Key Points
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Embrace the Old West vibes with your fresh powder at Crested Butte and Telluride in Colorado.
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On the East Coast, Bethel, Maine, has a noteworthy food scene, while snowmaking is banned at Mad River Glen near Waitsfield, Vermont, which keeps crowds small in this charming town.
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In mountain towns like Taos and Whitefish, lively cultural scenes complement the snow sports.
From upscale shopping to Olympic-caliber slopes, major ski towns like Park City and Vail have plenty to offer. But if you’ve been there and done that, it may be time to forgo hot spots in favor of some small-town skiing. Besides, there are more than 450 ski resorts in the United States—and most of them lie in the kinds of little towns you won’t find on your favorite celebrity’s Instagram.
What these smaller destinations lack in size, they more than make up for in charm and incredible skiing. From coast to coast, here are 10 of the best small ski towns to check out this season and beyond.
Crested Butte, Colorado
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Crested Butte, located four hours southwest of Denver, is by every measure a small town. It has fewer than 1,700 full-time residents and comes with a main street that looks like something from an old Western movie. It’s also home to some of the best skiing in Colorado. Crested Butte Mountain Resort, an Epic Pass mountain just north of town, features 1,547 skiable acres and 165 trails—a whopping 37 percent of which are graded for experts only. The resort has more lift-served advanced terrain than almost anywhere else in the U.S., and it gets impressive snowfall, too, with an average of 208 inches per year.
Related: The 10 Best Small Towns in Colorado
Waitsfield, Vermont
Waitsfield, a northern Vermont town of about 1,800, has all the New England charm you could ask for. We’re talking covered bridges, white-steeple churches, and tiny cafes ready to welcome and warm you with a cup of cocoa. Best of all, though, it’s home to Mad River Glen, one of the most unique ski areas in the country. This cooperative-owned resort dates back to 1948 and comes with a host of funky features, from a near-total ban on snowmaking to a complete ban on snowboarding. If you’re after a more traditional ski experience, you’re in luck there, too: the Ikon Pass-qualifying Sugarbush is just down the road.
Bethel, Maine
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The Northeast holds another spectacular small-town skiing spot: Bethel, Maine. This village of about 2,500 prides itself on both its outdoor activities—the Appalachian Trail passes just outside of town—and its delicious food and beverage scene. Before heading to Bethel’s restaurants and bars, work up an appetite by spending the day at Sunday River, a ski resort about 10 minutes away. Spanning more than 2,300 vertical feet, the mountain has plenty of space to roam and 19 lifts, some of which are high-speed, to help you get in as many turns as possible.
Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Those seeking a classic American ski trip need look no further than Tannersville, a quaint community of about 3,200 people in the Pocono Mountains. The town offers year-round fun thanks to its hiking trails, ATV rentals, fishing, and horseback riding, but the proximity of Camelback Resort means that Tannersville truly shines in winter. Just five minutes from downtown, visitors will find a mountain tailor-made for beginners and intermediate riders, who can explore its 39 trails during the day or under the lights thanks to Camelback’s night-skiing operation.
North Conway, New Hampshire
North Conway, a sliver of land that sits close to New Hampshire’s border with Maine, is a town of 2,000 people that serves as a gateway to White Mountain National Forest. There are delights here at any time of year, from spring wildflowers and summer hiking to fall’s exceptional foliage, but winter is exceptionally charming with its beautiful blanket of snow. You can take advantage of the white stuff at Cranmore, the family-friendly ski hill just blocks from downtown, or at Attitash Mountain Resort, 15 minutes away by car. Though Attitash is technically in neighboring Bartlett, it offers greater thrills thanks to its two interconnected mountains, 68 trails, and over 300 acres, making it worth the short drive for more experienced skiers.
Telluride, Colorado
If you’ve done a bit of skiing and snowboarding in the U.S., odds are you’ve heard the name Telluride. The mountain averages over 300 inches of snow and has 2,000 skiable acres, including some of Colorado’s finest backcountry. But it’s important to get to know the town behind the mountain. Around 2,500 people call Telluride home year-round, and it comes with a wildly photogenic main street, filled with shops and cafes that look straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The town also boasts an impressive number of hotels and inns for its small size. Like many mountain towns, Telluride is experiencing a housing shortage, making traditional hotels a more sustainable lodging option than vacation rentals that may reduce the options for residents.
Taos, New Mexico
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Another iconic place for small-town ski adventures is Taos, which has fewer than 7,000 full-time residents. The community, located in northern New Mexico’s high desert, is the spot to be if you like world-class dining, a rich arts and culture scene, and some of the most eco-friendly skiing in the nation. That last one is thanks to Taos Ski Valley, the local mountain. The ski resort was the first on earth to become B-Corp certified, and it’s carbon neutral.
Related: 15 Best Ski Resorts in the U.S.
Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish is another destination with which many powder heads will be familiar. Though it is home to around 9,600 people, the ski town retains its quaint charm with ample art galleries and boutiques. Whitefish Mountain Resort has over 100 runs spanning more than 3,000 acres. For a break from the slopes, head to Glacier National Park for more outdoor winter adventure activities like snowshoeing or ice climbing.
Mt. Shasta, California
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With fewer than 3,200 full-time residents, Mt. Shasta is an excellent destination for downhill skiers hoping to try out backcountry powder. Though the mountain is large, it offers beginner-friendly terrain that’s helpful for getting a long run in without risking more advanced summits. For those hoping to stick to groomed runs, Mt. Shasta Ski Park offers over 600 skiable acres with the longest run stretching over two miles long.
Girdwood, Alaska
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For a small town that’s a departure from the typical ski destinations, head to Girdwood, Alaska. Located just 45 minutes outside of Anchorage, this ski town is home to under 2,000 full-time residents. The adjacent Alyeska Resort offers a luxurious experience on the slopes, and whether you choose a gondola or a heli-skiing adventure, you’ll be at the summit in no time. Other winter activities include fat tire biking and snowmobile tours, but with over 1,600 skiable acres, it might be hard to leave the powder. Ample restaurants and bars ensure a satisfying après-ski at the end of the day.
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