Five Western mountains that still deliver without the premium price tag.
As a millennial who went through college at Weber State University in the mid 2000s, it doesn’t feel like that long ago when you could walk into the student center and grab a Powder Mountain day pass for $25 or a Snowbasin pass for $35. That was normal. You could ski multiple times a week without doing financial gymnastics. Obviously prices were going to increase but 10X feels like highway robbery.
Skiing has gotten stupidly expensive. Some ticket windows now flirt with $300 for a single day. That changes who gets to ski and how often they go. I wanted to see what’s still out there for normal people who love the sport. There are still resorts in the West where you can get on snow for under $100 and actually have a full mountain experience. Here are the five that make the most sense.
Lost Trail
Montana | 8 Lifts
Almost 1,800 acres. Day tickets in the $60–$73 range. One of the best acreage-per-dollar deals in the West with consistent storms and low crowds.
Beaver Mountain
Utah • 6 Lifts
Tickets $55–$70. Family owned, strong snow quality, and no corporate nonsense. This is what skiing feels like when everything stays simple.
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Brian Head
Utah | 8 Lifts
Most days come in just under $100. High elevation helps early and late season, and the terrain mix is better than people expect.
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Lee Canyon
Nevada | 5 Lifts
Tickets $59–$69. About an hour from Las Vegas with a fast, efficient layout. On storm days it skis far better than outsiders assume.
Pajarito
New Mexico | 6 Lifts
Tickets usually $45–$65 when bought ahead. Real pitch, no lift lines, and the kind of terrain that keeps you going all day.
The Worst Offenders
Here’s what the top end of the market looks like right now.
- Park City: $328
- Vail: $329
- Sun Valley: $253
- Steamboat: $269
- Breckenridge: $299
- Big Sky weekends: $250+
- Powder Mountain peak days: $225
That’s the reality most skiers are staring at. These five under $100 are the escape hatch. They give you real terrain, real snow, and a day that feels like skiing instead of a luxury purchase. If you want more time on the hill without blowing up your budget, this is the side of the map that still makes sense.
