Small, family-run resorts are beloved for short lines and cheap tickets, not amenities. Now that’s changing. Mt. Baker (pictured; $51 lift ticket; mtbaker.us) in the Cascades just added a charming midmountain lodge; Brundage Resort near McCall, Idaho ($55; brundage.com), has a sparkly new restaurant and spa at nearby Shore Lodge. And Utah’s Eagle Point ($50; skieaglepoint.com) reopened with slopeside massages, day lodges, and a high-wattage chef.
More: The West's best ski towns