Snowboard Destinations
Eight snowboard nations compared — from Hokkaido powder to the Alps and New Zealand — with regions, seasons, travel logistics and resort guides.
Photo: Kasya Shahovskaya / Unsplash
Where should you go snowboarding? The answer depends on when you can travel, how you like to ride and how far you are willing to fly. Start with a country below for the regions, best-known resorts, typical season and travel logistics — then dive into the individual resort guides.
Japan
Light, frequent powder in Hokkaido and Nagano, tree runs, night riding and onsen after the lifts close.
Best-known resorts:Niseko · Hakuba Valley · Rusutsu · Furano
Snowboarding in Japan
Canada
Huge, varied terrain in British Columbia and the Rockies, from big-resort Whistler to deep interior powder.
Best-known resorts:Whistler Blackcomb · Revelstoke · Banff Sunshine · Lake Louise
Snowboarding in Canada
United States
Utah’s dry snow, Colorado’s high-altitude resorts and Wyoming’s steeps, mostly an easy drive from a major airport.
Best-known resorts:Jackson Hole · Park City · Breckenridge · Mammoth Mountain
Snowboarding in the USA
France
Vast linked ski areas, high-altitude snow and legendary freeride terrain beneath Mont Blanc.
Best-known resorts:Chamonix · Val d’Isère · Les Arcs · Avoriaz
Snowboarding in France
Austria
Traditional Tyrolean villages, efficient lifts, glacier riding and some of Europe’s liveliest après.
Best-known resorts:St. Anton · Mayrhofen · Ischgl · Kitzbühel
Snowboarding in Austria
Switzerland
Iconic peaks, superb rail connections and parks that helped shape European freestyle.
Best-known resorts:Verbier · Laax · Zermatt · Davos Klosters
Snowboarding in Switzerland
Italy
Dolomites scenery, long cruisy pistes, great-value food and big linked areas like Dolomiti Superski.
Best-known resorts:Cervinia · Courmayeur · Livigno · Val Gardena
Snowboarding in Italy
New Zealand
Southern-hemisphere winter riding, Queenstown’s adventure scene and characterful club fields.
Best-known resorts:Coronet Peak · The Remarkables · Cardrona · Mt Hutt
Snowboarding in New Zealand
Choosing a destination
- Chasing powder? Japan’s Hokkaido and Nagano regions and the interior of British Columbia are famous for frequent, light snow. Read the best powder destinations.
- First trip? Look for resorts with gentle, well-separated learning areas and good schools. See the best destinations for beginners.
- Summer holidays? The southern-hemisphere season in New Zealand typically runs through the northern summer.
- Undecided between two? Our Japan vs Canada comparison weighs snow, terrain, culture and travel time.
All destination guides
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Japan vs. Canada Snowboarding: Which Trip Is Right for You?
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Niseko Snowboarding Guide: Powder, Trees and Trip Planning
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Park City Snowboarding Guide: Parks, Big Terrain and Easy Access
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