7 of the Most Remote Ski Areas in North America

At this point, the ski resort is an established genre. We know about the gondolas, buzzy après bars, and cute but egregiously expensive towns. Skiing’s even bigger—and smaller—than this archetype, though, extending so far beyond the beaten path that it gets a bit ridiculous.

We’re talking about those ski areas that are literally in the middle of nowhere. They might have a small, accompanying town, but aside from that, they’ve completely removed from the bustle that exists alongside larger destinations.

There’s an obvious, rough trade-off here. If you’re an amenities person, you’ll probably be disappointed by the ski areas on the fringes. They often aren’t places with high-speed lifts, heated toilets, and towering ski-in ski-out lodges.

For the adventuresome among us, though, that stuff isn’t relevant—the skiing is. If that sounds like you—or you’re just curious about the surprising places that ski areas crop up—you’re in the right place. These are seven of North America’s most remote ski areas.

1. Mt. Bohemia, Michigan

This place is out there. Located almost on the northernmost point of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Mt. Bohemia offers deep lake-effect snow and committing terrain, remixing the usual Midwest ski area mold. In an average season, it receives over 270 inches of snowfall.

Tickets and passes are dirt cheap , too, coming in at $95 and $109, respectively. There’s a catch, though—getting to Mt. Bohemia can be tricky. Wherever you’re coming from, particularly if it’s outside of Michigan, you’ll probably have to drive for a while. The benefit? That means fewer skiers battling their way toward first tracks at this hidden gem.

2. Hurricane Ridge, Washington

The Olympic Peninsula is a rainforest with towering trees and thick, lush ground-level vegetation. Often associated with the Twilight series (have you been to Forks?!), this part of North America doesn’t regularly come up in conversations about ski resort destinations.

When you think about it, that makes sense—Hurricane Ridge, a small, community-run ski area on the Peninsula, isn’t technically a ski resort. You won’t find a mondo condominium complex. Instead, you’ll encounter a small collection of surface lifts and plenty of snow—Hurricane Ridge averages around 400 inches of the stuff each winter.

Related: 7 of the Most Scenic Ski Resorts in North America

3. Cape Smokey, Nova Scotia

The East is a densely populated place, meaning it isn’t easy to find a ski area that’s not near a relatively large urban hub. However, if you’re willing to head northwards, there’s a unique opportunity to ditch the crowds—and ski. Cape Smokey, Nova Scotia, borders the Atlantic Ocean and houses the region's only gondola.

Having some sturdy gear will go a long way at Cape Smokey—the weather can get pretty wild at the roughly 85-acre ski area. During the 2023–2024 ski season, the ski area received 6 0 inches of snowfall in one week. Across Cape Smokey’s home—Cape Breton Island—nearly five feet of snow fell that same week.

Deep maritime snow skis a little better when you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to access it, and a day or week at Cape Smokey won’t leave you in the hole. Day tickets cost CAD$69.99, and season passes cost as little as CAD$399—provided you snag them in the spring. Lodging is available at several spots near the ski area, including the Lantern Hill & Hollow, which offers ski and stay packages.

4. Red Lodge Mountain, Montana

Just outside the small town of Red Lodge, the aptly named Red Lodge Mountain exists outside the gravitational pull of Bozeman, Montana, and Big Sky Resort. While the ski area doesn’t boast high-speed six-person D-Line lifts , it’s got plenty of charm—and vert. Red Lodge Mountain boasts 2,400 feet of vertical, 1,635 acres of terrain, and 70 named runs.

Its remote location doesn’t mean you won’t find any spots to check out during a post-ski après session, either. In Red Lodge is Prerogative Kitchen , a 2023 James Beard Award nominee, alongside coffee shops and lively bars. The Pollard Hotel provides the pillows and bedsheets.

Related: 6 Lesser-Known Ski Destinations That Should Be on Your Radar

5. Moose Mountain, Yukon Territory

In 2024, LiftBlog founder and editor Peter Landsman completed a years-spanning quest to visit every ski area and chairlift in North America. His final far-flung destination? Moose Mountain, Yukon Territory. There’s out of the way, and there’s Moose Mountain, which is the local hill for Dawson City, a town with somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 residents. It has a single T-bar lift, operates with a mostly volunteer crew, and remains open even when the mercury plummets into the negative.

Moose Mountain isn’t the sort of place you visit during a normal vacation—it’s there for the local community, not tourists—but it does provide one of skiing’s more unique experiences.

6. Mount Cain, British Columbia

The twin towns of Ucluelet and Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, are an established Pacific Northwest surfing destination, but the stormy, often wet locale offers something for skiers, too, in the form of Mount Cain. The small ski area runs three surface lifts, has 21 named runs, and averages 456 inches of snowfall yearly.

If you mention the ski area while traveling in British Columbia, you might get blank stares or, as one Redditor who asked about Mount Cain discovered, complete denial. “Mount Cain doesn’t exist,” read one reply. The place is a closely guarded secret, and this status is reinforced by its difficult-to-reach location. To get to Mount Cain, you’d need to ride a ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo—then sit in the car for three hours. Whistler Blackcomb soaks up much of the Vancouver skier traffic for a reason.

7. Smokey Mountain Ski Club, Newfoundland and Labrador

Established in 1961, Smokey Mountain Ski Club, located in Newfoundland and Labrador, and not to be confused with Cape Smokey, stands outside the small town of Labrador City, which was constructed near one of the world’s largest iron ore deposits. This ski area keeps it simple with around 80 acres of terrain, a handful of lifts, and 24 named runs. Smokey is the only place for lift-served above-tree-line skiing in eastern Canada.

Lift tickets and season passes are reasonably priced at CAD$42.00 and CAD$352.94, respectively. There’s a smattering of places to stay in and eat in town, including Iron Rock Brewing Company, Labrador’s first craft brewery. Despite Smokey Mountain’s location, a small regional airport is nearby.

Related: The 5 Best Ski Resorts for Families Out West

Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing.

From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed. Submit your best clips for a chance to be featured on POWDER. Tune in and watch handpicked, high-quality ski videos streaming all day long on POWDER TV , and subscribe to our YouTube channel .