10 Insane North American Ski Resorts You've Never Heard Of

While hitting the slopes of Aspen, Jackson Hole or Whistler is on the wish list for diehard skiers and snowboarders, and deservedly so, there are many lesser-known resorts in the USA and Canada that are also right up there when it comes to snow stoke.

There are many things that come together to make up a great ski resort. There’s the quality of the snow, the amount and breakdown of the terrain, the range of accommodation – either ski-in, ski-out or in town, the range of activities available, the dining and après scene and more.

It does come down to the type of skier or boarder you are, whether you have kids or not, whether you are into the après scene or not and whether you are a ski tragic who just wants to ski all day from first chair to last, or if you are a fair weather rider and like to mix in some other activities.

We have come up with a list of 10 under-the-radar resorts that you might not have heard of but could be just what you’re looking for in the perfect snow holiday.

1. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana, USA

Sitting at the top of Montana in the shadows of Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort is uncrowded, great value for money and has 1214 hectares of terrain that suits everyone. For the best views ski down the aptly named Inspiration, and for fun, don’t miss George’s Gorge – a natural half pipe.

You can choose to stay on the mountain in a range of accommodations, or stay in the charming town of Whitefish, which is about 12 kilometres from the mountain and has some excellent dining and après ski options. For on-mountain lunch or après, Hellroaring Saloon is not to be missed.

2. Mt Hood Meadows, Oregon, USA

Mt Hood is an active volcano and has three resorts on its snowy sides. Mt Hood Meadows is the major resort and has world-class facilities and terrain for all levels – including the expert-only Heather Canyon. Timberline is higher up the volcano and as it has a glacier, it’s the only place in the USA where you can ski all year round. Timberline is smaller, but it has the gorgeous Timberline Lodge – a beautiful old timber hotel that was used as the outside of the Overlook Hotel in the movie The Shining. The third resort is Mt Hood Skibowl, which is loved by advanced riders, has excellent night skiing and the Snow Tube and Adventure Park.

3. Le Massif de Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada

A snow holiday in Le Massif delivers a triple dose of wow, with excellent skiing and snowboarding, the gastronomic delights of the Charlevoix region and of course the cultural offerings of stunning Quebec City, just an hour’s drive away.

Le Massif has the highest amount of vertical east of the Canadian Rockies, but don’t get too distracted by the jaw-dropping views over the frozen St Lawrence River down below. This place is on the up and up with Club Med due to open its first winter resort in Canada at Le Massif in December 2020.

A holiday in Le Massif delivers a triple dose of wow

4. Snowbasin Resort, Utah, USA

Snowbasin has Olympic cred, hosting the downhill at the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is near Ogden or 40 minutes from Salt Lake, and has 1214 hectares of slopes, glades and bowls. The view from the Allen Peak Tram is fabulous, and if you don’t want to drop over the edge and ski down just ride the tram down and have a steadying hot chocolate at John Paul Lodge.

There are also great views from Strawberry Gondola, and park lovers will want to hang out at Blue Grouse. This season is the first that Snowbasin will be part of the Epic Pass family, which is great for Perisher regulars.

5. Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Nevada, USA

The Tahoe area has the highest concentration of ski resorts in North America, from big players like Heavenly to hidden gems like Diamond Peak. The latter is community owned and has a lovely, feel-good ambience and eye-popping views over the mesmerising vivid blue Lake Tahoe.

The lake doesn’t freeze, and you can see it from various runs around the resort, with the hero shot for your Instagram best taken from the Crystal Ridge run, or the deck at the Snowflake Lodge. The best place to stay is the spectacularly beautiful Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, which has shuttle buses the short distance up to the mountain.

6. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Canada

Named after the river of the same name at the foot of the mountain, this uber-cool resort gives a lot of bang for its buck. It has over 85 chutes, many of them eye-wateringly steep, and five alpine bowls. Crystal Bowl was my favourite. At the base there’s an area for absolute beginners – there were kids as young as 18 months old.

Kicking Horse has the highest restaurant in Canada – The Eagle’s Eye – which even has a couple of suites upstairs where you can sleep in luxury. Also sleeping nearby in his den will be an orphaned grizzly bear named Boo, who lives on the mountain in his own sanctuary. You can ski right up to his den to read all about Boo.

Kicking Horse resort gives a lot of bang for its buck

7. Sun Valley Resort, Idaho, USA

When you ski or snowboard down Arnold’s Run at Sun Valley, you’ll be in the ski tracks of Arnold Schwarzenegger, just one of a long line of Hollywood celebs who have stayed and skied in the resort Ernest Hemingway promoted and fell in love with. It has two mountains – the beginner-friendly Dollar and the steeper and deeper Baldy. Stay in the gorgeous Sun Valley Lodge, which has an ice rink, stunning spa and a bowling alley.

For après, test out the Duchin Lounge or the Ram Bar in Sun Valley, or the Limelight or the Pioneer Saloon in the old mining town of Ketchum, which also has an airport with direct flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Fun fact – Sun Valley is where chairlifts were invented.

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8. Powder Mountain Resort, Utah, USA

Powder Mountain is different to other resorts in a couple of ways: there is no snowmaking, so all the snow is the good, natural stuff; and every day, there’ll be a maximum of 1500 skiers or snowboarders in the resort. And don’t think it is because it is small – Powder Mountain actually has 3425 hectares of skiable, creamy snow.

That is one skier to half a hectare which means no waiting around. If you want to get even more private powder, you can go pay-per-ride cat skiing on Lightning Ridge and Raintree. Pay to ride up then ski or board down … and repeat until your legs can go no more. Stay in Eden, Huntsville or Ogden, but not until you’ve raised a glass with your new Pow Mow mates at the Powder Keg.

Powder Mountain actually has 3425 hectares of skiable, creamy snow

9. Grand Targhee Resort, Wyoming, USA

Grand Targhee is just over the Teton Pass from Jackson Hole and is a real treat – no matter what your level. Beginners have a raft of green runs around the Shoshone lift, while intermediates and advanced riders will love exploring the tree runs, the lovely steep blues off Blackfoot and Dreamcatcher lifts, and the gorgeous runs on the way to, and around the Sacajawea lift.

Advanced riders can sign up for cat skiing adventures over on Peaked Mountain. There is accommodation at the resort meaning you can enjoy every possible minute on Grand Targhee’s beautiful runs, and at the end of the day, have a beverage or three at the Branding Iron.

Grand Targhee is a real treat – no matter what your level

10. Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Canada

Revelstoke is a real snow buffet for adventurous skiers and snowboarders. Known as one of the steepest resorts in North America in terms of vertical, Revelstoke is manna from heaven for intermediates and advanced, and added a new beginner terrain around a brand new chairlift for the 2019/2020 season, ensuring all levels are looked after.

For even more excitement there is guided heli-skiing and cat-skiing on offer. The Sutton Park Hotel offers ski-in, ski-out accommodation at the base or stay in the pretty town of Revelstoke just minutes away, where you’ll also find a wonderful railway museum.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

10 insane North American ski resorts you’ve never heard of