USA TODAY 10Best
"Ski Town of the Southwest" named Best Ski Town
Best Ski Town (2021)
Beyond convenient access to the slopes, what makes the best ski town? For some, it's having access to fantastic restaurants, bars, and shops. For others, it's about great accommodations, a small-town vibe, or a historic atmosphere. To find the best ski towns for 2021, a panel of experts selected 20 nominees, then our readers voted for the 10 best.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Ski Town are as follows:
Photo courtesy of Park City Chamber of Commerce
No. 10: Park City - Utah
Park City, Utah, provided the host courses for many of the significant skiing events of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and with good reason. The city hosts the largest ski resort in the United States at Park City Mountain and another world-class resort, Deer Valley, just a few miles away. Park City Mountain not only offers 7300 acres of skiable terrain, with plenty of moguls, powder, and trees but several terrain feature parks with steep jumps and other fixed features. Deer Valley provides over 2000 skiable acres, with plenty of runs for all ages and abilities from beginner to double black diamond.
Photo courtesy of iStock / StephenBridger
No. 9: Nelson - British Columbia
Located not far from Whitewater Ski Resort, the town of Nelson has personality in spades. On the shores of Kootenay Lake and surrounded by the Selkirk Mountains, Nelson sees rugged adventurers rub elbows with hippies and bohemians in its excellent cafes, bars and galleries centered around pedestrian-friendly Baker Street.
Photo courtesy of legacyimagesphotography // Getty Images
No. 8: Salt Lake City - Utah
Salt Lake City is the ultimate winter ski destination, with Utah’s four most famous resorts located within a convenient driving distance of the city and all accessible by public transit. Skiers can experience Alta, one of America’s oldest resorts which grew around a love of thrills on snow, or Brighton, known by many as “Salt Lake’s most laidback ski hill.” There’s also Snowbird, a “ride or ski fast, steep and deep” resort with high-speed chairs and an Aerial Tram, or Solitude, a resort with daunting rugged terrain and famous Honeycomb Canyon.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Inden/Miles / Colorado Tourism
No. 7: Breckenridge - Colorado
Breckenridge, established during the Colorado gold rush of the 1800s, is home to Colorado's largest historic district and an equally historic après-ski scene; the Gold Pan Saloon is the oldest bar west of the Mississippi. Great restaurants, an art district and free bus service to Keystone and Copper Mountain make Breckenridge a winning and very atmospheric destination.
No. 6: Bethel - Maine
Visitors staying in Bethel enjoy easy access to Sunday River (pictured), home to some of the best snow conditions in the East. Head to the Foggy Goggle or Matterhorn for a lively après-ski scene, or try out one of the many restaurants dotting the streets of this cute New England village.
Photo courtesy of Noel Hendrickson / Banff & Lake Louise Tourism
No. 5: Banff - Alberta
Walk 15 minutes in just about any direction from the town of Banff, and you'll find yourself surrounded by the majestic wilderness of Banff National Park. The resort town and gateway to the surrounding park boasts a surprising number of shops, art galleries, bars and excellent restaurants for its size.
No. 4: Stowe - Vermont
Steepled churches and clapboard houses make Stowe a quintessential New England ski town, complete with excellent options for both downhill and Nordic skiers. While there are plenty of fine dining establishments and luxury resorts catering to well-heeled travelers, there's a lively apres scene as well, especially at The Matterhorn. Rest day activities can include a tasting at the famous Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory just down the road in Waterbury.
Photo courtesy of Destination BC / Steve Ogle
No. 3: Rossland - British Columbia
Not only is Rossland a skier's paradise with Red Mountain Resort nearby, it's also one of North America's top spots for mountain biking. The unpretentious small town–once a gold mining outpost–has plenty for the non-skier as well, including spas, boutique shopping and a variety of restaurants ranging from casual pubs and pizza to sushi and Thai.
Photo courtesy of WiseguyCreative.com
No. 2: North Conway - New Hampshire
Nestled within the scenic White Mountains of New Hampshire, North Conway sits within a half-hour drive of more than a dozen alpine and Nordic ski resorts. Visitors off the slopes can explore the town's pastel-hued Victorian architecture oozing New England charm. The Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center makes for an excellent rest-day diversion.
Photo courtesy of Town of Red River
No. 1: Red River - New Mexico
Red River invites visitors to visit the “Ski Town of the Southwest” and take a skiing vacation in this community located in the Southern Rockies just north of Taos, New Mexico. Their ski schools offer learning experiences for everyone, and the ski area promises minimal lift lines and fresh powder that lasts days after a storm. With an average annual snowfall of over two hundred inches, over fifty trails for intermediate, expert, and beginners, and Saturday night torchlight parades and fireworks, Red River offers the perfect getaway for skiers of all ages and expertise.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in... Read More
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family – pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family – pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Lyndell Keating
Lyndell Keating is one of the directors of Read More
Lyndell Keating is one of the directors of Powderhounds, a ski and snowboard travel website that reviews snow destinations around the world to facilitate readers in their pursuit of the perfect powder stash. Lyndell has skied at 200-plus ski resorts and a multitude of cat skiing, heli skiing and backcountry bucket list areas.
Lyndell Keating
Lyndell Keating is one of the directors of Powderhounds, a ski and snowboard travel website that reviews snow destinations around the world to facilitate readers in their pursuit of the perfect powder stash. Lyndell has skied at 200-plus ski resorts and a multitude of cat skiing, heli skiing and backcountry bucket list areas.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.