Holly Price
Jun, 18 - 2025 - 5 mins
10 Bucket List Ski Runs
From skiing on every continent to crossing off the big-name resorts, everyone’s ski bucket list differs. On ours, there’s a mixture of World Cup runs, high-octane adventure, spellbinding panoramic views and death-defying descents that you can only reach by helicopter! Sounds pretty cool, right? Keep reading to get some inspiration for your own bucket list.
La Face de Bellevarde, Val D’isere, France
We’re kicking things off with a World Cup downhill ski run in France, which debuted in the 1992 Winter Olympics hosted by the nearby Albertville. With a 32.1% incline, ‘La Face’ (pronounced ‘fass’) lulls you into a false sense of security with a fairly mellow start; however, once you turn the third corner, you’ll see that it starts to get steep and narrow. After the narrow section, you’ll tackle a couple of tricky corners which open out onto a wide, rolling section which takes you to the bottom. Watch out for sections of ice here, particularly early on in the season. Try to hit it first thing in the morning for the grippiest corduroy conditions - not just because you’ll probably need them, but because the slope is east-facing and so gets the sun early on.
Best for: Those who love fast-paced thrills for breakfast
Vallée Blanche, Chamonix, France
A mammoth 20km long off-piste route with a vertical drop of around 2700m, Vallée Blanche is a rite of passage for any skier or snowboarder. Starting up high from Chamonix’s iconic Aiguille du Midi, the ‘classique’ line traverses right between the rocks of Gros Rognon and Mont Blanc du Tacul, before curving back round to the left, avoiding glacial ice, crevasses and of course, avalanches. A hired guide is mandatory, as is specialist safety equipment - even just accessing the starting point of this descent requires a short hike / walk down a ridge, and a guide is recommended due to the constantly changing conditions on the mountain and the countless crevasses that lie in wait. The skiing itself on the classique line is fairly chilled - if you can ski red runs well then you will be more than capable. However, this is one of Europe’s ultimate bucket-list lines for good reason - you will ski in between some of the most beautiful glacial features and crevasses that you imagine - it feels like you're on another planet. Without doubt, the views will make this an adventure that you'll never forget! Don't be surprised to queue at the end of the route as you take the lift up to a traditional train to whisk you back into town - a fun adventure in itself.
Best for: An epic adventure day with a side of insane views
Le Pass de Chavanette (Swiss Wall,) Avoriaz, France
The Swiss Wall has a reputation that precedes it. Striking fear in even the most seasoned of skiers, Le Pass De Chavanette has been referred to as the most difficult run in Europe thanks to the 2-metre-high moguls, ungroomed piste and seriously steep gradient - some sections at the top reach 76%. Straddling the border between France and Switzerland, it’s a Black Diamond run with a bar at the bottom - Buvette de Chavanette - offering both a much-needed reward and an excellent viewing point for those who’d rather not partake.
Best for: Monster mogul lovers
Mont Fort Backside, Verbier, Switzerland
Situated in the birthplace of the Freeride World Tour, it’s no surprise that the backside of Verbier’s Mont Fort is a freerider’s mecca. There are plenty of couloir routes to choose from that spit you out onto the mountain’s face, but the entire area is littered with crevasses and prone to avalanches, meaning you should always carry safety gear and travel with an experienced guide - don’t let the easy accessibility of this area fool you, and avoid the area in the afternoon when slides are more likely to happen.
Best for: Early morning missions to work up that lunch appetite
The Chugach Range, Alaska (Heli Skiing)
Big, brooding and mind-bending, the Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are on everyone’s heli-trip list of dreams. With infinite untracked lines, the Chugach is home to insane peaks such as Mount Marcus Baker (4016m), Mount Thor (3734m) and Mount Valhalla (3699m), among many others. Operators like the CPG - Chugach Powder Guides work on a ‘point and ride’ basis, giving guests the freedom to see something they like the look of and - you guessed it - ride it.
Best for: Life-changing powder skiing. You’ll spend the rest of your life chasing this high.
The Streif, Kitzbuhel, Austria
Another World Cup Downhill Course, Kitzbuhel’s Streif run sits on the Hahnenkamm mountain. Host to the annual Hahnenkamm Downhill since 1931, the course is known as the ‘pinnacle’ of alpine skiing and has been described by Red Bull as the ‘World’s Most Dangerous Ski Race’ - probably because of the number of high-speed collisions that have occurred there over the years. Setting out from Mausefalle at 1663m, competitors must complete an 858m descent involving slaloms, big blind airs and the dark, icy expanse of the Steilgang sector.
Best for: The rush of ski racing on a world-renowned course
Delirium Dive, Sunshine Village, Canada
A formidable run in Banff’s big back country, Delirium Dive offers some of the steepest, most intimidating lines you’ll find anywhere in the world. The area is revered for its endless powder stashes, but must be treated with respect - avalanches are common here, and it is mandatory for riders to be fully equipped with avalanche gear and a partner before they can even access this freeride zone. Accessed from the top of the Continental Divide chair, the Dive starting point is restricted, requiring each member of your crew to pass individually through a gate which picks up on your transceiver signals.
Best for: Cliff drops into bottomless pow
Big Couloir, Big Sky, USA
A Double Black Diamond with a reputation as ‘North America’s Most Dangerous Marked Ski Run, ’ Big Sky’s Big Couloir requires a sign-in with ski patrol if you want to attempt it. An iconic line with restricted traffic (only two riders allowed at a time, every 15 minutes,) Big Couloir’s big amount of red tape is warranted - the first few turns are steep and firm making it a no-fall zone - if you fall here, you’re likely to continue that fall for the duration of the run. It’s not uncommon to see riders tomahawk their way down this line. People can and have fallen on their first turn and slid the entire length. The top half is a no-fall zone. That said, you’ll be nothing short of a legend if you conquer this one.
Best for: Entering the dangerous ski run hall of fame
Corbet’s Couloir, Jackson Hole, USA
Known as a ski resort for testing your mettle, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boasts legendary terrain - Corbet’s Couloir is no exception. A death-defying chute with a stomach-dropping entrance (dropping off a cornice with a free fall ranging from 10 to 20 feet), the run is named after Barry Corbet, a mountaineer who spotted the line in 1960 and proclaimed, “someday, someone will ski that.” Well, Barry, many have tried, more have turned away, and some have succeeded.
Best for: Going full send
Copyright: Amy Jimmerson / Red Bull Content Pool / Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
The Sella Ronda Circuit, Italy
Perhaps a sharp left-hand turn from all of the other technical challenges on this list, the Sella Ronda earns its place through stunning scenery and miles clocked. A dream day out for any winter sports enthusiast, this 40km ski route can be followed either clockwise or anti-clockwise from resorts in the Dolomiti Superski area. Be aware though, you’ll need to start out before 10am to complete the route in time, as it takes around 6 hours to complete.
Best for: Stonking views and sore ski legs
Honourary mention: Silver King, Crystal Mountain, USA
The highest point in a series of ridges that border the Crystal Mountain resort, the Silver King is a notorious summit in Washington State, USA. Heading left from the top of Chair 6, the hike up takes around 45 minutes with breaks. There are many routes for conquering the King and it is known as a seriously fun zone, with Brain Damage being a popular option. A Double Diamond, Brain Damage sets out from a chute, requiring some tight turns before spitting you out into a wide powder field (conditions permitting) down the ‘King’s Apron.’ Long live the king.
Best for: Getting steep, tight and technical
