Grand Targhee comes out ahead overall — it offers a larger, more varied mountain than Zao Onsen. Zao Onsen 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, Grand Targhee wins this one.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Zao Onsen | Grand Targhee | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 880m (2,887ft) | 656m (2,152ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 1,660m (5,446ft) | 3,014m (9,888ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 780m (2,559ft) | 2,362m (7,749ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 1,200cm (472in) | 1,295cm (510in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 26 | 95 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 36 | 5 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | 305ha (754ac) | 1,052ha (2,600ac) |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 40% | 10% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 40% | 70% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 20% | 20% |
These two resorts are genuinely well-matched. The best pick will come down to what matters most to you — and possibly just which flights are cheaper.
Zao Onsen has somewhat more vertical drop, giving a slightly longer ride on most runs.
Both resorts receive similar annual snowfall — you can expect comparable snow conditions at either.
Zao Onsen dedicates significantly more of the mountain to beginner runs — a much friendlier option for new skiers and snowboarders.
Grand Targhee is much larger — significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Grand Targhee's higher base elevation helps snow stay cold and dry longer — better conditions through the day and into spring.
Zao Onsen has more beginner-friendly terrain and is a lower-pressure environment for new skiers.
Zao Onsen 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.
Zao Onsen (1200 cm/year) and Grand Targhee (1295 cm/year) receive similar annual snowfall. Neither has a meaningful snow advantage — other factors like aspect, elevation, and grooming matter more day-to-day.
Grand Targhee is the larger mountain by trail count (Zao Onsen: 26 trails, Grand Targhee: 95 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of advanced terrain (Zao Onsen: 20%, Grand Targhee: 20%). Expert skiers should look beyond percentages at the quality of the black runs, off-piste access, and whether there's lift-accessed backcountry terrain.
Zao Onsen 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.