The 11 Best Disc Golf Courses At Ski Areas

Many ski areas transform into destinations for warm-weather outdoor sports and leisure once their hills are powder-free. The slopes' elevation changes, wooded trails, and often picturesque scenery are all ingredients for fantastic disc golf, so it's no wonder the sport is an increasingly common and popular part of these seasonal make-overs. 

Now you can find out which 11* disc golf courses at downhill ski areas are the best in the world according to disc golfers with UDisc, the world's #1 disc golf app that includes the largest directory of disc golf courses in existence.

*This post was originally a top 10. After publication, we discovered a qualifying course had not been labeled "ski area" in the UDisc directory. We decided to expand the list to a top 11, giving the qualifying course its due without costing a previously-highlighted course the limelight.

Ranking the Ski Area Disc Golf Courses

Here's how we came up with the rankings in this post:

• How did you identify ski area disc golf courses?
  Disc golfers adding courses to the UDisc directory can tag them as certain types of property, e.g., private, public, camp, or military. Another property tag option is ski area. For this post, we identified every course with the ski area tag and ran the numbers to see where they ranked against each other based on ratings from disc golfers with UDisc (more on the math in the next bullet point). Once we had the rankings, we researched each course at the top of the list and created a top 10 that included only the courses at downhill ski areas that were available at least 120 days the previous year (2022).
  
  Keep in mind that any course not labeled "ski area" at the time we ran our search was not eligible for this list. 
  
• How did you come up with the ski area disc golf course rankings?
  The rankings are based on a methodology that applied more weight to recent reviews, helped identify which courses with excellent but relatively few ratings are true destinations rather than just local faves, and accounted for the wide range of experience behind disc golfers' course ratings. Notably, due to this methodology, some courses that have higher average ratings in the UDisc Courses directory may be ranked below courses with lower average ratings.
  
  All courses were subject to the same metrics, and no course was moved up or down the rankings based on the preferences of UDisc staff.
  
  This is the same math we used to create the World's Best Disc Golf Courses 2023.
• Why is it limited to downhill ski areas?
  Often, those looking to play disc golf at a ski area want stunning mountain views and drastic elevation changes, and this post is meant to help those searching for that experience find the best places to have it. Downhill ski areas check those boxes much more often than cross-country ski areas.
• Did you limit what part of the world the courses could be in?
  No. Disc golf courses at downhill ski areas all over the world were eligible.

The 11 Best Disc Golf Courses At Ski Areas

Hop on the lift and come with us to the peak as we count down the top 11 disc golf courses at ski areas:

11. Hidden Meadows Disc Golf Course: Mont du Lac Resort, Superior, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

In summer, Mont du Lac Resort in Northern Wisconsin is a disc golfer's paradise. Along with the Hidden Meadows course that made this top 10, the property offers two other tracks: White Cedar and Backwoods. These courses have helped make Superior one of the United States' top small towns for disc golf.

Three Reviews of Hidden Meadows From Disc Golfers on UDisc

 10. Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort Disc Golf Course: Vadito, New Mexico

One of New Mexico's top five disc golf courses, Sipapu is the rare ski area course that's completely free to play. It takes you on a fun and rigorous hike with great views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Expect a variety of shot shapes down fairways lined by trees and occasionally very thick rough.

Sipapu has three different tee locations on every hole to suit players with various levels of power. The local tip is to start on hole 20 near the lodge rather than hole 1.

Another bonus is that Sipapu has discs and refreshments for sale at the resort, so you can check out some plastic and relax a bit after your round(s).

Three Reviews of Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort From Disc Golfers on UDisc

9. Disc Golf Allgäu: Bergbahnen Ofterschwang-Gunzesried, Ofterschwang, Germany

Located at the foot of the Alps in the Allgäu region of Bavaria, Ofterschwang, Germany, has hosted numerous downhill races for International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Ski World Cups. Disc Golf Allgäu has a very short winter course that's set up in view of the ski lifts and a big course for when the slopes are covered in grass instead of powder. At well over 4,000 feet/1,200 meters above sea level, this is the highest course in Germany. 

Along with magnificent views, the course is known for its wide variety of holes, cows with jingling bells who seasonally graze on some of the more open fairways, and friendly operator – U.K. native Paul Davies. The course boasts a disc golf shop that's open Thursday-Sunday, but you can often catch Davies there on other days leading groups or meeting up with visitors for a round. If you go at a time the shop isn't open, make sure to contact Davies before starting a round.

You can get to the course three ways:

1. Driving up to the Berghof Hotel that's a short walk from the course (there's a road toll of €8)
2. Taking the Weltcup Express (World Cup Express) chairlift to the mountain top and walking about 20 minutes to the course (€20.50 total takes you both up and down, service from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). You get a €2 discount on your round if you take the lift.
3. Parking below and hiking 40 minutes to an hour to the course 

Three Reviews of Disc Golf Allgäu From Disc Golfers on UDisc

8. The Hill Disc Golf Course: Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling, Michigan, U.S.A.

Grayling, Michigan's Hanson Hills Recereation Area has two disc golf courses: The Hill that plays through the downhill skiing area and the much flatter Pine Knoll. Both are well-rated on UDisc, but The Hill's elevation changes seem to enchant players just a bit more. Of course, you can just play both and decide on your personal favorite while you're there. 

You'll need a full bag to tackle The Hill as it has fairways tight and broad, short and long, uphill and downhill. Keep in mind that The Hill is designed for experienced players, so it's probably not a great choice for playing with children or brand new players. 

Three Reviews of Hanson Hills - The Hill From Disc Golfers on UDisc

7. Donner Ski Ranch Disc Golf Course: Donner Ski Ranch, Truckee, California, U.S.A.

Not far from Lake Tahoe, Donner Ski Ranch is in a gem of a location with mesmerizing vistas of the Sierra Nevada mountain range throughout. The course helped Truckee make our list of Top 5 Disc Golf Small Towns. 

Donner doesn't call for a ton of power, but its elevation changes, mix of tighter and more open fairways, as well as frequently windy conditions will keep you on your toes. Expect baskets perched on ledges that create the potential for some serious roll-aways, too.

Three Reviews of Donner Ski Ranch From Disc Golfers on UDisc

6. Black Diamond Disc Golf Course: Emery Park, South Wales, New York, U.S.A.

Erie Park is almost 100 years old and covers nearly 460 acres/186 hectares. It's used year-round for a variety of activities (seasonal ones like downhill skiing and other winter sports included), and it started offering disc golf about fifteen years ago.

One of Black Diamond's UDisc Course Ambassadors, Matthew Hess, talked to us about the layout and the lovely surroundings disc golfers can expect as they make their way through the track.

"The course is pretty evenly split between dense woods and park style golf," Hess said. "The front nine is more heavily wooded and the back has longer, more open holes. The park landscape is beautiful. It has a creek, two ravines, and four waterfalls that players can see throughout their round. From hole 1, the view of the opposing hill in the fall is great for pictures and leaf peeping. There are many stone structures that are around 100 years old throughout the course from when the park was built by the Works Progress Administration."

Though the course has four layouts, only two of them (White and Gold) have permanent tee pads. If you decide to take the Gold tees on, Hess said to expect a layout that's "the hardest in western New York."

Three Reviews of Black Diamond at Emery Park From Disc Golfers on UDisc

5. Hickory Hills Disc Golf Course: Hickory Hills Recreation Area, Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.A.

Playing Hickory Hills Disc Golf Course will take you up, down, and across a hill used for downhill skiing at Traverse, Michigan's Hickory Hills Recreation Area. There are two layouts, both of which are meant for experienced players though one (White) plays easier than the other (Blue). Expect plenty of elevation and a blend of tightly wooded and more open fairways.

Three Reviews of Hickory Hills From Disc Golfers on UDisc

4. Sky High Disc Golf Course at Mountain High North: Mountain High Resort, Llano, California, U.S.A.

About one and half hour's drive from downtown Los Angeles in the Angeles National Forest is where you'll find Sky High Disc Golf Course. Thanks in part to its proximity to the City of Angels, Mountain High Resort is SoCal's most popular skiing destination in the winter, and it has offered disc golf in the summer for almost a quarter century now.

Sky High was originally designed by Dave Dunipace – a co-founder of Innova, one of the oldest and biggest disc golf equipment makers – and its 27 holes can be played in a wide variety of combinations to suit players at most any level.

You can check out the course and its spectacular views a bit for yourself in this video from Mountain High Resort:

Three Reviews of Sky High at Mountain High North From Disc Golfers on UDisc

3. Solitude Mountain Resort Disc Golf Course: Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton, Utah, U.S.A.

Solitude Mountain Resort's course ranks among the top five places to play disc golf in all of Utah. At 9,000 feet/2,743 meters above sea level, the air up there will feel very different for the majority of disc golfers, and your discs' flight patterns will show it. At high elevations, disc tend to be more overstable, so that beat in driver you always throw for hyzer flips might keep the hyzer and lose the flip when you toss it at Solitude.

There are three layouts. One is a traditional 18 that's all par 3s, but seven of the holes are over 400 feet/122 meters, including the extremely downhill, 644-foot/196-meter hole 18.

Those who opt for the 27-hole layout will have quite a bit more hiking (the equivalent of walking about 25 more floors up and down stairs), but they'll get to enjoy a few par 4s and – because the designers just knew disc golfers would want it – an even longer version of the final hole: the ludicrous-sounding 1,017-foot/310-meter, par 3 hole 27. 

Those looking for a bit less of a workout can do a nine-hole loop, which is way heavier on the downhill walking than the uphill. Don't worry, though, the nine-hole has the same insane finisher as the 27-hole layout.

Expect consistently great views and fairly broad fairways as you hike through whichever configuration you choose. Know that in spite of its name, Solitude Mountain is best played with company. The mountain vegetation makes for thick rough, and having a buddy or two to help with spotting drives could save you a trip to the disc golf shop.

Three Reviews of Solitude Mountain From Disc Golfers on UDisc

2. Arapahoe Basin Disc Golf Course: Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Keystone, Colorado, U.S.A.

Arapahoe Basin is the highest course in this top 10. lt takes players on a remarkable journey through the Rocky Mountains beginning with a hole that sits at around 11,000 feet/3,200 meters above sea level. Those rules about disc stability at high elevations we just mentioned in #3 Solitude Mountain's write-up are even more true here. 

We've covered the origin story of A-Basin (as it's often called) at length in a post called "Disc Golf Hits The Slopes During Skiing Off-Season." Give it a read to find out how the ski area's Lift Operations Manager convinced A-Basin's higher-ups to let him put in a course that's become one of the top five places to play disc golf in Colorado and draws a constant stream of summer visitors.

Notably, the course is in a protected high-elevation environment, and its design had to be approved by the U.S. Forest Service before it went in. It plays through and along trails that pre-date the disc golf course, so its construction had very limited impact on the delicate and beautiful environment it invites disc golfers to enjoy.

Three Reviews of Arapahoe Basin From Disc Golfers on UDisc

1. Brewster Ridge and Fox Run Meadows Disc Golf Courses: Smugglers' Notch Resort, Jeffersonville, Vermont, U.S.A.

We opted to give the two world class courses at Smugglers' Notch in Vermont's Green Mountains a tied first place. You can't find a better set of disc golf courses at one facility anywhere in the world – and we're not exaggerating. Brewster Ridge ranked #4 in our 2023 list of the World's Best Disc Golf Courses and Fox Run came in at #7. No other place has two courses that outrank that combo.

Brewster and Fox Run offer two very different experiences, with the former testing players' accuracy in the woods and the latter asking for bigger shots on more open fairways. Smugglers' Notch added disc golf to their offerings with the express goal to become one of the world's premier destinations for the sport, and their dedication to that hasn't wavered. The courses are impeccably maintained and there are upgrades and improvements happening constantly. The tracks will host their second Professional Disc Golf World Championships in 2023, so they'll likely be looking even more stunning than usual this year as the resort crew prepares them for the sport's most important competition.

Learn more about both of these slices of New England disc golf paradise in our in-depth feature posts "World's Best Disc Golf Courses: #4 Brewster Ridge" and "World's Best Disc Golf Courses: #7 Fox Run Meadows."

Three Reviews of Brewster Ridge and Fox Run Meadows From Disc Golfers on UDisc

Think We Missed Something?

If there's a fantastic disc golf course at a downhill ski area you think we missed, feel free to check if it's in the UDisc disc golf course directory and labeled "Ski Area." If it's not, here's how to add a course to UDisc.