Black Diamond Skiing Explained: Skills, Gear and Best Runs

What Is a Black Diamond Ski Run?

Simply put, a black diamond ski run/trail is considered to be one of the most challenging trails at an individual ski area or resort.

It's worth noting that each ski resort uses its own terrain as a reference point when making trail difficulty designations. For example, Sun Valley, Idaho, is a famously steep mountain. A green circle run at Sun Valley could be considered a black diamond if it were located in Pennsylvania.

The opposite is true as well. A black diamond at Camelback Mountain, PA, would most likely not be considered as such as Sun Valley. The pitch, size, and snow quality of the slope are considered when labeling its difficulty.

With that in mind, black diamond ski trails come in all shapes and sizes. Some trails are groomed, and others are not. Some have trees, cliffs, rocks, and exposure, while others are wide and steep groomed runs down the center of a bowl.

If skiing a black diamond run at a new resort is a feather you'd like to place in your cap, consider starting from the ground up. Familiarize yourself with how the resort rates its trails.

Ski a green circle, then a blue square, and then finally, test your mettle on a black diamond. It's always a good idea to ask ski patrol for advice if you're unsure.

How To Ski a Black Diamond Run

Remember, ski resorts rate their trails uniquely to their terrain. A black diamond at one ski resort will most likely not be similar to a black diamond at another.

If you're preparing to ski a black diamond at a typical resort out West, consider the following advice.

First, try a green and blue trail to familiarize yourself with the terrain. Second, speak with ski patrol, or a local, about current snow conditions. Knowing if the trail is going to be groomed, icy, slushy, moguly, powdery, or otherwise will help you prepare for the terrain.

Once you near the top of the trail, pull over to the side and assess the terrain. At a ski resort like Palisades Tahoe, a black diamond could be anything from a groomed path down a winding descent to a full-blown big mountain couloir.

If you're about to ski the latter, scope out your desired line before dropping. If you're about to ski the former, check out the grooming conditions. Is it firm corduroy? Is it skied out? Is it somewhere in between?

Regardless, know that when entering a black diamond, you're about to ski one of the hardest trails at the ski resort/area.

What Is a Double Black Diamond Run?

Not every ski resort uses the double black diamond symbol, but those that do typically have a reason to do so.

Using Palisades Tahoe as an example, the resort recently began labeling runs as double black diamond to note the most extreme terrain.

Siberia Bowl, a black diamond, is a steep run that is often groomed. Granite Chief Peak, on the other hand, is a hike-to mountain peak with dozens of cliffs, chutes, rocks, trees and other hazards. Separating these two types of terrain from each other by adding another diamond has become a preferred practice by many ski resorts across North America.

If you're planning to ski a double black diamond, be prepared for the most challenging experience the mountain has to offer. There may be extreme risk, poor snow conditions, unseen hazards and disastrous consequences.

What Gear Do I Need To Ski a Black Diamond Run?

One of skiing's biggest secrets is that gear doesn't matter all that much, well at least most of the time.

Modern softgoods gear (jackets, pants, gloves, goggles, etc.) are best tailored to weather conditions rather than the ability of the skier themselves. Wear gear based on the weather and snow conditions for the day. The large majority of ski resorts do not require avalanche gear or otherwise to ski black diamond terrain.

When it comes to skis and boots, that's a different story. Skiers looking to excel in black diamond terrain should consider medium- to high-end boots, bindings and skis for the best experience.

Black diamond terrain can be demanding. With varying qualities of snow, steep terrain and obstacles that could cause harm, having reliable gear is a must.

In summary, we do not recommend taking a pair of basic rental skis and boots down the hardest trail at your local resort. It's not impossible to do so, but you'll vastly enjoy the improved quality of demo or all-mountain skis in this demanding terrain.

5 of the Best Black Diamond Runs

Every skier has their favorite flavor, and mine just so happens to be tree skiing (also known as glade skiing). Here are five of my favorite black diamond runs across the country (with a bias towards glades, of course!).

1. Doc Dempsey's Glades, Smugglers' Notch, Vermont
2. Headwall Face, Palisades Tahoe, California
3. Paradise, Mad River Glen, Vermont
4. Al's Run, Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
5. Shakedown Glades, Smugglers' Notch, Vermont