To qualify as a proper ski town, a destinationneeds a few things. For starters, a decent ski hill. It doesn’t have to be a big, flashy resort—just a good-sized mountain and ample snowfall (and a lively bar at the base lodge always helps). Beyond that, it’s nice if there’sa downtown with some shops, cafés slinging quality food, and housing and lodging that real people with normal jobs can afford. If a town has those things, then chances are a close-knit community of mountain dwellers has formed.Read on to discover the next great affordable ski towns.
Revelstoke, British Columbia
The ski area that towers above the quaint mountain town of Revelstoke is relatively newby ski-resort standards.(day tickets from $109), which now boasts the most verticalin North America—5,620 feet from the top of Mount Mackenzie—opened in 2007. Since thenthe town’s population has boomed to 7,500. With an average of over 400 inches of snowfall a year, you’ll find reliably good skiing, whether you’re backcountry touring on Rogers Pass, riding the gondola at the resort, or heli-skiing with. Access to the mountains is this town’s biggest asset, thanks to its location smack in between the Monashees to the west and the Selkirks to the east. The closest airport is Kelowna, two hours away, but that keeps the crowds low. Don’t miss La Baguette for fresh croissants and the best breakfast in town, and stay at (from $274) for ski-in, ski-out access.
Ogden, Utah
There’s a reason ski-industry brands like Atomic, Salomon, and Scott have moved their U.S. headquarters to Ogden, population 87,000, overthe last few decades. The city is affordable—average homes go for around $250,000—and close to ski areas like (from $95) and(from $105). You’re 30 minutes from Salt Lake City, but it feels far from the hustle. This historic railway town has rebooted itself in recent years, offeringa thriving food scene, a growing number of craft breweries and distilleries, and the new arts-centric Nine Rails Creative District, the latesthome for galleries and murals. Check out the recently opened, and stay in one of 15 rooms at the (from $229), a boutique inn in nearby Huntsville that has an in-house observatoryfor stargazing.
June Lake, California
Just 30 minutes northwest ofMammoth Mountain, June Lake is Mammoth’s much sleepier sister town, with some700 year-round residents. The family-friendly ski hill of(from $87)is the local spot, and while the resort itself is small—just 1,500 skiable acres and seven lifts—the backcountry access is unparalleled. You can hiteastern Sierra gems like the Negatives or Devil’s Slide from the resort’s backcountry-accessgate, and offersguided tours into nearby zones. A new wave of entrepreneurs has arrived in the town of June Lake, opening up shops and aprèsspotslike the, a music venue, and the coffeehouse. (from $199) has lodge rooms, cabins, and an indoor pool with views of the mountains, while the (from $95) is a no-frills motel that’s centrally located and allows dogs.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Not traditionally thought of as a ski destination, the artsy city of Santa Fe, population 83,000, is surprisinglyclosetoworld-class skiing.(from $84) is a local’s hill just 30 minutes from downtown’s historic plaza, and with a base elevation of 10,350 feet, it’ll have snow even when lower-elevation spots get warm and melt. You can ski-tour uphill in-boundswhile the resort is open, if that’s your thing. Otherwiseenjoy powder after a storm, burgers smothered in green chile, and a post-ski soak in the hot springs at, where you can stay in an adobe house featuringJapanese decor just down the hill from the ski area(from $255). If you need a bigger mountain,(from $110), with its notorious steeps and backcountry runs, is just two hoursnorth.
Bethel, Maine
Bethel is a small town, with around 2,600 living there full-time, but it’s a vibrant community. In 2016, the town raised $35,000 on Kickstarter to help reopen the local movie theater as a hip community cinema, and a new bowling alley called River Lanes recently opened next door. You’ll ski(from $109), a sprawling resort that includes eight neighboring peaks. Midmountain, at the Peak Lodge’s restaurant, a new chefis now preparing dishes like whipped-ricotta toast and egg and pork belly buns. near the base of Sunday River has some of the most affordable rooms in town (from $99). Grab a beer at once you’re off the hill. For a smaller, throwback ski area, the cooperatively owned(from $29) is 15 minutes away and now on the new.
Victor, Idaho
Just over Teton Pass from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, you’ll find the low-key ranching communitiesof Teton Valley, which includethe towns of Victor and Driggs, Idaho. Housing prices are spiking here, too, but the Teton Valley remains considerably more affordable than Jackson, and the access to skiing is nearly as good.(from $98), 30 minutes down the road, has the region’s only cat-skiing operation and gets more than 500 inches of snow a year. You could also just do backcountry laps off Teton Pass or drop down to world-famous Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.The small but growing town of Victor, with a population of 2,200, is home to not one but two microbreweries. Start your day with the two-course home-cooked breakfast at (from $149).
Lake Placid, New York
It’s been exactly 40 years since Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics. The town has changed a lot since then, but winter sports are still a priority. Take part in its by visiting the Olympic Museum,bobsled down a high-speed track atthe Olympic Training Center,or ski(from $49), a half-houraway, which claims the most vertical in the East. The town itself, with its 2,300 residents, is situated on scenic Mirror Lake, with Adirondack peaks spiking up in every direction. The (from $99) recently renovated its apartment-style lodging, which is close to town and steps from the tasty sandwiches ofSaranac Sourdough. Don’t miss down a 30-foot-high former ski jump onto frozen Mirror Lake.