Ski Resort Green Circle vs Blue Square vs Black Diamond: Trail Ratings Explained

Every ski resort uses a color-coded trail rating system. Here's what each symbol means and what terrain to expect.

The Standard North American Rating System

Symbol	Color	Name	Difficulty
(green)	Green	Circle	Easiest
(blue)	Blue	Square	Intermediate
(black)	Black	Diamond	Advanced
(black x2)	Black	Double Diamond	Expert Only
(orange)	Orange	(varies)	Terrain Park

Green Circle: Easiest

What to Expect

Pitch: 6-25% grade (gentle slope) Width: Wide, usually groomed Features: Minimal obstacles, no surprises Skill required: Able to make basic turns and stop

Characteristics

Wide, open runs Consistent pitch (no sudden steeps) Groomed smooth Often near base area Magic carpets/slow lifts access

Who Should Ski Greens

First-time skiers
Early beginners
Anyone warming up
Families with young children
Those returning after a long break

Tips for Green Runs

Practice turns consistently
Work on controlling speed with wedge/pizza
Try linking S-turns
Build confidence before moving up

Example Green Runs

Vail: Simba, Born Free
Breckenridge: Trygve's Run
Park City: Easy Street
Killington: Snowshed, Schoolmarm

Blue Square: Intermediate

What to Expect

Pitch: 25-40% grade (moderate slope) Width: Medium to wide Features: Some moguls, variable terrain Skill required: Parallel turns, hockey stops

Characteristics

Steeper than greens May have moguls (bumps) Narrower in sections May have some ungroomed patches Can have variable snow conditions

Who Should Ski Blues

Comfortable making parallel turns
Can stop confidently at moderate speed
Has conquered the bunny hill and greens
Usually: after 3-5 days of skiing

The Green-to-Blue Jump

This is where most skiers struggle. Differences to prepare for:

Factor	Green	Blue
Steepness	Barely sloped	Noticeably steeper
Speed control	Easy	Must actively manage
Turn technique	Pizza works	Need parallel
Stopping	Anywhere	Needs planning

Tips for First Blue Runs

Choose an easy blue (ask locals/lift operators)
Warm up on greens first
Take it slow—you can always speed up
Stop frequently to rest and evaluate
If it feels too hard, traverse and find another route down

Example Blue Runs

Vail: Swingsville, Whiskey Jack
Breckenridge: Duke's Run
Park City: Mel's Alley
Killington: Great Northern

Black Diamond: Advanced

What to Expect

Pitch: 40%+ grade (steep!) Width: Often narrow Features: Moguls, cliffs, trees, variable snow Skill required: Expert turning, all conditions

Characteristics

Steep pitch
May be ungroomed
Can include mogul fields
May have cliff bands, rocks, trees
Challenging terrain features
Variable/icy conditions possible

Who Should Ski Blacks

Completely confident on blues
Can ski moguls
Comfortable on steeps
Can handle ice and variable snow
Multiple seasons of experience (typically)

The Blue-to-Black Jump

Factor	Blue	Black
Steepness	Moderate	Often intimidating
Terrain	Mostly groomed	Often diverse
Margin for error	Reasonable	Low
Physical demand	Moderate	High
Mental confidence	Helpful	Essential

Tips for First Black Runs

Scope it out first - Look from the lift or above
Start with groomed blacks - Not mogul fields
Go with a better skier who can guide you
Traverse if needed - Zig-zag to control speed
Know it's okay to bail - Hike out if over your head

Example Black Runs

Vail: Prima, Riva Ridge
Breckenridge: Devil's Crotch
Park City: Hoist
Killington: Outer Limits (mogul)

Double Black Diamond: Expert Only

What to Expect

Pitch: 40-80%+ (extreme!) Width: Narrow, often cliffy Features: Cliffs, chutes, deep moguls, trees Skill required: Elite-level skiing

Characteristics

⬛⬛ Extremely steep ⬛⬛ Often ungroomed ⬛⬛ May require hike access ⬛⬛ Exposed cliffs or drop-offs ⬛⬛ No room for error ⬛⬛ Experts regularly fall here

Who Should Ski Double Blacks

Years of experience
Consistently crushing regular blacks
Capable in all snow conditions
Strong mental game
Often: people who live to ski

Word of Warning

Double blacks are genuinely dangerous. Features may include:

Mandatory air (must jump)
Cliff drops
Tight couloirs
No-fall zones

If you have to ask if you're ready, you're not.

Example Double Black Runs

Jackson Hole: Corbet's Couloir
Telluride: The Plunge
Snowbird: Great Scott
Killington: Outer Limits (when icy)

Terrain Parks (Orange Rectangle)

What to Expect

Parks are rated by size:

Park Level	Features
XS	Small rollers, tiny boxes
S	Beginner jumps, ride-on rails
M	Medium jumps, varied features
L	Large features, technical rails
XL/Pro	Massive jumps, expert only

Who Should Use Parks

Start with XS/S parks
Master regular skiing first
Learn park etiquette
Wear helmet (required at most parks)
Progress slowly—egos cause injuries

Important: Ratings Vary by Resort!

The Same Color Doesn't Mean the Same Difficulty

A blue at one resort might be a black at another!

Resort Type	Rating Tendency
West (CO, UT)	Often more challenging
East (VT, NH)	Steeper for same color
Mega resorts	Consistent within
Small hills	Often easier

Examples

A blue at Jackson Hole would be a black at many Eastern resorts
A green at Taos might feel blue-ish elsewhere
Steamboat blues are famously mellow

How to Adjust

Start easier than usual at new resorts
Ask locals or ski patrol about beginner-friendly terrain
Look at the trail map pitch indicators
Check online reviews of specific runs

Reading the Trail Map

Trail maps show more than just colors:

Symbol	Meaning
Groomed icon	Machine-smoothed surface
Mogul icon	Bumpy terrain
Glade icon	Tree skiing
Cliff icon	Drop-offs present
Caution icon	Hazard ahead

Pro Tip

Study the map before you go. Know:

Where the greens/blues are
How to get back to base
Where terrain gets challenging
Escape routes if you're in over your head

---

Progressing Through the Ratings

Typical Timeline

Stage	Time Invested	Level
First-timer	Day 1	Bunny hill
Beginner	Days 1-3	Greens
Low intermediate	Days 4-10	Easy blues
Intermediate	Season 1-2	All blues
Advanced	Season 3+	Blacks
Expert	Years	Double blacks

Remember: There's no rush. Enjoy each level fully before moving up.

---

Find terrain that matches your level at resorts near you!