14 of the Best Ski Towns in the U.S.

People Enjoying Day on the Slopes — Photo: Doug Bennett/Getty Images

Whether you're looking for challenging terrain, a buzzy après-ski scene, luxury ski lodges, or plenty to do off the slopes, America's many ski towns offer something for every type of traveler. You don't have to be an advanced skier to enjoy the cozy atmosphere and postcard-perfect views at these winter vacation destinations.

From the famed Rocky Mountain communities of Colorado to the most charming winter retreats in the Northeast, we've rounded up the best ski towns in the U.S.

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Park City, Utah

Ski slopes, lodges, lifts and hotels of Park City Resort Center a year round recreational area in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah — Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Hundreds of thousands of visitors descend on this former mining town each year, in no small part because of the world-class skiing. Not only does Park City put skiers within easy reach of Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain ski areas, it hosts the annual Sundance Film Festival and has become a culinary hotbed. Main Street maintains much of its rugged 19th-century charm. Nearby, the ski-in High West Saloon offers whiskey flights alongside dishes infused with its own spirits. Luxury hotels include the Waldorf Astoria Park City, Stein Eriksen Lodge, and Montage Deer Valley.

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Taos, New Mexico

In 1898, artists Bert Phillips and Ernest Blumenschein stopped to have a broken wagon wheel replaced in Taos and decided to stay. Then, socialite Mabel Dodge Luhan brought well-known writers and artists like Willa Cather, Ansel Adams, and Georgia O'Keeffe, who fell for the drama of this desert town surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The art colony spirit lives on in Taos, where the walkable downtown is teeming with galleries and adobe inns. After a day out skiing, retreat to the impeccably decorated El Monte Sagrado for cozy accommodations and spa services from massages to tarot readings.

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Truckee, California

Blue river flowing past old houses in Truckee — helivideo/Getty Images

Lake Tahoe draws powder hounds from near and far, but Tahoe North stays a bit quieter than the bustling south side of the lake. You can get to any of seven ski resorts in under an hour from Truckee, the closest being Northstar California Resort. This ski area alone has more than 100 trails spread across 3,170 acres. While you're in this mountain town, make like a local and grab a cup of full-bodied joe from Dark Horse Coffee Roasters before hitting the slopes, then end the day with après at Moody's Bistro Bar and Beats.

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Bend, Oregon

Beer and snow go hand in hand in this town, which has more than two dozen breweries along the Bend Ale Trail. The compact and historic downtown packs in an impressive number of watering holes, restaurants, and boutiques. Mt. Bachelor, about 20 miles from Bend, gets an average of more than 400 inches of snow a year. The ski area has 121 runs over 4,300 skiable acres.

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Telluride, Colorado

This former mining town lies in a box canyon, surrounded on three sides by 14,000-foot peaks, so few places can rival its natural beauty or seclusion. The town is home to just a couple thousand residents. A free scenic gondola links Telluride to the neighboring Mountain Village. Telluride Ski Resort counts 149 trails, multiple terrain parks, and an average annual snowfall of 280 inches.

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Ketchum, Idaho

The artsy town of Ketchum is near Sun Valley Resort, which offers more than 100 runs across some 2,000 skiable acres. The resort also has indoor and outdoor rinks for year-round ice skating. After a day on the slopes, sample the Idaho mountain town's rich culture by visiting any of its dozen-plus art galleries or seeing a performance at one of several theaters. After dark, grab some hot cocoa and look up — Ketchum and Sun Valley are located within the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, so they offer incredible stargazing.

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Stowe, Vermont

A church steeple rises over this quaint colonial town chartered in 1763. Stowe sits at the base of Vermont's highest peak, Mount Mansfield, in the beautiful Green Mountains. The ski resort offers both double black diamond trails and plenty of beginner runs across several distinctive areas. Aside from snow sports, enjoy simple pleasures like shopping at the old-fashioned Shaw's General Store and tastings at the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory in nearby Waterbury. If you're in the mood, splurge on a stay at Topnotch Resort, where a CBD massage caps off a day on the slopes.

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Big Bear Lake, California

Big Bear Lake with snow on the ground — Mine Beyaz/Getty Images

Tucked in the San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear Lake is a bona fide ski town within 100 miles of Los Angeles. In stark contrast to the perpetually warm climate of Southern California, this ski resort stays cool thanks to its elevation of 6,752 feet. Altogether, skiers and snowboarders get their pick of 88 runs and several terrain parks, including the first one built in North America. There are 700 acres and three different peaks to explore. Besides skiing, you can get your winter fix by bobsledding on the Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, tubing, and snowshoeing.

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Breckenridge, Colorado

Settled during the 1859 Gold Rush, Breckenridge still looks a bit like a Western movie set. Its ski resort, which today ranks among the best ski resorts in the U.S., opened in the 1960s. The free Summit Stage bus service to Copper Mountain and Keystone makes it easy to hop between mountains, so you can ski lots of terrain during your trip. To explore snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, turn to the Breckenridge Nordic Center. "Breck," like many great ski towns, has a namesake brewery and distillery, plus the Gold Pan Saloon (with the longest continuous liquor license west of the Mississippi).

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Jackson, Wyoming

Rear view of skiers walking on field against snowcapped mountain — Getty Images

Jackson Hole's namesake ski resort in Teton Village features terrain for all levels and plenty of other snowy outdoor activities, plus convenient, upscale digs like the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole. But while there are pockets of luxury to be found, Jackson holds on to its reputation as a Wild West town. Old-timey saloons surround a public square marked by elk antler arches. It's still the kind of place where "dressed up" generally means jeans. Jackson is only about 12 miles from Teton Village and nine miles from Jackson Hole Airport, plus it's just a short drive from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

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North Conway, New Hampshire

Female in red skis down Baldface Mountain, NH on a cold morning. — Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

Located amid the White Mountain National Forest, North Conway makes a striking statement with its pastel-colored Victorian architecture. It's a short drive to several ski resorts — including Cranmore, Attitash, and Wildcat — plus cross-country centers abounding with trails. Take a ride on the Mount Washington Cog Railway for scenic views of the surrounding mountains.

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Vail, Colorado

One of the nation's most famous ski destinations, Vail boasts five-star hotels, a lively bar and restaurant scene, and world-class skiing at its namesake mountain resort. The two main ski villages at the center of it all — Vail Village and Lionshead Village — offer picture-perfect settings at the base of the massive resort, where you'll find more than 5,000 acres of skiable terrain.

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Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Downtown Steamboat Springs at dusk with snowy mountain in background — Shawn OConnor/Getty Images

Steamboat Springs is such a ski-centric destination that it trademarked the term "Champagne powder" to describe the airy and smooth qualities of the snow. The Colorado town is home to two ski areas: Steamboat Resort, offering 182 trails across 3,741 acres, and Howelsen Hill, a small slope downtown that holds the title of North America's oldest operating ski area. Steamboat Springs maintains its old-timey feel, but has the social scene of a city thanks to dozens of bars, restaurants, and museums.

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Whitefish, Montana

Two small children learning to ski — Noah Clayton/Getty Images/Tetra Images RF

A short drive from Glacier National Park in Montana's Rocky Mountains, Whitefish is a nature lover's dream. Whitefish Mountain Resort, just seven miles north of the town, offers skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling across its 3,000-plus acres of skiable terrain. The S.N.O.W. bus provides free transportation between Whitefish and Whitefish Mountain Resort, making it easy to hit the slopes during the day and grab a beer at a local brewery at night.

Updated by

Olivia Young