5 Little Ski Areas To Write Home About

At this point, the "mom n' pop" ski area has become something of a trope in the snow sports world. These smaller, often independent resorts are hailed as the guardians of skiing's soul, warding off the tendrils of ski area conglomerates with each spin of their rickety, two-seater-supporting bull wheels.

And, as a ski writer, I'm supposed to approach tropes critically, offering fresh, potentially feather-ruffling opinions about the sacred cows that we skiers have come to love because good writing, at least in my opinion, starts conversations.

This belief is at odds with the fact that saying "mom n' pop resorts rock!" won't generate much discussion besides a few approving head nods. Everyone, aside from a few salivating real estate executives obsessed with paid, 4000-vehicle parking lots, appreciates the little guys of the ski world.

But you know what? You can call the love for two-seaters and quaint base lodges cliche, tropey, or overly safe all you want. That doesn't change the fact that, in most cases, the mom n' pop spots deserve all the adoration they get.

They're perfect places to avoid the crowds and experience what skiing used to be before the rise of high-speed detachable chairlifts and mega passes, usually at friendlier price points, too.

So, I say, let the sacred cow live another day. These are five little ski areas worth your time.

Lost Trail Ski Area, Montana

Lost Trail straddles the state boundaries of Idaho and Montana, sprawling over the Continental Divide in a network of welcoming two-seater chairlifts. You'll find a small lodge at the base with hot food and an even hotter wood fireplace.

Folks, if this resort only offered up its legendary fireplace, it'd already have a spot on our list, but Lost Trail is more than a cozy spot to warm your piggies on a cold day, particularly in the terrain department.

That's where the honkin' super resorts usually have the hidden gems beat, possessing the capital to build enormous trams that crawl up the sides of jagged peaks, unlocking committing steeps inaccessible by the humble two-seater. But Lost Trail punches above its weight class if you don't mind a little bushwhacking and know where to look. Throughout, you can find hidden, powdery pillow zones and bouncy gladed runs. And if a long groomed run is more your speed, the resort's Chair Four has you covered.

Lost Trail Ski Area Stats/Info:

Vertical: 1,800 ft.

Skiable Terrain: 1,800 ac.

Average Snowfall: 325 inches

Lifts: 8

Trails: 60+

Snowmaking: N/A

Night Skiing: NO

Indy Pass: YES

Who's it for? Montanan skiers and state visitors looking for cold smoke without the crowds

Trollhaugen, Wisconsin

Trollhuagen isn't for those seeking steep, sustained skiing. Instead, it's for the park rats.

While admittedly humble in its terrain offerings, Troll is home to a buzzing freestyle-centric scene. During the winter, the night air above the resort fills with the clang of ski edges meeting rails, the churn of the rope tow, and the hoots of stoked teenagers landing their first backflips or corks.

Unlike most on this list, the ski area also touts metropolitan area accessibility. It's a quick cross-border drive from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and surrounded by suburbs and towns.

Filmmaker Nick Schoess captured the magic of Troll with his video series "Human Being." Tap in below.

Trollhaugen Stats/Info:

Vertical: 280 ft.

Skiable Terrain: 90 ac.

Average Snowfall: N/A

Lifts: 8

Trails: 24

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: YES

Indy Pass: YES

Who's it for? Those seeking the beating heart of the Midwest park scene

Montana Snowbowl, Montana

When I first moved to Missoula, Montana, I struggled to decide between one of a few resort options, so I started asking my coworkers where they thought I should pick up a pass. Lost Trail, which you already read about, was one option, as was Discovery Ski Area. The final and nearest to-town choice was Snowbowl, whose name I'd barely uttered before my manager chimed in to say, "It's s****y, but it's close." How's that for a bumper sticker?

I have to say, after spending multiple seasons at Snow Bowl, I can't entirely disagree with my manager's assessment, as the ski area, like any good mom n' pop resort, is a little rough around the edges. The lifts are prone to crapping out, the grooming's limited, and much of the interesting skiing concludes with a moguled-out path called Chicken Chute that will stress-test your ACLs.

But, quibbles aside, Snowbowl exudes endless charm. The bar serves up mouth-watering Bloody Marys and wood-fired pizza, the locals are everything you'd hope they would be, and Snowbowl possesses plenty of surprisingly steep skiing when the conditions align. Come for the Bloody Marys -- stay for the killer mom n' pop atmosphere.

Montana Snowbowl Stats/Info:

Vertical: 2,600 ft.

Skiable Terrain: N/A

Average Snowfall: 300 in.

Lifts: 6

Trails: N/A

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: NO, aside from certain events

Indy Pass: NO

Who's it for? People who like their pizza with a side of skiing

White Pass Ski Area, Washington

During my first and only ski day at White Pass, Washington, I suspected I'd fallen into a time machine. While the resort touts relatively modern infrastructure -- most of the lifts are triples or quads --  something about the ambiance reeked of a different, perhaps better, time.

Pinning that sensation -- which, to me, is worth the price of admission alone -- to any specific aspect of White Pass is difficult, but here's what I can say definitively about the resort.

Despite its relatively small size, it touts plenty of varied terrain that caters to high-caliber skiers. Case in point: White Pass is the stomping ground of professional skier and Nimbus collaborator Andy Mahre. Brief steeps and tight trees abound.

And the Far East chair provides access to a slew of beginner-oriented runs for those on a mellower trajectory. Nordic skiers have options, too. Head across the road from White Pass's alpine base area, and you'll find a slew of cross-country trails.

The resort's terrain variability, from XC trails to bunny slopes to expert romps, is only made better when Washington's Cascade range serves up a damp, powder-laden storm cycle. But these zero visibility days obscure one of White Pass's best traits: it's the other Washingtonian ski area with views of Mt. Rainier. As you might expect, these views are best enjoyed when the sun's shining.

Although, White Pass deserves more than the title of "other." It's the humbler and more wizened cousin of nearby Crystal Mountain, a rapidly evolving resort that's leaving its roots behind. In contrast, the simple allure of the past is a selling point at White Pass, not something to hide.

White Pass Ski Area Stats/Info:

Vertical: 2,050 ft.

Skiable Terrain: 1,402 ac.

Average Snowfall: 350 in.

Lifts: 8

Trails: 45

Snowmaking: N/A

Night Skiing: NO

Indy Pass: YES

Who's it for? Seattlites who don't mind a longer drive if it means avoiding the hordes of weekend warriors at closer resorts

Sundown Mountain Resort, Iowa

Sundown Mountain Resort is in Iowa. To be blunt, that means that, like Trollhaugen, its terrain offerings aren't exactly award-winning. However, as I've hoped you picked up on by now, terrain doesn't make a resort. The people and culture do that.

Sundown comes as a recommendation from my editor and honorary Powder East Coast representative, Matt Lorelli. Matt understands the humble ski hill better than I do, so I trust his judgment.

The resort, which touts a unique upside-down format -- the base area is above the lifts and ski runs -- serves a surprisingly large contingent of skiers in the Cedar Rapids area. To make up for what it lacks in steeps, Sundown boasts multiple terrain parks and a public-access ski jump with an airbag -- two resort features that feed an already-strong midwest freestyle skiing scene.

Thus, Sundown, as with its Midwest compatriots, is many things: a launchpad for burgeoning freestyle skiers, a bastion of skiing in a part of the country that's oft-overlooked, and a gathering place snow sports enthusiasts living in nearby towns, all traits worth extolling and experiencing for yourself.

Sundown Mountain Resort Stats/Info:

Vertical: 475 ft.

Skiable Terrain: N/A

Average Snowfall: N/A

Lifts: 4

Trails: 21

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: YES

Indy Pass: YES

Who's it for? Skiers who need a reminder that snow sports isn't all about gondolas, five-star hotels, and endless terrain offerings

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