Best Snow Parks in the World: 10 Terrain Parks from Laax to Breckenridge

A great snow park is more than one big jump. The best terrain parks in the world offer separate lines for beginners and pros, a well-cut halfpipe, a fast lift for repeat laps and a crew that reshapes everything every day. These ten resorts in Austria, Switzerland, France and North America are famous among freestyle skiers and snowboarders, and each has its own character.

The best snow parks in Europe

1. Absolut Park, Flachauwinkl, Austria

Absolut Park in Flachauwinkl, Salzburg, calls itself Austria's largest snow park: about 1.5 km long with more than 100 obstacles, shaped by its crew every day. It is laid out in clear lines: a Pro Line of big jumps that hosts the SpringBattle contest, a Rail Line with a 100 m halfpipe with 4 m walls, a Medium Line for progression, a Jib Park, the beginner-friendly Lil' Stash and a two-start boardercross course. Salzburg is about 45 minutes away and Munich about two hours. Check absolutpark.com for which lines are open.

2. Nordpark, Innsbruck, Austria

Few parks are this close to a city. The Nordkette cable cars climb from Innsbruck to the Seegrube and on to the Hafelekar station at 2,269 m, high on the Karwendel range north of the city. The ski area is small and steep, and the park beside the Seegrube is known for its city views. It is ideal for a few laps between sightseeing in the Tyrolean capital.

3. Laax, Switzerland

Laax, in Graubünden, shares a large ski area with Flims and Falera and has built its whole identity around freestyle, with several parks, a superpipe and the annual Laax Open contest. Parks sit at different levels of the mountain, so riders can progress from small features to the pro lines in a single trip. Read more in our guide to Swiss ski destinations beyond the park.

4. Portes du Soleil, France and Switzerland

The Portes du Soleil links twelve or more French and Swiss resorts, including Avoriaz, Morzine and Champéry, with about 200 lifts and around ten terrain parks. Car-free Avoriaz is the freestyle hub, with three major snow parks. The sheer size means you should pick a base close to the park you want to ride most.

5. Mayrhofen, Austria

Mayrhofen sits in Tyrol's Zillertal, about an hour from Innsbruck, between the Penken and Ahorn mountains. The Penkenbahn gondola leaves from the main street to the Penken, home to the Vans-sponsored snow park and to Harakiri, Austria's steepest piste. Every spring, usually in early April, the town hosts Snowbombing, a music festival held there since 2005.

The best terrain parks in North America

6. Mammoth Mountain, California

Mammoth Mountain in California's Eastern Sierra rises to 3,371 m and covers 3,500 acres. Its eight Unbound terrain parks are among the most famous in the world, led by Unbound Main beside Main Lodge. The resort has hosted U.S. Grand Prix and World Cup halfpipe contests, and stars such as Chloe Kim have trained here. The season usually runs from November to May, sometimes into summer.

7. Vail, Colorado

Vail is best known for its huge Back Bowls, but its freestyle base is Golden Peak. In 2013 Burton moved its US Open snowboarding championships to Vail after 30 years in Vermont, and the contest was held on Golden Peak's superpipe and slopestyle course for several seasons. Vail's summit stands at 3,527 m, with about 5,300 acres of terrain.

8. Keystone, Colorado

Keystone, also owned by Vail Resorts, spreads over three mountains (Dercum Mountain, North Peak and the Outback) and about 3,148 acres. Its A51 Terrain Park on Dercum Mountain is one of the most progressive in Colorado, and Keystone is also known for night skiing on up to 15 trails, which means extra park laps after dark.

9. Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge spans five peaks, numbered Peak 6 to Peak 10, with a top elevation of 12,998 ft (3,962 m). On Peak 8, the expert Freeway park and the intermediate Park Lane are among the best known in the United States. Breckenridge hosted the first winter Dew Tour in 2008, and the event stayed until it moved to Copper Mountain in 2020.

10. Whistler Blackcomb, Canada

With 8,171 acres, Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski area in North America, and it hosted the alpine events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Both mountains have terrain parks, and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, opened in 2008, links them with a 3 km unsupported span. In 2013 the Harmony Express became a six-seater, and the old quad moved to Blackcomb as the Crystal Ridge Express.

Choosing a terrain park for your level

Start on the smallest line and watch a few riders before you drop in. Look at the whole run: the speed you need on the approach, the size of the take-off and the landing. Parks change during the season, so check the resort's daily park report. For a young rider pushing the limits, see Marcus Kleveland on a purpose-built jump.

Related reading

• Thirty-Seven Ski Areas in Western Canada: Mountain Regions and Resort Choices
• Twenty-Five Ski Towns and Mountain Destinations Around the World
• Twenty-Five Family Ski Destinations: Bases, Lessons and Daily Logistics
• Nineteen Snowboarding Destinations to Research on a Budget
• Twelve North American Ski Destinations: Terrain and Trip Planning
• Dub Roots: Dubsatch Collective’s Alta Ski Film

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