The 10 Most Extreme Ski Lifts in the World

1. Peak 2 Peak Gondola—Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Whistler Blackcomb's Peak 2 Peak Gondola is in a league of its own. Connecting the separate Whistler and Blackcomb ski areas, the gondola travels 2.7 miles in 11 minutes as she hangs 1,427 feet above the valley floor. It also boasts the world’s longest unsupported span for a lift of its kind. Constructed in 2007 and 2008, the now-iconic gondola allows skiers to ride both Whistler and Blackcomb without having to schlep all the way back to the base area.

2. Lone Peak Tram—Big Sky Resort, Montana

Revamped for the winter of 2023 and 2024, Big Sky Resort, Montana’s Lone Peak Tram is an astounding piece of machinery that crawls up the side of Lone Mountain. It tops out at 11,166 feet, providing 360-degree views of the surrounding mountainscape.

Skiing isn’t required to take a ride on the Lone Peak Tram—sightseers are encouraged, too—but those that make the snowy plunge won't be disappointed. Below the Tram is the Big Couloir, a triple black diamond that is one of North America’s most iconic and challenging runs. Another prospective descent is the North Summit Snowfield, which peels away from the Tram’s upper terminal into a series of triple black chutes.

3. 7th Heaven—Stevens Pass, Washington

Compared to the Peak 2 Peak Gondola and Lone Peak Tram, 7th Heaven is humble. It’s a classic two-seater that glides into the upper reaches of Stevens Pass, Washington, letting skiers off below Cowboy Ridge, one of the resort’s premier big mountain zones that, over the years, has played host to freeride competitions. There’s more to check out below the Ridge, too, including Bobby Chute (a slot beneath 7th Heaven) and Court’s Meadow, a zone peppered with cliffs.

7th Heaven’s interesting terrain network contributes to its position on this list, but the ride up, which is equal parts short and steep, is where things really get exciting. The lower portion of the lift is relatively mellow, but as its upper terminal nears, 7th Heaven cruises over rocks before the arrival of a quick exit ramp that can whisk unsuspecting skiers off their feet if they’re not careful.

Thankfully, the terrain just off the lift is standard fare advanced-expert terrain. You aren’t railroaded into skiing something terrifying if you don’t want to.

4. Aiguille du Midi Cable Car—Chamonix, France

Located in Chamonix, France, the Aiguille du Midi cable car isn’t exactly a ski lift, as it doesn’t operate within the boundaries of a ski resort. Many of its users are tourists and sightseers who, upon arriving at the upper terminal after a relatively quick 20-minute aerial journey, are treated to gorgeous views of the Alps. The piece de resistance here may be the “Step Into The Void” viewing box, a suspended enclosure that’s entirely glass, creating the illusion that you’re soaring amongst the jagged spires of the Mont-Blanc Massif.

So why, then, is this cable car on this list? Just because it isn’t in a ski resort doesn’t mean it isn’t used by skiers. Chamonix is world-renowned for its steep and committing backcountry skiing. The cable car provides easy access to many of these lines, ferrying would-be ski mountaineers into the heart of an iconic big mountain playground—no grueling approach needed.

Temperatures drop around 19 degrees Celsius during the trip skywards to the Aiguille du Midi—each increment of 150 meters in altitude gain accounts for a single-degree decrease in temperature—so even if it’s pleasant and warm in Chamonix, the high-altitude mountains are usually skiable (the tram regularly shuts down when the weather’s bad). Notch some incredibly heavy lines, then drink wine while wearing shorts—both can happen during the same day here, thanks to the impressive vertical ascent of the cable car.

5. Roca Jack—Portillo, Chile

The Roca Jack in Portillo, Chile, might be the funkiest lift on this list. It’s a slingshot. Several skiers can skiers hang onto the bar, which then speeds uphill before depositing the group atop a wide snowfield. At the top, everyone carefully unloads. Then, the lift heads back downhill to grab another group. The best visual comparison is a tandem water skiing setup—without people standing on each other's shoulders, of course. Compared to the rest of the lifts on this list, the Roca Jack probably requires the most finesse.

6. Titlis Rotair—Engelberg-Titlis, Switzerland

The Titlis Rotair, located in Engelberg-Titlis, Switzerland, is the world’s first rotating gondola. The unique contraption composes the final leg of the journey up Mount Titlis, which involves embarking on multiple aerial cable cars. 

The cabin of the Titlis Rotair actually rotates a full 360 degrees during its five-minute trip. After disembarking from the Titlis Rotair, there are two much shorter high-altitude lifts for skiers looking to lap: the Ice Flyer and the Glacier T-Bar.

7. Sublette—Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming

Aside from the iconic Aerial Tram, Sublette is the highest-altitude lift at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming. Known for weathering intense wind—and floating over gnarly terrain—this lift has a reputation for the rowdy and extreme.

In the summer of 2024, JHMR opted to retire Sublette and replace it with a newer model after 37 years of service. In designing the new lift, JHMR enacted changes designed to reduce the odds of weather closures, like shifting Sublette’s upper terminal grade by approximately 30 feet and ordering Leitner-Poma’s heaviest chairs, which are less susceptible to being knocked around in a gale. Despite the replacement, Sublette’s iconic stature remains.

8. Vanoise Express—La Plagne and Les Arcs, France

The Vanoise Express is the cable car equivalent of a double-decker bus—literally. The engineering feat—which connects the French ski areas of La Plagne and Les Arcs—has two levels. Each of its two cars can fit 200 people, and during its first winter of operation, 400,000 skiers used the Vanoise Express. When the snow melts, hikers, bikers, and sightseers hitch a ride as they catch glimpses of the surrounding peaks and the Ponthurin Valley.

9. KT-22—Palisades Tahoe, California

Palisades Tahoe KT-22 doesn’t provide the scariest lift ride, but its storied history makes it one of the most extreme lifts in North America. The first portion of the trip uphill takes skiers above The Fingers, a classic zone that, on powder days, becomes choked with aspiring shredders. Further along sits McConkey’s, an almost sheer rock wall that, like The Fingers, is an imposing big mountain test piece. Numerous other cliffs and chutes pepper KT-22’s terrain network.

This makes KT-22 excellent for one of two activities: rolling the dice on a hair-raising line or engaging in some big mountain rubbernecking. If you’re lucky enough to catch one of the first few chairs of the day, keep your eyes trained on the slopes below. Who knows? You might see the next big name in skiing soaring through the air.

10. Slide Brook Express—Sugarbush, Vermont

It might be fair to say that the Slide Brook Express is the Peak 2 Peak of the East. Located on Sugarbush, Vermont’s slopes, this is the world's longest detachable chairlift, traveling 11,012 feet. The lift exists to connect Sugarbush’s two main pistes: Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen. Without it, skiers need to hitch a ride on a free ride shuttle if they want to check out both areas in a single day.

As the Slide Brook Express travels horizontally—not vertically—it moves uphill and downhill. Another oddity is that you’ll likely pass several other skiers heading in the opposite direction, a rare occurrence on other lifts that just trundle uphill. 

Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed.

Submit your best clips for a chance to be featured on POWDER. Tune in and watch handpicked, high-quality ski videos streaming all day long on POWDER TV, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.