Highest Ski Lifts in the World 2026

    Global ranking of ski resorts by the altitude of their highest lift-served peak. Filter by region and sort by peak elevation or vertical drop.

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    ResortCountryRegionPeak (m)Base (m)Vertical (m)Notes
    Chacaltaya (closed glacier)BoliviaSouth America5,3955,180215Highest lift-served point ever (defunct, glacier lost).
    Jade Dragon Snow MountainChinaAsia4,6803,3561,324Glacier 4 lift in Yunnan — highest active ski lift in the world.
    GulmargIndiaAsia3,9792,6501,329Asia's highest gondola, Apharwat summit.
    BreckenridgeUSANorth America3,9632,9261,037Imperial Express SuperChair — highest chairlift in North America.
    Zermatt (Klein Matterhorn)SwitzerlandAlps3,8831,6202,263Matterhorn Glacier Paradise — highest cable-car in Europe.
    CerviniaItalyAlps3,8832,0501,833Connects to Zermatt via Plateau Rosà.
    LovelandUSANorth America3,8713,306565Lift 9 reaches 12,700 ft on the Continental Divide.
    Chamonix (Aiguille du Midi)FranceAlps3,8421,0352,807Cable-car summit — Vallée Blanche off-piste start.
    TellurideUSANorth America3,8312,6581,173Palmyra Peak hike-to terrain.
    Aspen / SnowmassUSANorth America3,8132,4701,343Aspen Highland Bowl hike-to peak.
    Arapahoe BasinUSANorth America3,8023,287515Lenawee Mountain — longest season in Colorado.
    Silverton MountainUSANorth America3,7793,170609Expert-only single-chair extreme terrain.
    Saas-FeeSwitzerlandAlps3,6001,8001,800Mittelallalin Metro Alpin underground funicular.
    Les 2 AlpesFranceAlps3,5681,3002,268Dôme de la Lauze — Europe's largest skiable glacier.
    La GraveFranceAlps3,5501,4502,100Téléphérique des Glaciers — extreme freeride.
    Tignes / Val d'IsèreFranceAlps3,4561,5501,906Grande Motte glacier summit lift.
    Pitztal GlacierAustriaAlps3,4401,7401,700Austria's highest lift-served peak.
    Mammoth MountainUSANorth America3,3692,424945Highest lift-served peak in the Sierra Nevada.
    SöldenAustriaAlps3,3401,3771,963Schwarze Schneid summit lift.
    Verbier (Mont-Fort)SwitzerlandAlps3,3301,5001,830Mont-Fort cable-car summit.
    St. MoritzSwitzerlandAlps3,3031,8221,481Corvatsch cable-car summit.
    HintertuxAustriaAlps3,2501,5001,750Year-round Austrian glacier skiing.
    Val ThorensFranceAlps3,2302,300930Cime Caron via Pointe du Bouchet.
    Stubai GlacierAustriaAlps3,2101,7501,460October–June glacier season.
    Passo Tonale (Presena)ItalyAlps3,0161,8831,133Presena glacier — long season.
    Crans-MontanaSwitzerlandAlps3,0001,5001,500Plaine Morte glacier plateau.
    GrandvaliraAndorraPyrenees2,6401,710930Pic d'Encampadana — highest lift in Andorra.
    Baqueira-BeretSpainPyrenees2,6101,5001,110Highest peak in the Spanish Pyrenees.
    Galdhøpiggen Summer SkiNorwayScandinavia2,2001,850350Norway's highest lift-served point — summer only.
    RiksgränsenSwedenScandinavia910500410Arctic Circle — low altitude, high latitude snow.

    Why peak elevation matters

    Higher peaks generally translate to colder temperatures, drier snow and longer seasons. Every 1,000 m of additional altitude lowers average air temperature by approximately 6.5°C and extends the period during which precipitation falls as snow rather than rain. Resorts with peaks above 3,000 m typically enjoy a snow-secure top section even in marginal seasons.

    The world's highest active ski lift

    The Glacier 4 lift at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yufeng) in China's Yunnan province tops out at 4,680 m, making it the highest operating ski lift in the world. It surpasses the former record holder — Bolivia's Chacaltaya (5,395 m) — which closed when its glacier disappeared. In Europe, Klein Matterhorn (Zermatt) holds the cable-car altitude record at 3,883 m.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Jade Dragon Snow Mountain's Glacier 4 lift in Yunnan, China, reaches 4,680 m — the highest operating ski lift on Earth. Bolivia's Chacaltaya (5,395 m) was higher but closed permanently when its glacier disappeared in the early 2010s.

    Klein Matterhorn cable-car at Zermatt/Cervinia reaches 3,883 m — the highest lift-served point in the Alps and Europe. The Aiguille du Midi cable-car (Chamonix) reaches 3,842 m and gives access to the Vallée Blanche off-piste descent.

    Higher generally means colder and drier snow with a longer season, but altitude alone doesn't guarantee great skiing. North-facing aspects, latitude, prevailing wind patterns and proximity to moisture sources matter just as much. A 2,500m north-facing resort in the Alps can ski better than a 3,500m south-facing resort under intense sun.

    Bolivia, Chile and Argentina have the highest mean ski-area elevations because of the Andes. For commercial resorts open to international skiers, the highest averages are in the French Alps (Tignes, Val Thorens, Les 2 Alpes all peak above 3,200 m) and the Tarentaise/Maurienne valleys.

    Cross-reference with our highest base elevation ranking, biggest vertical drop ranking and longest ski seasons.