- Google Maps has brought back ski trails after it removed the feature in October 2024
- The company has also updated its data, using recent satellite imagery and resort information to correct past trails
- At the moment it’s only supporting a handful of ski resorts, but we’re assuming more will be added gradually in the near future
Winter is upon us, and Google Maps is reviving one its past features just in time for snowsports season – ski trails, lodge markers, and lifts are back after a year-long hiatus.
Previously, keen skiers and snowboarders could use Google Maps to source information for trip-planning, but the company removed this in October 2024, stating in a help page that “most users don’t turn to Google Maps for this type of information, and that they instead prefer to use maps directly from the individual ski resorts, since they’re seen as the most authoritative source of this information.”
This sparked a bit of backlash from those who relied on Google Maps’ ski trail details, which led to a petition that was signed by almost 3,000 people. Google has now responded in a statement shared to ski site POWDER, revealing: “We heard from many people who missed having ski information on Google Maps, so we’re bringing ski lifts and trails back this winter.”
So how is it different from last year? For starters, Google has updated its data set so that it features recent satellite and aerial imagery, in addition to information provided by the ski resorts themselves, allowing for past trail routes to be corrected. It also allows skiers to see pinpoints such as where a trail ends and where a chairlift drops you off.
While all of this is a huge upgrade, it appears that only a select number of resorts across North America and Europe, including Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia; Park City Mountain, Utah; and Palisades Tahoe, California. There are several popular resorts missing such as the Red Mountain Resort, British Columbia, and Hoodoo Ski Area, Oregon – suggesting that these will be added later when resort and satellite information is reviewed.
Despite this limitation, we wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Google Maps expanding the number of ski resorts it houses, and we’re assuming that those that details of those currently missing will gradually roll out – likely next year. We’ll be on the lookout for any updates that come from Google and keep you posted with new information.
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