7 of the Most Remote Ski Areas in North America

At this level, the ski resort is a longtime style. We all know in regards to the gondolas, buzzy après bars, and cute however egregiously costly cities. Snowboarding’s even greater—and smaller—than this archetype, although, extending to date past the crushed path that it will get a bit ridiculous.

We’re speaking about these ski areas which can be actually in the course of nowhere. They could have a small, accompanying city, however other than that, they’ve fully faraway from the bustle that exists alongside bigger locations. There’s an apparent, tough trade-off right here. In case you’re an facilities particular person, you’ll most likely be upset by the ski areas on the fringes. They usually aren’t locations with high-speed lifts, heated bogs, and towering ski-in ski-out lodges. For the adventuresome amongst us, although, that stuff isn’t related—the snowboarding is. If that sounds such as you—otherwise you’re simply curious in regards to the stunning locations that ski areas crop up—you’re in the correct place. These are seven of North America’s most distant ski areas.

1. Mt. Bohemia, Michigan

This place is on the market. Positioned nearly on the northernmost level of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Mt. Bohemia provides deep lake-effect snow and committing terrain, remixing the standard Midwest ski space mould. In a median season, it receives over 270 inches of snowfall. Tickets and passes are grime low cost, too, coming in at $95 and $109, respectively. There’s a catch, although—attending to Mt. Bohemia will be difficult. Wherever you’re coming from, significantly if it’s exterior of Michigan, you’ll most likely need to drive for some time. The profit? Which means fewer skiers battling their method towards first tracks at this hidden gem.

2. Hurricane Ridge, Washington

The Olympic Peninsula is a rainforest with towering bushes and thick, lush ground-level vegetation. Typically related to the Twilight sequence (have you ever been to Forks?!), this a part of North America doesn’t usually come up in conversations about ski resort locations. When you concentrate on it, that is sensible—Hurricane Ridge, a small, community-run ski space on the Peninsula, isn’t technically a ski resort. You gained’t discover a mondo condominium advanced. As a substitute, you’ll encounter a small assortment of floor lifts and loads of snow—Hurricane Ridge averages round 400 inches of the stuff every winter.

Associated: 7 of the Most Scenic Ski Resorts in North America

3. Cape Smokey, Nova Scotia

The East is a densely populated place, which means it isn’t straightforward to discover a ski space that’s not close to a comparatively massive city hub. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re keen to go northwards, there’s a singular alternative to ditch the crowds—and ski. Cape Smokey, Nova Scotia, borders the Atlantic Ocean and homes the area’s solely gondola. Having some sturdy gear will go a good distance at Cape Smokey—the climate can get fairly wild on the roughly 85-acre ski space. Through the 2023–2024 ski season, the ski space acquired 60 inches of snowfall in a single week. Throughout Cape Smokey’s residence—Cape Breton Island—almost 5 ft of snow fell that very same week. Deep maritime snow skis slightly higher once you don’t need to pay an arm and a leg to entry it, and a day or week at Cape Smokey gained’t go away you within the gap. Day tickets value CAD$69.99, and season passes value as little as CAD$399—offered you snag them within the spring. Lodging is offered at a number of spots close to the ski space, together with the Lantern Hill & Hole, which provides ski and keep packages.

4. Crimson Lodge Mountain, Montana

Simply exterior the small city of Crimson Lodge, the aptly named Crimson Lodge Mountain exists exterior the gravitational pull of Bozeman, Montana, and Large Sky Resort. Whereas the ski space doesn’t boast high-speed six-person D-Line lifts, it’s received loads of allure—and vert. Crimson Lodge Mountain boasts 2,400 ft of vertical, 1,635 acres of terrain, and 70 named runs. Its distant location doesn’t imply you gained’t discover any spots to take a look at throughout a post-ski après session, both. In Crimson Lodge is Prerogative Kitchen, a 2023 James Beard Award nominee, alongside espresso retailers and energetic bars. The Pollard Lodge gives the pillows and bedsheets.

Associated: 6 Lesser-Recognized Ski Locations That Ought to Be on Your Radar

5. Moose Mountain, Yukon Territory 

In 2024, LiftBlog founder and editor Peter Landsman accomplished a years-spanning quest to go to each ski space and chairlift in North America. His remaining far-flung vacation spot? Moose Mountain, Yukon Territory. There’s out of the way in which, and there’s Moose Mountain, which is the native hill for Dawson Metropolis, a city with someplace between 2,000 and three,000 residents. It has a single T-bar elevate, operates with a largely volunteer crew, and stays open even when the mercury plummets into the detrimental. Moose Mountain isn’t the type of place you go to throughout a standard trip—it’s there for the local people, not vacationers—nevertheless it does present one among snowboarding’s extra distinctive experiences.

6. Mount Cain, British Columbia

The dual cities of Ucluelet and Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, are a longtime Pacific Northwest browsing vacation spot, however the stormy, usually moist locale provides one thing for skiers, too, within the type of Mount Cain. The small ski space runs three floor lifts, has 21 named runs, and averages 456 inches of snowfall yearly. In case you point out the ski space whereas touring in British Columbia, you would possibly get clean stares or, as one Redditor who requested about Mount Cain found, full denial. “Mount Cain doesn’t exist,” learn one reply. The place is a intently guarded secret, and this standing is strengthened by its difficult-to-reach location. To get to Mount Cain, you’d have to trip a ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo—then sit within the automobile for 3 hours. Whistler Blackcomb soaks up a lot of the Vancouver skier site visitors for a purpose.

7. Smokey Mountain Ski Membership, Newfoundland and Labrador

Established in 1961, Smokey Mountain Ski Membership, positioned in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to not be confused with Cape Smokey, stands exterior the small city of Labrador Metropolis, which was constructed close to one of many world’s largest iron ore deposits. This ski space retains it easy with round 80 acres of terrain, a handful of lifts, and 24 named runs. Smokey is the one place for lift-served above-tree-line snowboarding in jap Canada. Carry tickets and season passes are fairly priced at CAD$42.00 and CAD$352.94, respectively. There’s a smattering of locations to remain in and eat on the town, together with Iron Rock Brewing Firm, Labrador’s first craft brewery. Regardless of Smokey Mountain’s location, a small regional airport is close by.

Associated: The 5 Finest Ski Resorts for Households Out West

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