Cover photo courtesy of Bri Loveall
Ski area ratings help visitors gauge what to expect on the slopes, from terrain difficulty, run length and grooming frequency to family friendliness and overall resort amenities. Individual runs are marked by color-coded ratings—green for beginner, blue for intermediate and black for advanced—to help skiers and riders choose terrain that matches their ability level and comfort on the mountain. New skiers and snowboarders should stay on green runs until they are ready for more challenging terrain.
Ski run ratings are important to pay attention to, but they shouldn’t be your only consideration when picking your next run. Not all green, blue and black runs are equally challenging. A green run at one mountain can seem more like an intermediate compared to another mountain, and a green run from the top of the mountain will be more physically demanding than shorter runs on the bunny hill or lower down the mountain. How recently a slope has been groomed and considerations like the current weather and snow conditions can also affect the feel of a beginner run. When in doubt, ask for advice at the ski school or ticket office, or flag down a ski patroller if you’re already up on the mountain.
GREEN CIRCLE ICON = Beginner
BLUE SQUARE ICON = Intermediate level
BLACK DIAMOND ICON = Advanced
Sponsored
