Ski resort wayfinding and terrain rating systems

In 1964, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) adopted the first system of wayfinding signage and difficulty of terrain ratings for use at ski resorts across the United States. The NSAA was pressured by insurers to make skiing safer, therefore, a color-coded terrain difficulty system was created. The signs used today are different from the original designs due to a series of changes that were made after realizing that differences between the US and European systems caused confusion among traveling skiers. Less than three years later, Disney announced that they wanted to build their own ski resort and as part of that, began exploring options for a new wayfinding and signage system. They user tested different shapes and colors with skiers to develop a completely new system. The NSAA switched to the new system in 1968, the same system used today. The system appears to be successful in helping skiers navigate the trails and indicating the difficulty of the trail terrain.

The ski terrain difficulty rating system in the United States consists of four different colors and shapes each one indicating a different level of difficulty based on slope gradient (Figure 1). A green circle indicates the easiest of trails with a slope gradient of less than 25 percent. A blue square indicates an intermediate trail with a slope gradient between 25 and 40 percent. A black diamond indicates an advanced trail with a slope gradient of more than 40 percent. A double black diamond has the same slope gradient as a black diamond but the trail might include hazards, such as drop-offs, boulders, narrow trails and exposure to strong winds. A double black diamond has a level of difficulty for advanced skiers only. There are very few triple black diamond trails but it is worth mentioning that these few, extremely dangerous, trails do exist. The triple black diamond rating is at the very top of the terrain difficulty rating scale. A rounded, oblong orange rectangle indicates a terrain park with ski jumps and rails for performing tricks and should only be used by advanced skiers and snowboarders. Each rating is clearly identifiable on trail signs because of the difference in shape and color associated with the level of difficulty.

(Figure 1. Ski terrain difficulty ratings)

Signage design varies depending on the ski resort, however, the system is consistently uses the same colors and shapes to define terrain difficulty. Trail wayfinding at the Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe uses a black, rectangular sign with white typography indicating the name of the trail, a white square with the color and shape indicating the terrain difficulty followed by another white square with a black arrow indicating the direction of the trail. The sign is fixed to a cedar post with yellow padding at the base to protect skiers from injuring themselves should they collide with the sign (Figure 2). The location of the signage varies from trail to trail but the trail signs are typically placed at the beginning of every trail, when two trails connect or intersect, and where there is a curve in the trail for when the skier might question which direction to take back down to the ski lift or lodge.

(Figure 2. Photo of 49’er trail sign at Heavenly Resort in South Lake Tahoe)

The wayfinding typeface at Heavenly Ski Resort appears to be Univers Bold Condensed designed by type designer, Adrian Frutiger. Univers is a neo-grotesque sans-serif typeface with open counters and a large x-height. The versatility of the typeface makes it ideal for wayfinding purposes on the trails and could also be used in print, such as on trail maps. The typeface used in wayfinding is equally as important as the shapes and colors used to determine the terrain difficulty for the user. A skier must be able to identify the letterforms from a distance while traveling at a high rate of speed. Univers or another similarly designed typeface is a good choice for ski trail wayfinding because of its high readability characteristics.

Trail signs are not the only signage that can be found on the mountain that might assist skiers in navigating the trails. There are wayfinding signs that include directional information for ski lifts, restrooms, restaurants, and first aid. These signs are designed similarly to the trail signs but instead of including the terrain difficulty rating they are replaced with an icon paired with typography and an arrow (Figure 3).

(Figure 3. Photo of wayfinding signs for ski lifts, warning and instructional signage at the Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe)

Additional signage can be found directly under ski lift signs in high traffic areas. These signs include instructional information and warnings to the skiers while on the trail or on the lift. The lift sign is paired with a wayfinding sign to communicate the trails each lift specifically serves. These high traffic areas are also an opportunity for the resort to advertise other activities offered throughout the resort. Those signs are typically not as large as the wayfinding or informational signs and are often placed in a position with less hierarchical importance, therefore, the wayfinding signage takes precedence over other signs on the mountain.

The same terrain difficulty system can be found at other mountain ski resorts across the United States, however, the wayfinding signage is often designed differently while still communicating the same message. This allows varying designs from one resort to another giving each resort the ability to take on its own unique style. The wayfinding used at Purgatory Ski Resort in Durango, Colorado includes rectangular signs filled with the corresponding color of the terrain difficulty of that specific trail (Figure 4). If the trail is rated as intermediate terrain, the sign is blue with a white arrow, white typography and a white square indicating the level of difficulty. It is important to note that the difference in design does not change the system, rather, it communicates the terrain difficulty in a different way.

(Figure 4. Photo of wayfinding signs and a key for trail ratings and mountain signs at Purgatory Ski Resort in Durango, Colorado)

Ski resort wayfinding and terrain difficulty ratings systems have been successfully used across the United States for the past 50 years. The color-coded and shape dependent system communicates to skiers the difficulty and direction of each trail on the mountain. Simple shapes such as the circle, square, diamond, and oblong rectangle are paired with four primary colors, green, blue, black and orange respectively making the entire system easy to use. Typography is an important element of the wayfinding system which contributes to its overall success by using a typeface with high readability characteristics. The system remains the same from one resort to another despite slight differences in the overall design of the signage. Visual consistencies and placement of signs make this system good inspiration for other outdoor wayfinding systems.