Top 10 Small Ski Resorts in North America for Powder Hounds

Robin Azer |



Tossin’ & Flossin’ under the sunshine at Grand Targhee. Credit: Powderday Photography

Putting together a “best of” list can seem rather arbitrary and so wildly subjective rendering the list almost meaningless. To stave off the naysayers, making the cut on this VIP inventory was restricted to those Small Ski Resorts that met all of the following criteria: copious amounts of deep, blower-light powder (300+ inches minimum), maximum of seven real-deal lifts (moving carpets excluded) and mountain terrain befitting of advanced/expert riders.

There are numerous ski resorts in North America offering great options for skiing, but the list below is reserved exclusively for the Top 10 Small Ski Resorts for Powder Hounds. Escape from the crowds and grab some fresh tracks.

#1 –  Grand Targhee, WY

A CRAZY deep day at Grand Targhee Resort, WY. Image: Powder Day Photography

Overview: Deep, light, consistent powder

  • Snowfall = 500+ in
  • Summit elevation = 10,000 ft
  • Inbound runs = 72
  • Percent advanced = 30%

As the saying goes, if Grand Targhee doesn’t have snow, it’s summer. Located in Alta, Wyoming on the western side of the Teton’s where the geography works in its favor to trap the snow from every passing storm resulting in a steady dose of blower, light powder. The stunning views of the Tetons are said to be some of the most beautiful in North America. The inbound terrain consists mostly of powder bowls and gorgeous glades but includes the rare inbound cat skiing to over 600 additional acres. Grand Targhee earned its spot in the countdown with the winning skiing trifecta including abundant amounts of deep, dry, powder, a variety of backcountry and inbound terrain, and perennial lack of pushy crowds.  Targhee has 98 runs.

#2 – Brighton Ski Resort, UT

brighton, utah
Miles Clark getting nipple deep at Brighton, UT on December 18th, 2016. Credit: Court Leve

Overview:

  • Snowfall = 439 in
  • Summit elevation = 10,500 ft
  • Inbound runs = 66
  • Percent advanced = 39%

The oldest ski resort in all of Utah is also one of the most progressive as the first in the state to allow snowboarding. The main draw here is the abundance of the good stuff – tons of deep, dry, powder. Overshadowed by the more prominent resorts in the area, Brighton still offers up a variety of noteworthy terrain including the aggressive Millicent side with its deep bowls and drop-offs. The open boundary policy allows for an expansive backcountry opportunity and, if that’s not enough, Brighton is interconnected with Solitude, opening up an additional 1,200 acres. A local hotspot that has a big snowboarding culture and a down-home family vibe complete with free skiing for the 10 and younger set.




#3 – Whitewater, BC

SkiWhitewater.com
Credit: SkiWhitewater.com

Overview:

  • Snowfall = 392 in
  • Summit elevation = 6567 ft
  • Inbound runs = 76
  • Percent advanced = 50%

Kicking it old school, Whitewater is ideal for those seeking to ski fresh powder sans crowds. More local charm than big resort flash this sleepy little locale won’t stay that way for long as the awards continue to pile up. Located in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, this out-of-the-way destination favors the adventurous as Whitewater is best known for its off-piste options of chutes, bowls, steeps, and glades. A few of the aforementioned awards bestowed on this Canadian ski area include best powder, best tree-skiing in Canada, and best value.

“It’s probably the capital of the powder highway and considered by many aficionados to have the best skiing and snow conditions in North America.” Powderhounds



#4 – Wolf Creek, CO

powder
Photo credit: Wolf Creek Facebook

Overview: “The most snow in Colorado”

  • Snowfall = 389 in
  • Summit elevation = 11,904 ft
  • Inbound runs = 77
  • Percent advanced = 45%

Tucked in the southwest corner of Colorado, Wolf Creek is 1,600 acres of powder playground entertainment. The main hub is 600 acres of beginner/intermediate terrain, the remaining 1,000 acres is what puts Wolf Creek on the map. The Alberta chair services this terrain chock full of phenomenal tree skiing, steeps, cliffs, and chutes. The farther you travel from this lift, the fewer the people and opportunities for fresh tracks. Also off the Alberta lift, you can access some of the best hike-to terrain around, leading to the Knife Chutes, Dog Chutes, and Horseshoe Bowl. Snowboarders take note  – the terrain in this area has some stretches of flats that will need to be managed.

#5 – Red Mountain, BC

red, canada, British Columbia
Credit: RED Mountain Resort

Overview:

  • Snowfall = 300 in
  • Summit elevation = 6,800 ft
  • Inbound runs = 88
  • Percent advanced = 45%

Located in the powder triangle of British Columbia, Red Mountain is known for its laid-back, friendly vibe. It’s also known for its bounty of great terrain, including perfectly cultivated tree lines and plenty of requisite quality powder. The resort is comprised of two mountains, Red Mountain and the larger Granite Mountain. Granite Mountain’s north face offers up loads of expert terrain. Like many of the resorts on this list, a big drawing card here is the lack of crowds.




#6 – Revelstoke, BC

Revelstoke Resort, BC. Photo: SnowBrains

Overview:

  • Snowfall = 350 in
  • Summit elevation = 7,300 ft
  • Inbound runs = 69
  • Percent advanced = 27%

Revelstoke is ideally suited for those seeking something outside the traditional ski area. Located in southeastern British Columbia, far removed from the beaten path, just getting to this mountain is an adventure all it’s own. Once you do arrive, Revelstoke will make you glad you made the trek. It offers big terrain, long runs, and the biggest vertical in North America at 5,620 feet. North Bowl and Greely Bowl offer up some of the most aggressive skiing on the mountain to say nothing of the extensive backcountry options. One of the unique features of Revelstoke is the heliskiing offered on-site with helipads literally sprinkled throughout the ski-in/ski-on accommodations.



#7 – Silverton, CO

Credit:Silverton Mountain
Small ski resorts? Don’t forget Silverton. Credit: Silverton Mountain

Overview: 

  • Snowfall = 400+ in
  • Summit elevation = 13,487 ft
  • Inbound runs = ?
  • Percent advanced = 100%

Think all thrills and no-frills. This southwestern Colorado ski area is not for the timid and caters exclusively to advanced and expert riders only. The sole chairlift requires every rider to have an avalanche pack to board and, for most of the season, a ski guide as well. No need to worry about the crowds here. What you will find are lots of chutes, steeps, trees, and bowls, making up some of the most aggressive inbound skiing anywhere. There is no grooming nor any cut runs on any of the slopes resulting in no easy way down once you hit the summit. If that’s the sort of skiing you’re after, welcome home.

#8 – Arapahoe Basin, CO

Credit: Arapahoe Basin
Credit: Arapahoe Basin

Overview: ‘The Legend’

  • Snowfall = 315 in
  • Summit elevation = 12,472 ft
  • Inbound runs = 108
  • Percent advanced = 48%

Roughly ninety miles west of Denver, Arapahoe Basin is perched at a high elevation lending itself to early season openers and late closing dates. Generally less crowded, this close-packed resort has extensive backcountry options in its famous East Wall area.

“Experienced skiers have two basic options: head far skier’s left to Pallavicini or far right to the East Wall and the gnarly terrain that lies above.” Zrankings

#9 – Jay Peak, VT

Credit: Jay Peak
Credit: Jay Peak

Overview:

  • Snowfall = 324 in
  • Summit elevation = 3968
  • Inbound runs = 76
  • Percent advanced = 40%

Located in northern Vermont’s Green Mountains, just south of the Canadian border, Jay Peak is in a snow belt that dumps more annual snow than many of the bigger mountains out west. Well known for its extensive, liberal inbounds glade skiing, this resort is home to one of the only aerial trams on the east coast. Not to be missed: Beaver Pond, Timbuktu, and Valhalla glades. It’s also home to Big Jay, the northeast’s best backcountry skiing.

#10 – Bridger Bowl Ski Area, MT

BridgerBowl.com, , small ski resorts,
One of the best small ski resorts in the country. Credit: BridgerBowl.com

Overview: ‘Ski the cold smoke’

  • Snowfall = 303 in
  • Summit elevation = 8800 ft
  • Inbound runs = 71
  • Percent advanced = 30%

Located near Bozeman Montana, Bridger Bowl falls in that gray area between locals area and real-deal resort. With an abundance of deep, dry, powder locally referred to as the cold smoke, it offers up a wide diversity of terrain options. Bridger Bowl is likely best known for it’s extensive inbounds expert terrain, much of it lift accessible, such as the chutes off the High Traverse. The rest of this variety is a hike-to proposition for access to the notorious ‘Ridge Terrain’ area. Not just for the experts, Bridger Bowl’s geography offers up plenty of terrain for the beginner as well and all stops in-between.





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19 thoughts on “Top 10 Small Ski Resorts in North America for Powder Hounds

  1. Why not Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah. With over 8,000acres of skiable terrain it’s one of the largest in North America. If you know Powder you can find fresh tracks days after storms. There is a vast side country which drops you off onto main road. They run free shuttle bus back up to resort. For an extra $25 per ride you can take the snow cat to the top of Lightening Ridge and ski down and back into the resort. It is one of the best kept Utah powder secrets. Everyone else is in Big or Little Cottonwood Cannons.

  2. Stop regurgitating old articles and passing them off as new, and if you do, at least make editorial adjustments concerning the multitude of errors pointed out by your readers.

    1. Agreed. Plus the fact it doesn’t meet the 300″ annual avg snowfall threshold.
      Awesome skiing there though!!

  3. Lookout Pass Ski Area on the ID/MT border averages over 400 inches of snow. Is a small resort that rocks. If you haven’t been there you are indeed missing it. Midweek you can ski fresh tracks into early afternoon on a powder day. http://www.SkiLookout.com Last two years they have received 462″ winter 2018-19 and 503″ winter 2017-18.

  4. I wouldn’t call Revelstoke small. Sugar bowl should be on this list. Most snow in Tahoe and the mt lincoln area is filled with gullies and steep chutes and the crows peak area has some really good tree skiing. Also, it has some really good backcountry as well

  5. Targhee can also stop advertising no crowds. It is also skied out by 9:30. There are lines and the mountain is tracked out before it is open to the public due to the early tracks program. If you want fresh tracks at the ghee you have to pay extra for them.

  6. Targhee can also stop advertising no crowds. It is also skied out by 9:30. There are lines and the mountain is tracked out before it is open to the public due to the early tracks program. If you want fresh tracks at the ghee you have to pay extra for them.

  7. Targhee definitely now in that boat. It’s been years since you could ski powder after noon on a good dump day. Or find a parking spot!

  8. It’s because of articles like these (and similar ones in Powder Magazine, Outside Magazine, Nat Geo Adventure, and on and on…) that Bridger Bowl powder gets skied out by the masses before 10:00am. A mountain the size or Bridger just cannot handle the crowds anymore. I wonder how many other mountains on this list are in the same boat.

    1. Many. Everywhere is so crowded in the Rockies any more I go to Europe for six weeks to ski and get away from the bro-bra transplants.

  9. As much as I love Jay Peak in the East, I can’t get enough of Targhee in the West. The only correction I see is that Jay is not the only Tram in the East, Cannon in New Hampshire also has one.

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