You might be sick of these USA Today lists, but I actually enjoy reporting on them because it gets people all riled up. There’s really nothing quite like starting an internet debate amongst skiers and snowboarders. They just hit different, ya know?
Anyways, USA Today asked their readers to vote on the ‘Best Ski Towns’ in North America. It’s unclear what the parameters were to be considered the “Best”, and I think this ended up just being more of a popularity contest where resorts/towns were encouraging their followers to vote multiple times on the USA Today poll.
There’s some pretty big names like Crested Butte, Telluride, Aspen, South Lake Tahoe, Jackson, and Ketchum that were completely left off, but I guess that’s what makes this debate fun, right?
What do you think about the list? Which towns are in your Top 10?
10. Park City, Utah
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort
Population: 8,347 (2019)
Closest Major Airport: Salt Lake City International (~45 minute drive)
9. Nelson, British Columbia
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Whitewater Ski Resort
Population: 10,664 (2016)
Closest Major Airport: Kelowna International Airport (4 Hour Drive)
8. Salt Lake City, Utah
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton Resort, Alta Ski Area, Snowbird, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, Nordic Valley, Park City, Deer Valley
Population: 197,756 (2019)
Closest Major Airport: Salt Lake City International (0 Miles)
7. Breckenridge, Colorado
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Breckenridge Ski Resort, Copper Mountain, Keystone Mountain Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
Population: 4,938 (2019)
Closest Major Airport: Denver International Airport (2 Hour Drive)
6. Bethel, Maine
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Sunday River Resort, Mt. Abram Ski Area, Black Mountain of Maine
Population: 2,607 (2010)
Closest Major Airport: Portland International Jetport (1 Hour, 27 Minute Drive)
5. Banff, Alberta
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort
Population: 7,847 (2016)
Closest Major Airport: Calgary International Airport (1 Hour, 26 Minute Drive)
4. Stowe, Vermont
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Stowe Mountain Resort, Smugglers’ Notch Resort (1 Hour Drive), Bolton Valley Resort
Population: N/A
Closest Major Airport: Burlington International Airport (45 Minute Drive)
3. Rossland, British Columbia
Nearby Ski Resort(s): RED Mountain Resort
Population: 3,729 (2016)
Closest Major Airport: Kelowna International Airport (3 Hours, 35 Minute Drive)
2. North Conway, New Hampshire
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Cranmore Mountain Resort, Attitash Mountain Resort, Black Mountain Ski Area, Wildcat Mountain, Bretton Woods
Population: 2,179 (2019)
Closest Major Airport: Portland International Jetport (1 Hour, 21 Minutes)
1. Red River, New Mexico
Nearby Ski Resort(s): Red River Ski Area
Population: 465 (2019)
Closest Major Airport: Santa Fe Regional Airport (2 Hours, 19 Minutes)