7 Up-and-Coming Ski Resorts To Check Out This Season

There are hundreds of ski areas and resorts scattered across North America, but which deserve your attention?

In an effort to celebrate the ski resorts that are investing in the guest experience, terrain, and other aspects the right way, we've curated this list of 'Up-and-Coming Ski Resorts.'

Some of the ski resorts in this list opened as recently as 2007, while others are breathing new life thanks to millions of dollars of investments.

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1. Mount Bohemia, Michigan

Mount Bohemia is known for being a powder skiing mecca hidden deep within the brutally cold Midwest. The mountain doesn't groom its slopes and relies on 100% natural snowfall to keep its lifts spinning roughly from Christmas to April 1, depending on the year.

Known for attracting a rowdy group of powder-hungry Midwesterners who don't want to fly to Colorado or elsewhere, Mount Bohemia is a true ski culture haven. It's also one of the newest ski resorts in the United States, having opened in 2000.

Mount Bohemia is opening four new gladed runs this season and is constantly updating its fan-favorite Nordic Spa. New for this season is a rooftop bar and a tiki bar to keep the après hot tub/sauna/cold plunge vibes going. Bohemia has also announced its intention to build the "first indoor/outdoor cold pool swim up to a sauna in the United States." A new parking lot was added this summer to increase capacity as well.

Mount Bohemia can be hard to get to, but there's nothing like it, hence its place at the top of our list.

2. Tamarack Resort, Idaho

Located just a couple of hours north of Boise, Tamarack towers above the manmade Lake Cascade like a diamond in the rough. With an impressive 2,800 ft. vertical drop and plans to dramatically expand the resort's trail and lift footprint in the coming years, everything seems to be coming together swimmingly for Tamarack following a few years of financial hardship.

The resort opened its beautiful mid-mountain lodge last year and debuted 'The Club', an exclusive membership that features private lodges and group events throughout the season.

For skiers looking to explore new terrain, Tamarack's current trail footprint only represents a fraction of what's accessible along the ridge. Ducking out of bounds has its inherent risks (bring a buddy and avalanche gear), but the freedom to trounce through tight trees and wide open bowls feels like a skiing experience of yesteryear.

Tamarack made national news as a wildfire burned just within its boundaries this summer. The resort was able to preserve its lifts and lodges, and found a unique solution for the burn scar—new ski terrain. The resort's trail map hasn't been updated quite yet, but Tamarack intends to open a new groomed trail adjacent to the current 'Bliss' trail in the burn area.

You can read more about my visit to Tamarack Resort last season here.

3. Monarch, Colorado

Monarch Mountain is anything but new. The resort first welcomed skiers in 1939 and has remained a bastion for independent ski area ownership and a down-home feel ever since.

So, why is Monarch on our 'Up-and-Coming Ski Resorts' list? New terrain.

Monarch is opening a massive 377-acre expansion called 'No Name' that will add a new chairlift and nearly a dozen new runs to the resort's footprint. New terrain is great, but No Name Basin is an entirely new aspect that previously lay outside the resort's boundary.

Monarch is old, but the skiing and riding experience should feel new this season. Go check it out for yourself.

4. Castle Mountain, Alberta

Sometimes lost in the shuffle of big-name ski resorts that appear on billboards and on the pages of ski magazines, Castle Mountain is bigger than most think.

With nearly 3,000 feet of vertical drop and over 3,500 acres of skiable terrain, it's a surprise more people don't talk about Castle. Their new lift and in-bounds terrain, dubbed Haig 1, could change their reputation quickly.

Haig 1 is built from Sunshine Village's former Angel Express Quad Chairlift and is expected to open this season. The terrain, which was previously only accessible via Castle's cat skiing operation, will expand the resort's footprint by more than 25%.

“The addition of a lift serving this phenomenal terrain will forever transform our guests’ experience”, said Dean Parkinson, General Manager. “The terrain that will soon be available to all has been well-loved by our cat skiing guests for over a decade, primarily for its deep snow and great skiing. We are excited to finally be opening up this terrain for everyone to enjoy.”

5. Black Mountain, New Hampshire

Similar to Monarch, Black Mountain, New Hampshire, is one of the oldest active ski resorts in the country. Skiers have been descending the mountain above Jackson, NH, since 1935, longer than many western ski resorts can claim.

Black is on our list of up-and-coming ski resorts due to their new owners, The Indy Pass. A multi-resort ski pass that grants two days of access at each of hundreds of resorts across the globe, The Indy Pass, and its parent company Entabeni Systems, is putting its money where its mouth is, so to speak.

When Black Mountain's longtime owners could no longer keep the business afloat, Indy Pass swooped in and revitalized the ski area in a way many thought impossible. Black celebrated its earliest opening ever this winter, is investing money into the resort's on-mountain dining and après scene, and has ultimately won back the Black Mountain diehards.

The Indy Pass intends to transfer the ownership of Black Mountain to a co-op, similar to that of Mad River Glen, Vermont, in the coming years. This move is to ensure that the ski area survives as an independently-owned staple in the historic New England ski scene.

6. Jay Peak, Vermont

Jay Peak had a snowy season to remember, and picked up right where they left off this year.

Thanks to numerous storms that always seem to over-deliver (ever heard of the Jay cloud? It's real), Jay Peak is nearing 200 inches of total snowfall already this season, and more is on the way. While most western resorts are impatiently waiting for their first powder days, Jay skiers have been trenching through the good stuff since the beginning of November.

If you've never skied in New England, this could be the year. If you're hedging bets about the best snow conditions, head north and enjoy Jay Peak. You won't be disappointed.

7. Sugar Bowl, California

Sugar Bowl has long stood as an independently owned and down-to-earth ski area that caters to a slightly different ski experience than the rest of Tahoe. Lines are short. The snow is colder thanks to the elevation, and mega passes like Ikon and Epic aren't welcomed.

In recent years, however, Sugar Bowl has invested millions of dollars in a complete terrain park overhaul, cementing it among the best in the world. The resort has also revived its legendary downhill race into a unique athlete-judged freeride competition called The Silver Belt Classic. The Silver Belt has attracted some of the biggest names in skiing over its first two seasons and shows no signs of stopping.

Sugar Bowl still feels like the friendly mom-and-pop ski area that it built its reputation on, but behind the scenes, a passionate freeride and freestyle-focused movement is being led by CEO Bridget Legnasky.

POWDER is excited about what Sugar Bowl has planned. More to come.