• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

Ski Trail Names Tell of Wonder, Peril and Exhilaration

September 10, 2014 by braveskimom

trail sign at Sugarbush
Ski Resorts are full of creative and quirky trail names. These, from Sugarbush, Vermont.

A guest post from Duane Allen.

bravegradationhires1.jpgEach year, millions of people travel far and wide to the world’s ski and snowboarding resorts.

Besides the feeling of the crisp air on our faces and the thrill of gliding down some of Earth’s steepest slopes, what drives us to these frosty trails?

I think it’s the cute and quirky, sometimes off-the-wall names of the slopes! Read on to discover some of my favorites from around the world.

Sugarbush, Vermont is a ski and snowboarding resort with some of the most intriguing trail names in the country. Names range from the Lower Organ Grinder trail, to Heaven’s Gate, to Lookin’ Good, to The Mall.

Each name evokes a sense of the trail’s personality, giving skiers and snowboarders a good idea of what they’re in for when they hit the slopes.

heavens gate ski run sugarbush
Finding Heaven on Heaven’s Gate at Sugarbush. Photo courtesy Sugarbush.

Purgatory, located at Durango Mountain Resort in the heart of the Colorado San Juan Mountains, boasts some of the most creative names for their ski and snowboard runs.

In keeping with the Purgatory theme, you can find yourself skiing Styx, Paradise or Upper and Lower Hades. Two of their most popular slopes are  What and Where, making it fun for skiers and snowboarders to say to their family and friends. “You want to go ski Where?!”

purgatory trail map
Trail map at Purgatory, where you can find “What” and “Where.”

Perisher, which lies down under in Australia, is home to a number of mountains, each with their own unique trail names. My favorites are at Mount Guthega, home to the Mother-in-Law trail (surprisingly NOT a black diamond) and the Rock Garden.

perisher ski june
Perisher, Australia on June 26th. Gotta love that Southern Winter! Photo courtesy Perisher.

Whiteface resort in Lake Placid, New York offers a ton of space to partake in a number of extreme winter sports. The most uniquely named trails also happen to be some of Whiteface’s most popular, including Cloudspin, Lower Skyward, and Blazer’s Bluff.

Whiteface mountain new york lake placid
Welcome to Whiteface © ORDA:Dave Schmidt

Killington ski and snowboard resort in Killington, Vermont is another Mecca for extreme sport lovers. One of their awesomely named slopes is Devil’s Fiddle, a natural, ungroomed paradise for advanced skiers. or the less adventurous, there are the slopes with existential names, including Somewhere and Nowhere. Again, making it fun to say to your friends “I don’t feel like skiing anywhere today, except Nowhere.”

devils fiddle killington
Skiing Devil’s Fiddle on a perfect bluebird Vermont Day at Killington.

Sun Peaks Resort in Canada’s Alpine Village (British Columbia) has something for everyone all year round and is known for its appropriately named slopes like Sun Catcher and  Sunshine on Sundance Mountain.  Another favorite of mine? Cowabunga. Don’t be fooled by these friendly names – some of these slopes mean business!

sunshine at sun peaks royce sihlis
You’ll find the terrain park on Sunshine at Sun Peaks. Photographer: Royce Sihlis. Photo courtesy Sun Peaks.

Where are your favorite runs? What trail names inspire you, crack you up or intimidate you? What is the quirkiest, most creative trail name you’ve seen?

ski bum skiing
Ski Bum Skiing. Photo courtesy Duane Allen.

Duane Allen is a winter sports enthusiast and enjoys working with his team at The Ski Bum. Passionate about all things related to extreme sports, Duane spends his free time with his family traveling and skiing the slopes of the world.

 

© 2014 – 2017, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Skiing Tagged With: ski, ski resort reviews, skiing

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • Bravery 101: Chairlift Safety for Parents and Kids
    Bravery 101: Chairlift Safety for Parents and Kids
  • Pick Ups Made Easy: The Kinderlift Ski Vest for Kids
    Pick Ups Made Easy: The Kinderlift Ski Vest for Kids
  • Catching Up with US Ski Team Legend Ted Ligety
    Catching Up with US Ski Team Legend Ted Ligety
  • Ski Fashion Preview: Women's Ski Jackets, Sorel Boots and More (Obermeyer Giveaway)
    Ski Fashion Preview: Women's Ski Jackets, Sorel Boots and More (Obermeyer Giveaway)
  • Ski Vacation 101: Feeding the Family
    Ski Vacation 101: Feeding the Family

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...