Saturday, December 11, 2010

Best North American Budget Ski Resorts

The resorts below are great for the everyday person who just wants to enjoy the snow and ski or snowboard to have fun and not spend thousands of dollars in the process.

Mt. Bachelor, OR

Bachelor now has scaled ticket pricing, which means you pay for what you want, rather than a flat fee for the whole mountain resort. Lift tickets come in at less than $100, which means you can enjoy the conditions you want at the price you want. With almost 4000 acres of terrain and 3500 feet of downhill, Bachelor is the getaway of a lifetime.

Schweitzer, ID

With 1200 acres of glades, this resort has the best tree skiing in North America. Endless views of the lake and mountains, tickets at just over $50/day and transport on holidays and weekends so everyone can join in the fun.

Wolf Creek, CO

Definitely not a mega resort, but still a fantastic getaway, Wolf Creek offers a unique experience. Wolf Creek doesn't beat around the bush, it offers the single most important and relevant thing: The Most Snow. Annual 450 inches and just over $50/day. What else do you need?

Loveland, CO

400 inches for $60, the place to go when Wolf Creek is booked up. This resort's season is also one of the longest in Colorado and has an annual battle with other getaways in the area over their opening day (usually early October). At only 53 miles from Denver, 1500 acres of snow and 13,000 ft high elevations await you.

Saddleback, ME

This getaway isn't Sugarloaf or Sunday River, but it gets the job done. 200 feet of vertical, glade skiing and the only hike-to, above-treeline snowfields in the East. Advanced and expert skiers frequent this resort. Even with ticket price hikes this year, Saddleback comes in at just under $50. A winner.

Alyeska, AK

Forget the helicopters and Cessna planes, Alyeska has ski lifts and easy access unlike other resorts in Alaska. With over 600 inches of snow at the mid slopes and almost 800 at the top - where else would you even want to go? And it's not a "get away" getaway either, because all you pay is $60/day, with rebates and discounts for multi-day passes.

Castle Mountain, Alberta

A snow "sandbox" of anything you like, with day tickets for just over $60, Castle Mountain gives you almost 3,000 feet of snow and the Rocky Mountains wow. This getaway is one you'll remember forever - mostly because of the unique pride the locals have in their history.

Snowbasin, UT

400 inches a year doesn't sound much compared to the rest of Utah, but not all snow is created equal! Untouched snow, untracked lines, steep terrain, featherlight powder all for $65/day - what a getaway! If you plan ahead and do a bit of research you can even get nice discounts.

Mt. Baker, WA

Snowiest resort in the world and only $47.50 a day. Steep slopes, expert terrain and beautiful backcountry - the most thrilling riding in the country!

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