The Most Difficult Ski Resort in the World, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the ski resort you think is the most difficult!

Updated on May 2, 2024 06:25

Ski enthusiasts often seek challenges that push their limits, and knowing which ski resorts offer the most demanding slopes can be incredibly beneficial. By ranking these ski destinations according to difficulty, skiers of all skill levels can better prepare for their adventures, ensuring they select destinations that align with their abilities and expectations. This dynamic ranking allows seasoned skiers and beginners alike to contribute their experiences and opinions, leading to a consensus that reflects the real-world challenges encountered at different resorts. Your votes help adjust the rankings, providing up-to-date insights and helping others make informed decisions about where to test their skiing prowess.

What Is the Most Difficult Ski Resort in the World?

1

53
votes
La Grave, France

Known for its extreme off-piste skiing and lack of marked runs or grooming.
La Grave, France is known as one of the most difficult ski resorts in the world. Located in the French Alps, it offers a unique and challenging experience for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The resort is characterized by its rugged terrain, steep slopes, and off-piste opportunities. La Grave is renowned for its lack of groomed runs, marked trails, and ski patrol. It attracts thrill-seekers and experts who are looking for an adrenaline rush in a raw and uncontrolled mountain environment.

Location: French Alps, France

Terrain: Rugged and steep

Groomed Runs: None

Marked Trails: None

Ski Patrol: Limited
2

40
votes
Corbet's Couloir, Jackson Hole, USA

Barry Corbet

A narrow, steep chute with a mandatory drop-in that has become an iconic and challenging run.
Corbet's Couloir is a legendary ski run located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA. It is renowned as one of the most difficult and intimidating in the world, attracting seasoned skiers and adrenaline junkies. The couloir was named after a local ski patroller, Barry Corbet, who was the first to envision skiing it in the late 1960s.

Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA

Difficulty: Extremely difficult

Vertical Drop: Over 1,000 feet

Terrain: Steep and narrow couloir

Entrance: Narrow and cliff-like
3

8
votes
Michael Fleischhacker · CC BY-SA 3.0

The Streif, Kitzbühel, Austria

Austrian Ski Federation

The most famous downhill ski race course in the world, with steep pitches, tight turns, and jumps.
The Streif is a legendary ski slope located in Kitzbühel, Austria. It is renowned as one of the most difficult and challenging ski runs in the world, attracting top skiers and adrenaline junkies alike. The slope is part of the annual Hahnenkamm downhill race, a prestigious event on the FIS World Cup circuit.

Location: Kitzbühel, Austria

Slope Length: 3.3 kilometers

Maximum Gradient: 85%

Average Gradient: 27%

Vertical Drop: 860 meters
4

26
votes
Wainscotting at English Wikipedia · Public domain

Mount Hutt, New Zealand

Mount Hutt Limited

Known for its unpredictable weather and challenging terrain, including steep chutes and narrow runs.
Mount Hutt is a renowned ski resort located in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. It is known for its challenging terrain and attracts both amateur and professional skiers from around the world. With its breathtaking alpine scenery and diverse ski trails, Mount Hutt offers a thrilling experience for ski enthusiasts of all levels.

Location: Canterbury region, New Zealand

Ski Terrain: Challenging

Altitude: 2,086 meters (6,874 feet)

Ski Season: Late June to early October

Vertical Drop: 683 meters (2,240 feet)
5

15
votes
Mad River Glen, Vermont, USA

Roland Palmedo

A ski area that prides itself on its old-school, challenging terrain and lack of modern amenities.
Mad River Glen is a legendary ski resort located in Vermont, USA. It is renowned for its challenging terrain and is considered one of the most difficult ski resorts in the world. The resort offers a unique and authentic skiing experience, focused on preserving the natural environment and the traditional aspects of the sport.

Elevation: 2,037 feet (621 meters)

Vertical Drop: 2,037 feet (620 meters)

Trails: 45 trails

Terrain: 40% expert, 20% advanced, 27% intermediate, 12% novice

Skiable Area: 415 acres (168 hectares)
6

18
votes
Chamonix, France

A mecca for extreme skiers and snowboarders, with steep, ungroomed runs and some of the highest peaks in the Alps.
Chamonix, France is renowned as one of the most challenging ski resorts in the world. Located in the French Alps near the borders of France, Italy, and Switzerland, it offers an exceptional setting for alpine sports enthusiasts. Chamonix is widely regarded as the birthplace of mountaineering and hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924.

Elevation: 1,035 meters (3,396 feet)

Skiable Area: 152 km (94.4 miles) of marked slopes

Longest Run: Vallée Blanche - 20 km (12.4 miles) off-piste run

Vertical Drop: 2,807 meters (9,209 feet)

Difficulty Level: Mostly advanced and expert level terrain
7

16
votes
Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, USA

Ernie and Rhoda Blake

Known for its challenging steeps and tree runs, as well as its high altitude and variable weather.
Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico, USA, is renowned as one of the most challenging ski resorts in the world. With its steep slopes and rugged terrain, it offers a thrilling experience for expert skiers seeking an adrenaline rush. The resort's natural beauty, including the stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, adds to the overall appeal of this extreme skiing destination.

Trails: 113

Vertical drop: 3,274 feet (998 meters)

Terrain: Roughly 50% expert, 25% intermediate, and 25% beginner

Longest run: 3 miles (4.8 km)

Average snowfall: 305 inches (775 cm)
8

3
votes
Carlos yo · CC BY-SA 3.0

Portillo, Chile

A remote ski resort with steep terrain and challenging off-piste skiing, as well as unpredictable weather.
Portillo, Chile is widely considered one of the most challenging ski resorts in the world. Nestled in the Andes Mountains, it offers breathtaking views and unparalleled skiing opportunities for experienced skiers looking for a thrilling adventure.

Location: Andes Mountains, Chile

Altitude: 2,880 meters (9,449 feet) above sea level

Slopes: 35 named runs, varied terrain

Vertical Drop: 762 meters (2,500 feet)

Longest Run: 3 kilometers (1.9 miles)
9

10
votes
Verbier, Switzerland

Verbier Tourist Office

A popular destination for freeriders and extreme skiers, with steep couloirs and off-piste runs.
Verbier, Switzerland is a world-renowned ski resort located in the Swiss Alps. It offers breathtaking mountain views, pristine slopes, and a charming alpine village atmosphere. Known for its challenging terrain and exceptional off-piste opportunities, Verbier attracts skiers and snowboarders of all levels from around the globe. The resort also offers a vibrant après-ski scene, with a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops to explore. With its high-altitude slopes and extensive lift system, Verbier provides a memorable ski experience for winter sports enthusiasts.

Location: Swiss Alps, Switzerland

Terrain: Challenging with exceptional off-piste opportunities

Altitude: 1,500m (4,921ft) to 3,330m (10,926ft)

Ski Season: December to April

Skiable Area: 412 km² (159 sq mi)
10

7
votes
Goutam1962 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mount Everest Base Camp, Nepal

While not technically a ski resort, some extreme skiers and snowboarders have attempted to ski down from the base of the world's highest mountain, facing high altitude, extreme cold, and treacherous conditions.
Mount Everest Base Camp, Nepal is a popular trekking destination located in the Himalayas. It serves as the starting point for mountaineers attempting to climb Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. The base camp is situated at an altitude of about 5,380 meters (17,600 feet) above sea level, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains and glaciers. It is a challenging and demanding trek, making it one of the most difficult ski resorts in the world.

Location: Khumjung, Solukhumbu District, Nepal

Altitude: 5,380 meters (17,600 feet)

Difficulty Level: Extreme

Trekking Distance: Approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles)

Duration: Usually 12-16 days

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Ranking factors for difficult ski resort

Terrain steepness

The steepness of the slopes is a significant factor in determining the difficulty of a ski resort. Steeper slopes are more challenging for skiers, as they require greater skill and control to navigate.
Technical difficulty

Some ski resorts have more technical or challenging runs, which may include moguls, narrow chutes, and tight tree lines. These features require advanced skiing skills to tackle successfully.
Snow conditions

The quality and consistency of the snow can greatly impact the difficulty of a ski resort. Heavy or icy snow can make runs more challenging, even for experienced skiers.
Altitude

Higher altitude resorts typically have more challenging terrain and thinner air, which can be physically demanding and affect a skier's stamina and performance.
Number and diversity of difficult runs

The quantity and variety of advanced and expert runs available at a ski resort should be considered when determining difficulty.
Off-piste skiing

Ski resorts with vast off-piste terrain can provide an added challenge for advanced skiers seeking powder and unmarked routes.
Accessibility of difficult runs

Some resorts may have difficult runs that are easily accessible from lifts, while others require hiking or traversing to reach challenging terrain.
Exposure and consequences

The danger associated with skiing in certain areas of a resort, such as avalanche risk, rocky cliffs, and crevasses, should be considered when assessing difficulty.
Overall resort infrastructure and safety measures

The availability and quality of ski patrols, signage, and safety barriers can impact the difficulty of a resort, particularly in terms of navigating around the mountain and mitigating risk.
Reputation and skier feedback

The collective opinions and experiences of skiers who have visited a resort can help provide insight into the overall difficulty of the resort.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult ski resort in the world. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or resort is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2971 views
193 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each resort once every 24 hours. The rank of each resort is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most difficult ski resort in the world

Skiing is one of the most thrilling and challenging winter sports, and some ski resorts take that challenge to the extreme. Whether it's steep slopes, narrow runs, icy terrain or unpredictable weather conditions, certain ski resorts have earned a reputation for being the most difficult in the world. These resorts attract experienced skiers and adrenaline junkies looking for the ultimate skiing experience. From the rugged peaks of the Swiss Alps to the wild terrain of North America, there are many ski resorts that claim to be the toughest in the world. But which one truly deserves the title of the most difficult ski resort? Let's explore some of the contenders and find out.