Industry News
Most ski resorts offer terrain options for all levels of skiers and snowboarders to enjoy. This, however, does not mean that all the terrain on these mountains is safe for everyone. Black diamonds are considered the most difficult terrain at a resort and are geared for expert skiers and snowboarders. However, some resorts offer more dangerous terrain and that could cause serious injury or even death to a person if they happen to fall. These areas are called “no-fall zones.”
These areas are usually marked or designated by ski patrols or resort management and are typically found in high-risk zones such as steep cliffs, rocky outcrops, avalanche-prone areas, or very narrow chutes. Skiers are expected to have excellent control and technique when navigating through these areas, and only highly skilled skiers are recommended to attempt them. While not all resorts officially label these zones, many backcountry areas or advanced slopes may have implicit no-fall zones. Skiers in these areas are urged to stay within their skill level and avoid risky maneuvers that could lead to a fall.
Ski resorts with significant numbers of no-fall zones are typically located in regions with mountains with higher elevations, which creates the environment for these dangerous areas. These zones often exist in extreme, off-piste, or backcountry areas of ski resorts known for pushing the limits of advanced skiers and riders. These are a few of the ski resorts around the world known for having a high concentration of no-fall zones.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA
Jackson Hole offers diverse terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, but no discussion of this iconic destination would be complete without mentioning Corbet’s Couloir. With a 20-foot drop and 50-degree pitch, it’s one of the steepest ski slopes in North America. Known as one of the craziest ski resorts, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort brings skiers from around the world to test their limits on this legendary terrain. Jackson Hole is infamous for its steep, challenging terrain and has one of the highest concentrations of no-fall zones in the U.S. The resort has massive expert terrain, including extreme bowls, cliffs, and narrow chutes in places like Corbet’s Couloir (often considered one of the steepest in-bounds runs in North America). The Backcountry Terrain and Expert Zones are notorious for having NFZs. Notable NFZ Areas are Corbet’s Couloir, the expert terrain on Larsen’s Peak, Rendezvous Bowl, and parts of the Backcountry Gates.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is an iconic destination that attracts tourists from all over the world over. While they are here, they cannot help but soak up the extraordinary history of the conquest of Mont Blanc and its peaks and the origins of mountaineering. Chamonix is renowned for its high-mountain and alpine terrain, and many areas are considered no-fall zones, especially in the Grands Montets and Vallée Blanche sectors. The resort offers a lot of off-piste skiing and mountaineering, which places skiers in risky NFZs. Notable NFZ Areas are the Vallée Blanche glacier, North Face of the Aiguille du Midi, Les Grands Montets, and various high-altitude off-piste areas accessible via helicopter or the Mont Blanc Tramway.
Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada
Revelstoke, British Colombia, Canada, is home to the most vertical in North America at 1,713 meters. The resort is world-renowned for its incredible terrain. There is something for everyone, from wide-open alpine bowls to perfectly spaced glades. Revelstoke has one of the largest vertical drops in North America and is known for its steep, challenging terrain and abundant snowfall. Many of its advanced and expert-level areas have NFZs due to avalanche risk, cliffs, and extreme terrain. Notable NFZ Areas are Mount Mackenzie (the resort’s highest peak), The North Bowl, and backcountry areas accessible by helicopter (heli-skiing) and snowcat. These areas are renowned for technical descents and can be deadly if a skier falls.
Val d’Isère, France
Nestled in the heart of the French Alps, Val d’Isère is packed with legendary slopes, offering technical, vertiginous descents that will satisfy even the most experienced skiers. It’s impossible not to mention the legendary Face de Bellevarde, Val d’Isère’s signature runs since the 1992 Olympic Games. This demanding and impressive slope hosts the Critérium de la Première Neige, a yearly World Cup ski race. Val d’Isère is part of the Espace Killy ski area and is known for its vast network of advanced and expert-level runs, particularly in off-piste and high-altitude regions. Many of these have steep sections and cliffs that qualify as no-fall zones. Notable NFZ Areas are the Pissaillas Glacier, Forêt de l’Ours, and sections of the La Face run, which are steep and extremely technical.
Verbier, Switzerland
Verbier is a world-famous ski resort for sports and adventure enthusiasts. Located on a sunny plateau in a majestic alpine setting, it faces the Combins and Mont-Blanc massifs. With such a vast, diverse skiing area, skiers and snowboarders can revel in Verbier’s unlimited possibilities on runs of all levels of difficulty and legendary freeride routes which are secured, marked but ungroomed. Verbier is home to some of the most challenging off-piste terrain in the Alps. While it offers wide open pistes, its backcountry areas have extensive NFZs, especially in places where skiers drop into steep, rocky couloirs or cliffs. Notable NFZ Areas are Mont Gelé, the Tournant Couloir, and parts of Creblet Glacier, which require expert skills due to avalanche risk and technical difficulty.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo held its first Olympic games in 1956, and the games returned to Italy in 2026, co-hosted by the Queen of the Dolomites and Milan. Cortina d’Ampezzo is part of The Dolomites, the world’s biggest skiing destination. The Dolomites have 15 ski resorts, 1,200 km of slopes, 1,177 km of cross-country skiing, and elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,269 meters. Known as one of the most beautiful ski resorts in the Dolomites, Cortina features technical runs with significant no-fall zones, especially in the upper regions of the resort and in off-piste areas. Notable NFZ Areas are the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park and areas above Tofana di Rozes.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains, offering over 200 marked runs, 8,171 acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls, and 3 glaciers combined, receiving 408 inches of snow on average annually. Whistler Blackcomb is home to one of the longest ski seasons in North America. Whistler Blackcomb is one of the largest ski resorts in North America and has both in-bounds and out-of-bounds terrain that can be considered no-fall zones. These areas exist primarily in extreme alpine and backcountry areas. Notable NFZ Areas are Spanky’s Ladder, Whistler’s Glacier Bowl, and the Flute Bowl.
Palisades Tahoe, California
Palisades Tahoe is known for its steep terrain, challenging runs, and expansive mountain views. While it offers exceptional skiing and snowboarding experiences for the whole family, it also has areas that are considered hazardous, especially for less experienced riders. These no-fall zones and dangerous terrain typically refer to areas where a fall could result in serious injury due to steepness, exposure, rocks, cliffs, and other natural obstacles. Palisades Tahoe offers extensive terrain within its boundaries, but there are also nearby backcountry zones along the ridge that are accessible to advanced skiers with proper gear. However, these areas are not patrolled, and avalanche risk should always be considered. Palisades averages 400 inches of snow annually and has 3,600 acres of skiable terrain, over 170 trails, and 16 bowls.
Snowbird, Utah
Snowbird is one of the most challenging ski resorts in the U.S., known for its steep terrain, deep powder, and exposed conditions. The resort averages 500 inches of snow annually, over 140 runs, and has 2,500 acres of skiable terrain. It offers amazing skiing for experts, but it also has areas that can be dangerous, especially for those who are not familiar with high-alpine skiing or the terrain’s complexities. Snowbird’s terrain can be unforgiving, especially for individuals who are not advanced skiers or snowboarders. Snowbird is a world-class resort, but its challenging terrain and steep runs mean that skiers and snowboarders must be experienced and cautious.
All of these resorts are famous for their no-fall zones because of their steep, technical terrain, high avalanche risks, and challenging backcountry areas. Skiers and snowboarders attempting these runs must have expert skills, avalanche safety knowledge, and the proper equipment to safely navigate these dangerous sections. Always check with local ski patrols for updated conditions and warnings, especially in the off-piste and backcountry areas.
