Mountain Layout—Snowboarding

The woods here are what appeal to freeriders. Caution: Many trails through the woods are unmarked, ungroomed and unpatrolled. Don't ride alone. This is one mountain where hiring a local guide can make a big difference in your vertical day.

On Granite, the tight and steep trees of both Short Squaw and Beer Belly open into hidden steep bowls.The Powder Fields spread across the front of the mountain with challenging ledges and cliffs.

Most of the goods are off cat tracks that require carrying speed, and even then, there may be some hiking. Of note: To get to anything around Powder Fields and The Orchards, shoot across Boardwalk at the top of Granite and carry speed along a ridge and most likely walk the last section because there's a short hill at the end. To get to The Slides, as you near the bottom of Buffalo Ridge, rip straight up the ridge ahead. Ridge Road, which gives access to the Paradise area, Beer Belly and Doug's Run, is a bit flat in parts. Beer Belly, The Slides, Short Squaw and the rest of the diamond-rated trails around them finish at the end of Long Squaw and Easy Street, which are pretty flat near the end. Coming back from the Paradise area on Southside Road requires paying attention to speed.

This is a wonderful resort for snowboarders learning to ride in the woods. The trees are evergreens, and mostly large ones, with plenty of space in between them. Groomed runs such as Southern Belle, Southern Comfort, and Gambler—among others—let you cruise and take a dip into the trees. For starters, try Meadows, Mini Bowls, and Inagadadavida. Mini Bowls and Meadows have widely spaced trees. Drop in anywhere after passing Southern Comfort. Maggie's Farm is considered advanced-intermediate because of the tricky tree riding.

Beginners should stay on the open slopes or practice off the T-bar. Beginners like Long Squaw, a 4.5-mile cruiser that wraps around Granite Mountain.The green trails in the Paradise area are friendly for beginners, but it's a long cat track returning to the base.You might want to end your day early to avoid the rush back when the lifts close.

Avoid Red, except to use the T-bar—there's no easy way down from the top of this peak. Terrain for those shifting from beginner to intermediate is limited.

A moving carpet at the base area near the T-bar serves the learning terrain. The area is fenced off from faster skiers and riders. Once you're comfortable linking turns, try the Silverlode triple and T-bar.

Parks and pipes
The resort built its terrain park on skier's left of the T-Bar, in full view of everyone sitting outside on the base lodge's deck. Jeff Patterson, a world-renowned terrain park designer, is the creative force behind it. It's designed for all ability levels, including a fenced-off beginner section, and includes 15 rails, funboxes and tabletops.

Photos courtesy of Red Mountain Resort with top photo by Guy Simard and bottom photo by Larry Doell