical terrain of all Utah's ski mountains with legendary powder – it can run to more than six feet out of an average 40-foot snowfall in a good winter – and it's easy to see why Snowbird is a favorite of serious skiers. Not only is there a lot of snow, but it lasts longer than any of the resorts in the region.

Snowbird isn't just for experts, and there's a lot to appeal to any skier. More than a quarter of the resort's 2,500 acres is labeled for beginners, who can enjoy the sweeping views from the wide-open bowls (Snowbird has the best views of any of Utah's resorts). More than one-third of the trails are rated for intermediate skiers, who will find runs off any of the resort's nine chairlifts.

Boarders love it for its 4,700 acres of skiable terrain, and glades with 45-degree steeps. Connected to Alta ski area– you can ski between them – the resorts offer combined passes for skiers, but Alta doesn't allow boarders. Snowbird is in Little Cottonwood Canyon and is only 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport.

Snowbird is part of both the IKON and Mountain Collective programs.

Official site: https://www.snowbird.com

Valle Nevado, Chile

In the Chilean Andes, less than 40 miles from Santiago, Valle Nevado is part of the "Tres Valles" resorts, bordering El Colorado and La Parva, with interconnecting lifts and trails. The resort's 2,200 acres of skiable terrain is served by 14 lifts, but what brings top international skiers here is the wide-open terrain and the best heli-skiing in the Andes.

The 10,000-foot altitude, southern exposure, and extensive snowmaking coverage assure some of the most reliable snow conditions in the Andes. The views from almost anywhere on the mountain are spectacular. Much of the challenging backcountry terrain is lift-accessed.

The infrastructure is up to the skiing and the setting, with multiple hotels, restaurants, condos, and a spa right at the base. Future plans are to develop the base into a full-scale Alpine-style village.

Valle Nevado is a partner in the IKON Pass system.

Official site: https://vallenevado.com/en/

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, USA

Extreme skiing in the Jackson Hole backcountry

With nearly 40 feet of average annual snowfall across 2,200 acres of terrain, Jackson Hole offers plenty of skiing, and it's mostly for intermediate-to-expert skiers.

Although there's little beginning terrain, there are lessons and ski camps for kids and beginners, as well as for adults wanting to tackle the gnarliest of runs – like the extreme double-black diamond Corbet's Couloir. You can join a backcountry guide who will take you off-piste for a day or, for even more challenging adventures, a four-day Backcountry Camp to learn techniques for touring, avalanche awareness, and terrain selection.

Jackson Hole provides at least two trails with snowmaking from each lift. Tree skiers have lauded the recent expansion of the glade terrain by six acres.

There is on-site lodging, and a mid-station with two restaurants. Jackson Hole is part of the IKON and Mountain Collective pass programs.

Official site: https://www.jacksonhole.com/

Val Gardena, Italy

Smaller and without the international glitz of their Dolomite neighbor, Cortina D'Ampezzo, the resorts in the valleys between the peaks of the Gruppo del Sella connect via runs and lifts to nearly 400 kilometers of slopes and trails. Of these, 160 are at Val Gardena; from here, skiers can also access the magnificent skiing on the Marmolada Glacier.

One trail at Val Gardena holds the record as the longest run in South Tyrol. La Longia is more than 10 kilometers, dropping for 1,273 meters from Mount Seceda to Ortisei. On the way, it includes a natural canyon with a frozen waterfall.

One of the challenging circuits includes skiing four runs used for men's and women's World Championship downhill and giant slalom races, with average gradients of more than 25 percent. The experts-only La Ria features an incline of 52% in places. Steep slope lovers will find the terrain between the Seiser Alm, and Ortisei has been transformed into a 4,670-meter downhill trail with gradients as high as 58%.

Although 65 percent of the terrain here is for advanced and expert skiers – it's among the highest in the Dolomites – Val Gardena does have plenty of places for beginners and intermediate skiers. The combination makes it a good choice for families that are looking for a more laid-back ski experience in Italy's Dolomites.

Official site: https://www.valgardena.it

Hakuba, Japan

Honshu, Japan's main island, is home to the Japanese Alps, with far more steep, rugged, and varied terrain than the gentler slopes of Hokkaido's volcano cones farther north. These are serious mountains, filled with steeps and chutes, as well as long cruisers.

The two parts of the Hakuba resort join at the summit, and you can ski them on a single pass. Each has its own appeal, with Hakuba 47 the favorite of boarders, for its park that includes a professional-grade half-pipe and challenging jumps. Hakuba Goryu has more beginner terrain and a large night skiing area.

Hakuba is a family-friendly resort, with play areas for children and plentiful family lodging; kids under five ski free.

It's easy to combine these two with other resorts in the immediate area: Happo One, Norikura Onsen, and Cortina (not to be confused with the one in Italy's Dolomites) for a wide variety of pistes and backcountry experiences for all levels of skiers.

Another appeal of the Hakuba region, as opposed to the Hokkaido ski resorts, is that you'll find a more authentic Japanese cultural experience here than in the more international resorts of the north.

Official site: https://www.hakuba47.co.jp/winter/en/

Courmayeur, Italy

Among the most glamorous ski resorts in Europe, Courmayeur is crowded on weekends with wealthy skiers and partiers from Milan and Turin. That in no way diminishes the quality of the skiing, although it does make a ski holiday here more expensive than the Dolomite ski resorts farther east in Italy.

There's an undeniable cachet to skiing on the upper slopes of the Alps' highest peak. At this altitude, good snow is almost guaranteed, and although it's not one of Europe's largest ski resorts, it has a skiable vertical of 1,545 meters (5,068 feet) and a lot of variety. You'll find high-altitude, off-piste tree skiing on the north-facing slopes, and superb powder.

Expert and high-intermediate skiers are best served here, as Courmayeur has very little beginner terrain. A cable car begins right in the village, leading to the higher lifts.

Morzine and Avoriaz in Portes du Soleil, France

Ski across the border between France and Switzerland on the interconnecting lifts and pistes of a dozen ski resorts, using a single region-wide pass. The total skiable terrain includes 660 kilometers of slopes served by 197 lifts.

Five of the resorts are in Switzerland, seven in France. On the French side, both Morzine and the adjacent Avoriaz are superb resorts for recreational skiers, although each has enough expert runs to keep experienced skiers happy, and Morzine has nine trails designated expert.

An equal number of Morzine's trails are tagged for beginners, and the other 52 are intermediate and high intermediate. At Avoriaz, 75 kilometers of trails are red and blue for intermediates. Boarders will find five different terrain parks and a superpipe; two of the parks are designed especially for kids.

The villages are quite different, so you can choose between Morzine's cozy Alpine village atmosphere, with traditional chalets, and the modern purpose-built hotels and stylish surroundings of Alvoriaz.

Official site: https://en.morzine-avoriaz.com/

Cardrona, New Zealand

Less than an hour from Queenstown Airport, Cardrona has terrain and off-slope facilities to please all ages and skill levels, from its outstanding child-care and kiddie lessons program to the one-fifth of its terrain designated for expert skiers. The rest is almost evenly divided between beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

The terrain spreads across a series of bowls, all above treeline, with good off-piste challenges when the snow is right. Boarders won't find a bigger choice of terrain parks and pipes anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere; the renowned Cardrona Parks NZ hosts events that draw some of the world's best boarders and skiers.

The combination of facilities, good beginner terrain, and on-mountain lodging make Cardrona a favorite base for family ski vacations, as multi-day lift passes are also valid at the nearby Treble Cone Ski Field.

Official site: https://www.cardrona.com

Treble Cone, New Zealand

The largest ski area on the South Island at 1,359 acres, Treble Cone is about 90 minutes from Queenstown and half an hour from Wanaka Airport. The terrain is ideal for advanced and intermediate skiers, with 45 percent of the trails rated for each, and there's ample natural freeride terrain. Beginners' options are more limited, although learning skiers can use the Magic Carpet free and the Platter at a discount.

The steep mountainside terrain has New Zealand's highest annual snowfall, and provides breathtaking views across Lake Wanaka and the facing mountainsides. Runs are shorter (the longest clocks at four kilometers) than Alpine or even Rocky Mountain resorts, but the lack of crowds and the six-person express lift guarantee a lot of on-the-snow time.

Official site: https://www.treblecone.com/

Best for Boarders and Freestyle

Ursus Snow Park, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy

In addition to the exceptional off-piste terrain of Val d'Isere, Courchevel, Zermatt, St. Anton, and Courmayeur mentioned above, boarders and freestylers should consider the following ski resorts:

Flims Laax Falera, Switzerland: This resort between two Alpine peaks is considered Europe's top freestyle resort, for both amateurs and professionals. About 44 kilometers of terrain are designated freeride routes. The four snow parks have more than 90 obstacles, and the Curnius Snowpark has an Olympic-size Pro-kicker-line. It hosts both the Burton European Open and the European Freeski Open.

Official site: https://www.flimslaax.com/en

Madonna di Campiglio, Italy: In the Brenta Dolomites, north of Verona, Madonna di Campiglio is famed for its perfectly groomed pistes and slopes. The Ursus Snow Park is considered one of Europe's best for freestylers.

Official site: https://www.campigliodolomiti.it/en/pagine/dettaglio/skiarea,134/skiarea_campiglio,12.html

Mammoth Mountain, California, USA: This family-friendly resort is as good for learners as it is for experienced riders and freestylers. Its nine parks are graded, beginning with the Discovery Park, an unthreatening place to learn and practice. Each park advances in skill level to the 21-acre main park, filled with technical jumps. An Olympic-sized pipe is used for competitions.

Official site: https://www.mammothmountain.com

Best for Summer Skiing

Alpine glaciers extend the ski season well into summer at several of the resorts described above, including Les Alpes and Tignes in France, Zermatt in Switzerland, Cortina D'Ampezzo in Italy's Dolomites, and Whistler Blackcomb, in Canada's British Columbia. But other, smaller resorts in Europe offer skiing year-round, or close to it.

Hintertux, Austria

As much as 20km of slope at Hintertux is open for skiing year-round, joining Zermatt as one of the only resorts in Europe to offer 365 ski days a year. Reaching an altitude of 3,250m (10,660 feet) in the saddle between two peaks, the Tuxer Ferner and Riepenkees glaciers are accessed by a system of ten gondolas and chair lifts.

Although Hintertux has terrain for all skills, the summer runs are predominantly the more challenging ones. Hintertux is southeast of Innsbruck, in the Austrian Tyrol

Official site: https://www.hintertuxergletscher.at/en/

Kaprun, Austria

Not open for skiing year-round, but very close to it, the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier at Kaprun is at an altitude of 2900m (9500 feet). Along with runs for all skiing skills, Kaprun has a terrain park for boarders and free-style skiers that's open well into the summer. Most of the terrain is best suited to intermediate skiers.

While summer skiing doesn't promise Zell am See's famous apres-ski scene, there's plenty of lodging and dining, and the beautiful city of Saltzburg is only 100 km away.

Official site: www.zellamsee-kaprun.com

Saas Fee, Switzerland

Almost as big as Zermatt's glacier, the Allalin Glacier in Saas Fee offers 20km of runs that are well suited to intermediate skiers and boarders. Lifts run to the glacier from mid-July to late October; it takes about an hour to get to the glacier, and the best skiing is early, before the sun softens the surface.

Freestylers love the snow park, with a half-pipe, kickers, rails, jumps, and boxes for all skill levels. The world's highest underground funicular takes you to the world's highest revolving restaurant for spectacular views you're your lunch.

Official site: https://www.saas-fee.ch/

Southern Hemisphere Skiing (Australia)

Along with Valle Nevado and Cerro Catedral in Argentina, and the New Zealand mountains at Cardrona and Treble Cone, all described above, the southern hemisphere offers plenty more snow during the northern summer. This includes skiing in Australia.

The largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere is Perisher, in Australia, made up of four villages, with interconnected trails and lifts. The seven mountains are accessed by 47 lifts, and although most of the terrain is best for intermediates, beginners and experts have plenty of space, too. Five terrain parks and a super-pipe keep free-stylers busy.

Also in New South Wales, Thredbo has Australia's longest runs, and almost twice the vertical of Perisher. You'll find a purpose-built area for beginners, wide cruisers for intermediates and abundant off-piste terrain for experts. The Kosciuszko Express chairlift takes you to the highest point in Australia.