Rambo, located at Crested Butte Ski Resort in Colorado, holds the prestigious title of being the steepest ski run in the United States. The pitch is set at an astounding 55 degrees, meaning you’ll be holding on for dear life almost every turn. You’ll be dodging a copious amount of trees and navigating through many moguls on your way down, increasing difficulty in making it to the bottom of the run. Also lurking beneath the surface are hidden rocks and stumps that can create a significant problem if one wrong turn is taken. On top of all of these factors, you’re fully committed once you drop in on Rambo. The only way to the bottom is successfully completing the run!
Some have called it the scariest 900 feet of skiing they’ve done in their entire life, and for good reason. Even with respectable competitors for the “Steepest Run in America” title, such as ‘Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole and ‘The Wall’ at Aspen Highlands, the almost incomprehensible pitch of Rambo puts it squarely in first place on this list.
If you’re considering attempting this frightening run in the heart of Colorado ski country, please be sure to ski with a buddy, understand your limitations, and be prepared for one of your life’s most difficult ski experiences!
I’m delighted to see that someone else has included Avalanche “ at Denton Hill. Truly 66 degree w/o the tree tops but some big rocks on the way down. The steep terrain and open 90’-100’ wide slope allowed for some fast and thrilling descents. Place was too remote and lacked the natural snowfall to remain open season after season.
I always thought the Pallavicini run at A basin was the steepest slope in America
I’ve skied the top of Tuckerman in all aspects and you have to have respect for the mtn. and the bowl to Pinkham. It’s God’s Country. Much ❤️ to all that ski’s it.
Tuckermans headwall in the spring is so steep you cannot see ahead of you. Bot you know the big rock outcrops are down there somewhere. Used to go for a week every year the first week they opened and stay in the leantos. Great memories! Mark P. ADO
Alta Utah is for skiers and snow bird is for better skiers
Someone better look at Laurel Mountain in Pa. 60° slope. https://www.laurelmountainski.com/#:~:text=Not%20only%20does%20Laurel%20Mountain,which%20averages%20near%2060%25%20slope.
Kiwi flat at mammoth is the scariest I’ve seen. Palisades at squaw if there isn’t a lot of fresh snow and mcconkeys at squaw because of the steepness and the trees (collision)
There is a difference between skiing and surveying a run.
This trail isn’t that big of a deal. and the guy in the video didn’t actually ski it he kind of just went down it. He didn’t link any of those turns. I could be a pretty harsh critic because I spent my entire younger years snowboarding at Tuckermans. All through my teenage years and into my early 20s. It is significantly harder than this.
Christmas Tree at Alyeska in Girdwood, Alaska is a 45° vertical 1500′ drop into a 40′ chute that narrows to just 15′. There’s no side sliding or carving that. You just have to point straight down and go. You get shot out the other end like a speeding bullet but (most of the time) it’s straight into endless fresh powder.
That is quite a claim considering the lack of research obviously put into this article. Now go find a real big mountain resorts and do a little reflection story man.
Since CBMR made this “CUT” ski run with chainsaws and humans – that’s where this run differs from most naturally made bowls, ravines, sledding hills, etc.. Rambo conversation pops up from time to time and I believe this fact was left out of this snippet.
Paranoids at mammoth are much more intimidating than this
Tuckerman’s Does have a 55° pitch, which matches the claim in article.
K22 at Squaw Valley is 68 degrees. You cannot see the face until you commit.
Avalanche at Denton Hill was 66°, the resort is now closed but you can hike up and ski down if you dare
Four Lakes Village in Lisle,IL. 360° !!
Bub, This isn’t skiing it’s sliding gracefully. Try Tuckerman’s on Mount Washington that’s so much steeper.
Alfs High Rustler.
Im a snowboarder so I just sideslide my way down and take all the pow with me:-P
Niiiice’ Awesome gnarliness with trees.
FWIW – Personally I ❤️ Hangman’s & Huevos Grande of Mammoth Mt. fame for ~55§ slopes. Squaw Valley has fantastic steeps, but frankly do not know the statistics, i.e. slope degrees, but Palisades’ Chimney is wicked steep & Broken Arrow (when enuff snow) is a wild wild hair baller. ☠️
There are plenty of in bounds runs with 55 degrees
This
Gore mountain has the trail. Rumor. Rumor has it at about 70%
If ya ain’t fallin ya ain’t skiing
Mt. Rose Chutes hit 55 as well. Research.
I think El Cap. Nightmare sure seems like it!
If you aren’t linking turns you aren’t skiing