In North America, 7 of the Remote ski Areas
Ski resorts have become an established genre at this point. Gondolas, buzzy après bars, and cute yet expensive towns are a few things we know about. Skiing is even bigger – and smaller – than this archetype, extending so far beyond the beaten path that it becomes absurd.
These are the ski areas that are literally out in the middle of nowhere. A small town might accompany them, but other than that, they’re totally isolated from the chaos that surrounds larger cities.
In this case, there’s an obvious, rough trade-off. Ski areas on the fringes will probably disappoint you if you are an amenities person. Ski resorts aren’t known for high-speed lifts, heated toilets, and ski-in ski-out lodges.
In the end, skiing is the thing that matters to the adventuresome among us. In case that sounds like you-or you’re just curious about where ski areas crop up-then you’re in the right place. These are the seven most remote ski resorts in North America.
Mt. Bohemia, Michigan
There is no place like this. Mount Bohemia is situated almost at the northernmost point of the Keweenaw Peninsula, offering deep lake-effect snow and challenging terrain that are unlike anything you’ve ever encountered in the Midwest. A typical season brings over 270 inches of snowfall.
Ticket prices and passes are also very low, at $95 and $109. It can be tricky to get to Mount Bohemia, though. In any case, if you’re coming from out of Michigan, you’ll probably have to drive a while. What is the benefit? It means fewer skiers are battling it out at this hidden gem for first tracks.
Washington, Hurricane Ridge
A rainforest surrounds the Olympic Peninsula, with towering trees and thick, lush vegetation at ground level. The region is often associated with the Twilight series (have you been to Forks?! ), but is rarely mentioned as a ski resort destination.
As a small ski area run by the Peninsula Community, Hurricane Ridge isn’t technically a ski resort. There are no mondo condominiums here. In winter, Hurricane Ridge gets around 400 inches of snow each year and a small collection of surface lifts.
Cape Smokey, Nova Scotia
In the East, ski areas are rarely far from a densely populated urban area, which means it’s difficult to find them. However, heading northwards offers a unique opportunity to skip the crowds and ski. The Cape Smokey Gondola is the only one in the region, and it is located on the Atlantic Ocean’s coast.
The weather at Cape Smokey, an 85-acre ski area, can get quite wild, so you’ll want to bring some sturdy gear. A week of snowfall during the 2023–2024 ski season brought 60 inches of snow to the ski area. In the same week, five feet of snow fell in Cape Smokey’s hometown, Cape Breton Island.
You can enjoy deep maritime snow skiing at Cape Smokey for a day or for a week without spending an arm and a leg. In the spring, season passes cost just CAD$399, and day tickets are just CAD$69.99. A variety of lodging options are available near the ski area, including Lantern Hill & Hollow, which offers ski-and-stay packages.
Red Lodge Mountain, Montana
In Red Lodge, Montana, you’ll find the aptly named Red Lodge Mountain, which lies outside Bozeman’s gravitational pull and Big Sky’s as well. There are no high-speed six-person D-Line lifts at this ski area, but there is plenty of charm-and vertical. Atop Red Lodge Mountain, you will find 2,400 feet of vertical rise, 1,635 acres of terrain, and 70 named runs.
A post-ski après session will not be lacking despite its remote location. There are a number of coffee shops and bars in Red Lodge, including Prerogative Kitchen, a James Beard Award nominee for 2023. Bedsheets and pillows are provided by the Pollard Hotel.
Mount Moose, Yukon
Landsman, LiftBlog’s founder and editor, completed a years-long quest in 2024 to visit every ski area and chairlift in North America. What is his final faraway destination? The Moose Mountain area of the Yukon Territory. In Dawson City, a town of 2,000 to 3,000 people, there is Moose Mountain, a hill that is located out of the way.
The park has a single T-bar lift, is mostly run by volunteers, and is open even when the temperature is below zero. The ski area at Moose Mountain is not for vacationers, but for locals, who have a unique skiing experience there.
British Columbia’s Mount Cain
In British Columbia, Vancouver Island offers surf, skiing, and surfing locations such as Ucluelet and Tofino.There are three surface lifts, 21 named runs, and an average of 456 inches of snowfall per year at the small ski area.
In British Columbia, if you mention the ski area, you may get blank stares or complete denial, as one Redditor discovered after asking about Mount Cain. According to one reply, Mount Cain does not exist. This location reinforces the place’s status as a closely guarded secret.
A ferry ride from Vancouver to Nanaimo and three hours in the car is the only way to reach Mount Cain. The reason Whistler Blackcomb absorbs much of the Vancouver skier traffic is simple: it is the best ski resort in the world.
Ski Club of Smokey Mountain, Newfoundland and Labrador
A ski club that was founded in 1961 outside the small town of Labrador City, near one of the world’s biggest iron ore deposits, Smokey Mountain Ski Club is located in Newfoundland and Labrador, and does not belong to Cape Smokey. In this ski area, you’ll find 80 acres of terrain, a few lifts, and 24 named runs. It is the only lift-served area in eastern Canada that offers above-tree-line skiing.
There is a reasonable price for lift tickets and season passes, which cost CAD$42.00 and CAD$352.94, respectively. Iron Rock Brewing Company is Labrador’s first craft brewery and one of the few places in town to stay and eat. The small regional airport located near Smokey Mountain is despite the mountains’ remote location.
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