USA TODAY 10Best
Snowboarding paradise: 10 locations that you need to experience
Best Place for Snowboarding (2023)
Snowboarding is a kinetic thrill no matter where you are, but the right destination can elevate the experience into something truly extraordinary.
From breathtaking runs to gorgeous views to brilliant terrain, USA TODAY 10Best's panel of snowboarding experts compiled a list of their top places to snowboard across the U.S. and Canada. Then, readers voted for their favorite spots to decide the winners.
Here are the 10 best places to go snowboarding.
- Breckenridge Ski Resort - Breckenridge, Colorado
- Revelstoke Mountain Resort - Revelstoke, British Columbia
- Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - Teton Village, Wyoming
- Mammoth Mountain - Mammoth Lakes, California
- Palisades Tahoe - Olympic Valley, California
- Whistler Blackcomb - Whistler, British Columbia
- Northstar California Resort - Truckee, California
- Lake Louise Ski Resort - Lake Louise, Alberta
- Big White Ski Resort - Kelowna, British Columbia
- Bald Mountain Ski Area - Pierce, Idaho
Photo courtesy of Vail Resorts
No. 10:
Breck's 187 trails and 2,900 acres of terrain are all open to snowboarders, who are on equal footing with skiers to explore the resort's challenging above-treeline bowls and chutes, its long blue cruisers, and open glades like The Burn. The resort also boasts a trio of terrain parks.
Photo courtesy of Revelstoke Mountain Resort
No. 9:
The longest vertical descent of any ski area in North America (5,620 feet) is Revelstoke's calling card for big-mountain-loving skiers and snowboarders alike. And that's just a sliver of the 3,000-plus acres of often wild terrain on Mt. Mackenzie, which also has ski runs topping 9 miles long. Among the resort's "steep and deep" terrain, you'll find a pair of terrain parks: the Gnome Zone for beginners and the Main park under the Stoke chairlift, which has medium to large jumps, boxes, and rails.
Photo courtesy of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
No. 8:
Two terrain parks and four Burton stash parks make Jackson Hole deeply satisfying for snowboarders, and that's not even considering the resort's 2,500 acres of inbound slopes and 3,000 acres of backcountry. Beginners can work on tricks at Antelope Flats, while Bronco Park has an ever-changing layout of jumps, rails, boxes, and step-ups. Or go natural and play on the logs, banked turns, jibs, and quarterpipe in Little Stash, Deer Flat Stash, and Campground Stash. Top boarders head for bigger challenges in Stashley Ridge.
Photo courtesy of Mammoth Mountain
No. 7:
Mammoth Mountain backs up its claim to having the best snowboarding in California with a boggling 10 terrain parks totaling more than 100 acres of jumps, jibs, and other features. The lineup in the Unbound freestyle terrain parks includes two (11 and 22 foot) halfpipes and more than 40 jumps of all sizes to go along with the resort's 3,500 acres of varied terrain, 175 trails, and 25 lifts.
Photo courtesy of Palisades Tahoe
No. 6:
Powder stashes, open bowls, chutes, and groomed trails are part of this one-time Olympic venue's (formerly known as Squaw Valley) vast terrain. The resort gets high marks for its extensive gladed areas on its Palisades and Alpine mountains. In addition to challenges like the double diamond terrain in the KT-22 area, the resort has multiple terrain parks and a halfpipe, with Gold Coast Park considered one of the best in the country.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Sylvestre
No. 5:
The side-by-side Whistler and Blackcomb mountains deliver skiers and snowboarders a combined 200 marked runs, 8,000-plus acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls, and the opportunity to ski, slide, and carve on a trio of glaciers. The resort's terrain parks progress from medium features to expert-level stuff as you head downhill, taking on huge jumps, spines, rails, and jibs.
Photo courtesy of Vail Resorts
No. 4:
This North Lake Tahoe resort is hailed as one of the top destinations for snowboarders on the strengths of its five terrain parks, offering a steady progression from beginner to competition-level features. Tiny shredders can hit their first (extra small) features in the Sidewinder Burton Progression Park before taking a step up to Moonshine, Pinball, and Pipeline for bigger and bigger challenges. All of the terrain parks, plus Northstar's 18-foot halfpipe and a pair of stash areas in the trees, are clustered under the Vista Express chairlift for easy access.
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Photo courtesy of Lake Louise Ski Resort
No. 3:
Chutes, glades, gullies, and other challenging natural features are sprinkled among Lake Louise's 164 trails, with the longest run being 5 miles long. The mountain's four terrain parks start snowboarders off gently in Elbow Park before stepping up to bigger features in Triple Bridge and Boulevard. The experts-only Boulevard Large Line has extra-large jumps.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Jay: Big White Ski Resort
No. 2:
Freeriders love the varied terrain at Big White, which features uncrowded groomed trails, glades that fill with 25 feet of powder each season, and plenty of natural jumps on and off trail. Add to that the TELUS terrain park filled with jumps, a pipe, jib features and a boardercross course, and it's easy to see why this Canadian resort gets frequent nods as being among the best snowboarding destinations in North America.
Photo courtesy of Gary Peterson for Ski Idaho
No. 1:
Bald Mountain Ski Area isn't about making long runs or tackling challenging terrain. With just a 648-foot vertical drop and 140 acres of boardable terrain, this small Idaho ski area rather shines as a place to perfect your skills, hang with friends, and work on tricks on every inch of trail.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Chez Chesak
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor... Read More
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.
Chez Chesak
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.
Constance Beverley
A former Wall Street lawyer turned winter sports... Read More
A former Wall Street lawyer turned winter sports activist, Constance Beverley joined the Share Winter Foundation as the CEO in 2017. Share Winter Foundation strives to (1) improve the lives, health and fitness of youth through winter sports, and (2) create a more diverse and inclusive winter sports community. In addition to her work with the Share Winter Foundation, Constance has worked with other winter sports organizations including the Kelly Clark Foundation, SheJumps, STOKED, and Boarding for Breast Cancer.
Constance Beverley
A former Wall Street lawyer turned winter sports activist, Constance Beverley joined the Share Winter Foundation as the CEO in 2017. Share Winter Foundation strives to (1) improve the lives, health and fitness of youth through winter sports, and (2) create a more diverse and inclusive winter sports community. In addition to her work with the Share Winter Foundation, Constance has worked with other winter sports organizations including the Kelly Clark Foundation, SheJumps, STOKED, and Boarding for Breast Cancer.
Laura Sutherland
Laura Sutherland is a veteran travel writer who... Read More
Laura Sutherland is a veteran travel writer who specializes in culinary, craft beer, wine, ski, and family travel. She's the author of six travel guidebooks, including "The Best Family Ski Vacations in North America." Her articles have appeared in publications like Real Simple, Taste and Travel International, Parents, Family Fun, Writer's Digest, The Dallas Morning News, and Miami Herald. An avid skier since the age of four when she strapped on a pair of wooden skis at Yosemite's Badger Pass, she's since explored dozens of snow sports resorts through the United States, Canada and Europe.
Laura Sutherland
Laura Sutherland is a veteran travel writer who specializes in culinary, craft beer, wine, ski, and family travel. She's the author of six travel guidebooks, including "The Best Family Ski Vacations in North America." Her articles have appeared in publications like Real Simple, Taste and Travel International, Parents, Family Fun, Writer's Digest, The Dallas Morning News, and Miami Herald. An avid skier since the age of four when she strapped on a pair of wooden skis at Yosemite's Badger Pass, she's since explored dozens of snow sports resorts through the United States, Canada and Europe.
Snow Brains
Built to Inspire, SnowBrains is the best source of... Read More
Built to Inspire, SnowBrains is the best source of intelligent ski & ride news, editorials, weather, photos, and videos. Our goal is to keep you, our friends, informed in a smart and easily digestible way. Connect with SnowBrains on instragram, Facebook, X/Twitter, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, Linkedin or the podcast app.
Snow Brains
Built to Inspire, SnowBrains is the best source of intelligent ski & ride news, editorials, weather, photos, and videos. Our goal is to keep you, our friends, informed in a smart and easily digestible way. Connect with SnowBrains on instragram, Facebook, X/Twitter, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, Linkedin or the podcast app.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
