Top 10 steepest ski runs in the world
After a challenge? Crank up the gradient and shred the steepest ski run in the world. Want to know which trails to add to your thigh-burning bucket list? Check out our top 10 below.
Sometimes you want to challenge yourself, right? Then lock into the world’s steepest slopes (we’re focusing on marked trails and reviewing the maximum gradient here). Oh, and make sure you’ve sharpened your edges beforehand, because things are about to get pretty much near vertical.
And for some heavy-hitting trails, you need some heavy-hitting gear. So why not level up your season look with our fresh collection below?
Top 10 steepest slopes
Black Hole – Smugglers’ Notch, USA
Kandahar – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
The Streif – Kitzbühel, Austria
Lauberhorn – Wengen, Switzerland
Lange Zug – Arlberg, Austria
Harakiri – Mayrhofen, Austria
Mont Fort – 4 Vallées, Switzerland
The Swiss Wall (Chavanette) – Portes du Soleil, France/Switzerland
La Face de Bellevarde – Val d'Isère, France
Gamsleiten 2 – Obertauern, Austria
1. Black Hole – Smugglers’ Notch, USA
Max gradient: 133%
Black Hole is an ungroomed, gladed, triple-black-diamond run (the only one on the East Coast). If that wasn’t nerve-wracking enough, it also has a mind-blowing 133% maximum gradient (53 degrees).
Riders claim attempting Smuggs’ Black Hole is like being sucked into a black hole (once you’re in, you’re in). It’s also quite tricky even to find the entrance to the Black Hole. That’s because it’s no longer marked…people typically steal the trail sign within a month of ski patrol replacing it. Hey, we guess a memento’s a memento.
2. Kandahar – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Max gradient: 92%
Okay, you know a run is going to be steep when it’s used as a regular stop on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. And calling Kandahar ‘steep’ is an understatement. The Free Fall section reaches a mind-blowing gradient of 92%/45 degrees!
Kandahar is guaranteed to test the mettle of every rider, because members of the public can ski sections when competitions aren’t being held. Want to avoid the super extreme parts? Start at the middle station of the Kandahar Express instead.
3. The Streif – Kitzbühel, Austria
Max gradient: 85%
Every year, ski racers head to Kitzbühel to tackle the famously extreme Streif in the Hahnenkamm ski weekend. With jumps and steep sections reaching a hold-your-nerve 85% gradient, racers can reach speeds of 75-80mph (120-130km/h).
The Streif isn’t just for the pros, though. Some sections of the two-mile/3.3-kilometer course are open to the public on non-race days, so you can stand where the greats have stood and take on that 85% gradient yourself.
4. Lauberhorn – Wengen, Switzerland
Max gradient: 85%
At 2.7 miles/4.5 kilometers, the Lauberhorn is one of the longest tracks on the FIS Alpine World Cup. Oh, and it’s also one of the steepest, with a maximum gradient of 85%.
After the races finish in mid-January, the Lauberhorn downhill run is open to the public. Our top tip? Rest to the side and soak up the pretty awesome views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau alongside Wengen village below (just watch out for vertigo!).
5. Lange Zug – Arlberg, Austria
Max gradient: 80%
Head to the Rüfikopf Panorama Restaurant in the Arlberg and ready yourself for the nearby Lange Zug instead, one of the steepest ski runs on the planet, starting at 2,049 meters (6,722 feet). Beware, though, the first section has a whopping 80% gradient.
Once you’ve mastered that, the Lange Zug doesn’t exactly let up. It’s 7.5 miles/4.7 kilometers long, so make sure you’re prepared! Though you still might not be able to break Harry Egger’s record. The speed skier set a new world record on the Lange Zug, clocking an insane 176 mph/284kmh.
6. Harakiri – Mayrhofen, Austria
Max gradient: 80%
When a ski run has a name as dramatic as Harakiri, you can safely assume it’s not designed for cruising beginners. This advanced-only piste is seriously steep, stretching 1,500 metres (4,921 feet) with a vertical drop of 376 metres (1,233.6 feet) and a maximum gradient of a jaw-dropping 80%!
Feeling brave? Every Friday there’s an official photoshoot on Harakiri, so you can walk away with proof that you tackled it! And before you drop in, don’t miss the famous ‘Hau di runter’ sign at the top. It’s an iconic bit of Austrian ski folklore that roughly translates to ‘send it.’ Which, on this run, feels very appropriate!
7. Mont Fort – 4 Vallées, Switzerland
Max gradient: 77%
Aim for Mont Fort, Verbier’s highest point at 3,300 meters/10,827 feet, and you’ll find an iconic black run with a maximum gradient of 77%. But before you drop in, snap a pic with the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc in the background!
Going down, you’ll find a super-steep right-hand side and often more moguls than you can count. Want the steepness to keep going after the bottom mellows out? Cut across to the right (near the top of the tram line) and ride down an even gnarlier line down the face.
8. The Swiss Wall (Chavanette) – Portes du Soleil, France/Switzerland
Max gradient: 76%
The Swiss Wall is legendary and many riders flock here from the Portes du Soleil ski area to conquer its steepness. The top is pretty gnarly (multiple warning signs greet you at the start), but it’s the subsequent huge moguls (up to two meters/6.5 feet high) paired with a max gradient of 90% that many find the toughest part.
Because it’s rarely ever groomed, the Swiss Wall certainly demands a high level of concentration. And there’s only one way out—finishing in Les Crosets on the Swiss side. And make sure to stop at the Buvette de Chavanette snack bar at the bottom. It’s tradition!
9. La Face de Bellevarde – Val d'Isère, France
Max gradient: 71%
The iconic La Face de Bellevarde first came to riders’ attention in 1992, when it hosted the men’s Olympic downhill event. Since then, it’s become a World Cup downhill course. And, today, every skier can attempt the maximum 71% gradient (well, only if they’re experts, of course!).
You’ll also often find bumps and ice throughout the Face’s 1.8 miles/three-kilometers and 850 meters/2,789 feet of vert. Reached the bottom? You’re right in the middle of Val. So, go for a celebratory drink at one of many awesome cafes and bars!
10. Gamsleiten 2 – Obertauern, Austria
Max gradient: 70%
Jump on the double chair to Obertauern’s highest point (2,313 meters/7,588.5 feet), and you’ll find the Gamsleiten 2 black run. Take a deep breath and check out the views. Yep, the impressive panoramic views of the Radstädter Tauern mountain range are sure to calm any nerves before dropping in.
The Gamsleiten 2 is the epitome of demanding. We’re talking massive bumps mixed with super icy sections. Oh, and none of this lets up for the entire run’s 0.8 miles/1.3 kilometers. Still, the sense of achievement at the bottom is immense!
Wrapping up
There we have it – our roundup of slopes with guaranteed gnarly gradients. BTW, almost all of these need a winch cat for grooming (a piste-basher suspended by a metal cable), so there’s no chance of it sliding off the mountain.
Slayed one of these beasts? Join our Dope Snow Community Facebook Group and show us your skills! You can also chat and swap stories with other like-minded riders, or keep your eyes peeled for exclusive giveaways and comps. We’ll see you there!
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