Snow is part of winter sports. Especially when it comes to conquering the slopes of the high mountains around the globe with skis or snowboards. And for all those who want to be on the safe side when it comes to snow reliability, SnowTrex has now compiled the ten snowiest ski resorts in the world based on historical weather data and expert estimates. From Oceania to Asia to Europe and North America, top snow depths are almost guaranteed here!
The top 10 snowiest ski resorts in the world at a glance
| Country | Ski resort | Average annual snowfall |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Tasman Glacier | approx. 50 metres |
| Japan | Gassan | approx. 35 metres |
| Austria | Mölltaler Gletscher | approx. 21 metres |
| USA | Mount Baker | approx. 18 metres |
| France | Chamonix | approx. 15 metres |
| USA | Alta | approx. 13 metres |
| Switzerland | Engelberg-Titlis | approx. 12 metres |
| Norway | Røldal | approx. 11 metres |
| France | Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry | approx. 11 metres |
| Austria | Warth-Schröcken | approx. 11 metres |
1. Tasman Glacier – New Zealand
You definitely have to hold on or sit down at that number: At the Tasman Glacier in New Zealand, new snowfall is estimated to be around 100 metres a year! The only way to ski down the 25-kilometre-long glacier is by plane. With such masses of snow, the construction of a normal ski area is simply impossible. Lifts would sink, not to mention winter sports enthusiasts.
2. Ski resort Gassan – Japan
In Yukiguni, Japan, new snowfall amounts of about 35 metres per winter are measured! Most areas of the “snow country” are inaccessible to humans. One exception is the area around the 1,983 m high peak Gassan. Due to the masses of snow, the ski area is a summer ski area and therefore only open from April to July.
3. Ski resort Mölltaler Gletscher – Austria
Since the beginning of the 1970s, no weather station in Austria has recorded as much fresh snow as the one on the summit of the Hohe Sonnblick (3,106 m). In winter, a historical average of more than 21 m of fresh snow falls here in the province of Carinthia every year. The icy mountain is not accessible for skiers, so they have to resort to the Mölltal Glacier. The ski area is only 4 km from the summit and offers 17.4 kilometres of pistes at an altitude of between 2,108 m and 3,112 m. This makes it a very snow-sure area. It is therefore considered very snow-sure and is very popular with winter sports enthusiasts even outside the actual high season.
4. Ski resort Mount Baker – USA
“Snow galore!” is also the motto of the Mount Baker ski resort in the US state of Washington. Only a two-hour drive from Seattle and Vancouver, winter sports enthusiasts can expect an average of 18 metres of snow per year. Skiers and snowboarders will find slopes of all levels of difficulty on 400 hectares. And those who prefer off-piste skiing will also be thrilled by the fabulous deep snow conditions for freeriders.
5. Ski resort Chamonix – France
In Chamonix, Mont Blanc (4,809 m) naturally towers above everything. Accordingly, the winters at the foot of Europe’s highest mountain are also snowy. On average, the weather stations in the ski area measure over 15 m of new snow per year. A total of 172 kilometres of pistes await skiers and snowboarders just a few kilometres from the border with Italy, starting at an altitude of up to 3,275 metres. The technical highlight in one of the highest ski areas on the continent is the cable car to the summit of the Aiguille du Midi (3,842 m). From the top station at 3,777 m, visitors can enjoy a unique panoramic view of the fantastic Alpine world on a clear day.
The following video shows how versatile winter sports in Chamonix and around the Mont Blanc massif can be in the cold season:
6. Ski resort Alta – USA
The Mormon state of Utah is home to one of the snowiest ski resorts in the USA. In Alta (2,609 m), the meteorologists of the American Weather Service have measured an average of 13 m of new snow in winter over the past 110 years. For winter sports enthusiasts, the slopes on the mountain slopes are a true snow paradise. And especially in the deep snow areas, freeriders find “pure powder”. Due to the low humidity, the snow in the Alta ski area contains only slightly more than 8 percent water, which turns it into fantastic powder snow!
7. Ski resort Engelberg-Titlis – Switzerland
The monastery community in central Switzerland has mainly one thing to offer besides a lot of culture: Snow, snow and more snow! After all, the Engelberg-Titlis ski area is considered one of the most snow-sure in the entire Swiss Confederation. On the summit (3,020) around the Titlis glacier, meteorologists have measured an average of about 12 m of fresh snow in winter in recent years. The 82 kilometres of pistes are correspondingly popular and are also easily accessible by train to the ski area.
8. Ski resort Røldal – Norway
In Europe, outside the Alps, Fjord Norway is particularly well known for its abundance of snow. In the far north, the ski area above the village of Røldal is very popular with winter sports enthusiasts, as an average of 11 m of new snow falls here every year. In view of this, the Norwegian Patent Office also officially calls the municipality the “snowiest place in Europe”. This title is, however, quite controversial in other places; after all, one or two other places in the Alps also claim the designation for themselves. One thing is certain, however: there is plenty of snow not only in Røldal.
9. Ski resort Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry – France
Ski resorts in the French Alps are traditionally considered the snowiest in Europe, and Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry is no exception. An average of 11 m of fresh snow in winter makes the slopes on the edge of the Vanoise National Park a real “snow hole”. And that is by no means meant in a negative way! After all, up to 200 kilometres of pistes await skiers and snowboarders there at an altitude of up to 3,226 metres.
10. Ski resort Warth-Schröcken – Austria
A true snow El Dorado awaits winter sports enthusiasts in the Warth-Schröcken ski area in Vorarlberg, Austria. Here on the Hochtannberg Pass, an average of 11 m of new snow falls every year. This ensures that the best snow conditions always prevail on the 35 kilometres of pistes at an altitude of up to 2,050 metres. This means that skiing in the Bregenzerwald is possible for as long as five months, from the beginning of December to the end of April.
FAQ on the world’s snowiest ski resorts
Per se, the Tasman Glacier in the New Zealand Alps is not considered a ski resort. After all, weather experts estimate that at an altitude of 3,000 m and thanks to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, up to 50 m of new snow fall here on average per year. Because of the sheer amount of snow, there are no lifts on the ice giant and only one downhill run, which can only be reached from the air by helicopter or small plane.
Since the 1970s, the highest weather station in Austria has been measuring the snow depth on the Hohe Sonnblick (3,106 m) in the province of Carinthia. The result makes the summit the snowiest place in the Alpine Republic to this day, with an average of over 21 m of new snow per year. The nearest skiing area at the Mölltal Glacier is only 4 km away and is therefore very popular with winter sports enthusiasts.
The snowiest ski area in North America is not in the world-famous Rocky Mountains, but on the US Pacific coast. At Mount Baker in Washington State, winter sports enthusiasts can expect an average of 18 m of new snow per year. In addition, the mountain is only a two-hour drive from Seattle as well as Vancouver (Canada) and can therefore be reached quickly.
