Bigger is not always better. While we spend plenty of time oohing and ahhing over larger mountain towns like Boulder or Chattanooga, there are dozens of smaller hamlets with fewer than 6,000 full-time residents that offer the right combo of amenities and quick access to some of the best spots for outdoor recreation in the country. Here are my favorite small adventure towns across the United States, from minuscule hiking and climbing outposts to bustling ski towns.

Bethel, Maine

Population: 2,730

Why I Love It

Bethel is the kind of town that makes you consider relocating. Tucked into Western Maine鈥檚 Lakes and Mountains region, the village itself is super walkable with an eclectic array of restaurants, while being surrounded by public land, from the peaks that make up the expansive White Mountain National Forest to the less-intimidating Community Forest trails accessed directly from town.

The slow-moving Androscoggin River passes through the village (prime tubing in the summer) and an ever-growing is attracting more and more mountain bikers.

Oh, and Bethel is flanked by two ski resorts. is the larger of the two, with more than 2,000 feet of vertical and 750 acres of terrain (not to mention a couple of heated lifts), while is the mom-and-pop ski hill we all wish we had in our backyard, with $39 lift tickets every day, a friendly uphill policy, and a solid mix of terrain to keep it interesting.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Most people come to Bethel to ski Sunday River. If you鈥檙e looking for a challenge, head to Oz, a zone loaded with steep double black runs, or take Lollapalooza to Blind Ambition, an expansive gladed run on the edge of Jordan Bowl. Bring your mountain bike during the summer. Mt. Abram has lift-served terrain, but you can hit a number of trails directly from the edge of town. is a fun, flowy three-mile loop in the center of the Bethel Village Trails on the south side of the village.

Where to Eat

has a genius cocktail menu, as well as a seafood chowder that hits just right on a cold winter night. If you鈥檙e looking for something more casual, has burgers and a rotating New England IPA on tap.

Where to Stay

The will put you on the southern edge of the village, within walking distance of restaurants, and direct access to some of the town鈥檚 most loved mountain bike trails (from $126 per night).

Stowe, Vermont

Population: 5,230 or 745

Why I Love It

Quite simply, Stowe is the East Coast鈥檚 best ski town, especially this winter as Stowe Mountain Resort has enjoyed 329 inches of snow (and counting) at the time I鈥檓 writing this article, and then you have the New England charm of the village itself, with its steeples, covered bridges, and brick federal architectural style. And all of this sits in the shadow of the massive Mount Mansfield State Forest and Smugglers鈥� Notch State Park.

Not cool enough yet? How about an aggressive and progressive local population that鈥檚 worked to preserve more than for public use while building out a growing system of singletrack and nordic trails that can be accessed straight from town. Is Stowe still a sleepy hamlet tucked into the hills? Yes and no. The village still feels small, but it can be expensive, and it can get crowded, but that鈥檚 the proverbial price you pay for being the best ski town on the East Coast.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

In the winter, you鈥檙e obviously skiing Stowe, which is one of the East鈥檚 best resorts, with more than 2,000 vertical feet of drop, and 653 skiable acres split between two mountains: Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak.When the snow melts, combine a slice of the and the for an eight-mile loop that climbs the 4,393-foot Mount Mansfield via a 2,000-foot climb that includes some ladders and scrambling before reaching the treeless summit, where you can see the surrounding Green Mountains and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Mountain bikers should pedal the Stowe Recreation Trail, a six-mile paved path along the What River, to access , Stowe鈥檚 signature trail network with 12 miles of purpose-built singletrack. Make sure you hit the mile-long Florence, considered by many the best flow trail in the northeast. And listen, everyone should make a point to visit Stowe during fall, when the weather is crisp and the hardwoods are popping off in a barrage of reds, yellows, and golds.

Where to Eat

is incredibly hip, incredibly good, and incredibly crowded, but get on the waitlist and when it鈥檚 your chance, order the Vermont cheddar fritters and their smash burger and listen to the DJ spinning from a wall of vinyl. And if you鈥檙e in Vermont, you have to stop by the and pick up a four pack of the beer that put the brewery on the map, Heady Topper.

Where to Stay

Stowe has resorts attached to the ski hill and quaint bed and breakfasts, but check out the new cabins and lodge rooms at a few miles outside of town, with direct access to Stowe鈥檚 Recreation Path. The lodge has its own bar, pool, and hot tub and a grassy lawn overlooking the West Branch of the Little River (from $151 per night).

Silverton, Colorado

Population: 713

Why I Love It

Sitting at 9,300 feet in elevation, Silverton is a former gold and silver mining town that has found new life as a basecamp for outdoor adventure, thanks to the surrounding San Juan Mountains鈥攁 hotbed of skiing in the winter and alpine adventure in the summer. If you鈥檙e standing in downtown Silverton, you鈥檙e within and 15 miles of seven of Colorado鈥檚 14,000-foot summits.

The entire town is a National Historic Landmark with buildings erected in the late 1800s that still retain their Wild West vibe. Greene Street, the main road through the heart of town, is the only paved street in the municipality. I鈥檝e visited Silverton during the winter, on my way to ski the backcountry terrain in the San Juan mountains, but I鈥檓 dying to get back in the summer and early fall to check out the growing network of mountain bike trails and see the aspens surrounding town turn gold.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Experience the best of the San Juans in summer by hiking the , located in the Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan National Forest. The eight-mile out and back passes through meadows packed with wildflowers before delivering you to a trio of high-alpine lakes that are known to house rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. The hike tops out at 12,000 feet in elevation, but you can climb higher by picking up the Continental Divide Trail above the lakes.

The local bike club, the Silverton Singletrack Society, is in the process of building out 30 miles of singletrack in a system called that you can pedal to from town. The first six-mile loop has just opened, offering a steep climb before releasing you to a 1,000-foot, flowy descent.

If you have the skillset, I highly recommend skiing , which is like no other ski 鈥渞esort鈥� in the country. A single chairlift rises from a warming hut, from the top you can skin out to a cornucopia of backcountry lines, all of which demand expert-level skiing. If that鈥檚 not enough terrain, Silverton Mountain also offers heli-bumps from the top of the chairlift.

Where to Eat

has great IPAs as well as a full menu, from cauliflower tacos to pizzas loaded with sausage and bacon.

Where to Stay

The has 15 modern rooms in a multi-story building that once housed a gas station, ballroom, and lodge hall. The hotel sits in the heart of downtown and every booking comes with a $10 drink credit in the lobby bar (private rooms from $176 per night; bunks in the 10-bed bunk room from $75 per night).

Highlands, North Carolina

Population: 1,110听

Why I Love It

Highlands, which is one of the highest incorporated towns east of the Mississippi (elevation: 4,118 feet), has been a mountain escape since the late 1800s, originally attracting wealthy travelers who flocked to the village for its clean air and pristine surroundings.

People today show up for the same reasons, and Highlands has grown into a cultural hub of the mountains, with a surprisingly robust art and culinary scene given its small footprint. Main Street is bustling with shops, galleries and restaurants, while the surrounding Nantahala National Forest offers fast access to hiking trails, mountain lakes, and waterfalls.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Hiking Whiteside Mountain, a 4,903-foot peak named after the sheer, granite face that rises to its summit, is the must-do adventure close to town. The two-mile forms a loop that delivers you to the edge of this 700-foot cliff, one of the tallest in the eastern U.S.

You can actually drive your car behind Bridal Veil Falls, just outside of town, but for a more adventurous waterfall, head to Bust Your Butt Falls, a swimming hole just off Highway 64 on the Cullasaja River with a jumping rock and natural water slide at the base of the falls.

Where to Eat

You can鈥檛 turn around without stumbling into another fancy (and pricey) restaurant in Highlands, but I like for its to-go sandwiches and snacks that hit the spot on big hikes.

Where to Stay

Highlands has no shortage of high-end hotels and resorts, but I like the new , a 14-room motel that was recently renovated into a boutique stay where each room has its own typewriter and turntable with record collection (from $189 per night).

Kanab, Utah

Population: 5,200听

Why I Love It

You can鈥檛 beat Kanab鈥檚 location. Tucked into the desert of southern Utah, just north of the Arizona border, Kanab sits within striking distance of some of the Southwest鈥檚 most iconic landscapes. Bryce Canyon National Park is an hour north, Zion National Park is 45 minutes west. If you鈥檙e looking to take a dip, Lake Powell is an hour east, and drive two hours south and you鈥檒l hit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The town itself is steeped in Hollywood history, as more than 200 Westerns were filmed in the canyons around town. Kanab itself has a bit of a Moab vibe (think adobe buildings and streets sprawling through the desert floor) but it鈥檚 far sleepier than its gateway cousin, and in my opinion, has a much better culinary scene.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

So many parks, so little time. For something unique, head to where you can sand-board the 75-foot tall dunes, made of grains of quartz coated with iron oxide, giving them a pink hew. You can rent sand boards or sleds from the at the park ($25 per board).

Hike Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch, considered the longest slot canyon in America. The is the fastest way into the gorge, a 3.4-mile round trip that delivers you to the canyon. From there, you can explore up or down the canyon to your heart鈥檚 content. The gulch is in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. You鈥檒l need a for the day hike.

Buckskin Gulch is more than 12 miles long, and 200 feet deep at its low point. The walls are never wider than 20 feet during its entire length.

Where to Eat

Kanab is a legitimate foodie destination with a handful of restaurants that punch above the weight of a town this size. If you鈥檙e looking for a memorable dinner, head to , where the menu revolves around a series of small plates, from foraged local mushrooms to chili-rubbed beef sourced just across the border in Arizona.

Where to Stay

There are plenty of hotels around town, but spend the night at , a glamping resort with geodesic domes that have king beds, their own kitchenette, and massive windows overlooking the red rock cliffs (from $170 per night).

Patagonia, Arizona

Population: 789

Why I Love It

Start in Tucson, then head an hour south (almost to the Mexican border) and you鈥檒l find tiny Patagonia, a former mining town that鈥檚 just starting to transition into a bonafide adventure town. This one-street village is surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks, and sits within striking distance of two state parks鈥擯atagonia Lake and Sonoita Creek. But the real draw here is the myriad of gravel roads that extend from main street into the surrounding hills, traversing an endless sea of desert grassland.

You鈥檒l hear both Spanish and English spoken throughout town, which also sports the tell-tale signs of a modern mountain outpost (like at the coffee bar with weekend food trucks), but is still hanging onto its blue-collar roots (and rooms are still relatively cheap).

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

The 800-mile long Arizona National Scenic Trail, which runs the length of the state, can be found just outside of town. Head south for a meandering hike through rolling grasslands, or north and you鈥檒l tackle the Santa Rita Mountains, where steep climbs and granite peaks await.

But you鈥檙e probably here for the gravel riding, too. The options are endless, and the terrain is rolling instead of grueling, so plan for big-mile days. Start with the 30-mile Alto Ghost Town ride, which climbs through a series of canyons on its way to the ruins of a former mining camp. The undulating grasslands turn gold in the fall but form mesmerizing, shimmering waves regardless of when you ride through them. has rentals (from $125 per day).

Where to Eat

The has build-your-own pizzas, margaritas, and classy oil portraits of The King, while brews coffee in the morning, beer in the afternoon, and hosts rotating food trucks on weekends.

Where to Stay

Grab a spot in the nine-room hotel, which sits on main street within walking distance of everything, and has dedicated bike storage (from $125 per night).

Mazama, Washington

Population 200听

Why I Love It

There鈥檚 small, and then there鈥檚 Mazama, a hamlet in central Washington鈥檚 Methow Valley that has less than 200 year-round residents and a 鈥渄owntown鈥� that鈥檚 nothing more than a handful of businesses situated around a junction where two roads meet. But Mazama has everything you need鈥攆ood, beer, supplies, and a place to sleep.

More importantly, the town is surrounded by the , the largest network of nordic ski trails in the country (120 miles), all of which were created and maintained by a non-profit, also called . During the summer, there鈥檚 whitewater rafting on the Methow River, and trad and sport climbing on the Goat Wall, a 1,500-foot tall cliff overlooking the valley. Need more? Mazama is a gateway to North Cascades National Park, which has more glaciers than any park in the lower 48, and also happens to be one of the least visited parks in the country, with under 17,000 visitors last year.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

State Road 20, a.k.a. North Cascades Highway, closes from Mazama into the park during the winter, but come summer, the two-lane offers a beautiful 90-minute drive west over Washington Pass. The of the park offers the easiest access to Mazama. There, you鈥檒l find three reservoirs of differing shades of milky blue. Grab a canoe ($75 a day) from and explore the lake, which is surrounded by steep, green mountains. Or hike the 3.5-mile to a prominent point overlooking Diablo Lake.

If you make the trek during winter, cross country skiing is the ticket. There are 120 miles of nordic trails throughout the valley, all of which are groomed nightly. Crazy right? Mazama has its own trailhead, where you can kick and glide along the 11-mile , which has minimal gain but big-valley views.

Where to Eat

There aren鈥檛 a lot of options, but the has to-go sandwiches and snacks and is the best example of what a modern general store can be. The has a taproom and patio with views of Goat Peak, not to mention craft beer, rice bowls, and even sushi.

Where to Stay

The has lodge rooms within walking distance of the Public House (from $182 per night).

Fayetteville, West Virginia

Population 2,900听

Why I Love It

In the 1800s, the New River Gorge area attracted lumberjacks and coal miners, as the river canyon was rich in both resources. Now, it attracts hikers, boaters, and climbers, and the New River Gorge has become one of America鈥檚 newest national parks.

The small town of Fayetteville has stood witness to it all, evolving into a world-class gateway community with a historic downtown square, and just enough in the way of restaurants and shops to keep visitors and locals satiated. Fayetteville still retains that sleepy, small town vibe, but just beyond the city鈥檚 borders lies some of the best outdoor recreation in the East, starting with the whitewater rafting and world-class climbing inside the New River Gorge. There鈥檚 also mellow paddling on Summersville Lake, mountain biking on the Arrowhead Trails, a hand-carved system built by Boy Scouts, and more whitewater action on the nearby Gauley River.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Most people show up to raft the , which runs for 53 miles through the heart of the 1,000-foot deep canyon. The river is typically broken down into two day-long runs. The Upper New is more family friendly, with 13 miles of class I-III rapids, while the Lower New has big hits that reach class IV plus.

The whitewater is exciting, but the climbing is actually better, with more than 1,500 established routes along the sandstone walls that loom over the river below. And that doesn鈥檛 even include the growing number of bouldering problems found in the gorge. The climbing isn鈥檛 easy (grades top out at ) but will put you on the right route if you鈥檙e looking for a guide (starting at $130 per person).

Where to Eat

Fayetteville鈥檚 downtown square sports a handful of restaurants. Operating out of a former church just off the square, has been the town鈥檚 go-to for breakfast and lunch for decades. If you ride a couple of hot laps on the flowy , make sure to stop by the for a cold beer and a brat (or taco) served al-fresco in their beer garden.

Where to Stay

The New River Gorge supports several adventure outposts, where you can find cheap campsites or luxury cabins. I like , which has options spread across a 350-acre campus with its own restaurants, a pool, and a stunning view of the gorge itself (covered platform tent sites start at $49 per night).

McCall, Idaho

Population: 4,066听

Why I Love It

The obvious draw to McCall is the skiing. The small town sits in the Cuddy and Salmon River Mountains of Idaho, collecting 300 inches of snow a year, with quick access to three ski resorts, Tamarack Resort, Brundage Mountain, and the aptly named Little Ski Hill, which has night skiing and just a T-bar for a lift.

But then you also have Payette Lake, a 5,000-acre beauty surrounded by green peaks and full of trout that have been beckoning anglers since the 1800s. Not to mention, whitewater rafting on the Middle Fork and Main Fork of the Salmon, and a growing portfolio of mountain bike trails, as well as ample hiking trails in Payette National Forest and Ponderosa State Park. Begin stacking all of these attributes up and it becomes obvious that the draw to McCall is鈥�everything.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Many will argue that has the best powder in Idaho, so skiers should head there during a winter visit. The mountain has almost 2,000 acres of front-side terrain to explore, but it鈥檚 the 18,000 acres of backcountry that you can access via the resort鈥檚 that are the real gem here (starting at $575).

Bring your bike in the summer as McCall is rapidly becoming a , earning a Silver Ride Center designation from IMBA, with a diverse suite of trails that鈥檚 rapidly approaching 500 miles large. Head straight for , a golf course resort that鈥檚 gone all-in on mountain biking with 17 miles of fast, flowy descents, some of which are packed with wooden features, all accessed via easy-to-climb fire roads or shuttle ($30 per rider).

Where to Eat

McCall is a bustling adventure town with plenty of options for a good meal, but has award-winning lagers to go along with their fried wild salmon and chips.

Where to Stay

takes modern Scandinavian-inspired design and puts it into a 1970s-era motel built with local timber. And the rooms walk out onto an expansive lawn with games and fire pits (from $131 per night).

Bigfork, Montana

Population: 5,249听

Why I Love It

At first glance, Bigfork is a lake town, sitting on the edge of the massive Flathead Lake, which has 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. And it has plenty of kayaking and fishing for those that are water inclined. But it鈥檚 also a hiking town, with quick access to the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Flathead National Forest, and numerous state parks.

Want a little adrenaline? Bigfork is also the basecamp for whitewater adventures on the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead River. Oh, and Bigfork is just an hour from the West Glacier entrance to Glacier National Park. So is Bigfork a lake town? Yes, but it鈥檚 also so much more.

Signature 国产吃瓜黑料s

Head to the of Flathead National Forest, a 15,000-acre tract within the Bob Marshall Wilderness featuring more than 20 alpine lakes. Hike a 6.6-mile loop combining the (#717) and the Picnic Lakes Trail to the rocky summit of the 7,000-foot Mount Aeneas, where you鈥檒l find views of the Jewel Basin lakes below, and the ridges of Glacier National Park on the horizon. You鈥檒l occasionally find mountain goats on the summit too. Bring a flyrod and try to land one of the cutthroat or rainbow trout that thrive in the Picnic Lakes on the back end of the loop.

Flathead Lake has six state parks that protect its shoreline and the islands in the middle of the water. Paddle two miles across the lake from the boat launch in Dayton, Montana, to , a 2,165-acre state park in the middle of the lake that鈥檚 only accessible by boat. Instead of cars, you鈥檒l see feral horses and bighorn sheep. has kayak and paddleboard rentals (starting at $40).

Where to Eat

has views of the lake, 16 beers on tap, and a large pub-food menu that includes a burger topped with jalape帽o poppers. So, yeah. Yum.

Where to Stay

is an all-inclusive dude ranch on 2,000 acres running along the shores of Flathead Lake. You鈥檒l get access to the property鈥檚 15-mile private mountain bike trail system, canoes, hikes, and horseback rides to backcountry breakfast (starting at $5,103 a week). If you鈥檙e looking for less of a financial commitment, has cabins and Airstreams, all of which come with private access to the lake (from $210 per night).

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He鈥檚 been lucky enough to live in a few of America鈥檚 most fun (and expensive) adventure towns, and recently wrote about the country鈥檚 best mountain towns. He also recently wrote about the best national parks for spring break trips.听

The post The Top 9 Small 国产吃瓜黑料 Towns in the U.S. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

国产吃瓜黑料 spends a lot of time ranking the best mountain towns in the country, but which one is the worst? Is Aspen鈥檚 conspicuous wealth worse than Jackson Hole鈥檚 false modesty? How many billionaires does it take to ruin a local economy? Is there any hope for the ski-bum lifestyle? Paddy O鈥機onnell and Frederick 鈥淩ico鈥� Reimers bring us a debate you only win by losing.

The post Who鈥檚 Got It Worse, Ass-Pens or J-Holes? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The post The Future of the Mountain Town appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

We鈥檝e found the most affordable mountain towns in the nation. (You鈥檙e welcome.)

La Grande, Oregon

Population: 13,158
Median home price (*all prices listed according to Zillow): $264,539

When you鈥檙e passing through on I-84, La Grande looks like just another eastern Oregon ag town. But the wild and scenic Grand Ronde River drops out of the Blue Mountains to the northeast, and , which claims to have the driest powder in the state, is 45 miles southwest. La Grande is home to Eastern Oregon University, and it has a thriving local art scene, supported in part by the nonprofit . Road biking abounds, and there鈥檚 a growing network of mountain-biking trails, including those in the .

Rangeley, Maine

Population: 1,045
Median home price: $396,890

reopened in 2020, after five years of closure due to tumultuous ownership, and the change reinvigorated the outdoor scene in northern Maine. Fishermen have been pulling trophy fish out of the streams and small ponds around Rangeley since the 1860s, moose and loons abound, and the Appalachian Trail is nearby. There鈥檚 been a recent state-sponsored push for sustainable forestry, so the town鈥檚 economy isn鈥檛 tied solely to seasonal recreation.

Thomas and Davis, West Virginia

Population: 1,218
Median home price: $95,243

In the Bible, Canaan is the promised land, and the Canaan Valley of West Virginia, home to the neighboring towns of Davis and Thomas, might be just that. Nearly 70 percent of the valley is encompassed by the , and the parts that aren鈥檛 protected offer more than 100 miles of bike trails, three ski areas, rivers, an excellent nordic center with over 15 miles of trails, and possibly the best bluegrass bar in the country, the Purple Fiddle in downtown Thomas. Add these two to your bucket list for most affordable mountain towns in the U.S., and you won’t regret it.

Reno, Nevada

Population: 268,815
Median home price: $541,423

Reno hasn鈥檛 exactly been affordable for a while. Property values have been rising鈥攁nd outdoor opportunities increasing鈥攕ince 2012, with an influx of Californians. But if you want to live in a mountain city instead of a mountain town, the Biggest Little City in the World is your best bet. The tech- and pandemic-induced boom is slowing, and prices are cooling off. Reno has all the upside of a lot of smaller mountain burgs, like a whitewater park and the nearby ski resorts of Lake Tahoe, with the amenities of a larger city.

Anaconda, Montana

Population: 9,491
Median home price: $229,488

Anaconda was a copper-mining community for more than a century until the early 1980s; its still standing smelter stack, just to the south and taller than the Washington Monument, is a testament to that longtime industry. But the town is capitalizing on recreation in the greater area to distance itself from its extractive past. And there鈥檚 a lot to work with, like the 2,200-acre , to the west; the nearby Continental Divide Trail; and fishing in the Big Hole River, to the south. The town itself is home to a new wine store and bike shop, not to mention a growing number of young families.

Boone, North Carolina

Population: 18,036
Median home price: $446,781

Pick your season and Boone, the biggest town in the North Carolina high country, will have something for you. Spring runoff on the New and Watuga Rivers; arguably the best skiing in the Southeast, with three resorts within 45 minutes; and a range of multi-season mountain-biking trails, including those at . Bonus: it doesn鈥檛 have the crowds or the price tag of other outdoor meccas in the region, like Asheville.

Saranac Lake, New York

Population: 4,825
Median home price: $275,022

There are a handful of Adirondack communities that could be considered dream towns, but Saranac Lake rises to the top for its charm and trail access, notably a network that feeds into six mountains surrounding the lake. In the summer, the water is full of boats, and in the winter you can ski Mount Pisgah or take a short drive to Whiteface. Saranac Lake is blissfully mellow, and you鈥檙e only ten minutes from Lake Placid if you want a splashier but affordable mountain town with more going on.

Heather Hansman is the author of听Powder Day: Ski Bums, Ski Towns, and the Future of Chasing Snow. She also writes about environmental issues and the tricky relationships between places and people for听国产吃瓜黑料. One time, she won a bag of pasta in an Italian big mountain competition. She lives in Southwest Colorado, where she likes to go uphill slow and downhill fast.

The post 7 of the Most Affordable Mountain Towns in America appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Thomas knew before I did that this might be the place. 鈥淚 like it here,鈥� he said two summers ago as we pulled out of Durango, Colorado, after a whirlwind weekend. We鈥檇 floated the Animas River at dusk, then pedaled up Telegraph Hill early the next morning, beating the heat of the day as we bombed down Big Canyon singletrack with friends. 鈥淚 can see us living here,鈥� he added as we drove toward the Utah border.

My fianc茅 and I were on the road trying out new towns, because I鈥檇 convinced him that we had to move. I just didn鈥檛 know where to exactly. The question had consumed me for as long as I could remember. After years of rolling through seasonal resort towns as a river guide and ski bum (eventually writing books about each experience: and , respectively), I鈥檇 eddied out in Seattle鈥攁 city I didn鈥檛 love鈥攑inned down by inertia and an inability to hit upon what came next. So many locations seemed out of reach; my cloudy desire for a new place to live was starting to drive Thomas and me crazy.

I knew I wanted to be near the mountains, somewhere that made it easy to spend the bulk of my free time outside. In Seattle we lived in a basement apartment two blocks from the highway, fighting traffic to get to trails. Where a person lives dictates so much: community, culture, commute time. Mountain towns have what I鈥檓 looking for in these three regards. But the economics weren鈥檛 in our favor. Housing and rental prices have skyrocketed, driven up by market forces and wealthy second-home owners, while in-town wages and job opportunities have remained stagnant. Meanwhile, approval, funding, and support for new affordable housing are hard to come by.

I wasn鈥檛 special in terms of the frustration I felt hunting for a dream town. For a person of my age (older millennial) and income bracket (as a freelance writer, modest), living somewhere desirable had become tougher than ever. Thomas and I knew we鈥檇 be priced out of most classic ski towns, and cost-of-living considerations were pushing local culture and community out of other locales we鈥檇 hoped to consider. We tried to avoid regions we thought were especially vulnerable to fire and drought.

that how you spend your days is how you spend your life. That phrase kept running through my mind and stressing me out. I couldn鈥檛 settle on the right place to spend my days, so I stayed stuck, growing anxious as they continued to fly by.

But indecision was a recipe for torment, so to overcome paralysis, we drew up a spreadsheet. We sat on our tiny patio in Seattle, in the heat of a smoky summer that was rife with nearby wildfires, and made a list of every possible place we might want to end up.

It was, after all, about more than just place. It was about identity, along with the future we were lining up for ourselves. No matter where we moved, it felt like I was giving up on some part of a dream. There was Annie Dillard echoing in my head again as we waffled and wasted time.

We made a four-circle Venn diagram with the factors that felt most important: people we loved nearby, easy access to the outdoors, affordable real estate, and a strong likelihood of remaining livable from a climate standpoint. We monitored housing costs and annual precipitation to address some of our more pressing concerns, and winnowed our options down.

In the summer of 2021, I drove toward the Rocky Mountains, and Thomas flew out to meet me as soon as he could break free from work. We crashed at friends鈥� houses in five states, in places like Carbondale, Colorado, and Bend, Oregon. We took bike rides through neighborhoods, checked out grocery stores and downtown districts, and tried to imagine how we鈥檇 spend our days.

I was pining for a place I鈥檇 never been to before, one that probably wasn鈥檛 even real. But I was convinced I鈥檇 know it when I saw it. In German, this is called fernweh, or 鈥渇ar sickness.鈥�

But trying to align an ideal with reality is a dicey business. When you operate out of dreamland, you run up against some serious constraints. During the previous winter, for example, after a clear blue morning of nordic skiing in Crested Butte, Colorado, I鈥檇 decided: This is the place. Then I checked the Zillow listings.

The economics may have been out of my control, but I was also tangled up in what it meant to me to grow up and settle down. I wanted to live in a place that I loved, something that seemed to have been readily accomplished by friends of mine, who鈥檇 found their home in the world apparently angst-free. I felt jealous and lost, deep in fernweh and getting nowhere.

I obsessed for another six months before we finally made a move. There was no sign from the universe鈥攚e just headed in a general direction and eliminated certain options the more realistic we were forced to be. As the field narrowed, our minds kept drifting back to the southwest corner of Colorado, where the desert hits the mountains, and where Thomas had said he could imagine us living. I started to see it, too, even though it meant giving up on other versions of the fantasy.

Here鈥檚 the thing about a dream town: either it stays in your head, beautiful but naggingly unsatisfying, or at some point it stops being a fantasy and becomes reality. Then you have to live there鈥攑ay rent and sit in traffic and take the tough parts along with the good ones. You have to abandon that sense of far sickness, or you鈥檒l ache for the rest of your life.

We now live in Durango, in a rental house two blocks from the Animas. I鈥檓 still worried about the rising cost of real estate and the creeping drought. I still awkwardly invite people to dinner, hoping that at some point community will seem effortless. And I still feel that ache whenever my mom sends me pictures from Vermont. But there鈥檚 a ski hill nearby, and I can watch the light hit the La Plata Mountains in the morning. My days are adding up to a life I like, even if I鈥檓 not always sure I鈥檓 living the dream.

The post I Knew It Was Time to Move to a Mountain Town. I Just Didn鈥檛 Know Which One. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This year for our annual Best Towns package, we decided to go in search of the happiest towns in America. Why did we choose this focus? Because the world is still rethinking how to work and live post-pandemic, and many people are searching for that perfect place to move to where they just feel better. We’ve also long been inspired by the World Population Review’s annual and decided that the U.S., and our readers, could benefit from some similar advice.

The project was an enormous undertaking, and we turned to 国产吃瓜黑料 researchers Philip Kiefer and to sort through piles of facts and figures to land on these 15 towns. (See more on our exact methodology below.) Once we had the list of places, we asked our writers鈥攚ho are based around the country and have lived in most of these locales鈥攆or their expert reporting and intel.

What constitutes a happy town? It comes down to things like ample outdoor access for all, affordability, a safe environment, diversity, and freedom for residents to be who they are. Let us know what you think of our choices. 鈥�Associate managing editor Tasha Zemke and deputy editor and travel director Mary Turner

The post The 15 Happiest Places to Live in the U.S. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Nothing screams summer like having a big swimming hole in your backyard. We鈥檝e rounded up some of our favorite lake destinations that pair听water-bound adventures with a getaway-worthy town where you can find a decent bite to eat and a place to rest your head.

June Lake, California

Nicknamed the Switzerland of California, this tiny mountain town five hours from Los Angeles sits on a string of lakes along a 16-mile section of scenic roadway known as the . Start with coffee and a breakfast sandwich at , then rent a paddleboard or kayak (from $30 an hour) from . 鈥檚 outdoor beer garden offers tasting flights, plus bites served from a rotating cast of food trucks out front. Pitch your tent at (from $26) or book a room at (from $123), a short walk to the water鈥檚 edge, and you鈥檒l score views of 10,908-foot Carson Peak from your door.

McCall, Idaho

Two hours north of Boise, McCall is an under appreciated summer hideaway, with hiking in , biking at , and relaxing at Payette Lake, a glacially carved reservoir that鈥檚 minutes from town. Half of the lake is part of , where you can camp (from $37) or book a cabin (from $67). Or stay in McCall at the recently renovated (from $150). rents canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards (from $30). Afterward, grab an IPA at one of , and don鈥檛 leave town without a milkshake from .

Bemidji, Minnesota

An 18-foot-tall statue of famed lumberjack Paul Bunyan, along with his companion, Babe the Blue Ox, greets you when you pull into Bemidji. Located near the headwaters of the Mississippi River, three hours from Minneapolis, the area features hundreds of remote bodies of water scattered throughout the state鈥檚 Northwoods. Start at Lake Bemidji, which borders downtown and has plenty of sandy beaches. Rent bikes (from $5 per hour) at to pedal the waterfront paths that eventually connect to the 115-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, the longest paved rail trail in the country. Stay at one of the park鈥檚 95 campsites and four cabins, or reserve a lakefront cottage at (from $190). End your day with a beer and a soft pretzel from .

Chelan, Washington

Scuba divers, boaters, paddlers, and anglers love Lake Chelan, which runs 50 miles long and plunges to depths of 1,500 feet. Stay at the (from $154), which is only accessible via ferry boat or hiking trails and adjoins . If you have a motorized craft, opt for one of the many spots around the lake. The town of Chelan, at the water鈥檚 southern tip, has a year-round population of around 5,000 and a growing wine-tasting scene, with some 20 vineyards.

Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

Lake Winnipesaukee has been a favorite summer resort getaway for generations. The town of Wolfeboro, two hours from Boston or five from New York City, makes for an ideal Winnipesaukee base camp. The ten-room (from $455) opened in 2018 in a restored historic building steps from the shoreline. Run or pedal the 12-mile , and learn the history of the local maritime industry or take a sailing lesson at the . Come dusk, grab a pint at and dinner on the deck of听.

Blairsville, Georgia

In Blairsville, two hours north of Atlanta, you鈥檒l have easy access to several nearby lakes, including Lake Nottely鈥檚 106 miles of shoreline. Also nearby, in听 the 20-acre Lake Trahlyta is popular for its miles of hiking trails within the Blue Ridge Mountains and its waterfront campsites. (from $109) has cabins for rent and trail access from the property.

Aurora, New York

New York鈥檚 Finger Lakes region is packed with options, but the quaint village of Aurora, registered as a national historic district, is just the place to stay while exploring scenic Cayuga Lake. Stay at the palatial (from $352), which includes five historic homes. Paddleboards and bike rentals are included in the rate. Farm-to-table dinners are served overlooking the water at the . Wine production is big here鈥攜ou鈥檒l find several tasting spots around town鈥攂ut there鈥檚 also a growing number of craft breweries, like . in nearby Weedsport or in Auburn.

The post The Best Lake Towns in America appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When you think of a ski town, chances are you probably aren鈥檛 imagining places like Middletown, Connecticut, or Burton, Michigan. But according to a , those are among the most affordable U.S. ski towns for renters. To compile the list, Rent.com staffers looked at every community in America within 25 miles of a resort, then identified the towns (with no more than one per state) that had the cheapest average two-bedroom rental prices, according to the site鈥檚 current rental property inventory.

The result is a collection of places you might not expect: a Pittsburgh suburb, a remote southwestern outpost that was the site of the first atomic bomb testing, and a former oil boomtown in Wyoming. The one thing they all have in common: a nearby ski hill.

If the definition of a ski town is a community in proximity to slopes, then perhaps these unlikely spots can be considered as such, even though nobody who lives there would call them that. 鈥淚 would not call Painseville, Ohio, a ski town at all. I mean, there are no Breckenridges in Ohio,鈥� says Ben Armbruster, a high school English teacher and snowboarder from Painesville who serves as the ski club director at Harvey High School, where he works.

Maybe that鈥檚 the point. Living in a well-known outpost like Breckenridge, in Colorado, is proving near impossible these days. The cost of living is astronomical, and housing is not only expensive, it鈥檚 obsolete. A shortage of rental housing is causing major staffing issues in popular destinations like Vail, Jackson Hole, and Tahoe, leading to congested resorts and disgruntled skiers.

So, if you can鈥檛 realistically live in a place like that, maybe it鈥檚 time we started expanding our definition of what counts as a ski town. Here are ten towns with nearby hills or resorts where you can actually afford to live.

Middletown, Connecticut

Middleton, Connecticut, just outside of Hartford, is a college town鈥擶esleyan University is here鈥攁nd a two-bedroom apartment will run you, on average, $950 a month. About a half-hour away is , with its 425 vertical feet and 51 acres.

Portage, Wisconsin

, ten minutes from Portage, Wisconsin, on Interstate 90, is a family-owned hill with lift tickets starting at $75. In town, two-bedroom apartments cost around $895 a month. 鈥淲e鈥檙e right on the interstate, so when the roads are good, it鈥檚 easy to get here,鈥� says Dick Wolkowski, a ski patroller at Cascade Mountain since 1989. 鈥淲e have a northerly aspect, so our snow is preserved, and we have modern snowmaking. There鈥檚 good skiing and natural beauty, but if you go to the bar in town, you won鈥檛 see memorabilia on the walls or a movie playing on the TV.鈥�

St. Ann, Missouri

The St. Louis suburb of St. Ann, Missouri, has two-bedroom apartments for rent for around $850 a month. , Missouri鈥檚 largest, is about 30 minutes away and has 320 vertical feet, nine lifts, and 65 acres鈥攑lus enough snow machines to make snow for the entire mountain if nature doesn鈥檛 deliver.

Painesville, Ohio

, 15 miles from Painesville, Ohio, gets about 120 inches a year, thanks to storms that blow off Lake Erie. 鈥淎lpine Valley is a great place to learn to ski, and it has a great park,鈥� says Armbruster, the local high school teacher. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on the Great Lakes, so we get lake-effect storms in the heart of the snowbelt.鈥� For bigger resorts, the are less than an hour away from Painesville, where rent costs, on average, $840 a month.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is home to , which was built on a glacial deposit within city limits. The ski area has 182 feet of vertical and one chairlift, all within a few minutes of downtown鈥檚 art museums and aquariums. 鈥淭he city of Sioux Falls invests in making winter fun accessible to all,鈥� says Alexa Jerstad, who grew up going to the resort and now works as its director of human resources. 鈥淪ioux Falls and its surrounding communities are a great place to live. People can find good careers, live affordably, and raise their families,鈥� adds Jerstad, citing that rent for a two-bedroom apartment averages $833 a month.

Casper, Wyoming

Casper is the second largest city in Wyoming鈥攁round 55,000 people, with average rent at $804 a month鈥攁nd is less than 20 minutes away. 鈥淎t Hogadon, we have steeps, bumps, and great pow when we get snow,鈥� says Adam Studer, president of , a youth racing club that has trained on the mountain since the 1940s. 鈥淲e also have a really great beginner section. The bar in our lodge, Slalom Sam鈥檚, is the best place for a burger and beer before you go back out for night skiing.鈥�

New Kensington, Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh suburb of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, is about 20 minutes from skiing at , which is run by the local parks and recreation department. Hitting the slopes at and aren鈥檛 far from town either. 鈥淏oyce Park is accessible. It鈥檚 not a big or exciting hill, but it鈥檚 inexpensive laps 20 minutes from the city,鈥� says Josh McIntyre, a software engineer and avid adventurer from Pittsburgh. 鈥淪even Springs is the biggest local mountain, but it鈥檚 often crowded. If you鈥檙e looking for less crowds, visit Hidden Valley, , or Boyce.鈥�

Brigham City, Utah

Two-bedroom apartments in northern Utah鈥檚 Brigham City cost an average of $696, making it one of the more affordable towns on the list. And the skiing? Legitimately good. and are within an hour away, serving up deep Utah powder and expansive, steep terrain with a fraction of the crowds of the state鈥檚 busier resorts closer to Salt Lake City.

Burton, Michigan

Just five miles outside the city of Flint, the southeast Michigan suburb of Burton shines in its affordability: two-bedroom apartments rent for an average of $647 a month. The town鈥檚 skiers head 30 minutes away to , where lift tickets start at $50. You鈥檒l find ten rope tows and chairlifts that whisk you up 300 vertical feet, plus great beginner terrain and parks.

Alamogordo, New Mexico

A military town in the high desert of southern New Mexico鈥檚 Sacramento Mountains, Alamogordo is best known as the gateway to . But as it turns out, you can also hit the slops here. , with its three lifts and a vertical drop of 700 feet, is the southernmost ski area in the United States, but the place gets plenty of natural snow thanks to its top elevation of 9,100 feet. The snowmaking is also robust here. 鈥淛ust 16 miles away is the Chihuahuan Desert, but you wouldn鈥檛 know that from the top of the mountain,鈥� says Ty Bonnell, executive director of , based at nearby resort, about 90 minutes away. Bonnell grew up in Alamogordo and learned at Cloudcroft. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good place for kids to get started. When there鈥檚 good snow, it鈥檚 a lot of fun. Two feet of snow can cover the whole top of the mountain, with its skinny, steep runs.鈥�

The post The 10 Cheapest Ski Towns for Renters appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Whether you鈥檙e taking your job remote and relocating to the mountains, or you鈥檙e looking to plan a ski trip to somewhere new, choosing the right ski town comes with a lot of options鈥攁nd a lot of responsibility. Do you want to be nestled deep in a mountain range far from the madding crowds? Or do you need to be near a major airport and have reliably fast Wi-Fi? What鈥檚 your preference when it comes to hitting the slopes: a major ski resort, a small local hill, or good backcountry access (or all three)? And can you contribute to the town鈥檚 community in a responsible way without adding to the housing crunch, congestion, and staff shortages that many mountain towns are experiencing these days?

To determine our favorite ski towns, we looked at a variety of factors, including lodging, housing availability, cost of living, and whether a wide range of accessible ski terrain for all abilities is offered. There isn鈥檛 a North American mountain hub that hasn鈥檛 felt the pandemic crunch, but these places鈥攆rom a White Mountains outpost on the East Coast to a relatively low-key gateway in Colorado鈥攁re quieter alternatives to the perennially popular ski destinations.

North Conway, New Hampshire

In the heart of the White Mountains, North Conway shines as a community-driven town with ample access to a multitude of alpine- and nordic-skiing options. There are seven affordable, family-oriented resorts within 30 minutes of downtown, including , , , , and . Start your ski day with pastries at the and end with nachos at the . While North Conway鈥檚 population has increased during the pandemic, putting a crunch on housing, you can still find an apartment to rent near the heart of things, and the average house is selling for around $360,000. On top of that, it鈥檚 the epicenter of East Coast backcountry skiing, with above-tree-line terrain on Mount Washington and new gladed zones maintained by North Conway鈥揵ased nonprofit , which is also organizing the from February 24 to 27.

Whitefish, Montana

Maybe it鈥檚 the far-flung northern location of the town of Whitefish or its ski area鈥檚 under-the-radar vibe, but sees far fewer crowds than famed Montana destinations like Big Sky. With easy access to the nearby Kalispell airport and the wild vastness of Glacier National Park, to the east, this place isn鈥檛 hard to get to yet feels worlds away. Housing availability is certainly an issue here, too, and home prices have spiked during the pandemic, but to create solutions, like asking employers to provide workforce accommodations. The resort offers 3,000 skiable acres and an average 300 inches of snow a year, so there鈥檚 plenty of powder to go around, or book a guided backcountry tour outside the gates with . A new six-person chair from the base area is expected to go in next winter, quickening access听to the upper mountain.

Huntsville, Utah

The neighboring small towns of Huntsville, Eden, and Liberty function as a larger community in the greater Ogden Valley. Housing prices are on the rise, but it鈥檚 still considerably more affordable here鈥攏ot to mention less crowded鈥攖han Utah hot spots like Park City or areas closer to Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons. A lot of people settle hereabouts for the farming and ranching, not the skiing, but you can鈥檛 beat the ski access: and for empty terrain and untracked snow, and for kid-friendly runs and beloved night skiing. The Salt Lake City airport is less than an hour away, and the city of Ogden is 20 minutes down the canyon. If you鈥檙e coming to visit, stay at the (from $219) in Huntsville.

Leavenworth, Washington

If you love Bavarian-themed architecture and deep powder, look no further than Leavenworth, a hidden gem of a ski town in the Cascade Range, about two hours east of Seattle. is the biggest ski resort nearby, but the in-town 听gratifies with great beginner slopes and day tickets starting at just $24. Or take a day trip to ski听, in Wenatchee, less than an hour away. In Leavenworth you鈥檒l find locals grabbing听breakfast sandwiches at before heading up to the hill, later hitting for apr猫s-ski cocktails and rice bowls. The (from $49) at Stevens Pass fills up with families and ski bums each weekend, offering one of the coolest ski-in, ski-out parking scenes in the Northwest.

Waitsfield, Vermont

Waitsfield is a quintessential New England farming town with great ski access鈥攂oth , with its skier-only historic vibe, and , with its slopeside hotels and legendary steeps under the Castlerock chair, are nearby. The larger Mad River Valley is a worthy alternative to Killington and Stowe if you鈥檙e looking to avoid the masses and find untracked snow, but, again, here. Help reduce traffic by hopping on the for free service to the ski areas during the winter. Grab a room at the (from $185), chow on tacos at , and pick up cans of Sip of Sunshine IPA from at the end of the day.

Nelson, British Columbia

Nelson may be a ski town, thanks to its proximity to excellent runs at nearby 听and , but this spot has so much more going on. From music festivals and a thriving food and art scene, Nelson feels like a small, polished city in a stunning mountain setting on the shores of Kootenay Lake. You鈥檒l enjoy charming historic homes, tucked-away French bakeries, and hot springs with views of the lake. Start with coffee at , then head to Whitewater, where you鈥檒l come for the skiing but should stay for lunch: in the base lodge serves up legitimately good food.

Taos, New Mexico

People forget that New Mexico has big, snowy mountains, but in Taos, those spiky peaks are hard to miss. When a storm hits the Southwest, the plunging steeps off the ridge at deliver some of the finest skiing in the southern Rockies. Later in the season, you can ride a lift to 12,481 feet鈥攖he top of Kachina Peak鈥攐r descend the groomers to a lunch of schnitzel and steins of beer on the deck of the Bavarian Restaurant. Stay slopeside at the (from $425), or rent an for the night outside the town of Taos, a funky artists鈥� enclave. The gentler, kid-friendly slopes of are 40 minutes away, or head to , two hours south, for green chile stew mid-mountain and a .

Girdwood, Alaska

Want to really get away? Welcome to Girdwood. Just 40 minutes from Anchorage, this ski town at the base of has a wild, unpretentious feel. The mountain gets a whopping 650 inches of snow a year, and you can ski powder under the lights during a storm, since the bottom of the mountain stays open for night skiing until 8 P.M. Thursdays through Saturdays. Post up at (from $239), which has a new Nordic spa, an entrancing saltwater pool, and easy access to the 60-person aerial tram that whisks you to the top of the mountain. Don鈥檛 miss the bottomless soup and gooey cinnamon rolls at the at the base of the hill.

Truckee, California

The main reason we love Truckee is the plentitude of skiing nearby. In one direction, you can ride a historic gondola and find empty slopes at or hit the park or practice your tricks on the trampolines at Woodward Tahoe at . In the other direction, you can rip endless groomers at or head toward Lake Tahoe to the legendary twin mountains of . Plus, there鈥檚 backcountry terrain off Donner Summit, Mount Rose, or Lake Tahoe鈥檚 west shore, all just a short drive from downtown Truckee. Access is key here, too: you can be at the Reno airport in under an hour or in the San Francisco Bay Area in three. Truckee鈥檚 food and drink scene has grown in recent years, with the addition of spots like , , and 鈥攁ll local favorites. Before you come, read up on in the Truckee-Tahoe area, including park-and-ride services to the ski resorts, electric-vehicle charging stations, and sustainability gift cards. And the hotel brand Gravity Haus recently took over ownership of the听, so look for that option next winter.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Colorado has so many world-class ski towns that it鈥檚 hard to pick a favorite. Yet Steamboat Springs stands out because it feels like a place where normal people can live. It鈥檚 got a thriving downtown with vibrant western heritage, and everything from cabins, guest ranches, and skier-friendly motels to suit a range of budgets. As for the skiing, there鈥檚 powder-stuffed glades on Shadows and Closets at , or learn to ski without dropping big bucks: at the country鈥檚 oldest continually operating ski area, tickets start at $39, and it鈥檚 located right in town. To earn your turns, head to , a ski area with marked trails and guided options that鈥檚 30 minutes southeast. And be that conscientious skier: read up on , including leaving no trace, using public transit, and supporting local efforts.

The post The Best Ski Towns to Live in or Visit Right Now appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

What makes the perfect mountain town? Quick access to adventure, of course, but how about the less obvious attributes? Does it have solid听breweries and apr猫s food? Can an abundance of bike parks outweigh a lack of taco joints? Maybe. We explored such听criteria in this highly subjective list, weighing each town against its peers in an attempt to rank the best mountain outposts in the U.S., from the southern Appalachians to the Chugach. There鈥檚 a good chance we鈥檙e going to piss you off with our picks. We probably left off your favorite town. Or worse, we included a place you wish we鈥檇 never written about. Some of the towns on this list are so damn awesome that they鈥檙e听suffering from side effects听like crowded trailheads and ridiculous home prices. For that, we鈥檙e sorry. We鈥檙e only human and maybe we put too much stock in an empty trail, a tasty IPA, and a great breakfast burrito. Tell us where we went wrong in the comments.

24. Cordova, Alaska

No roads connect this fishing hub with other towns in Alaska, so you鈥檒l have to catch a seaplane or boat to get here. But once you鈥檝e arrived, the best of the state is just out your back door. The community (population 2,800) sits at the mouth of the Copper River on Prince William Sound, surrounded by glaciated peaks that are protected by听. The Copper is both a means of transportation and entertainment. Catch a boat upriver to see Childs Glacier, which drops ice chunks into the water with alarming regularity, or cast a line and try to hook some salmon. Kayakers can paddle between icebergs听in Orca Inlet, and skiers based downtown can walk to , where 800 vertical feet and an average 120 inches of snow are served by a historic single chairlift. A lifetime of hiking trails are scattered throughout this corner of Chugach Mountains, many leading to alpine lakes and other glaciers.

23. Roanoke, Virginia

Roanoke gets overshadowed because of its blue-collar bones, but its adventure chops are the real deal. The Blue Ridge Mountains rise directly from downtown, offering immediate access to听rigorous听road-bike climbs that top out at the Blue Ridge Parkway and 400 miles of flowy singletrack, while the Appalachian Trail skirts the edge of town if you鈥檙e interested in a 2,000-mile jaunt or a short, scenic stretch of it. It鈥檚 even home to one of the toughest tests of distance running听in the country, the Blue Ridge Marathon, putting it to you with more than 7,000 feet of elevation gain. And the food? Unpretentious farm-to-table fare with a Southern accent, washed down with something from the burgeoning craft-beer scene. Deschutes Brewery liked Roanoke so much, it opened an here.

22. Terlingua, Texas

The Texas Hill Country is adventure packed and all, but the peaks that define the far western corner of this state are the real deal. The Chisos Mountains hit 8,000 feet, rising from the dusty Chihuahuan Desert, and the entire stretch is contained within the one-million-acre Big Bend National Park. The tiny town of Terlingua, with a population of 50 or so, sits on the boundaryof the park and has a killer bar in the , a couple of other dining options, and some beloved stone ruins. There鈥檚 mountain biking galore in nearby , road and gravel cycling throughout the national park, and some of the best overlanding you could imagine. And we haven鈥檛 even mentioned the Rio Grande, which flows just south of town, carving tall, dramatic cliffs that define the edge of America.

21. Spearfish, South Dakota

Perched on the northern side of Black Hills National Forest and hugging the Wyoming border, Spearfish is an hour and a half from Badlands National Park in one direction and an hour from Devils Tower, one of the country鈥檚 finest trad-climbing destinations, in the other. But you don鈥檛 need to get in your car to get radical; Spearfish Canyon, with its thousand-foot-high limestone walls, begins just outside downtown and runs south for 20 miles through the Black Hills, offering endless climbing, mountain-biking, and hiking options. During the winter, those trail systems become a hotbed of cross-country activity. As for the town itself, expect a college-educated-cowboy vibe, thanks to the presence of Black Hills State University.

20. Davis, West Virginia

Davis is not large. Its population hovers at 600, and its downtown is just a few blocks, but it has everything you need: a pizza place, a burrito joint, and a brewery. Then there鈥檚 the wild and rugged 听on the outskirts, stacked with some of the most challenging singletrack on the eastern seaboard. The nearby Dolly Sods Wilderness is a prime pick for backpackers looking to traverse rocky outcroppings, meandering听creeks, and high-elevation bogs. The town itself is located just minutes from two downhill ski resorts, and , and one cross-country-skiing hub, , all of which enjoy some 200 inches of lake-effect snow each year.

19. Durango, Colorado

Durango has everything more famous towns in Colorado have, except the crowds. A former mining town and railroad hub, it has since expanded to 25,000 residents, who relish the four seasons of adventure in their backyard. Rafting the Class III鈥揤 Animas River, which cuts through the small city center, can be a multiday excursion on the Upper Animas or a post-work session at the . Mountain biking is ingrained in the culture鈥攁 shocking number of Olympic bikers grew up here鈥攚hile hikers hit the 17-mile Highline Loop Trail or a section of the Colorado Trail. Durango doesn鈥檛 register as a ski destination, but locals have Chapman Hill, a two-rope-tow affair that rises from downtown, and , a 1,605-acre resort that boasts the largest cat-skiing operation in the lower 48. The town is also just 45 minutes from Mesa Verde National Park, easily one of the most interesting units in the park system. All this exploring will no doubt work up your appetite, and you鈥檒l find Durango听stacked with surprisingly eclectic food (get the Southwestern sushi roll at ), while the brewery scene is exactly what you鈥檇 expect from a world-class mountain town and includes one of the O.G. craft breweries, .

18. Taos, New Mexico

It鈥檚 easy to get caught up in Taos鈥檚 history鈥攑eople living here for centuries, starting with the ancestors of the Pueblo, who settled in the area around 900 A.D. Since then it has seen a rotating cast of characters, from Spanish conquistadors to artists like D.H. Lawrence and Ansel Adams. The dining scene is also pretty spectacular for such a small town鈥攚here green chile is found on many a menu鈥攂ut it鈥檚 what lies just outside town that has us swooning: the trails of , 鈥檚 winter powder and summer flow trails, and the 800-foot granite cliffs of the . No, Taos isn鈥檛 a secret, and you鈥檙e going to have to share the goods with a few other people (though not as many as some of the other towns on this list), but can you blame them for showing up? Summiting 13,161-foot Wheeler Peak in summer is a must, as is pedaling the high-altitude singletrack on the north side of the ski valley, followed by the mixed-sausage plate (bratwurst, N眉rnberger, and Debrezinar in one serving!) and a 32-ounce stein of Spaten Lager at the aptly named . Fishing for cutthroat in the Rio Hondo is up there, too.

17. Leavenworth, Washington

OK, Leavenworth has a bit of kitsch to it, thanks to a Bavarian-style downtown complete with copious German beer gardens. It also has the riches of the Cascade Mountains beckoning from nearby, starting with the Icicle and Wenatchee Rivers, where whitewater paddling and fly-fishing are favorite pursuits, and the powdered peaks of , which can see an astounding 425 inches of snow a year. In between you have rock climbing in Icicle Valley, mountain biking in Freund Canyon, and a community that鈥檚 committed to the outdoors, supporting a local ski hill with two rope tows, a robust ski team, and the only听ski jump on the West Coast. And did we mention all of the beer gardens?

16. Stanley, Idaho

If you can鈥檛 make the jaunt to Alaska, Idaho will do. The state is as wild as it gets in the lower 48, and Stanley, in the center of the Sawtooth Valley with its 10,000-foot namesake peaks, is the ultimate tiny base camp. The Salmon River helps carve the town鈥檚 boundaries, offering immediate access to fly-fishing and Class IV rapids. Fishing and paddleboarding on alpine lakes, like the 1,500-acre Redfish Lake, are common practice听within the , as is wildlife watching for bighorn sheep and elk. Come winter, Galena and Banner Summits are quick getaway options for听backcountry powder, while endless stashes are hidden amid the 40 peaks surrounding Stanley. Downtown is delightful and supports its small population of 100 (make like a local and grab a breakfast burrito from ),听but if you want some glitz or lift-served downhill, is just an hour south.

15. Bentonville, Arkansas

The Ozarks aren鈥檛 known for towering peaks, but don鈥檛 mistake their muted summits for humble terrain; the landscape is rugged, especially if you鈥檙e on a mountain bike. And Bentonville (population 49,467) has taken advantage of that feature, building more than 300 miles of singletrack in the past decade. One result is a downtown renaissance: its historic main street has come back to life with restaurants and boutiques that pay homage to Southern charm, with a nod toward changing times. (Case in point: in the basement of a former church.) The town has also seamlessly married culture with adventure: more than 100 pieces of public art can be found along the trails. Make a pit stop at the world-class , a destination in itself, housing听pieces by numerous icons, including Warhol and Rockwell.

14. North Conway, New Hampshire

North Conway might be best known as a ski town鈥攁nd that鈥檚 a legitimate distinction with 鈥檚 steeps and glades just a mile from downtown and six more alpine resorts within an hour鈥檚 drive. But winter is just part of the draw. The storybook village (population 2,179) is nestled in Mount Washington Valley, surrounded by the听White Mountains, and ideally located near some of the best trad climbing and hiking in New England. Climbers flock to Cathedral Ledge for long multi-pitch routes, and hikers have 800,000 acres of national forest to explore outside town.

13. Chattanooga, Tennessee

This outdoor outpost of 179,690 residents has been a rock-climbing mecca for decades, thanks to the towering sandstone bluffs and boulders that define the Cumberland Plateau, to the west. Hundreds of sport routes traverse the Tennessee Wall, while Sunset Rock on Lookout Mountain is a center for trad. But in the past ten years, mountain biking has taken prominence, with more than 100 miles of singletrack creating a prime network for cyclists, earning Chattanooga a silver-level Ride Center recognition from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Hikers have 150 miles of trails to choose from, including the 200-mile-long Cumberland, which begins outside town and runs north along the plateau. The broad but mellow Tennessee River carves an arc around the city center and begs paddleboarders and rowers to spend time in its currents, while the Class IV rapids in the Ocoee, an hour east, beckon hardcore whitewater enthusiasts.

12. Whitefish, Montana

Whitefish has the distinction of being both a ski hub (鈥檚 3,000 acres are minutes north of downtown) and a national-park gateway听(Glacier is 30 miles east). Either of those outdoor attractions would be reason enough to call Whitefish home for a weekend or a lifetime, but it鈥檚 the nuances between the obvious gems that make this area of the northern Rockies so damn compelling. The Flathead River and its tributaries are a hotbed听of native trout, while the glacier-fed Whitefish Lake offers picture-perfect paddling. As for biking, the Whitefish Trail is 43 miles of flowy singletrack, with a trailhead two miles from downtown.

11. Copper Harbor, Michigan

As far as you can get from major centers of civilization in the Midwest, this former mining outpost (population 100) sits on the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, flanked by the听largest of the Great Lakes on one side and the rocky ridgeline of Brockway Mountain on the other. It鈥檚 five hours from the nearest interstate, and cell service is nonexistent unless you hike to the top of Brockway. You can even occasionally catch the aurora borealis from this latitude. Summer is about mountain biking, with some of the most impressive singletrack starting in town. Or hop a ferry to explore Isle Royale National Park听in the middle of Lake Superior. Meanwhile, an average winter sees more than 250 inches of lake-effect snow, turning the tip of the peninsula into a playground for fat bikers and cross-country skiers, and nearby Mount Bohemia runs the only cat-skiing operation east of the Rockies.

10. Lake Placid, New York

Is Lake Placid a tad too touristy? Maybe. But there might not be a more complete winter destination in the lower 48. There are only a couple of places in the U.S. where you could try out an Olympic-size ski jump or go bobsledding, and Lake Placid is one of them, thanks to the 1980听Olympic facilities that still welcome tourists and athletes alike. You can also spend time dogsledding, ice skating, or cross-country skiing on 12 miles of groomed trails just outside town, or just run laps on what is arguably the most badass toboggan chute in the country. Then there鈥檚 Whiteface Mountain for downhill turns. Lake Placid is surrounded by the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, home to hiking trails galore as well as Wallface, an 800-foot granite cliff with some of the best climbing in the state, located in the deep wilderness of Indian Pass. This town is serious about mountain biking, too: old ski hills have been turned into new systems of singletrack at , where a defunct slope from the seventies has been transformed into some serious flow trails.

9. Sedona, Arizona

Don鈥檛 let the New Age crystal shops fool you鈥擲edona is a town that鈥檚 grounded in its surroundings. The hub of 10,000 sits at 4,350 feet in the center of almost two million acres of national forest, a landscape of high-elevation pine-filled peaks and stunning red-rock formations. There are more than 400 miles of trails to choose from, many of which start on the edge of town and feature an array of buttes, arches, and caves to explore. Scrambling up Bell Rock is a must, as is traversing Devil鈥檚 Bridge and spending time at the pools and caves of Devil鈥檚 Kitchen. But maybe mountain bikers have it best, thanks to the variety of smooth slickrock and technical descents mixed with purpose-built dirt paths. The double-black Hiline Trail could be the highlight, full of clifftop views (and clifftop exposure) and a descent that鈥檚 equal parts flowy and sketchy.

8. Bozeman, Montana

It鈥檚 tough to say if Bozeman is a fishing town or a skiing town, a boating town or a mountain-biking town. The truth is, it鈥檚 all of those鈥攁nd a college town to boot (go, MSU Bobcats!). Located in a flat valley, Bozeman is bookended by Bridger Range to its north and the Spanish Peaks to the south. Anglers can head to high-alpine lakes or movie-set-worthy rivers; the Lower Gallatin offers world-class trout close enough for a happy-hour cast. For skiers, is nearby and famous, but 听is the more convenient home hill, with 2,700 feet of vertical drop and a lively apr猫s parking-lot scene. But Bozeman鈥檚 true gem is Hyalite Canyon, a multisport, four-season destination just 15 miles from town, where trails lead from easy-access campsites to mountain meadows in the summer. In winter, Hyalite becomes one of the best ice-climbing听spots in the country. Need to tick off a bucket-list adventure? Yellowstone National Park, 70 miles south, can been seen on听a day trip.

7. Stowe, Vermont

Stowe might be too perfect. First, you have the quaint village, loaded with New England charm and underpinned by a farm-to-table ethos. Then you have , which consists of two peaks, including the tallest mountain in the state, and pulls down 300 inches of snow a year. It boasts over 485 acres of skiable鈥攁nd, in the summer, bikeable鈥攖errain. Add in access to some of the best beer on the East Coast, a local land trust that鈥檚 preserved more than 4,000 acres for the public, rugged adventures at nearby , and more groomed nordic trails and singletrack than you could possibly explore, and you have the recipe for perfection. Just be prepared to sit in traffic if you want to ski Stowe Mountain on a Saturday.

6. Asheville, North Carolina

Cyclists, take note: Asheville sits in a bowl surrounded by 5,000-to-6,000-foot peaks and offers a sturdy mix of two-lane blacktop, gravel, and singletrack traversing those mountains in every direction. The 469-mile , arguably the best road-cycling destination in the country, cruises by the edge of town, and getting to听鈥檚 legendary singletrack only requires a quick warm-up or cooldown from your home base. Meanwhile, kayakers look to the Class V Green River, and hikers have the highest mountains on the East Coast to explore. Everybody comes together for a beer downtown, blessed with too many breweries to count. And when we say everybody, we mean everybody鈥揵ecause the secret is out, and outdoorspeople have come to appreciate its amenities; the downside of all this is that traffic jams are common on highways that feed Pisgah National Forest, and housing prices continue to escalate.

5. Bend, Oregon

Forget the stereotypes of copious rain overwhelming all parts of the Pacific Northwest. Bend sits on the dry side of the Cascade Range, so the powder is fluffy during the cold months and the trails are buff in the warm ones. Mount Bachelor, 20 miles away, affords more than 4,300 acres of lift-served terrain during the winter and a state-of-the-art bike park when the snow melts. Roadies love the 20-mile climb up to the resort, while mountain bikers have more than 300 miles of singletrack to tackle. Some trails traverse through town, and others take in the 10,000-foot peaks on the horizon, home to alpine lakes, waterfalls, and dormant volcanoes. Pilot Butte, an urban park popular for recreation, offers seven miles of trails and a summit with stunning views. Deciding how to spend your time downtown may be the biggest challenge:听galleries, good food, better beer, and a whitewater park where you can tube, kayak, or surf the Deschutes River are just a few of the excellent options. Naturally, such attributes have led to the quintessential problem facing mountain towns鈥攅veryone wants to move here. With so much to keep you happy and healthy in Bend, it鈥檚 hard to blame them.

4. Truckee, California

The bustle of Lake Tahoe can be overwhelming, but Truckee, 12 miles north, has managed to retain itslow-key vibe. The western character of its historic downtown still shows through and through, and if you鈥檙e looking for a beach scene that鈥檚 quieter,听head to Donner Lake instead. During the summer, the mountains in this section of the Sierra Nevada are lousy with climbing, notably the tall granite slabs seen at Donner Summit and closer to Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe. Truckee happily hosts cyclists with 22 miles of paved bike paths as well as a bike park and the world-class singletrack of 听just out its back door. Alternatively, make a beeline to the Tahoe Donner Trail System, with 60 miles of multi-use trails, or hit the听famous Flume Trail at Lake Tahoe. Come winter, local families flock to the Tahoe Donner resort, with 3,170 skiable acres.

3. Telluride, Colorado

The conversation about Telluride starts with the ski resort of the same name, which drops 4,000 vertical feet across 2,000 acres just upslope of downtown (a gondola connects the town center with the resort鈥檚 mountain village). Seriously, you can ski right into town here鈥攁nd not just some manufactured ski-resort village but an actual community. With with all the love Telluride receives (don鈥檛 bother searching for real estate; if you have to ask, you can鈥檛 afford it),听it can feel a bit cramped considering Telluride itself is tucked into a box canyon within the towering San Juan Mountains. Fortunately, there鈥檚 plenty of room to spread out, as those mountains are home to the densest concentration of 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks in the nation. Hiking and mountain biking take over come summer, with singletrack that begins where side streets end. But the unique culture it evinces is as vibrant as the adventure. Its architecture is more Victorian than mining camp, the food scene is legit, and the summer is punctuated by big events like the and .

2. Jackson, Wyoming

Yeah, you know about the antler arches, the , and Corbet鈥檚 Couloir at . There aren鈥檛 a lot of secrets in Jackson anymore. But that doesn鈥檛 make the town or its corner of the Tetons any less stunning. The resort gets all the love (and rightfully so), but don鈥檛 overlook , which serves as a pre- and post-work ski workout for locals, or , 45 miles away, which has just as much to offer mountain bikers during the summer as it does skiers in the winter. You might not know that you can ride your bike to Grand Teton National Park. And there鈥檚 never a bad time to visit听,听pass some enjoyable hours fly-fishing the Snake or Firehole Rivers,听or hitting the gondola-served singletrack. And what would a mountain town be without proximity to wild animals? The听听is minutes away.

1. Park City, Utah

Park City is a ski town, sure, with and looming on the horizon, but it鈥檚 so much more than just downhill turns and champagne powder here. The Wasatch offers the picture-perfect frame for this former silver-mining boomtown, delivering adventure beyond the lifts. There are 450 miles of trails surrounding Park City, earning it one of the few gold-level Ride Center designations from IMBA. A tandem of blue-ribbon rivers (the Provo and the Weber) keep anglers entertained, while every hiking trail seems to lead to a different high-alpine lake. Back in town, is producing some of the best whiskey in the country, a free trolley is an excellent means of alternative transportation, and the food scene is far more eclectic than you鈥檇 expect of a place听with 8,000 full-time residents.

Want more of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 award-winning travel coverage? .

The post The 24 Best Mountain Towns in the U.S., Ranked appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.