Google Maps brings back a feature it killed in 2024 following major backlash

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Ski trails are back on Google Maps

Google Maps logo on an iPhone 17 Pro
(Image credit: Tom's Guide/ Google)

Google isn't afraid to kill features, services or even entire product lines at the drop of a hat. But this week the tech giant restored a feature within Google Maps it had killed off back in 2024. Just in time to hit the slopes.

We heard from many people who missed having ski information on Google Maps, so we’re bringing ski lifts and trails back this winter.

Google

“We heard from many people who missed having ski information on Google Maps, so we’re bringing ski lifts and trails back this winter,” Google said in a statement shared with ski website POWDER.

The response from Google came after a petition on Change.org from skiing enthusiast Donát Sugataghy reached nearly 3,000 signatures.

"The removal of ski lifts from Google Maps is more than an inconvenience — it disrupts the daily lives of mountain dwellers and hampers tourism, a significant economic driver in mountainous regions around the globe," Sugataghy wrote.

"Let’s collectively urge Google to recognize the value of mountain transport infrastructure as equivalent to other transportation systems and reinstate it on Google Maps. This is not only a concern for ski lovers and hikers but also for the benefit of local residents and economies."

Ski trails visible at Whistler, BC on Google Maps

Ski trails visible at Whistler, BC on Google Maps (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

As well as bringing back the missing information, Google has gone further by adding satellite and aerial imagery. Google Maps also hosts information provided by ski resorts themselves, such as chairlift drop-off locations or the end of a run. This kind of information can be crucial for skiers or snowboarders planning their trip.

However, not every resort is currently supported. The likes of Whistler, Park City and Palisades are included but, according to POWDER, you won't find information for Red Mountain Resort in British Columbia or Hoodoo Ski Area in Oregon.

Why did Google remove it in the first place?

Scenic view of a ski slope with gondolas riding under a blue sky and snow guns blasting powdery goodness

(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia)

Google removed the option to look up ski lifts and trails in October 2024 citing a lack of use from users.

A product manager for Google Maps posted in a thread in the app's help page that: "We launched ski runs on Maps as an experiment years ago as part of our ongoing work to provide people with helpful information.

"Over time, we’ve found 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."

If you're planning to hit the powder yourself in the next couple of months, here are the 5 accessories you might want to take with you.

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Jeff Parsons
Jeff Parsons
UK Editor In Chief

Jeff is UK Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide looking after the day-to-day output of the site’s British contingent.

A tech journalist for over a decade, he’s travelled the world testing any gadget he can get his hands on. Jeff has a keen interest in fitness and wearables as well as the latest tablets and laptops.

A lapsed gamer, he fondly remembers the days when technical problems were solved by taking out the cartridge and blowing out the dust.

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