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Best ski town with boring skiing.

61scout80

61scout80

Anchored. Finally.
Joined
May 22, 2020
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1194
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178
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Crestwood, KY
I spent last winter in Boise & I went skiing for the first time in over 20 years. It was a fantastic time. Going again this year sounds great.
There's no way I'll be sharp enough to stray from the easier trails with just a couple of days to ski. That means the actual skiing doesn't need to be all that challenging, but not a place with typically bad conditions.

What are some bland ski resorts where the area around it is fantastic? I love the western US, especially Reno-Tahoe, but I've been there quite a bit in the last few years.

I think my fictional dream town would have great food and great scenery but very few crowds and easy parking. Somewhere with ski in and out accomodations would be awesome too.

Do any of you have any suggestions?
 
Last ski trip I took, we stayed in Taos but drove over to Anglefire. It's a very simple ski area without a ton of technical stuff, and wasn't too crowded going at the end of the season in April. staying in Taos got the hotel costs down a bit. There's skiing in Taos of course as well. Anglefire does have plenty of ski-in-ski-out hotels as well.
 
I’m not sure that’s it’s a great recommendation but here’s where’s I’d go for the reasons you listed. Crested Butte Colorado. It used to be that it’s far enough out of the way that it’s not the bustling mess that Breckenridge or Aspen or Telluride etc are. Winters are tough that deep in the Rockies at the dead end of a two lane road a long way from a major highway. I used to have a hookup for a bad ass condo in Crested and it was a great place to go hide in the dead of winter.

Things may have, maybe even PROBABLY have changed since the last time I went. I avoid the I70 corridor in the winter the ski/snowboard tards ruin everything.
 
Look at white sulphur springs in Montana.
Bridger ski area is about an hour southwest and Showdown is about an hour northwest. Cool small town. If you want a bigger town then go to Bozeman and Bridger is 30 minutes or for more tourists you can go to Big Sky in a little over an hour.
 
animator said:
Last ski trip I took, we stayed in Taos but drove over to Anglefire. It's a very simple ski area without a ton of technical stuff, and wasn't too crowded going at the end of the season in April. staying in Taos got the hotel costs down a bit. There's skiing in Taos of course as well. Anglefire does have plenty of ski-in-ski-out hotels as well.
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I always forget New Mexico is a 4 season state. Thanks for the reminder, I need to spend more time there.


JR4X said:
I’m not sure that’s it’s a great recommendation but here’s where’s I’d go for the reasons you listed. Crested Butte Colorado. It used to be that it’s far enough out of the way that it’s not the bustling mess that Breckenridge or Aspen or Telluride etc are. Winters are tough that deep in the Rockies at the dead end of a two lane road a long way from a major highway. I used to have a hookup for a bad ass condo in Crested and it was a great place to go hide in the dead of winter.

Things may have, maybe even PROBABLY have changed since the last time I went. I avoid the I70 corridor in the winter the ski/snowboard tards ruin everything.
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I just did a google streetview "drive" down the main drag. Not one commercial business with a name I recognize. There's not even a Walmart in town. This may be the last hold-out that the hipsters haven't ruined with Starbucks and shit. no walmart. no mega grocer, not even a franchise fast food joint. No big names until you get down to a gas station. I can't believe this paradise exists in Colorado! I may need to delete this thread to save the town!!! :flipoff2::laughing:
 
How much you looking to spend?
Snowmass village CO has great ski in/ski out accommodations and food/apres scenes, but you pay for it. Buttermilk is the beginner mountain down the road.
Just downvalley is Sunlight Mountain, the locals mountain. Skiing isn't as good, but good scene and food in Carbondale and Glenwood. Plenty of activities to do outside of skiing in that area.

My local mountain is Powderhorn. Good snow after mid-January, AMAZING black glades skiing, 45 mins drive to a town big enough for anything you might want, plenty of cheap air b&b's in Mesa, CO. You won't find great food or much of an afterparty at Powderhorn or Mesa, but the longest lift line I've waited in the last two years was 10 mins.

Another place I've researched is Silver Mountain ID. 40 mins to Coeur d'Alene, ID. Haven't been there but it's on my radar.
 
Sandy Johnson said:
Northstar. Beautiful village to hang out in and fancy accommodations, very mellow mountain. Downside- is expensive.
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I love that area so much, but I've wound up there at least once a year for the last few years. As weird as it sounds to avoid an area I like, I like visiting new places too.
 
We always keep going back to Brian Head in Southern Utah, usually late February or early March. It’s mostly easy terrain (there is one challenging chair though that’s pretty fun), beautiful setting, surprisingly affordable and not crowded. The town itself is pretty dead though (not many food options, though the Pizza place there is pretty good).

We did a 3-day trip to Mammoth a few years back, and have done Brian Head the last few years, Brian Head was 1/3 the price and far less crowded so we’ll likely keep going back there.
 
engineerjoe said:
How much you looking to spend?
Snowmass village CO has great ski in/ski out accommodations and food/apres scenes, but you pay for it. Buttermilk is the beginner mountain down the road.
Just downvalley is Sunlight Mountain, the locals mountain. Skiing isn't as good, but good scene and food in Carbondale and Glenwood. Plenty of activities to do outside of skiing in that area.

My local mountain is Powderhorn. Good snow after mid-January, AMAZING black glades skiing, 45 mins drive to a town big enough for anything you might want, plenty of cheap air b&b's in Mesa, CO. You won't find great food or much of an afterparty at Powderhorn or Mesa, but the longest lift line I've waited in the last two years was 10 mins.

Another place I've researched is Silver Mountain ID. 40 mins to Coeur d'Alene, ID. Haven't been there but it's on my radar.
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I guess I'll spend what it takes? I'm not specifically looking for the discount places. A basic ski in/out VRBO in Breckenridge is about $400 a night in March, I think that's what I should expect to pay for what I'd like. We're finally in a comfortable place where we can do nice things, a stark contrast from my days of $19 Vegas hotel rooms next to the dumpster. :lmao:

It's real easy to find the awesome places everyone wants to go, It takes a group like you guys to help me find the awesome places no one knows about. :smokin:
 
I’ve skied Toas, Angel Fire, Sandia Peak and Santa Fe, when I was 30 years younger. At 12 and 13 yo, I couldn’t tell you what the night life was like, but Taos was amazing and Angel Fire was riddled with Texans:homer: Still a nice ski area.
Raced states and USSA from 13 to 18, haven’t skied since.
There are some very nice ski areas in New England, just not the same as western snow. And they attract all the assholes from NYC, CT and eastern MA.

I typically don’t care for the majority of the ski and mtb crowds, everyone on my mother’s side of the family is a mtb&skier.
 
JR4X said:
I’m not sure that’s it’s a great recommendation but here’s where’s I’d go for the reasons you listed. Crested Butte Colorado. It used to be that it’s far enough out of the way that it’s not the bustling mess that Breckenridge or Aspen or Telluride etc are. Winters are tough that deep in the Rockies at the dead end of a two lane road a long way from a major highway. I used to have a hookup for a bad ass condo in Crested and it was a great place to go hide in the dead of winter.

Things may have, maybe even PROBABLY have changed since the last time I went. I avoid the I70 corridor in the winter the ski/snowboard tards ruin everything.
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Popped in to suggest CB too.
 
engineerjoe said:
Another place I've researched is Silver Mountain ID. 40 mins to Coeur d'Alene, ID. Haven't been there but it's on my radar.
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Bogus Basin outside of Boise was phenomol. Boise is a really cool city and Bogus is a pretty short drive straight up the mountain. We went on super bowl Sunday and basically had the bunny lift to ourselves.

The whole place looks like a post card.

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BUCKLAND said:
I’ve skied Toas, Angel Fire, Sandia Peak and Santa Fe, when I was 30 years younger. At 12 and 13 yo...
Raced states and USSA from 13 to 18, haven’t skied since.
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You happen to remember the Webb family? Kris was well known for racing some of those events only wearing a sock on his junk. :laughing:
 
Sceep said:
You happen to remember the Webb family? Kris was well known for racing some of those events only wearing a sock on his junk. :laughing:
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I remember hearing about that, that is all.

I just enjoyed spending time with the young ladies in the GS suits and giving them rides home. On of them ended up being my sons gym teacher in elementary school
:lmao::smokin:
 
I’ve skied most of Colorado, Wyoming, and some of Utah. Tried to ski in New Mexico but they lack snow more than most ski areas. Sorry New Mexico folks:flipoff2:.

Winter Park and Steamboat are still my two favorites and you can get ski in/out at both.
Winter Park is big enough that it can be loaded and you still don’t have to wait in line to get to the top. Steamboat is never full on the mountain and more of a cowboy town.

Alta in Utah is a great place to ski on Sunday morning because all the SLC folks are at the temple.:lance: Take your own booze because Utah liquor laws suck. Alta and Steamboat boast some of the best snow in the West and I have seen it.

Aspen and Jackson Hole are great but lift tickets are too high.

Vail is a great ski town but it takes me at least an hour to get away from the crowds to the backside where it is not to crowded.

I70 is a shit show but I never go West on Friday or East on Sunday.
 
Grand Targhee is one of my favorites if I just want to do easy-moderate runs in a laid back environment at a legit resort. Had some of my favorite ski days there. Never have to wait in line and it can get some truly amazing snow. Lots of fun off piste areas. Jackson is within an hour or so drive if your interested in that. Snow King is in Jackson and is fun for a day trip if you’re in the area (and cheap!). Jackson Hole Resort has become a bit much and I no longer really enjoy skiing there.
 
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animator said:
Last ski trip I took, we stayed in Taos but drove over to Anglefire. It's a very simple ski area without a ton of technical stuff, and wasn't too crowded going at the end of the season in April. staying in Taos got the hotel costs down a bit. There's skiing in Taos of course as well. Anglefire does have plenty of ski-in-ski-out hotels as well.
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you might be able to get inexpensive AirBNB at el valle escondido between taos and angel fire. lots of nice cabins there for cheap.
 
61scout80 said:
I spent last winter in Boise & I went skiing for the first time in over 20 years. It was a fantastic time. Going again this year sounds great.
There's no way I'll be sharp enough to stray from the easier trails with just a couple of days to ski. That means the actual skiing doesn't need to be all that challenging, but not a place with typically bad conditions.

What are some bland ski resorts where the area around it is fantastic? I love the western US, especially Reno-Tahoe, but I've been there quite a bit in the last few years.

I think my fictional dream town would have great food and great scenery but very few crowds and easy parking. Somewhere with ski in and out accomodations would be awesome too.

Do any of you have any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Reno-Tahoe sucks. Stay away. It's full of Californians ruining this place. I wish I was kidding. North Star, Heavenly, Palisades (SQUAW valley) and Kirkwood would be too busy or not worth it.
Bear Valley, CA can be cool. I went there a fair amount as a child. Arnold doesn't suck if you want to be outside in a small mountain town.


Try Sun Valley, ID.
 
I think my favorite place...so far is Steamboat.

I've ⛷️ Utah, Colorado, California, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho.


Steamboat is just my kind of place. Been 19yrs since I've ⛷️ but that's my vote.
 
mt bachelor, bend, oregon. it is not ski in, but the parking is no big deal, reasonable prices, pretty country, great food in Bend and Sisters.

ski sunlight glenwood springs co. pretty country, good places to eat, got the hot pools at night, inexpensive places to stay.
 
I've skied all over the world and honestly, I had a great time at Big Bear CA last year. It's like a tiny bullshit mountain about the size of what you'd find in NY/VT but with similar terrain to Tahoe and a fun little town to walk around. Not to say the skiing is shit - far from it, and I really enjoyed it - just not a big mountain. Do not even think about going there on a weekend.

I stayed in a small cabin just on the edge of town that was neat enough to feel like you were away from stuff but could walk into town for dinner or drinks without too much hassle.

Heavenly/South Lake Tahoe would be my next vote but you're getting pretty expensive and commercial at that point. Might just say to get one of those passes for Utah on the Salt Lake side, kinda nice just being able to take the bus up & down from the canyons and hang out as much as you want.

Would absolutely recommend Chamonix in France (connecting to Courmayeur in Italy) if you're up for a bigger sorta trip, that's maybe my favorite ski town ever. Zermatt in Switzerland a close second. Skiing the Alps sounds like an expensive endeavor but the ski passes are way cheaper than the US and the lodging isn't bad either. Worth looking at anyway.
 
Ditchrunner said:
Look at white sulphur springs in Montana.
Bridger ski area is about an hour southwest and Showdown is about an hour northwest. Cool small town. If you want a bigger town then go to Bozeman and Bridger is 30 minutes or for more tourists you can go to Big Sky in a little over an hour.
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Red Lodge is where it's at.

I hate how the parking at showdown overfills into the sledder parking :flipoff2::laughing:


White sulphur has a hotel that does packages with showdown.

Bridger is where most of the Bozeman locals go.

Big Sky is where the tourists go. The rich people that live there have private ski hills in moonlight and the club.


They'll all be a rat race at the lodge in great weather or poor weather. The worse the weather the less people on the hill.
 
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