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1,000 Acres for Expert Skiers

This article highlights that Snowmass Ski Area has plenty of expert terrain to explore, despite being dubbed as a family-friendly and intermediate ski resort. It is the best mountain for skiers to progress their sport, and this article calls out all the places that skiers can look forward to exploring as they hit the expert level of sport.
skier on a steep run in the hanging valley at snowmass ski area

Snowmass might have the reputation as an intermediate, family-friendly resort, but we want to let you in on our best kept secret: 30% of Snowmass is classified as expert terrain. Add an average annual snowfall of 300 inches into the mix and you find yourself in some of the best expert skiing/snowboarding that the state of Colorado has to offer.

skier on a bluebird powder day in orange jacket

Take the Hanging Valley Wall a mix of nearly 23 named gladed and bowl-like runs. With such an expansive area, conditions range from technical runs with natural features (cliffs, boulders that form powder pillows, etc.) to wide open powder fields.

skier jumps off a powdery cliff in the woods of snowmass ski area

Adjacent to the Hanging Valley Wall is the Cirque Lift, which is a t-bar that takes skiers and riders to the highest elevation point of all four mountains, at 12,510 feet. In 2026, the lift was updated for a faster, more seamless rider experience. From there, high above tree line, the Cirque stretches in both directions around a bowl loaded with every kind of advanced terrain you could want. This is one of the areas of the resort where snow has a tendency to unapologetically pile up. The top of the Headwall rolls away into a sheer open face, punctuated with snow-covered rocks. The next set of entrances offer a series of technical chutes, splitting cliff bands and offering varying cliff drops to those in need of some air time.

skier skis in a powdery aspen glade at snowmass ski area

Maybe cliffs aren’t for you. And that’s a-okay! Just head over to the other side of the mountain for a second serving of exciting terrain. Powderhorn is a double black diamond run that starts at the top of Sam’s Knob and ends all the way to the bottom of Campground. The steep pitch and relentless bumps make this run a mogul lover’s paradise. On a bluebird day, this marathon run has stunning views of Mt. Daly from top to bottom. Likewise, Garrett’s Gulch and Powerline are hidden gems for experts, just off the more traveled blue runs of Big Burn Lift.

Whether you are on the lookout for fresh powder turns, steeps, or drops, Snowmass has it all.