Our Favourite Off-piste Freeride Ski Resorts in the Alps
If there is one thing we have learned in all our ski travels, it is that the most consistently good ski days are had at only a few places in the world. Sure everywhere is good ‘on its day’, but to get the most ‘best days’ one cannot beat North America (Rockies & northwest US, BC Canada), parts of Japan, & in western Europe, the Alps in Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland. The Greater & Lesser Caucasus in Georgia get an honourable mention as well! Whilst we have skied all over Nth America & Japan, we love skiing Europe (and particularly the Alps & above the Arctic Circle) for all that it offers, not the least of which are most of the longest lift assisted skiable verticals in the world.
With no real regard to any particular ratings, scoring or stats other than ‘most best days’, our favourite Big & Small* Off-piste Freeride Ski Resorts in the Alps of western Europe are:
Austria
Gargellen
Gastein (particularly Sportgastein)
Hintertux Glacier
Kaunertal Glacier
Kühtai
Paznaun valley - Ischgl, Kappl, & See
Nauders
Pitztal Glacier
Sölden
Ski Arlberg - Lech, St Anton, Warth-Schroecken, Zuers
Silvretta Montafon
Skicircus - Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn
France
3 Vallèes (surprising perhaps, but it is a mega resort for a very good reason!)
Alpe d’Huez
Bonneval sur Arc
Chamonix - Mont Blanc
La Norma
Les Arcs
Portes du Soleil (the Swiss side as well!)
Sainte Foy
Tignes - Val d’Isere (but more so Val d'Isere!)
Italy
Courmayeur - Monte Bianco
La Thuile/La Rosiere (actually in France, but we always stay on the Italian side!)
Livigno
Monterosa Ski
Switzerland
4 Vallees
Andermatt - Sedrun
Arosa - Lenzerheide
Davos
Diavolezza-Lagalb
Disentis
Engelberg
Glacier 3000
Lauchernalp
Jungfrau - Schilthorn
Zermatt
*Note that ‘small’ is a term relative to the size of the ski resort compared to the really huge ones!
If you want to know the best resorts based on the Powderhounds rating criteria (for ‘overall’, powder, on-piste etc), see the following pages:
Best Austrian Ski Resorts
Best French Ski Resorts
Best Italian Ski Resorts
Best Swiss Ski Resorts
If backcountry ski & splitboard touring are your thing, away from the multitude of amazing high alpine routes in the Alps, head to the Lofoten Islands, Lyngen Alps & Finnmark in northern Norway. They are absolutely stunning in March & April.
Now you know where to go its just a matter of getting there. Click on the resort links to find out more. What are your favourites? Write a review on the specific resort page on Powderhounds to let us know.
If you have a question about skiing & snowboarding in Europe, CONTACT US.