Brains
This list is for those itching to know just how many ski resorts one could ski in any of these top countries. Spoiler alert… it’d take a long time to hit all of these. Today’s list will provide enough nerdy facts for the next trivia night, because why else would anyone know that France has 199 ski resorts?
To clarify the results of this list, a “ski resort” will be defined as an organized ski area with more than four lifts. The data collected for this article is gathered from the 2023 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism by Laurent Vanat. Due to our criteria, it’s worth giving an honorable mention to Germany as they have a significant number of ski areas, but most of them are very small ones that are not considered ski resorts under the definition used in this report. Without further ado, let’s start at number 9!
9. Sweden – 68
Much of Sweden’s great skiing is located in the Scandinavian Mountains, which Sweden shares with Norway. The highest peak in Sweden is Mount Kebnekaise and it stands at 6,877 feet. Sweden has a rich history in skiing with its first lift was installed in 1940 in Åre. Cross-country skiing is also very popular in Sweden thanks to its extensive forests and beautiful landscapes.
8. Canada – 73
Canada is a well-known ski destination, as they are loaded with skiing throughout the country, especially in the west. Ski resorts like Mt. Norquay, Whistler Blackcomb, Big White, and Revelstoke just to name a few. Although Canada is regarded as having consistent snowfall each year, this season has been quite the opposite thus far.
7. Switzerland – 81
Switzerland is loaded with great skiing—check out Zermatt for example. Zermatt sits at the foot of the 14,692-foot, iconic Matterhorn Mountain. Zermatt is also recognized as Europe’s highest ski resort. An eye-catching fact, 35% of all Switzerland residents ski annually. The only other country with a higher percentage is Liechtenstein at 36%.
6. Japan – 129
Japan is well-known for bottomless powder runs on the north island, Hokkaido, but there is also plenty of skiing down the entire west coast of the country. Japan typically tops another list of countries that receive the most snowfall. Kiroro, a resort in Hokkaido receives an average annual snowfall of over 800 inches!
5. China – 152
Two-thirds of China is covered by mountains. As the country has boundaries with Nepal and Pakistan, China shares with these countries 11 of the 17 highest peaks in the world. Skiing is nothing new in China, as skis were used thousands of years ago by hunters in the Altay Mountains. Petroglyph paintings show skiers have been found there and experts agree to date them to more than 10,000 years ago. Ancient skis would have their bases covered with animal skin, which allows for both climbing and sliding downhill in the snow.
4. France – 199
Although France sits at No. 4 in this category, it tops the list for countries with the most ski lifts with over 3,000. The French mountains are the ideal destination for skiers who love wide-open spaces. Linked ski areas, connected by their slopes, widen the horizons of snow sports. This is the staple of France’s linked ski areas, vast swathes of trails spread over several resorts, which means you can ski from one resort or valley to another.
3. Austria – 200
Coming in at No. 3 is no surprise, Austria shares many mountains with Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. Sölden is a classic ski resort in Austria. With access to two glaciers, three mountains, and an extensive network of slopes; Sölden lives up to its reputation as one of the best places to ski in Austria. For those James Bond fans out there, Sölden has a route that rose to fame thanks to its feature in the 2015 James Bond Film, Spectre. Other notable runs include the black run ’31’ on the Rettenbach glacier, which is used for the World Cup slalom races.
2. The United States – 202
Ski resorts are located throughout the United States thanks to the vast number of mountains covering the country. The most visited ski resorts are Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Mammoth, Park City, and Vail. The first ski area in the United States was Howelsen Hill Ski Area in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1915. As the ski industry in the United States exploded so did the ticket prices. The average lift ticket went from $59 in 2005/06 to $165 in 2021/22, and today some tickets can be seen going for $299 during the peak holiday season.
1. Italy – 216
Yes, Italy has more than just pizza and ancient architecture! In fact, Italy will be hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and across the Italian Dolomites. Cortina d’Ampezzo sits in the heart of the Italian Dolomites and is a premiere spot to clip in and rip Italy. Cinque Torri is a famous location for skiing, hiking, and is even a historical landmark for operating as strategical observatory and placement for artillery during World War 1.
As mentioned earlier this list accounts for organized ski areas with more than four lifts because this list could get out of control if we included every place you could clip into a pair of skis. Although it seems ski resorts are thriving with the results of this list, it’s quite the opposite. The number of ski resorts has been declining over the years, and that is partially due to shorter seasons and increased costs to enter the sport. This has led to ski resorts taking action to resolve these issues, such as utilizing giant blankets to preserve the snowpack, snow farming, or expanding snow making. Unfortunately, POW suggests these measures may not be enough and it’s predicted that short seasons will continue to plague the industry,
