Best ski resorts for freeride
Where the off-piste is the point: lift-served descents, big terrain and the snow culture to back it up.
21 resorts
How we picked
Freeride means leaving the groomed runs behind, and these resorts are built for it: north-facing slopes, long off-piste descents, easy heli access and a serious safety culture. From Engelberg and Alagna in legend to Sainte-Foy, Ordino-Arcalís and Fieberbrunn, this is where powder hounds book their weeks first.
France
3,230 m
Val Thorens
French Alps
Altitude
2,300 - 3,230 m
Pistes
600 km
Snow score
96/100
high altitudeparty
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France
3,456 m
Val d'Isère
French Alps
Altitude
1,850 - 3,456 m
Pistes
300 km
Snow score
93/100
luxuryfreeride
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France
3,226 m
Les Arcs
French Alps
Altitude
1,600 - 3,226 m
Pistes
425 km
Snow score
92/100
familyfreeride
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Austria
2,811 m
St. Anton am Arlberg
Austrian Alps
Altitude
1,304 - 2,811 m
Pistes
305 km
Snow score
92/100
partyfreeride
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Austria
3,250 m
Hintertux
Austrian Alps
Altitude
1,500 - 3,250 m
Pistes
60 km
Snow score
92/100
glaciersnow-sure
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Switzerland
3,330 m
Verbier
Swiss Alps
Altitude
1,500 - 3,330 m
Pistes
410 km
Snow score
91/100
luxuryfreeride
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Switzerland
2,961 m
Andermatt
Swiss Alps
Altitude
1,444 - 2,961 m
Pistes
180 km
Snow score
91/100
freerideboutique
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France
3,600 m
Les Deux Alpes
French Alps
Altitude
1,650 - 3,600 m
Pistes
200 km
Snow score
90/100
glacierparty
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France
3,842 m
Chamonix
French Alps
Altitude
1,035 - 3,842 m
Pistes
170 km
Snow score
88/100
freeridemountaineering
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France
2,500 m
Flaine
French Alps
Altitude
1,600 - 2,500 m
Pistes
265 km
Snow score
88/100
familysnow-sure
See hotels →Italy
3,275 m
Alagna
Italian Alps
Altitude
1,191 - 3,275 m
Pistes
180 km
Snow score
88/100
freeridescenic
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France
3,330 m
Alpe d'Huez
French Alps
Altitude
1,250 - 3,330 m
Pistes
250 km
Snow score
87/100
sunnyfamily
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Switzerland
3,028 m
Engelberg
Swiss Alps
Altitude
1,000 - 3,028 m
Pistes
82 km
Snow score
86/100
freerideglacier
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Italy
3,275 m
Gressoney
Italian Alps
Altitude
1,637 - 3,275 m
Pistes
180 km
Snow score
86/100
scenicauthentic
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Italy
2,884 m
Madesimo
Italian Alps
Altitude
1,550 - 2,884 m
Pistes
60 km
Snow score
86/100
snow-surefreeride
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Andorra
2,625 m
Ordino-Arcalís
Andorran Pyrenees
Altitude
1,940 - 2,625 m
Pistes
30 km
Snow score
84/100
freeridesnow-sure
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Switzerland
2,900 m
Grimentz-Zinal
Swiss Alps
Altitude
1,570 - 2,900 m
Pistes
75 km
Snow score
83/100
freeridescenic
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France
2,600 m
La Clusaz
French Alps
Altitude
1,100 - 2,600 m
Pistes
125 km
Snow score
80/100
authenticfamily
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France
2,620 m
Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise
French Alps
Altitude
1,550 - 2,620 m
Pistes
40 km
Snow score
80/100
freerideauthentic
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Austria
2,020 m
Fieberbrunn
Austrian Alps
Altitude
800 - 2,020 m
Pistes
270 km
Snow score
80/100
freeridebig domain
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France
2,750 m
Vars
French Alps
Altitude
1,850 - 2,750 m
Pistes
185 km
Snow score
79/100
sunnyfamily
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