Vallnord-Pal Arinsal comes out ahead overall — it offers more vertical than Howelsen Hill. Howelsen Hill still has plenty to offer, especially for beginners and intermediate skiers who don't need the biggest mountain. But if you want the fuller experience, Vallnord-Pal Arinsal wins this one.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Howelsen Hill | Vallnord-Pal Arinsal | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 134m (440ft) | 800m (2,625ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 2,255m (7,398ft) | 2,625m (8,612ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 2,121m (6,959ft) | 1,825m (5,988ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 533cm (210in) | 700cm (276in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 17 | 30 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 5 | 14 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | 19ha (47ac) | 30ha (74ac) |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 30% | 25% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 40% | 50% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 30% | 25% |
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal edges ahead in more categories, though the gap is close. Both are excellent resorts.
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal has significantly more vertical — a full run takes noticeably longer and the mountain feels much bigger.
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal gets a bit more snow on average, giving it a slight edge for powder days.
Howelsen Hill has a slight edge in beginner-friendly terrain, with a bit more dedicated green-run acreage.
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal is much larger — significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Howelsen Hill's higher base elevation helps snow stay cold and dry longer — better conditions through the day and into spring.
Howelsen Hill has more beginner-friendly terrain and is a lower-pressure environment for new skiers.
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal wins on the stats that matter most for experienced skiers — more mountain to explore over a full week.
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal gets more snow annually — better odds of fresh powder and better conditions into late season.
Howelsen Hill is the better pick for beginners. It dedicates more of its mountain to green runs and easy terrain, which means less time hunting for appropriate slopes and more time building confidence.
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal gets more snow on average. That translates to better powder days, longer seasons, and more reliable conditions throughout January and February.
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal is the larger mountain by trail count (Howelsen Hill: 17 trails, Vallnord-Pal Arinsal: 30 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Howelsen Hill has a higher percentage of expert terrain. If you're an advanced skier who will spend most of your day on black and double-black runs, that extra challenge is worth considering when choosing between these two.
Howelsen Hill is generally the better family resort based on its terrain mix. More beginner-friendly slopes means children and less experienced parents have plenty of room to ski without feeling pushed beyond their comfort zone. That said, both resorts have established ski schools — check current program reviews before booking.
Other matchups featuring these resorts and their regional peers.