Upper A-Z Chutes at Big Sky Resort

Extreme · 860 m long with 168 m of vertical, averaging 12° and — at its steepest, facing SE.

Snow and sun

Upper A-Z Chutes is south-east-facing: sun from mid-morning, softens early in spring.

Grooming: backcountry. Ungroomed, off-piste character.

How to get to Upper A-Z Chutes

Lifts that reach the top: Headwaters 2 (skiing freeride terrain to get there); Challenger 3 (skiing freeride terrain to get there).

From the base area (about 17 minutes, freeride skiing needed):

1. Ride Madison 8
2. Ski unnamed easy trail (easy)
3. Ski Lazy Jack (easy)
4. Ride Headwaters 2
5. Ski unnamed expert trail (expert)
6. Hike unnamed expert trail (expert)
7. Ski unnamed expert trail (expert)
8. Hike unnamed expert trail (expert)
9. Ski Three Moons (expert)
10. Ski A-Z Chutes (extreme)
11. Ski Upper A-Z Chutes (extreme)

Where it ends

Joins A-Z Chutes. Nearest lifts from the bottom: Powder Seeker 6 (3 min), Challenger 3 (7 min), Explorer Gondola Upper (7 min).

What people say

med triple black runs. Big Sky’s Lone Peak Tram isn’t for the faint of heart. With over 20 marked triple black diamond runs this area of the resort is only for the strongest of skiers. ” In addition, two of Big Sky’s “managed access” areas with triple black diamond ratings — the Big Couloir and the Upper A-Z Chutes — c…
— Ski Runs So Extreme They Earn a Third Black Diamond