It's no secret that the simple decision to throw on a pair of skis or snowboard can turn into an expensive, and rather frustrating venture. With lift ticket prices reaching their highest levels ever and resorts starting to figure out that they can make up for the downward-trending number of skier visits by catering to the uber high-end, the ski resorts that have managed to stay true to the soul of skiing have gotten lost in the fray. And they probably prefer it that way.
Here's our list of the top 5 mom-and-pop ski resorts that are worth your time if you want to pair under-appreciated perks like easy parking, reasonably-priced lift tickets and short lift-lines with some epic snow...
#5: Mad River Glen, Vermont
If you ski the east coast, you've undoubtedly heard "Mad River Glen, Ski It If You Can". Home to the nation's last surviving single chair, Mad River Glen is nestled just 30 short miles from Stowe across Hwy 89. It's known for it's expert terrain and for being the only cooperatively-owned ski resort in America. That's right...it's owned by its skiers. Relative to other east coast ski areas, Mad River Glen provides excellent terrain, great snow, friendly service and an authentic mountain experience like no other. All thanks to the good people who own and operate it. And if you want to become one, shares cost $1,750 each and are available in 30-month installments.
Nearest Airport: Burlington International Airport (36 mi), or get in your car and drive
Total Runs: 45
Avg. Yearly Snowfall: 250"
Cost of a Lift Ticket: $62
photo courtesy of Mad River Glen and John Williams Photography
#4: Whitefish Mountain, Montana
Winter Sports Inc., the privately-held organization that still owns and operates Whitefish, gets a lot of credit for billing themselves as "a small company running a single ski resort in Northwest Montana for the benefit of the local economy." The mountain itself, however, isn't quite that small. Whitefish happens to be the second largest ski resort in Montana with 3,020 skiable acres, behind Big Sky's 3,600. The mountain's three faces (the Front Side, the North Side, and Hellroaring Basin) offer a little bit of everything, from long intermediate cruisers to tight tree skiing, cliffs and chutes. Plus, the lower summit elevation (6,817 feet) means that it's not subject to the frigid Montana temperatures you might experience at higher altitude. In fact, the average winter temperatures range from a low of 17 to a high of 34 degrees. Ooooh, balmy.
Nearest Major Airport: Glacier Park International Airport (19 mi)
Total Runs: 94
Avg. Yearly Snowfall: 300"
Cost of a Lift Ticket: $61
photo courtesy of Whitefish Mountain Resort
#3: Wolf Creek, Colorado
Wolf Creek is the mecca for deep snow as far as the Colorado Rockies are concerned. With almost 500 inches of annual snowfall, it's always at the top of the list of any snow or weather report and claims the most snowfall of any resort in Colorado. It also happens to be one of the oldest resorts in the state and for the fourth consecutive year, Wolf Creek continues to purchase 100% of its power usage from a wind power supplier for both winter and summer operations. Many of the expert runs off the lift are short but there's plenty of hike-to terrain if you have the energy. The only hiccup is that the mountain is tucked away in Pagosa Springs, CO near the New Mexico border, a 6-hour drive from Denver. Still, the sheer abundance of light, fluffy snow and its rustic setting provide all the more reason to make the trip.
Nearest Major Airports: Colorado Springs (192 mi), Albuquerque International (212 mi), Denver International (244 mi)
Total Runs: 77
Avg. Yearly Snowfall: 465"
Cost of a Lift Ticket: $52
photo courtesy of Wolf Creek Ski Resort
#2: Sugar Bowl, California
Although one of the early founders of Sugar Bowl was Walt Disney, it remains one of the few privately owned resorts in the states so it qualifies for this list. Without the shiny bells and whistles of most other resorts, Sugar Bowl is all about charging down the hill. The terrain is especially difficult and offers a myriad of steep chutes, faces and bowls. Beginners and intermediates will survive here just fine, but it's one enormous playground for those who can handle it. It also happens to be one of the closest of all Tahoe resorts to the Bay Area so it's a prime location for experts stuck in traffic on the 80 coming from San Francisco. One other little fun fact...Sugar Bowl was the first ski area in California to install a chairlift and the first in the US to install a gondola.
Nearest Major Airport: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (44 mi)
Total Runs: 95
Avg. Yearly Snowfall: 500"
Cost of a Lift Ticket: $66
photo courtesy of Cath Howard and Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
#1: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
Visiting Arapahoe Basin is a must for any skier or snowboarder. With a summit elevation of 13,050 feet, skiing at A-Basin can last well into June and it's smack in the middle of Summit County so you're right next to Breckenridge, Keystone and the town of Frisco. There always seems to be some kind of celebration like their annual Beach Day Party or the Annual Summer Solstice Splash (snow permitting), but you don't need an event to have a blast. A-Basin's early risers slopeside parking lot, dubbed the "Beach", provides a constant supply of good times, grills, dogs, beers and even costumes to enjoy before, during or after a ski day. Just make sure you book your spot in the lot EARLY. Oh, and the skiing is also pretty good...Pallavicini and its double fall-line provided one of the steepest, most difficult on-piste runs in North America and you can play all day on the East Wall and Land of the Giants.
Nearest Major Airport: Vail/Eagle County Regional (80 mi), Denver International Airport (87 mi)
Total Runs: 105
Avg. Yearly Snowfall: 350"
Cost of a Lift Ticket: $65
photo: the Beach at A-Basin (courtesy of Araphoe Basin Ski Resort)
