The Least Crowded Ski Resorts In The U.S.

Winter sport fanatics, I am sure you are pleased that winter is finally here. This means acres of skiable terrain, gorgeous mountaintop views, and cozy resort getaways. For the most part, ski resorts are loaded with people right now. It can be a very frustrating, and sometimes dangerous, experience skiing and snowboarding down a mountain crowded with people. Not to mention prices, overbooked rooms, and jam-packed ski lifts won't make your trip any less stressful.

But you have waited all year for this, and those of you who enjoy skiing and snowboarding are not going to let the crowds stand in your way. Instead, you should opt for a less overwhelming trip and consider choosing a different destination — one that offers you the chance to ski peacefully and doesn't include crowded slopes and a vast amount of people.

Big Sky Resort in Montana is a beautiful, family-friendly destination. The resort provides childcare for when you and your significant other want to have some alone time. Enjoy live music, spa services, and great dining options. Get a season pass, take mountain sport lessons, host a conference, have your wedding there, and even join their snowboard and ski club.

49 Degrees North offers daily events at the resort. Have fun learning to ski and ride. Get half-price lift tickets and two-for-one lift tickets on specific days. Thrill-seekers can enjoy night skiing. Keep your kids entertained by signing them up for youth camp. Tip: Go during the summer months for mountain biking and hiking.

Located on the western slope of the Tetons is this quiet and uncrowded ski resort tucked in a canyon in Wyoming. It's one of the most underrated ski resorts in the U.S. Instead of visiting the popular Jackson Hole, consider Grand Targhee for its beautiful views and incredible snow. Non-skiers will also be happy to know that restaurant and spa lines won't be long.

Sugarloaf, the sometimes overlooked resort located on Sugarloaf Mountain, is home to one of the highest peaks in Maine — approximately 4,237 feet. It consists of more than 1,200 uncrowded acres to ski and snowboard on. This is the perfect resort for families that need a getaway. Some of their most popular amenities include indoor rock climbing, trampolines, a skate park, a basketball court, a volleyball court, and bowling.

Northwest Montana, also known as America's best-kept skiing secret, is home to Whitefish Mountain Resort. Imagine skiing on similar terrain you would find in Utah or Colorado but with fewer crowds. The views are absolutely incredible; the resort's Summit House looks directly into Glacier National Park. Choose from more than 200 on-mountain condominiums, hotel rooms, and mountain homes.

Crested Butte Ski Resort is a quiet and uncrowded mountain, open year-round. Tourists and locals love this resort because of its beautiful scenery and more than 1,500 skiable acres. If you're looking for a wedding venue, you're in luck. What better than to enjoy your special day on a beautiful mountain? Some of the most popular activities to do here include skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding.

Sun Valley Ski Resort is famous for its night skiing. Take the family on vacation for the ultimate winter sports trip. Go for a swim with the kids in one of three swimming pools, and get in your daily workout in one of the resort's two fitness centers. Popular winter activities to participate in include Nordic skiing, sleigh riding, bowling, and ice skating. Popular summer activities are biking, hiking, fly fishing, golfing, and tennis.

You're adventure begins here, at Colorado's beautiful and famous Telluride Resort. Go ice climbing, snowshoeing, and cat skiing. Host your wedding, join the ski and golf club, take private snow sport lessons or adult group lessons, or check out the spa. In the summer, go golfing, mountain biking, paragliding, horseback riding, and fly fishing.

Alta first opened its doors to skiers in 1939, making it one of the oldest and most-storied ski resorts in the U.S. It is nestled amid the Wasatch Mountains in a unique microclimate environment that differs from the surrounding areas; the location is characterized by 500 inches of high-volume, low-moisture snow every year. The resort prides itself on its variety of terrain and incredible beginner and intermediate slopes.

This mountain range, famous for its fresh Champagne Powder, is one of the largest resorts in Colorado. The vast amount of space makes it seemingly less crowded. The range is home to long, gradual runs, which are great for beginners, and 165 named trails, which are ready and waiting for those who are looking to improve. Between the resorts activities, its family-friendly town, and the mountain itself, it's practically impossible to get bored here.