Where to ski this winter? An honest guide

If you wanted to hit the slopes somewhere, now is the time. We've gathered the best ski resort options for you to snowboard and ski this winter. Let's go!

Ski Resorts of the Caucasus

Krasnaya Polyana

The most popular Russian ski resort, which includes three complexes: Rosa Khutor, Gazprom, and Krasnaya Polyana resort. Currently, it has the longest ski trails in Russia.

Year after year, the resort becomes more convenient for skiers and snowboarders. There's only one problem: too many people want to come here. So, there are many visitors.

However, this is not surprising. The main advantage of this ski resort near Sochi is its accessibility. You can get from the airport to Krasnaya Polyana in just an hour. In addition, it has a developed tourist infrastructure: a wide selection of hotels and apartments for every taste, as well as many good, Moscow-level restaurants. Finally, it has recently become possible to ski in all three zones with a single ski pass – skiers and snowboarders have been waiting for this for many years. And the place itself is top-notch. While skiing, you can see the sea – a rare bonus for ski resorts.

Another point for enthusiasts – the climate is too warm for a ski resort. You never know in advance if there will be stable snow cover. Ideally, it's best to check the weather forecast a few days beforehand and then go. Therefore, Krasnaya Polyana is ideal for a spontaneous trip. 

Tickets to Krasnaya Polyana

Arkhyz

One of the youngest ski resorts, growing in popularity every season.

Arkhyz offers real mountains with normal snow and temperatures. The trails here are well-designed: the ski slopes are wide, making skiing comfortable and enjoyable. 

However, be prepared for a long journey: it takes about four hours from Mineralnye Vody airport by transfer or taxi. 

Tickets to Arkhyz

Dombay

One of Russia's most beautiful ski resorts, located in Karachay-Cherkessia. The journey from Mineralnye Vody airport takes about three hours.

The resort is many years old, so the tourist infrastructure here is excellent: finding a hotel, apartment, or restaurant to your taste is not a problem. And all of them are at the foot of the lift, leading directly to the slopes. Since Dombay is located at high altitude, near glaciers, there is always snow during the season.

However, skiers need to be more careful: there are sometimes rocks on the trails, which can cause certain lifts to stop. Also, despite sufficient length, the skiing is not very diverse: several trails eventually merge into one. 

Tickets to Dombay

Ski Resorts of the Volga Region

Sviyazhskie Kholmy

The ski resort is located near Kazan, in the village of Savino. You can get to Sviyazhskie Kholmy by taxi, or by your own or rented car. Unfortunately, buses do not go there. As for skiing, there are five trails of varying difficulty for skiers and snowboarders – from easy for beginners to hard for experienced riders. The longest descent is 1.1 km, and the altitude difference reaches 165 meters. 

Sviyazhskie Kholmy is a year-round resort. In addition to skiing, there are restaurants, bars, swimming pools, bowling, an ice rink, snow tubing trails, and, of course, cozy cottages. You can ski here from early December to late March.

Tickets to Sviyazhskie Kholmy

Khvalynskiy

A good spot for ski and snowboard enthusiasts on the right bank of the Volga near Saratov. The ski resort is part of the large Khvalyn recreation park. So, there are not only trails but also Russian banyas, a spa pool, and a craft brewery.

Four trails are available for skiing here, one of which is considered the longest in the Volga region. The ski season at the resort begins in December and ends in late March.

Tickets to Khvalynskiy

Krasnaya Glinka

A cozy and pleasant ski resort near Samara. It is located 30 km from the city center, and you can get there by taxi or shuttle bus from Kurumoch airport. For skiers and snowboarders, there are eight trails of varying difficulty, the longest of which reaches 1,200 m. Both beginners and experienced skiers can ride here.

The resort itself is located in the Sokoliye Mountains, which descend to the Volga River, and the season here lasts from December to March.
Tickets to Krasnaya Glinka

Ski Resorts of Siberia

Sheregesh

A well-developed resort in the Kemerovo region, at the junction of the Sayan and Altai mountains, a three-hour drive from Novokuznetsk airport. 

In total, there are 35 km of well-groomed trails (meaning they have been groomed by a snowcat – a machine that makes the snow dense and ribbed). So, the ski resort is suitable for various skill levels.

The main advantage of Sheregesh is its amazing snow, which is the main reason people come here. This snow is called "pukhlyak" (powder): it's light, non-sticky, and pleasant and easy to ski or snowboard on. For the same reason, it's a paradise for freeriding (off-piste skiing). Sheregesh has a long season: from November to April. You can stay on the mountain or in the village itself: there are hotels, cottages, and apartments at very different prices. There is also a good selection of restaurants.

Unfortunately, for advanced skiers, the skiing here is not very diverse. You have to choose where to ride today, which further narrows the choice of trails. It is often cold here: the average winter temperature is minus 15 degrees Celsius. Bring warm clothes. 

Tickets to Sheregesh

Gladenkaya 

This ski resort in the Republic of Khakassia got its name from the mountain where the trails are located. They, by the way, meet international standards and have FIS certificates.

Various competitions are often held at Gladenkaya, for example, the final of the Russian Alpine Skiing Championship. By the way, the resort is quite old. The history of this ski resort began long ago: skiers mastered the local slopes back in the early 80s of the last century.

Tickets to Gladenkaya

Bobrovy Log

The ski resort is located right within the city limits, on the border of the Stolby Nature Park. So, you won't have to travel far from Krasnoyarsk. That's a plus. As for skiing opportunities, there are fourteen trails and a training slope. In terms of difficulty, this variety can be divided into five black trails, six red, and three blue.

Another good advantage of the ski resort is its training center for alpine skiing and snowboarding. Highly qualified instructors – professionals of categories C and B – train here, teaching those who have never even seen skis or a snowboard before. 

Tickets to Bobrovy Log 

Belokurikha

The Altai ski resort attracts with its infrastructure, magnificent views, and incredible nature. Here you'll find clean mountain air, a mild climate, and majestic peaks. Isn't this great company for skiing? It's no coincidence that the local ski resort is compared to the famous Swiss resort and called the "Siberian Davos".

What about the season? Skiing here starts in December and lasts until the end of March. There are many trails here, and each slope has its own name: Blagodat, Katun, Altai-West, Severny, Tserkovka. And skiing down them is a pure pleasure.

Tickets to Belokurikha

Far East Resorts 

Edelweiss

The ski base, named after a beautiful flower, is conveniently located within the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Skiers and snowboarders come here to ride from December to April. And for young riders, there is a children's and youth sports school for alpine skiing.

Travelers to Edelweiss are especially attracted by the views. Where else but Kamchatka can you ski and snowboard while looking at the ocean and volcanoes? Especially when all the conditions are there: two training slopes, three trails for slalom and giant slalom, and two "tourist" trails used for slalom skiing, ski touring, and backcountry. 

Krasnaya Sopka

Another ski resort within Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Moreover, getting there is very convenient: buses run directly from the city center.

In terms of scenic beauty, Krasnaya Sopka is on par with Edelweiss. From the slope, a magnificent panorama opens up to the city, Avacha Bay, Petropavlovsk Bay, and the volcanoes – Vilyuchinsky and Mutnovsky.

Three trails of varying difficulty are available for skiing from early December to late April. Plus, here you can experience what real Far Eastern freeride is like.

Tickets to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Medvezhya Dolina

Skiing in the taiga? Why not! The Medvezhya Dolina ski resort is located in the taiga, on the spurs of the Sikhote-Alin mountain range. This is approximately 17 km from the city of Bikin.

But the resort itself is pleasant. There are two trails here, 1,600 and 2,000 meters long. And the altitude differences here are small – up to 400 meters. But you can ski from November to April. One caveat: there is no artificial snow, so you have to choose a day for skiing depending on the weather forecast.

Tickets to Medvezhya Dolina

Resorts in the North

Northern ski resorts offer one magnificent bonus – the chance to see the Northern Lights.

Bolshoy Vudyavr

This resort, located beyond the Arctic Circle in the Murmansk region, has the longest skiing season: from November to late May – early June. And it also boasts excellent snow.

In addition, the resort itself has recently been updated, and now it has good lighting during dark hours (which is almost all day here), new lifts, and many nice dining spots. The most fashionable place is the panoramic restaurant "Plato" on the top of Mount Aikuaivenchorr. The ski pass for the lifts is shared (from 1,700 rubles per day). 

What to consider: from mid-December to early March, there is polar night here, so it's dark for most of the day. Some people find it difficult to be constantly without sun. Therefore, the best time for skiing in Bolshoy Vudyavr is considered to be from March to May, when the days gradually get longer and the weather becomes less capricious. 

Loparstan

A small but good ski resort five kilometers from the center of Monchegorsk. This means you can get there by taxi in about 15 minutes. The season in Loparstan starts in November and lasts until May. For skiers and snowboarders, there are two trails suitable for both beginners and experienced riders. And thanks to the lighting, you can ski here until late evening.  

The cherry on top of this ski cake will be the views. From the resort's peaks, a panorama opens up to the largest lake on the Kola Peninsula – Imandra, and to the Lapland Nature Reserve. In short, a real snowy fairy tale with incredible landscapes of untouched northern nature.

Tickets to northern ski resorts

Kukisvumchorr

The ski resort is named after the largest mountain range in Khibiny. In general, Kukisvumchorr is more commonly known as "25th Kilometer". The ski complex is located in the northern part of Kirovsk and is famous among freeride enthusiasts. Competitions are even held here among professionals.

Six trails of varying difficulty await skiers and snowboarders at the resort. Due to the fact that these are not mountains but hills, the altitude difference here is relatively small – just over 500 meters. 

Moscow and Saint Petersburg

If you are currently in Moscow or Saint Petersburg and don't want to travel far, that's no reason to give up snowboarding and skiing. In the capitals (the regular and the Northern one), there are several good slopes where you can (and should) ski this winter.

Moscow

Vorobyovy Gory

Moscow's most famous mountains reopened for skiing in 2022 after reconstruction. Now there are three trails, a training slope for beginners, and a snowpark with freestyle jumps. 

Krylatskiye Kholmy (CSKA)

A good weekend ski resort. You can't ski here on weekdays, as professional athletes train here. A downside is that apart from the trails, there are no other entertainments, so it's suitable for those who are not demanding about infrastructure. Although that's also a plus – there are no queues or crowds here. 

Sorochany

This is one of Moscow's largest and most popular ski resorts. It has trails of varying difficulty levels, suitable for both beginners and experienced riders. 

Novo-Peredelkino 

Located near Vnukovo Airport. The ski resort will especially appeal to trick enthusiasts. It has a good snowpark with many features and jumps, and a separate halfpipe trail.

Saint Petersburg

Okhta Park

There are six trails here for riders of different levels. And thanks to its proximity to the city, you can come here every day for a few hours.

Lazurnye Ozera

There are no steep slopes here, which is perfect for beginners. Plus, there are no crowds of vacationers. But there are beautiful views from the top of the slope. 

Pukhtolova Gora

The resort is suitable even for absolute beginners. And for those who don't want to snowboard or ski at all, there are tubing hills here. 

Igora

An option for those who love comfort and service. There are nine trails of varying difficulty levels, an extreme park with jumps, walking paths, and ski routes.

How to choose a ski resort

Before you rush to conquer the ski slopes and post envy-inducing stories, you first need to decide on your desires, budget, and skill level.

Just starting out with skiing and snowboarding? Then choose resorts with easy slopes and a good instructor base. If your budget doesn't allow you to go far, then look at small local ski resorts. Yes, they won't be particularly impressive, but they'll be more than suitable for trying yourself out.

Already almost a pro and consider yourself a confident rider? Then you can look at ski resorts with challenging trails and large altitude differences.  

Most importantly, find accommodation, buy ski passes, and check for equipment rental points in advance. Those who book everything ahead of time live happily at the ski resort: everything is delicious, beautiful, and most importantly, without surprises.

So, friends, have great rides and a bright winter!