Check out our photo gallery of the best scenic photos of ski resorts around the world
Le Brévent summit: This is one of the most accessible places in Chamonix for a high-altitude view directly across the valley toward Mont Blanc. At 2,525 meters, the summit can rise above lower cloud layers and reveal a perspective that would otherwise require a demanding hike or mountaineering experience. Visitors can also stop at Le Panoramic, the high-altitude restaurant at Brévent, where the circular terrace faces the Mont Blanc massif.
Prarion above Les Houches: Prarion provides a different perspective from the western end of the Chamonix valley. The viewpoint looks across the Les Houches ski area toward the Mont Blanc massif and helps visitors understand how this quieter, more family-oriented sector differs from Chamonix's steeper high-mountain terrain. It is especially worthwhile for families, beginners and visitors who want panoramic scenery without entering the most demanding parts of the valley.
Our visit — March 2023: We photographed these viewpoints during a 10-day trip. Snow fell regularly above 2,000 meters, but the valley received very little snow and most top-to-bottom ski routes were closed.
Città dei Sassi on the Sellaronda: The "City of Stones" places visitors beside the enormous boulders below the Sassolungo group. This stop shows the scale and unusual geology of the Dolomites at close range, rather than only as a distant skyline. It also gives Sellaronda skiers a memorable pause between connected sectors without requiring a separate hiking excursion.
Mont Seuc above Ortisei: The gondola arrival provides immediate access to the broad Alpe di Siusi plateau and an open view toward Sassolungo. The contrast between gentle snow-covered meadows and vertical Dolomite rock formations explains why Alpe di Siusi is so appealing to beginners, intermediates and families who want relaxed skiing surrounded by exceptional scenery.
Our visit — March 2024: We photographed these locations during a 10-day trip, immediately after a major snowfall covered the surrounding slopes and Dolomite peaks.
Youla trail and upper station: The upper Youla sector provides one of Courmayeur's clearest high-altitude perspectives toward the Mont Blanc range. From here, visitors can see the more rugged side of the massif while standing above much of the resort's lower terrain. The location is particularly rewarding for confident skiers because the scenery is paired with a long descent through Courmayeur's upper-mountain terrain.
Youla trailhead: The trailhead is worth pausing at before beginning the descent. Its elevation opens the skyline and provides enough distance to understand the size of the surrounding peaks, while the nearby ski route shows how Courmayeur combines lift-served skiing with a distinctly high-mountain setting.
Our visit — March 2023: We experienced typical spring conditions, with regular snowfall above 2,000 meters and softer, slushy snow at lower elevations.
Blackjack Chair and Tucker Mountain: This viewpoint reveals Copper Mountain's high-alpine back bowls and the broad face of Tucker Mountain. It is valuable for experienced skiers deciding whether to continue into Copper Bowl because the view shows both the scale of the terrain and its exposed alpine character before they commit to more challenging routes.
Rattler and Copper Bowl: Rattler provides a closer look into Copper Bowl from a steep advanced route. The stop is less about a distant panorama and more about seeing the bowl's natural contours, surrounding ridges and high-elevation terrain from inside the experience. It is most relevant to advanced skiers comfortable on ungroomed black terrain.
Our visit — January 2022: We photographed Copper Mountain during clear weather, with deep powder and temperatures near −30°F.
Bow Lane on Bald Mountain: This location opens a broad view across the Sun Valley area and surrounding Idaho mountains. The long sightlines help visitors appreciate Bald Mountain's elevation above the valley while enjoying a viewpoint that can be reached during a normal day of lift-served skiing.
Upper College and the view toward Ketchum: From this side of Bald Mountain, skiers can look down toward Ketchum and see how closely the ski mountain, town and valley are connected. It is a particularly useful stop for first-time visitors because the view gives geographic context to the resort and the community below.
Our visit — February 2025: We visited during clear weather with temperatures near 12°F. Snow conditions were beginning to resemble early spring despite the cold morning temperatures.
Rendezvous Bowl: Near the top of Jackson Hole, this viewpoint exposes visitors to the resort's dramatic high-alpine environment. The open bowl, surrounding peaks and elevation make it one of the clearest places to understand why Jackson Hole is known for serious mountain terrain. Skiers should stop only where it is safe and remain prepared for changing visibility and snow conditions.
Rendezvous Mountain valley view: Looking outward from the upper mountain reveals the enormous vertical separation between the summit area and Jackson Hole valley. The view adds perspective to the long descent ahead and is worthwhile even for visitors who reach the upper mountain primarily for the scenery.
Our visit — January 2025: We experienced temperatures near −15°F. Approximately 20 days without significant snowfall before our arrival had left many exposed surfaces firm or icy.
Lake Louise from the Home Run trailhead: This viewpoint combines the ski area's forested terrain with a distant view toward Lake Louise and the surrounding Canadian Rockies. It helps visitors see why Lake Louise is more than a collection of ski runs: the resort sits within one of Banff National Park's most recognizable mountain landscapes.
Ray's Run at Mt Norquay: Mt Norquay rises directly above the town of Banff, and this location provides a different valley perspective from Lake Louise or Sunshine Village. The view is paired with steeper terrain, making it especially relevant to advanced skiers who want scenery and challenge during a shorter visit close to town.
Our visit — February 2024: We photographed the Banff resorts during foggy weather after temperatures rose rapidly from approximately −35°F to 10°F.
Top of Collins Chair: This stop provides an immediate view toward Mt Baldy and the steep ridgelines that define Alta's upper mountain. It is a useful place to pause before selecting a route because the viewpoint shows both the beauty and seriousness of the surrounding terrain.
East Baldy Traverse: The traverse opens views toward the boundary with Snowbird and the terrain beyond Alta's central lifts. For experienced skiers, it provides a clear sense of how the two neighboring mountains fit together while approaching terrain that requires careful route selection and attention to posted signs.
Our visit — March 2025: We visited during early-spring conditions with remaining powder snow. Alta had the best snow quality of the Utah resorts we visited on this trip.
Mt Ogden area: This viewpoint brings skiers close to the steep face and rocky profile of Mt Ogden. It shows a more dramatic side of Snowbasin than the broad groomed runs visible near the base and helps visitors understand the mountain's varied terrain.
Wildflower Downhill: The Olympic downhill route combines an expansive valley view with a direct look at one of Snowbasin's defining competition slopes. Even visitors who do not intend to ski the most demanding sections can appreciate how the trail drops away across the mountain and why the location was selected for elite racing.
Our visit — March 2025: We visited during early-spring conditions, with remaining powder in protected areas and softer snow developing elsewhere during the day.
Stein's Way on Bald Mountain: The view toward Jordanelle Reservoir gives Deer Valley a visual character that differs from many inland mountain resorts. Water, valley and surrounding peaks appear together, making this a worthwhile pause for skiers who want a broad landscape view during a groomed-mountain itinerary.
Orion trailhead on Empire Mountain: This upper-mountain location reveals Deer Valley's quieter Empire sector and the ridges beyond it. The viewpoint is useful for understanding the resort's spread across several connected mountains while preparing to enter terrain that is generally better suited to stronger skiers.
Our visit — March 2025: We photographed Deer Valley during early-spring conditions, with remaining powder in some areas and increasingly soft snow on sun-exposed terrain.
Sunshine Peak side: This area shows the softer, tree-covered mountain profile that distinguishes Steamboat from resorts dominated by exposed alpine bowls. It is worth visiting to experience the combination of open glades, snow-covered evergreens and long views across northern Colorado.
High Noon area: High Noon provides a closer view of Steamboat's gladed terrain and the way ski routes move between open slopes and trees. The location is especially rewarding after fresh snow, when visitors can see why the resort's tree skiing and light powder have become central to its identity.
Our visit — January 2020: We experienced sustained cold weather, with temperatures near −20°F, regular snowfall and powder conditions.
