The 10 Coolest Snowboard Parks

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We'd hate to start it off like this, but back in day, there was no such thing as a park for snowboarders. Shit, resorts wouldn't even let us on the damn mountain. They were too enamored with neon-clad two-plankers paying ridiculous amounts of money to breeze down some sun-soaked powder. (Zinka anyone?)

Instead, we had to hike through ass-deep snow with our shred sticks and shovels in tow. Hours were spent hauling, packing, and perfecting a kicker that we only had a few hours of daylight to ride before we had to do it all again the next day. A sore back was all part of the job. When we got bored with that, five of us had to grab a skinny tree, bend it down, and bury the top for a lumber session of wood riding that lead to way too many crass jokes. That was a lot of fucking work, but holy shit was it fun.

Luckily, Mike Parillo came along and changed the game for snowboard park design. Now, they've got professionals and heavy duty equipment to build terrain parks instead of the tricks of the trade being passed down from vets to groms like folklore. Just about every major mountain resort has an assortment of these terrain parks––stacked to the brim with kickers, booters, rails, hips, and more.

These parks, often designed with the input of today's top riders and industry heavyweights, have taken snowboarding to a whole other level. And, they've given us a reason to either keep riding or strap-up more and more.

While each park can offer something different to every rider, the following 10 (in no particular order) are the cream of the crop.

Compiled by Roots Culture Connect and [ 2 one 5 ] Creative.

Check out The 10 Coolest Snowboard Parks.

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Park City

Location: Park City, Utah

About 35 minutes from Salt Lake City (and far enough away from most downtowners), Park City's supreme powder lays the groundwork for their three parks and the bitchin' Eagle Superpipe. Start off small on the boxes and tables of The Ridge before hitting the kickers of King's Crown, which will scare the shit out of just about anybody. The 3 Kings park has got plenty of middle ground between the two, with runs for all levels.

Mammoth

Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA

Near 80 foot booters should be enough to get your ass to Mammoth, but if you can't handle those, head to their kicker playground where 15-30 footers might be more your speed. If your knees need a break, take a little run through the trees in their Forest Trail Park or jib the night away at the Art Park. Their Disco Park is more about discovery than it is about polyester, and the 22 foot pipe keeps the experts coming back.

Seven Springs

Location: Seven Springs, PA

While the East Coast is known for it's ice, the 5 parks and over 50 features of Seven Springs should give you enough cushion. The newly opened The Streets, which received plenty of input from Forum riders, brings urban riding to the mountain with plenty of walls and rails. Santa's Beard Terrain Park makes more wishes come true than Christmas morning, and the inexperienced young bucks tend to stay in their children's park instead of getting in your way and crying too much.

Mountain Creek

Location: Vernon, NJ

One of the brighter spots on the entire New Jersey Turnpike, Mountain Creek leaves the worst stench of America's armpit to the lowlands. Progression is the name of the game in their series of parks with the Twist Park leading the way to all-mountain South Peak, where you can get your kicks on street-style rails, and high-boxes. If you need to up the speed, Bear Peak is steeper and faster than a Jersey Girl, and the gaps are just as big.

Buttermilk

Location: Aspen, CO

Denver may be the Mile High City, but the Buttermilk Main Park serves up a ridiculous two-mile long stretch of terrain that's scattered with jumps that run from five to eighty feet and the Big Four jump line (a savory leftover from the X-Games). With a name like Buttermilk, you know this park is smooth and all-dayers know where the perfect snowpockets and speed are throughout the park. With plenty to ride and jib on, you can do more lines than the '86 Mets.

Keystone

Location: Summit County, CO

The A51 park at Keystone continues evolving, with innovative set-ups being added constantly. With a total of five freestyle trails to choose from, you can work your way through varying skill levels. Main Street is for the big boys, with a triple line, cliff-style takeoffs, and plenty of barriers. Get your mini-shred going with Freda's Incubato or travel down I-70 to get your fill of street style features. Park Lane gives the perfect middle ground for the weekend warriors.

Breckenridge

Location: Summit County, CO

The massive jump lines at the Freeway at Breckenridge are just the start to the perfect flow you'll find all over their parks. Park Lane ain't no slouch either, bringing the smoothest rides of jibs and tables. And the superpipe? Don't even get us started. One of the best out there. Mix in some smaller terrain parks that are perfect for progression and a mini-shred park, and it's no wonder the Dew Tour makes this a staple stop every year.

Northstar At Tahoe

Location: Truckee, California

So much has gone into this park, it's not even funny. Burton got their hands in the mix with the all-natural Stash Park and Progression Park while Snow Park Technologies, who are responsible for all you see at the X-Games and Dew Tour, sculpted up four of the runs at Northstar. Shaun White offered his expertise in the design of the superpipe, and Torstein Horgmo helped out in putting the DC Straits Park together. With that many big names in the mix, you know it's any rider's dream.

June Mountain

Location: June Lake, California

With bright orange wrecking balls and satellite dishes, it's amazing that June Mountain stayed under the radar for so long. When it was snowboarding's best kept secret, it was the best around. Now that the cat is out of the bag, it's still one of the best around. Start out jibbing your way through the Upper-Sunrise Jib Park, and then work your way down to the kickers, hips, and rails of Sunrise Park. With the best flow around, you'll never find time to stop.

Sierra At Tahoe

Location: Twin Bridges, California

A nationally recognized superpipe is just the tip of the iceberg at Sierra At Tahoe. And you've got to climb your way up there. Take easy street through the Burton Progression Park before you take it to the next step in the Upper Snowshoe. Next, head down The Alley for rapid fire jib options and jump lines. Then, hit up the Upper Main for small and medium rail features. Once you're riding high with powder muscles, head into the long-ass Bashful for the amazing amount of hips, boxes, and pole jammers that are everywhere.