The World’s 11 Best Mountain Ranges for Skiing & Snowboarding:

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El Dorado Peak, North Cascades, WA. photo: summitpost.com
El Dorado Peak, North Cascades, WA. photo: summitpost.com

The world is full of incredible mountains.  Some are better to ski and snowboard than others.  What makes a mountain range great for skiing and snowboarding is the combination of copious amounts of snow and great terrain.  The mountain ranges below have both of these qualities in excess.

The World’s Best Mountain Ranges for Skiing & Snowboarding:

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Teton Range

Views of the Grand Tetons from Grand Targhee. photo: grand targhee
Views of the Grand Tetons from Grand Targhee. Credit: Grand Targhee

Sierra Nevada Mountains

The Minarets from Mammoth ski resort, CA.
The Minarets from Mammoth ski resort, CA.  Credit: visitcalifornia.com
  • California, USA, North America
  • “The range of light” – John Muir
  • 600-miles long
  • 14,495′ Mt. Whitney = highest elevation
  • 409″ (at UC Berkley Snow Lab, Donner Summit, CA) = average annual snowfall
  • Quality ski resorts:  Squaw Valley, CA & Mammoth, CA

Selkirk Mountains

Rogers Pass. Enough Said. Photo: SnowBrains
  • British Columbia, Canada, Idaho & Washington, USA
  • Home of Canada’s first National Parks
  • 326-miles long
  • 11,545′ Mount Sir Sandford = highest elevation
  • 370″ (average snowfall at Roger’s Pass, BC)
  • Quality ski areas: Revelstoke, BC & Roger’s Pass



Japanese Alps

Japanese Alps, Japan. photo: miles clark/snowbrains
Japanese Alps, Japan. Credit: Miles Clark/SnowBrains
  • Honshu Isle, Japan
  • Possibly the most consistent powder on Earth
  • 10,476′ Mount Kita  = highest elevation
  • ? = Average annual snowfall (likely around 600″)
  • Quality ski resorts:  Happo-One, Myoko Kogen, Nozawa Onsen

Andes Mountains

Las Lenas, Argentina. photo: miles clark/snowbrains
Las Lenas, Argentina. Credit: Miles Clark/SnowBrains
  • Chile/Argentina, South America
  • Longest mountain range on Earth
  • 4,500-miles long
  • 22,838′ Aconcagua = highest elevation
  • 200-400″ = Average annual snowfall
  • Quality ski resorts:  Las Lenas ARG, Catedral ARG, Portillo Chile



Chugach Mountains

Chugach mountains, AK. photo: miles clark/snowbrains
Chugach Mountains, AK. Credit: Miles Clark/SnowBrains
  • Alaska, USA, North America
  • The best skiing on Earth
  • 250-miles long
  • 12,884′ Mt. Marcus Baker = highest elevation
  • 600+” = Average annual snowfall
  • Quality ski resorts:  Alyeska, AK

Southern Alps

Mt. Cook, NZ. photo: newzealand.com
Mt. Cook, NZ. Credit: newzealand.com
  • South Island, New Zealand
  • Some of the most gorgeous mountain scenery on Earth
  • 300-miles long
  • 12,218′ Mt. Cook = highest elevation
  • 200-400″ = average annual snowfall
  • Quality ski resorts:  Treble Cone, Cardrona, Mt. Hutt, Craigieburn, The Remarkables

Coast Range

Waddington summit from NW peak. photo: maxi kniewasser
Waddington summit from NW peak. Credit: maxi kniewasser
  • British Columbia, Canada
  • This range holds endless ski and snowboard opportunity
  • 1,000-miles long
  • 13,168′ Mt. Waddington = Highest elevation
  • 400+” = average annual snowfall
  • Quality ski resorts:  Whistler, B.C.



North Cascades

El Dorado Peak, North Cascades, WA. photo: summitpost.com
El Dorado Peak, North Cascades, WA. Credit: summitpost.com
  • Washington, USA, North America
  • The most rugged terrain in the Lower 48
  • 150-miles long
  • 10,781′ Mt. Baker = Highest point
  • 600+” = average annual snowfall
  • Quality ski resorts:  Mt. Baker, WA

Alps

plane crash, crash, Swiss alps,
Piz Segnas in the Swiss Alps. Credit: Summit Post
  • Europe
  • Best & biggest ski resorts on Earth
  • 750-miles long
  • 15,780′ Mt. Blanc = highest elevation
  • 300-400″ = average annual snowfall
  • Quality ski resorts:  Chamonix, Verbier, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Courmayeur

Himalaya

Himalaya mountains.
Himalaya mountains.
  • Asia
  • The biggest mountains on Earth
  • 1,500-miles long
  • 29,032′ Mt. Everest = highest elevation
  • 500-800″ = average annual snowfall
  • Quality ski resorts = Gulmarg





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23 thoughts on “The World’s 11 Best Mountain Ranges for Skiing & Snowboarding:

  1. Why are you guys BITCHING about the Wasatch if it has snow I’m good to go I’ve road in Utah a handful of times had some killer days has some shitty days Quit bitching about who’s got the baddest mountain range they’re all bad ass

    1. Really, just checking to see if you have heard of the Rocky Mtn Range or the Wasatch??

  2. Snow Brain? You mean brainless. Leaving out the Wasatch Range? It is like a top 10 list of sports cars and leaving out the Porsche 911.

  3. Seriously? This list is flawed in so many ways. The Wasatch Range would make the top three list. Southern Alps? Japanese Alps?

  4. even as a California skier (KIrkwood home mountain) I can’t believe the Rockies are not on this list.

    1. We did a google image search and could not find it attributed to a photographer. It was used on a travel site as well as a swiss government health site.

  5. Seriously how does the Wasatch range not make this list? Pound for pound the snow quality and terrain is up there with any of these.

  6. B.S. A little crazy that the place with some of the best snow and the most heli/cat ski operations in the world isn’t included here… the interior ranges of BC should probably be first on the list!

  7. The Chugach definitly has a ton to offer. The back country is awesome if u know what you’re doing. And Alyeska ski resort is a great place to be. Especially come spring skiing time.

  8. why would the himalayas be on here but not the wasatch? i don’t think that many people ski mount everest, duh.

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