10 best snowboarding resorts in the world

Not all ski resorts are created equal – especially for you and your one-plank friends. In fact, some areas ban snowboarding altogether (we’re looking at you, Deer Valley!). However, others raise the game with super fun slopes, terrain parks, backcountry, après…and as few drag lifts and flat sections as possible. That’s music to any snowboarder’s ears, right?

So, which shred spots take snowboarding from ‘meh’ to ‘yew!’? We’ve got you. Check out our top ten below – and don’t forget to drop in to our fresh collection, too. 

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Top snowboarding destinations

Whistler Blackcomb, Canada

Whistler Blackcomb has something for everyone, with over 200 trails, three parks, three glaciers, 16 alpine bowls, and more to explore across 8,171 acres (nope, that’s not a typo!). Plus, Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are the perfect spot for early December pow or late spring slush. That’s all thanks to the resort’s long-running season and the 37.5 feet/11.5 meters of yearly snow. Again, that figure isn’t a typo!

Whistler is also renowned for its rowdy après scene! So, drop in to Moe Joe’s, Dusty’s Bar & BBQ, or Longhorn Saloon for some serious drinking and dancing. Are your legs aching too much? Aim for the mellower Braidwood Tavern or refuel on GLC tacos at the Garibaldi Lift Company (GLC). Wake with a sore head? Freshies are the best hangover cure! And nowhere quite beats Cowboy Ridge for super wide, off-piste pow laps. 

Top tip: Shred in summer! Blackcomb Glacier hosts summer snowboard camps, such as Camp of Champions. So, secure an epic goggle tan and up your riding level for the following winter. 

Niseko, Japan

Head to the land of mythical Japow. This is light, dry powder that’s an absolute dream to float through and only available in the Land of the Rising Sun. So, why not get your Japow fix in Niseko, full of snorkel-needing depths (how does 50 feet/15 meters of pow per year sound!?)? Okay, when we say Niseko, we’re talking about Niseko United, four connected ski resorts on the volcanic Niseko Annupuri. 

50% of Mount Annupuri is dream-worthy backcountry. But the other side has a terrain park, groomers, and pow-filled glades. And don’t forget to après, Japanese style! You’ll transition from floating through Japow to floating in an onsen. Once warmed up, check out The Fridge (technically called Bar Gyu+), a red sticker-covered fridge door down a side street in Hirafu. You’ll step through to speakeasy vibes and Japanese single malts. Onsens and Yamazaki whiskey? Sign us up! 

Top tip: Make your move in March! Niseko is ‌quieter in late spring (after the Lunar New Year), meaning you claim more freshies for yourself. Accommodation and lift tickets are slightly cheaper, too. Winner, winner!

Chamonix, France

Chamonix offers some of the best snowboarding in the world across its 74 miles/119 kilometers of varied terrain at the base of Mont Blanc, the Alps’ highest mountain at 15,771 feet/4,807 meters (so expect stunning scenery!). If man-made features are your thing, drop in to Summit and Bellevue, two of Chamonix’s stellar terrain parks. Want to feel vertigo on a slope? Take on Grands Montets below the mind-blowing Aiguille Verte to experience the world’s greatest height difference. You’ll drop from 3,300 meters (10,827 feet) to 1,235 meters (4,052 feet) in just a few turns. 

Once your legs are done for the day, enter Cham’s base. This is a proper authentic mountain town, dripping with charm – and tons of fondue! Plus, Chamonix’s world-famous terrain pairs nicely with its world-famous après scene. Sip on cocktails at Le Privilège, refuel at MBC Chamonix Microbrewery, or head-bang hard to live music at Chambre Neuf. Don’t forget to check out South Bar, where goggle-tanned, bandana-wearing freeriders switch their avi packs for pitchers. 

Top tip: We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: descend the legendary Vallée Blanche! This unpisted, unmarked run is long, lift-served, and famous for a reason. You’ll find a brutal vertical drop of 9,186 feet/2,800 meters and a distance of 14 miles/23 kilometers (starting from the glacier)! Sheesh! 

Verbier, Switzerland

Worried you’ll run out of mountain in a week? Book a Verbier vacation! This epic resort is part of the 4 Vallées ski area, giving you access to 256 miles/412 kilometers of wide-open runs, perfect for knuckle dragging! If it’s vert you’re after, Verbier has you covered on that front, too. Head for the famous Attelas-Mayentzet piste (a FIS route), with over 3,280 feet/999 meters to descend. Make sure you warm up those quads before attempting. 

Verbier also hosts the yearly Verbier Xtreme, part of the Freeride World Tour (FWT). This freeride paradise lures the world’s top freeriders with more pow fields, gullies, chutes, cliff drops, and deep bowls than you can imagine. Drooling yet? Our top pick involves soaking up steep and deep freshies in Mont Fort (the highest peak in the 4 Vallées). Of course, you can also rip the Tortin, one of Europe’s steepest descents. Verbier is also up there with the greats for après, thanks to iconic spots such as Le Farinet and the Farm Club. 

Top tip: Catch air – and a goggle tan! Verbier’s terrain park is positioned on the sun-soaked slopes of La Chaux at 7,382 feet/2,250 meters. A camera setup records your lap (and airbag slams), which you can download, show off, and share with your crew. 

Mammoth Mountain, USA

Next, we’re heading to the epic Mammoth Mountain, with over 33 feet/10 meters of snow per year (hello, rooster tails!), an insane amount of terrain (3,500 acres), and one of North America’s longest-running seasons. Plus, Mammoth has ZERO drag lifts! Yew! Its 11 award-winning terrain parks also have snowboarders champing at the bit. Yep, get ready for Unbound Terrain Park with over 100 jibs, 50 kickers, and two halfpipes across 100 acres of terrain. Is it any surprise that Chloe Kim, Maddie Mastro, and a bunch of others are Mammoth Snowboard Team alumni? 

Mammoth’s backcountry is also super accessible – and incredibly awesome. In fact, it’s hard to miss the near-limitless bowls and natural drop-ins on offer. Our fave is The Hemlocks, double-black graded terrain, a short hike from the lifts. You’ll send it off booters from first lifts to last stomp. And what follows nicely after stomping your landings? Sipping a cold one on the sundeck at Canyon Lodge, of course!

Top tip: Snowboard over the 4th of July weekend! We told you Mammoth has a mammoth-length season. You can thank its snow-sure status for that.

St. Anton, Austria

Freeriding fan? Focus on St. Anton, which has over 180 miles/300 kilometers of marked slopes and endless backcountry. It’s a badge of honor to tackle the expert-only, guide-needed North Face of Valluga (prep yourself for the initial chute drop). If you want to stick to groomers, no stress. St. Anton is part of the epic Ski Arlberg domain, one of the largest connected ski areas in the world. Why not tackle the Run of Fame, a 53-mile/85-kilometer circuit around the entire Ski Arlberg region? 

St. Anton’s traffic-free village is awesome. It’s over half a mile/one kilometer long, with tons of restaurants, bars, hotels, and shops. St. Anton’s après-ski scene is legendary, too. Order a Glühwein (or five) and boogie at MooserWirt (believed to sell Austria’s highest level of beer) or Krazy Kanguruh (famous for live music and singalongs). 

Top tip: Switch up your tray for a toboggan on St. Anton’s free 2.5-mile/four-kilometer natural sled run! It takes about 15 minutes to descend 1,640 feet/500 meters into the valley. How many ‘Yews’ can you do before you lose your voice? 

Davos, Switzerland

Okay, Davos is technically a town (one of the oldest and highest in the Alps). But it’s part of the insane Davos Klosters ski area, with five areas to shred! Yep, with one lift ticket, you can rip Parsenn, Madrisa, Jakobshorn, Pischa, and Rinerhorn and soak up one of the world’s best snowboard areas. 

Most snowboarders home in on Jakobshorn, where freestyle is said to have been born. That’s all thanks to JatzPark, an iconic terrain park with killer kickers and rails. If sticking to the slopes is more your thing, Jackobshorn has plenty of wide-open cruisers to raise your stoke. Rinehorn is also ace for families with 30 miles/49 kilometers of mostly gentle, rolling groomers. Down in Davos town, check out the resort’s endless amenities, including five museums, an ice hockey stadium, and a local cinema.

Top tip: Replace kickers with whirlpools at Eau-là-là, Davos’ mega indoor swimming pool. You’ll also find an outdoor heated area and sauna. Dreamy. Or toasty, we should say. 

Tignes, France

Very few places can beat snow-sure Tignes. Thanks to the Grand Motte glacier, it tops out at 3,450 meters/11,339 feet, meaning lack of snow is rarely an issue. Head down slightly, and you’ll find the infamous Tignes Snowpark off the Grattalu chair. Keep an eye out for DC pro riders. Well, it’s hard to miss them sending it off the red and black lines throughout the season. 

Tignes is also one-half of the whopping Tignes-Val d'Isère ski area, with over 186 miles/299 kilometers of slopes to rip. Our fave? Palafour! Lovingly called P4 by locals, this cruisey blue is epic for warm-up laps or hitting the natural lips off the side. Off-piste riders will get butterflies over the Fingers, five couloirs looming over the famous Tignes Le Lac. Speaking of Le Lac, stop for a post-ride beverage at Loop Bar or Lo Terrachu (both après institutions). Then, bed down in either Le Lac or Le Lavachet (home to the incredible La Queue de Cochon restaurant). Alternatively, catch your ‘zzz’s in Val Claret and dance to Queens of the Snow Stage at Cocorico.

Top tip: Book a room at Dragon Lodge! Snowboarders (including local legend Will Hughes) independently run this central chalet. Look out for their Volcom x Schoph x Dragon Lodge-themed apartment, created in celebration of its 25th anniversary!

Breckenridge, USA

Ride at Breckenridge, the first Coloradan resort to welcome snowboarders. Plus, in 1985, Breck hosted the world’s first freestyle snowboarding event. Since then, it’s been the destination for legendary events across its five peaks, such as the Dew Tour. Today, it’s still a snowboarding mecca. Just check out Park Lane terrain park for a slice of what we mean. Expect kickers ranging from 35 to 70 feet/11-21 meters! Breck also has three other terrain parks, a 22-foot/six-meter superpipe, and mega dreamy groomers.

Speaking of dreamy groomers, you have to try Peak 7, a snowboarding rite of passage. You’ll start at Y-Chute (a gnarly black) before dropping in to tree-lined cruisers, such as Claimjumper or Monte Cristo. Breck is also ace for complete newbies. Head for the mellow Peak 9 to learn which foot to lead with and ace falling leaf. 

Top tip: Raise a glass at a hair-raising height! Breck is home to Breckenridge Distillery, the world’s highest distillery. If that wasn’t epic enough, you can jump on the Imperial Express Superchair, North America’s highest chairlift. It tops out at 12,840 feet/3,914 meters! Yikes! 

Laax, Switzerland

Set your sights on Laax, home to the world’s biggest halfpipe. Prepare yourself for 22.6-foot/seven-meter-high walls on a pipe 656 feet/200 meters long and 72 feet/22 meters wide. It’s no wonder this is home to the Laax Open, where the world’s finest pro snowboarders compete in the halfpipe and slopestyle. Why not have a go yourself? Laax has four snow parks catering to all levels and loved by locals. 

Freeriders will also get their kicks in Laax with its pow-filled steeps, natural features, and cliff drops, and will soon realize why Nicolas Muller owns a home here. Don’t forget to shred Laax’s four-mile/six-kilometer floodlit trail running from Crunius to Laax Murschetg. Then, it’s time for après at Crap Bar (the opposite of what its name suggests) for a mulled wine, Arena Bar to hang with the pros, or Legna Bar for Jägerbombs. 

Top tip: Lap P60! This one-mile/two-kilometer trail-meets-fun park is guaranteed to make ya grin – especially when the sun’s out and the pros are on it. There’s nothing else like it!

Wrapping up 

Okay, snowboarders, how are those stoke levels? Off the charts? We thought so! You must be itching to open another tab, get straight on your favorite flight app, and book your trip. We might join ya!

Rolling your eyes because we forgot something obvious? Or just want to share some love and positive vibes? Reach out to us via crew@dopesnow.com. Our team is ready to say hey and help! 

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