Summary
Pizza or french fry your way down one of these crowd-free mountains this season.
Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan
Nothing says “winter” quite like bundling up and hitting the slopes. However, those slopes are often swarming with other powder seekers sharing the same objective. Fortunately, it is possible to avoid the crowds on a skiing trip — you just need to discover more under-the-radar mountains.
Eschewing the major, high-traffic resorts for lesser-known alternatives doesn’t even have to mean compromising on the quality of skiing. Did you know that a resort near Anchorage, Alaska, has the longest continuous double-black diamond run in North America? Or that another one in northern Colorado comes with a free snowcat ride to the top? (Take that, overpriced lift tickets!)
Some of the least crowded ski resorts also happen to be the coolest. Here are 10 North American ski destinations you’ve probably never heard of but should definitely consider for the upcoming season.
Mad River Glen, Vermont
Find it: 57 Schuss Pass Road, Waitsfield, Vermont
Top elevation: 3,637 feet
This East Coast gem is steeped in history. It opened its doors in 1948 with a single chairlift that still exists today. Moreover, the mountain is part of a co-op founded in 1995 — making it one of America’s few cooperatively owned ski areas — and is one of the only mountains left in the U.S. that forbids snowboarding.
Mad River Glen has plenty of skiing for beginners, with 20 percent of trails set aside for novice skiers, and features 800 acres of tree skiing access. Furthermore, the mountain is even unique when it comes to the snow itself. Its bylaws explicitly restrict snowmaking above 2,300 feet, resulting in some of the only natural snow skiing in New England.
Le Massif de Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada
Find it: 185 Chemin du Massif, Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Quebec, Canada
Top elevation: 2,644 feet
Le Massif de Charlevoix, located about an hour from Quebec City, boasts the highest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies and has more than 400 acres of skiable terrain. There’s no denying the mountain’s international cachet — Club Med opened its first all-inclusive ski resort in North America (and its first Canadian outpost) here in 2021. Consequently, Le Massif remains overshadowed by nearby Mont-Sainte-Anne and the storied Montreal-area favorite Mont-Tremblant, meaning crowds are usually thin.
At Le Massif, you can look out over the St. Lawrence River while skiing more than 50 different trails (including a run over three miles long). While 70 percent of the ski area is groomed, the mountain also has more than nine miles of skiable and rideable backcountry and off-piste terrain appealing to all levels.
Camden Snow Bowl, Maine
Find it: 20 Barnestown Road, Camden, Maine
Top elevation: 1,070 feet
This coastal Maine mountain is small but mighty, featuring 15 trails primarily servicing intermediate skiers and snowboarders, including the mile-long Spinnaker, which starts at an intermediate level but transitions to beginner-friendly. The crowning jewel of this location is its breathtaking backdrop: it’s the only ski area on the East Coast to boast ocean views.
Beyond skiing, winter enthusiasts who head to the Camden Snow Bowl can enjoy the thrill of the mountain’s 400-foot-long wooden toboggan chute (the only remaining original gravity-operated one in the country), where riders are shot out onto a frozen pond.
Crystal Mountain, Washington
Find it: 33914 Crystal Mountain Boulevard, Enumclaw, Washington
Top elevation: 6,872 feet
Crystal Mountain is the largest ski resort in Washington state, but it is also one of the most underrated in the country. It features incredible views of Mt. Rainier, 2,600 total acres, and an average of more than 348 inches of snowfall each year. Moreover, the fun extends beyond the slopes with winter RV camping available at the base of the beautiful mountain, conveniently within walking distance of the lifts.
Those who prefer the lodge over the slopes can still take in the views with a scenic ride on the Mt. Rainier Gondola, which takes passengers up 2,400 vertical feet to the summit in about 12 minutes.
Brian Head Resort, Utah
Find it: 329 South Highway 143, Brian Head, Utah
Top elevation: 10,970 feet
Brian Head is lesser known than Utah’s other major ski mountains (like Park City, Deer Valley, and Snowbird), but it possesses unique attributes, including the highest base elevation in the state. The resort is actually two different mountains — Giant Steps and Navajo — that connect to form 71 runs with various difficulty levels. In fact, 30 percent of runs are considered easy, 35 percent intermediate, and 35 percent expert.
Those who prefer snow tubing will find a 100-foot vertical drop and a 600-foot-long slope at the Giant Steps Tube Hill.
Marmot Basin, Alberta, Canada
Find it: 1 Marmot Road, Jasper, Alberta, Canada
Top elevation: 8,570 feet
Marmot Basin is located in Jasper National Park, part of the UNESCO Canadian Rockies World Heritage site and one of the most breathtakingly beautiful spots in North America. The abundance of dry, natural snow in Alberta makes skiing and snowboarding feel like gliding on air, especially at Marmot, where trails as long as 3.5 miles allow you to coast along while admiring the view. Furthermore, the mountain features diverse terrain with runs suitable for every skill level.
While Marmot Basin is the most popular ski resort in Jasper, most crowds tend to flock to the wildly popular trio of resorts in and around Banff — Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Mt. Norquay — instead.
Loveland Ski Area, Colorado
Find it: I-70, Exit 216, Dillon, Colorado
Top elevation: 13,010 feet
There are many mountains with great slopes — especially in Colorado — but adventurous skiers and snowboarders can go one step further at Loveland Ski Area. Hop aboard the Ridge Cat, a free 18-passenger snowcat that will take you to unparalleled runs and views along the Continental Divide. Anyone with a season pass or lift ticket can pick up a Ridge Cat Pass free of charge. Some of the mountain’s most challenging runs are accessed by foot or snowcat only. Therefore, it is perhaps this expert-level reputation that keeps the resort relatively quiet.
However, Loveland isn’t only for experts. For less advanced skiers, the mountain has Loveland Valley, a separate area with its own lifts and easier terrain specifically designed for beginners.
Lutsen Mountains, Minnesota
Find it: 467 Ski Hill Road, Lutsen, Minnesota
Top elevation: 1,088 feet
When it comes to skiing, most flock to the known high points — the Rockies, the Sierras, the Cascades — instead of the Midwest, a region often mistakenly thought of as being totally flat. However, Midwestern powder seekers should be aware of Minnesota’s Lutsen Mountains, which offer stunning views, access to tree skiing, and expansive terrain. The resort has four interconnected mountains and features 95 different runs set over 1,000 acres and 60 acres of tree skiing. On top of that, visitors will be awed by the gorgeous views of Lake Superior — and the 120 inches of lake-effect snow that falls here each year is just a bonus.
Those looking to get out and explore can also take advantage of more than 275 miles of cross-country trails (the area is home to the largest cross-country trail network in North America) or the 450 miles of snowmobile trails.
Alyeska Resort, Alaska
Find it: 1000 Arlberg Avenue, Girdwood, Alaska
Top elevation: 3,939 feet
Alyeska Resort receives more than 650 inches of annual snowfall and boasts some of the most incredible scenery, with both glacier and ocean views. Experts will love heading down North America’s longest continuous double-black diamond run or challenging themselves with available heli-skiing and cat skiing.
In the evening, you can look for the northern lights dancing across the sky as you night ski. Alternatively, take a break from the slopes and hop aboard the winter aerial tram for a scenic ride to the top of Mt. Alyeska.
Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana
Find it: 1015 Glades Drive, Whitefish, Montana
Top elevation: 6,817 feet
Whitefish Mountain Resort is nicknamed the “Big Mountain” because it offers 3,000 acres of skiing and snowboarding, with 113 marked trails and plentiful bowl and tree skiing. Those new to the area can take advantage of free daily mountain tours to learn all about the terrain. In addition, the resort also offers night skiing, allowing guests to capitalize on late-day storms.
After time on the slopes, consider visiting nearby Glacier National Park. Families might want to check out the Summit Nature Center, where kids can learn about where animals go in the winter, snow safety, and much more.
