Vail and Aspen may have the cachet that comes with being a glamorous high-end ski resort, but they also have crowds and incredibly expensive hotels, restaurants, and lift tickets that can cost upwards of $800 per day.
But not all ski resorts are that expensive — or that pretentious.
We found the 10 most underrated ski resorts in the U.S. These mountains are (relatively) cheap, crowd-free, and get tons of powder. They also have cool towns that will keep you entertained when you're not on the slopes.
Bridger Bowl, Bozeman, Montana
Daily lift ticket:$49
Mountain stats: Bridger Bowl has about 2,000 acres of skiable terrain and an average snowfall of about 350 inches. The peak summit elevation is about 8,700 feet and there's a vertical drop of about 2,600 feet. But best of all: the mountain is rarely crowded.
Vibe: Bridger Bowl is located just 20 minutes from the town of Bozeman, which is home to Montana State University. It's a cute college town with several bookstores, record shops, art galleries, coffee shops, and vegetarian cafes — things you wouldn't find in most other Montana towns. Head to Montana Ale Works for an Apres-ski beer.
There's a thriving arts scene here too, which culminates at the Emerson, a former school that's been converted into a cultural space where artists and designers can showcase and sell their works.
Red Lodge Mountain, Red Lodge, Montana
Daily lift ticket:$50
Mountain stats: With over 1,600 acres of skiable terrain and an annual average snowfall of 240 inches, Red Lodge Mountain offers some stellar skiing. The peak summit elevation is over 9,400 feet and the mountain has a vertical drop of about 2,400 feet.
Vibe: The town of Red Lodge is one of the coolest ski towns in America— but most people haven't even heard of it. It's a unique mix of old West and sophisticated modern, where cowboys, skiers, ranchers, and more meet and mingle. There are great restaurants, shops, art galleries, and even a well-respected microbrewery (Red Lodge Ales) to keep you fed and entertained.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint, Idaho
Daily lift ticket:$68
Mountain stats: Schweitzer has 2,900 skiable acres and 92 trails, plus open bowl skiing. It gets about 300 inches of snow each year, and the longest continuous trail is about 2 miles long. Besides downhill skiing, visitors can go cat skiing, snowmobiling, Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.
Vibe: Located in Sandpoint, in northern Idaho, Schweitzer offers a wide range of trails for all skill levels. Visitors can stay in Schweitzer's rustic, European-style village or in nearby Sandpoint, which has a very family-friendly small-town feel.
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