Best mountain towns for backcountry skiing
Across the West’s mountain towns, here’s where the backcountry skiing scene runs deepest — ranked by the recurring groups, clubs, and meetups we track. Tap a town to see who’s out there and when.
- JacksonThe Tetons — Grand Teton, Snow King & the Snake River.5 groups
- BellinghamWestern Washington U town — Galbraith Mountain, Mt. Baker & the Salish Sea.4 groups
- BoiseIdaho’s capital — the Ridge to Rivers foothills, the Boise River & Bogus Basin.4 groups
- North IdahoCoeur d’Alene & Sandpoint — Schweitzer, Lake Pend Oreille & the Panhandle.4 groups
- Summit CountyThe Tenmile & Gore ranges — Breckenridge, Dillon Reservoir & Frisco.4 groups
- Teton ValleyThe quiet side of the Tetons — Grand Targhee, the Big Holes & the Teton River.4 groups
- AnchorageThe Chugach — the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Kincaid Park & Chugach State Park.3 groups
- BendCentral Oregon — Phil’s trails, Mt. Bachelor, Smith Rock & the Deschutes.3 groups
- Crested ButteWestern Colorado University — the birthplace of mountain biking & the Gunnison Valley.3 groups
- Methow ValleyThe eastern North Cascades — Methow Trails, Goat Wall & the Methow River.3 groups
- OgdenWeber State University — the Ogden River Parkway, Snowbasin & Pineview.3 groups
- ProvoBYU — Mount Timpanogos, Provo Canyon & Utah Lake.3 groups
- SpokaneInland Northwest hub — the Spokane River, Mt. Spokane & Riverside State Park.3 groups
- Steamboat SpringsSki Town USA — Howelsen Hill, the Yampa River & Routt County.3 groups
- Sun ValleyKetchum & Hailey — Bald Mountain, the Big Wood River & Galena’s Nordic trails.3 groups
The 15 towns where we track the most recurring backcountry skiing groups (of 60 with any) — a proxy for how active the local scene is, not a verdict on the terrain or trails. New towns and groups are added regularly, and many listings still need a verification pass.