North America — It’s getting harder to find hidden ski gems in North America, partially due to the rise of social media. However, there are still some places that haven’t become polluted with crowds.
In honor of it now being 2025 (yay?), we’ve compiled a list of five underrated ski resorts that you should consider visiting. The factors for this list include recent improvements, the ski resort as it stands today, and what additions are planned in the future. We’ve also picked mountains that are remote, meaning they’re at least a few hours away from a major city. This means wise asses can’t say that we blew these places up.
Without further ado, here are five ski resorts that are on the rise this year.
Brian Head: The southernmost ski resort in Utah isn’t having the best season snow-wise, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a snowy place. The past two winters delivered plentiful snowfall, and it has one of the best snowmaking systems in the state, which helps when it’s going through a dry cycle. Brian Head has varied terrain, a red rock backdrop, a long ski season, and is a short drive to two national parks. Various improvements have been made over the past few years, including adding new runs, snowmaking upgrades, and increased affordable lift ticket offerings.
Then there’s what comes next. A vast real estate and terrain expansion is planned in the coming years. This will add another 850 skiable acres and 7 lifts to the ski resort. While a timeline for this project has yet to be announced, it will make Brian Head one of the top skiing destinations in the Southwest.
Brundage Mountain: Many changes have arrived at the home of Idaho’s best snow. Last winter, Brundage opened the Centennial Express, a high-speed quad chairlift that replaced a fixed-grip triple chairlift. This season saw the debut of the Mountain Adventure Center, which features various skier services, a coffee shop, lockers, and gear shops.
More improvements are on the horizon. A thorough real estate development is underway, which will give people the opportunity to live there. As demonstrated by Brundage’s master development plan, additional terrain and lifts could be coming in the years ahead.
Monarch Mountain: Monarch Mountain is remote, which keeps the I-70 crowds at bay. The high-elevation ski area is situated at the Continental Divide and relies on all-natural snowfall, averaging 350 inches each season. It currently boasts 67 trails, 800 skiable acres, and a vertical drop of 1162 feet. For avid powder seekers, Monarch offers hike-to and cat-skiing terrain.
Next winter will see the introduction of No Name Basin. Located on the backside of Monarch, this project was approved by the U.S. Forest Service last year. The 377 skiable acre expansion will feature a vertical drop of 1000 feet from the top to the bottom lift terminals. No Name Basin will be serviced by a new fixed-grip triple chairlift. This means that there will be more powder to find, giving another reason for outsiders to visit this hidden gem.
Pleasant Mountain: The big three Maine ski resorts tend to draw all the headlines. However, that is starting to change. Pleasant Mountain is well regarded for its family-friendly atmosphere, views of Moose Pond and surrounding peaks, and its extensive night skiing network.
Since being bought by Boyne Resorts, various improvements have been made. The blockbuster move came this winter, as the Summit Triple was replaced with a detachable high-speed quad chairlift. This gets people up the mountain much quicker, resulting in more laps for guests. A potential expansion on the West Side could make Pleasant Mountain a destination for skiers and riders in the Northeast.
Whitewater Ski Resort: The snowy Canadian ski resort has gotten some upgrades in recent years. In the summer of 2023, the Hummingbird at Whitewater opened, providing guest slopeside access to the ski area. Last winter, the ski resort opened the new Raven chairlift. This went further up the mountain, which gave Whitewater 14 new runs and 123 more acres of skiable terrain. This season, Whitewater opened the Ymir Bowl, adding 60 more skiable acres to the ski resort.
Whitewater may not be the biggest name in British Columbia’s ski industry, but it’s a worthwhile visit for those who love shredding powder.
Image Credits: Brian Head Resort, Brundage Mountain Resort, Monarch Mountain, Pleasant Mountain, Whitewater Ski Resort
