Snowboarding is about shredding, riding with your friends and progressing. It’s about having fun and exploring new places. What’s more is that it’s about being outdoors and appreciating everything nature has to offer. On that note, maybe it’s a good time to remind you about the beauty and idyllic scenery that surrounds you every time you head out to the mountains for a weekend of shredding. Next time you get off a lift, or take a time out half way through thick glades, stop, take a deep breath and take in your surroundings. There are definitely a few places that are more beautiful and user-friendly than others, so if you want to head out for a week of riding madness coupled with indescribable scenery, then try out these areas.

BIG SKY

If you are looking for a resort that’s uncluttered, totally scenic, and laid-back, then Big Sky’s your place. A big turnout day at this 3,812-acre resort is around 4,000 people, which makes the lift lines ridiculously short, if they even exist at all. Big Sky has always worked to keep lift capacity higher than the demand – so head here for some peace and quiet and good riding.

CRESTED BUTTE

This place is long known as one of the friendliest and most charming towns in the Rockies. Crested Butte has a way of making any outdoor activity completely surpassable. With over 100 years of rich history and diverse terrain, ranging from pancake-flat field to Everest-steep inclines, this little mountain town has gained a top-notch reputation for skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and any other outdoor sport you can think of.

HEAVENLY LAKE TAHOE

Heavenly is unique in that it sprawls across state boundaries. How awesome to be able to snowboard right through one state to the other? Part of the ski area is in California and the other part is in Nevada, and for my money, the Nevada part is the better part. The fall line is more sustained, meaning that runs tend to be longer. From the top of most ski lifts, the view is possibly one of the best you’ll ever see, as the whole of Lake Tahoe spreads out below you. Filled with Glacier water, the clear, blue and tranquil lake offers a breathtaking view whilst you charge down the mountain.

LAKE LOUISE

Lake Louise has split styles: At the south side’s terrain park, huck junkies can air their grievances with gravity while fans of pure carving hit the quieter north face to ride the bowls. It’s a killer place with another unbelievable view, and with both park and off piste – you can’t go wrong.

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN

For once the hyperbole actually applies. A summit elevation of 11,053 feet and hefty 3,100-foot vertical drop are just some Mammoth stats that don’t need any embroidering by Bay Area marketing whiz kids. The mountain is served by 28 lifts numbered in the order they were built, giving a nod to in-the-know locals who are able to think in creative, non-linear ways.

Tags: Snowboarding