There’s nothing like dropping into fresh snow off-piste! The question is, where are the best powder ski resorts in the world? We have factored terrain, snow records and altitude to give you recommendations for the best ski resorts for powder. Whether it’s the best powder skiing in Europe or North America, we have the ski destination for you.
1. Engelberg, Switzerland
For some of the best powder skiing, look no further than Engelberg in Europe. The ski resort has an altitude of 1,050m – 3,028m with an impressive snow history. For excellent off-piste terrain, Mount Titlis is perfectly shady so it holds fresh snow well.
You don’t have to go far to access the fantastic freeride runs. The ‘Big 5’ off-piste run can be found from the lifts with ease. The steep Laub face has over 1,000m vertical, but not quite as long as the 2,000m Galtiberg. The Steinberg is also worth trying but has more crevasses on the route.
The ski resort prides itself on mountain safety. There’s plenty of mountain guide services to book and safety equipment to hire. The guides have vital local knowledge to find the best off-piste spots securely.
2. Revelstoke, Canada
Revelstoke tops a lot of lists for the best powder ski resorts in the world. It has the most vertical terrain in North America with 1,713m to explore. The ski resort gets an average of 12m a year of snow, which makes it one of the more snow-sure resorts around.
The Canadian ski resort has a mixture of off-piste opportunities to choose from. The ski resort is mostly ungroomed and steep, but there is some easier tree skiing to enjoy too. You can also try “The Gnome Zone” if you’re more of a backcountry freestyler. The zone has jumps, features and rollers to take on in the trees.
For more advanced skiers, there’s the unique snowcat-skiing area near the main slopes. If you want to go off the beaten track heliskiing can be booked at the base area.
3. Tignes, France
Tignes in Europe has some great powder skiing because of the vast choice of terrain and its reliable snow record. At the top of the Grande Motte Glacier, there are great descents on and off-piste to choose from.
If you’re an advanced off-piste skier there’s also plenty of choices. There are two seriously steep couloirs around La Grande Balme and La Petite Balme in the southern end of the valley. There are plenty of mountain guide services in the resort to choose from.
The snow reliability is ideal because of the altitude of 2,100m – 3,456m, one of the higher ski resorts in France. The connected resort of Val d’Isere also helps with the choice of places to head off-piste too. A real powder playground!
4. Andermatt, Switzerland
Andermatt is in a prime location for snowfall on the northern side of the Alps. The ski resort has a reasonably high altitude of 1,444m – 2,961m. At the top of the Gemmstock summit, there are plenty of runs you can drop into for fresh snow.
It’s considered one of the best for powder skiing in Europe because it’s not crowded and has great access to freeride opportunities. The piste map itself isn’t massive but the quality of skiing is very high, with varied terrain to explore.
The links to the resort are great too with a 1.5-hour transfer from Zurich airport. A quick way to get out in the deep snow without too much travel time. The ski resort itself has a cosy Alpine charm which is ideal to unwind after a long day on the slopes.
5. Chamonix, France
Top professional skiers flock to Chamonix throughout the ski season. Countless ski films and freeride events have been held in the French ski resort. This is because it has an amazing snow record and unique terrain.
There’s an impressive 20km of freeride skiing to explore along the Vallée Blanche area. On top of this, there’s further off-piste skiing on the Grands Montets glacier too. The ski resort has an altitude of 1,035m -3,840m, so snow reliability is very good.
The only slight downside is the resort isn’t a ski-in ski-out destination and sometimes requires the bus service to get to different areas of the mountain. This is all worth it if you love off-piste skiing because the slopes are incredible. No wonder Chamonix has some of the best powder skiing in the world.
6. Whistler, Canada
There’s a reason why Whistler is on many skiers’ wish lists. It’s a world-class ski resort with superb powder skiing. Its snow record is impressive and there is plenty of choice for many levels of skier. This ski resort will not disappoint.
The Canadian ski resort has plenty of choices when it comes to off-piste skiing. You can find excellent ridges and bowls to drop into across Whistler Mountain. More advanced skiers can try the steeper bowls and gullies available on the mountain too.
There’s also fun tree skiing to enjoy in between pistes that are easier than some of the freeride terrain. The ski resort has an altitude of 670-2,284m. It can get bitterly cold at some points of the season so pack an extra layer!
7. Lech, Austria
Lech is part of the largest ski area in Austria, the Arlberg. The access to freeride terrain is unrivalled with most runs near lift stations. For those looking for a bit more of an adrenaline rush, you can book heli-skiing to go further afield.
The ‘Weisser Ring’ off-piste route connect Lech with Zürs, Zug & Oberlech. You can book expert mountain guides from the many top ski schools in the area. A great way to get local knowledge of the best runs in the area.
The ski resort itself has a classy vibe and luxury accommodation options. Lech has an altitude of 1,450m – 2,811m and has a fantastic snow record too. On or off-piste you’re going to have a lot of fun in Lech.
To find out more about the best powder skiing in the world, please call our ski experts on 0207 471 7700.
