Top 50 US Ghost Towns
Spooky, haunted, eerie, and creepy may be some of the
Quaint, historical, charming, legendary, picturesque, and laid-back. You’ll find all of this and more at the best ski towns in the US and Canada. Visiting a ski town can be one of the most amazing vacations of your life. The culture of the ski community has so much to offer, and if you fully immerse yourself in it, it’s sure to be the experience of a lifetime!
But the best part of ski towns? The skiing! The top ski towns in North America boast some of the best ski resorts in the US and Canada. Most lists that rank for the best ski towns base their rankings on convenient resort access, dining and hotels, and small town vibe. These are all great, but we felt that a huge ranking factor was missing: the number of nearby ski resorts to the ski town. We found that many ski towns only have 1 ski resort nearby. If you’re going to plan an entire trip around 1 ski town, wouldn’t you want to make the most of it and visit several different resorts? So we took the challenge on ourselves, and made this list of the best ski towns in the US & Canada with at least 3 ski resorts nearby.
North Conway NH is a heaven for avid skiers. With at least 7 downhill skiing resorts within a 30 minute drive, you could spend an entire winter exploring this town! North Conway is located in the middle of the White Mountain National Forest, where Mt. Washington, the tallest peak in the North East majestically stands. The town itself has landed the #1 spot multiple times by USA Today for being the best ski town in North America.
Ski resorts near North Conway:
Lake Placid is tucked within the beautiful Adirondacks, next to Mirror Lake. The town has had the honor of hosting the Olympic Winter Games twice, which is how you know it’s going to be a top notch ski town. Lake Placid is best known for the Whiteface Mountain Resort, where you’ll get a 360 view of the Adirondacks. But Mt Pisgah and Beartown Ski areas are lesser known gems if you’re wanting to explore off the beaten path.
Ski resorts near Lake Placid:
Taos is likely to be one of the most quirky ski towns on the list, but it has a little bit of everything for everyone in the family! Whether you’re looking for the nice groomed runs to teach the kids how to ski, or you’re dreaming of flying down rocky cliffs, Taos has what you need!
Ski resorts near Taos:
Ogden UT sits at the base of the great Ben Lomond Peak. It’s an old railroad town that is rich in history and full of opportunities for adventure. After spending a day on the slopes, Historic 25th Street is the place to be. With boutique shopping, local restaurants, and plenty of bars, you can’t go wrong!
Ski resorts near Ogden:
While Park City technically only has 2 ski resorts, it made the cut. Park City Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in the US, as it was originally separated into two ski resorts: Park City and The Canyons. The small town of Park city is one of the most quaint and charming towns you’ll come across. You can spend the morning shopping or dining on main street, then walk a couple blocks down the street and step right onto a ski lift!
Ski resorts near Park City:
Many people view Truckee CA as a giant winter playground, and they’re not wrong! Truckee boasts at least 8 downhill ski areas within an hour of driving. And the combination of deep snow, world-class terrain, and California sunshine will never disappoint!
Ski resorts near Truckee:
Sandpoint ID is one that definitely makes the cut for being quaint. An isolated, yet accessible, western town, Sandpoint is a hidden treasure. Schweitzer Mountain is the largest resort near Sandpoint, but if you’re looking for the unique experience of small, family owned ski areas, then don’t let Bald Mountain, Lookout Pass, or Snowhaven pass you up!
Ski resorts near Sandpoint:
Jackson Hole is another town with a very western vibe. Everything in town seems to be cowboy themed. In fact, the locals even call their snow “Cowboy Powder.” But don’t let their small town cowboy vibes trick you, because Jackson Hole has one of the best aprés ski scenes in the West!
Ski resorts near Jackson Hole:
A list of the best ski towns in the US wouldn’t be accurate if it didn’t include some Colorado towns! Vail is one of the most luxurious ski towns in the US, but still has a small town feel. The entire town was established because of the Vail Ski Resort, which means everything in Vail revolves around skiing!
Ski Resorts near Vail
Set high in the Rocky Mountains, Telluride is another famous Colorado ski town. The town itself is a 6 hour drive from the nearest airport, making it one of the least crowded ski towns in the US. Because it’s set so high in the Rocky Mountains, its stunning views are one of its many jaw-dropping characteristics.
Ski resorts near Telluride:
Aspen CO is a charming Victorian style town with 5 resorts that you can access within minutes. Aspen is the perfect place for a family ski trip, as each resort caters to different skiing abilities, from beginner to expert.
Ski resorts near Aspen:
Breckenridge, or Breck, as locals call it, is an idyllic ski town that sits below the Rocky Mountains. Breckenridge is the biggest resort in the town, with 5 peaks and almost 3,000 skiable acres. But this is another ski town that you could spend all winter in, and barely scrape the surface of what it has to offer!
Ski resorts near Breckenridge:
Banff is the only ski town in Canada that made our list. This is due to the fact that you can quickly and easily access 3 very large ski resorts from one place. Banff also has some of the most luxurious hotels in North America, so you can vacation as fancy as you want. But it’s the scenery and views of Banff that really make this ski town one of the best in North America!
Ski resorts near Banff:
Every ski town and ski resort is unique. From the elevation of the slopes, to the size of the resorts, to the scenery, to the local culture, to the aprés ski scene, each town is a beautiful mystery, begging to be discovered. With all of you die hard ski bums in mind, we created this Top 50 Ski Resorts in North America Bucket List Board. We referenced Skimag’s list, so you know it’s the best of the best!
The bucket list board is the perfect way to track your skiing adventures. You can proudly display which ski resorts you’ve visited, while keeping track of the one’s you still need to experience. With this list of the best ski towns in the US and Canada, and the Ski Resorts Bucket List Board, you no longer have an excuse to delay your ski dreams any longer. So get out there and explore. Stop dreaming and start living.
Looking for your next adventure? Check out our Guide to Visiting all of the US National Parks, or our US National Parks Bucket List Board!
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