5 Affordable Community Ski Resorts to Visit

Hit the slopes for less at one of these budget-friendly vacation locations

a ski lift with snowcovered trees and mountains in the background

At community-based and -operated nonprofit ski resorts, you can enjoy the slopes at a fraction of the cost of the popular big-name ones. Shames Mountain in British Columbia, Canada, opened in the early 1990s.

Destination BC/Andrew Strain

Terry Ward,

AARP

Published December 22, 2025

If you’ve been skiing at any of North America’s big-name ski resorts in recent years, there’s a chance you’ve found yourself reeling from sticker shock at the price of everything from lift tickets and gear rentals to ski classes and on-mountain lodging.

Daily lift tickets just to get up the mountain at famous ski resorts in snowy places like Colorado and Utah can easily cost more than $200 — and sometimes more than $300.

According to AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends survey, cost remains the biggest barrier to travel for 45 percent of respondents age 50-plus.

But for skiers willing to swap massive mountain terrain for smaller, community-based and -operated nonprofit ski resorts, in places such as Maine, Vermont, Colorado and British Columbia, Canada, there’s a more budget-minded way to get in your turns this season.

“Skiing can be an expensive endeavor, and community-run resorts make the sport more accessible for the communities they serve,” says Cat Iwanchuk, vice president of business development at Ski.com, a tour operator and online travel agency that books customized ski and snowboard activities.

And while there are far fewer nonprofit than for-profit ski resorts (because ski resorts cost so much to operate), it’s worth seeking them out.

When you choose to ski at a nonprofit or community-run mountain, you’re directly supporting the places you’re visiting. That can have far-reaching effects, says Jessica Flores, chief experience officer at Tourism Cares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability and meaningful travel experiences in the tourism industry.

“When travelers choose community-run or smaller, locally rooted ski areas over larger corporate resorts, they’re not just buying a day on the mountain, they’re investing in the people who live there year-round,” Flores says.

Money spent on lift tickets, ski school and even at the on-mountain café at these kinds of resorts is more likely to stay in and support the local community, she says, rather than benefit global supply chains and distant shareholders.

“That makes these small but mighty ski hills powerful engines for local resilience, especially in rural and mountain towns that depend on a short winter season to carry them through the year,” Flores adds.

Consider these community-run and nonprofit mountain ski areas in the U.S. and Canada. (All prices are in U.S. dollars.)

people skiing down a mountain with a ski lift at the top

Howelsen Hill Ski Area has been welcoming skiers since 1915 as Colorado’s oldest continuously operated ski area.

Courtesty Steamboat Springs Chamber

Howelsen Hill Ski Area, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

This ski area owned and operated by the City of Steamboat Springs may not have the name recognition of Steamboat Ski Resort, the big-ticket mountain less than 3 miles down the road that draws the Ikon Pass-holding masses from across Colorado and around the country (and where lift tickets will run you upwards of $200 per day for January ski dates). But Howelsen Hill Ski Area has been welcoming skiers since 1915 as Colorado’s oldest continuously operated ski area, and it has been the training ground for 100 Olympians. The mountain’s 15 trails are serviced by four lifts, with the longest downhill run stretching a mile. Magic carpets (conveyor-style ski belts) make it easy for beginners to access mild terrain too. Lift tickets: $52 per day for adults; $38 for skiers 65 and older; free for everyone on Sundays.

Affordable stay nearby: Less than a mile away, Rabbit Ears Motel has been around since 1953 and is known for its cheerful neon sign. Rooms start at $159 per night for two people.

Bogus Basin, Boise National Forest, Idaho

Bogus Basin operates with a special-use permit within the vast landscapes of the Boise National Forest, which covers over 2.5 million acres. The mountain is 19 miles north of downtown Boise, so you can land here on a morning flight and be skiing the same day on some 88 runs accessed by seven lifts and four quads. Both alpine and Nordic ski lessons are offered on-site. The ski area has 501(c)(3) status and is a charitable organization, with tax-deductible donations helping support affordable school outreach and environmental education programs. Lift tickets: $89 per day for adults; $67 for skiers 70 and older.

Affordable stay nearby: More than a century old, the historic Avery Hotel + Brasserie in downtown Boise has 39 rooms, including a suite with a deep soaking tub that’s perfect for recuperating after a day on the slopes. Rooms start at $209 per night for two people.

people sitting in chairs with a ski resort in the background

Cochran’s Ski Area is dedicated to providing affordable skiing, snowboarding and lessons to people locally.

Courtesy Carter Clark

Cochran’s Ski Area, Richmond, Vermont

Another mountain breeding ground for winter Olympians, this ski area is a favorite among the Richmond, Vermont, community thanks to its accessibility and family-friendly atmosphere. Cochran’s Ski Area is 15 miles east of the buzzing college town of Burlington. The country’s first nonprofit ski hill, the mountain was opened in the 1960s by the Cochran family, which has produced many Olympians. With four lifts and 10 ski runs, the ski area is dedicated to providing affordable skiing, snowboarding and lessons to people locally. And while the terrain may be far from vast, Cochran’s is a great place to learn to ski or take a few turns on a snowy day. If you don’t have your own skis or snowboards, you can rent them in Burlington (there are no rentals available at the mountain). Lift tickets: $19 per day for adults on weekends; $10 for adults on weekdays; free for skiers 72-plus.

Affordable stay nearby: Right on Main Street in Burlington, Lang House Bed & Breakfast, a Queen Anne Victorian house that dates to 1881, has 11 guestrooms. Rooms start at $149 for two people, including breakfast.

Big Moose Mountain, Greenville, Maine

Nonprofit group Friends of the Mountain took over Maine’s Big Squaw Mountain in 2012 and converted the ski resort to Big Moose Mountain, which now operates as a 501(c)(3) with 29 trails, two lifts and nearly 1,000 feet of vertical drop for skiers and snowboarders. About a two-hour drive northwest of the airport in Bangor, the ski area is known for its beautiful views of Moosehead Lake. It has 6 miles of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, too, that wind through the surrounding forest. Lift tickets: $50 per day for adults; free for skiers 70 and older.

Affordable stay nearby: Roughly 5 miles from the slopes at Big Moose Mountain, Moose Mountain Inn has rooms with refrigerators and microwaves and offers access to other winter experiences that include snowmobiling, ice fishing and even moose-watching safaris.

a person skiing through thick snow on a mountainside

Shames Mountain has 28 groomed runs, as well as extensive natural glades and backcountry to ski. Here, downhill skiing with heavy powder.

Destination BC/Andrew Strain

Shames Mountain, British Columbia, Canada

British Columbia’s Coast Mountain Range is an all-season playground for outdoor adventures, and ski mountains abound. Canada’s first nonprofit community service ski cooperative opened west of the town of Terrace in the early 1990s. There are 28 groomed runs, as well as extensive natural glades and backcountry to ski, offering plenty of terrain for both beginners and experts. Lift tickets: About $69 per day for adults; about $45 for skiers 65 to 74; about $3.50 for skiers 75-plus. Prices may change depending on exchange rates.

Affordable stay nearby: Views of the Skeena River with mountains all around make Skeena River House Bed & Breakfast a cozy choice for a stay in Terrace. Rooms start at roughly $100 per night.

When you’re ready to try out a community-run ski resort for your next winter vacation, taking those turns will benefit the local community in more ways than one.

“By directing their spending to the community level, skiers help keep hometown hills open, protect local character and ensure that the benefits of tourism are shared more fairly with the people who are actually hosting us,” Flores says.

%{postComment}%

Terry Ward is a contributing writer who covers food, drink and travel. Her work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler and The Washington Post and on CNN.

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login

Most Popular

Benefits Recommended For You

See All