The 13 most scenic US mountain towns

The state of Colorado is known as Rocky Mountain Central, and there’s no better base than Telluride. Home to a great ski and golf resort set in some of the best scenery in the West, your eyes will never tire of any view in this town. Wander the streets lined with Victorian homes amongst the mountains between outdoor activities.

Best known as a ski and snowboard haven, Park City is also a great all-around mountain escape. Summer turns the slopes into amazing hiking and biking trails, often accessible from town. Not to mention the numerous lakes and rivers to cool off on a hot day.

Yes, there’s a reason for non-fans of The Proposal to visit this small Alaskan town. Set amongst numerous peaks, there’s nowhere else quite like it in the US. Kayak and hike in the summer and watch for bears, birds, and more!

Another Colorado favorite, Aspen is great for all types of nature lovers. Whether you love to cross-country ski, snowshoe, fish, hike, or bike, this is the place to do so. When you’ve tired of exercise, sample treats at one of the delicious restaurants in town or stroll through many boutiques and shops.

At the base of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks lies Jackson Hole, a beautiful relaxing place. You can ski, snowboard, dogsled, and take sleigh rides in winter and hike, camp, and bike in the warmer months!

If you didn’t already know about this little German gem in the Washington Cascades, put it on your list now! Modeled after villages across the Atlantic, it does a good job and even has annual Oktoberfests and Christmas Markets. It’s also a great jumping-off point for hiking and camping in the Enchantments.

Straddling both California and Nevada is the breathtaking Lake Tahoe area. The crystal clear lakes and waterfalls set against the Sierras are reason enough to visit. Additionally, it’s a haven for skiers and snowboarders in the winter. In summer, there’s an underwater trail for those scuba-certified!

The Blue Ridge Mountains might not be everyone’s first thought for a getaway, but Asheville is a great place for vacation. Amazing scenery, delicious restaurants, and trendy shops and galleries await you in this quirky mountain town. It’s also home to many popular music venues should you want to catch a favorite artist in a beautiful place.

The East Coast’s capital for snow sports, Stowe is where everyone from New York, DC, and Philly go for winter getaways. Even outside of the cold season, it’s a great place to hike, mountain bike, or enjoy fall colors. 

Oregon’s Cascade mountain town is well-known as being a great base for a nature adventure. Ski, bike, snowboard, or hike all day before enjoying the town’s great food and craft beer scene. Alternatively, you can explore the Bend Ale Trail — the West Coast’s largest beer trail.

The town that gave the state its nickname, “Big Sky Country,” is home to the largest volume of ski area in the US. Over 5,500 acres of ski trails and terrain are sectioned off for snowmobiles. In summer, you can hike or mountain bike across all mountains.

A cute town near Boise, people from all over flock to Ketchum for snow sports in winter and summer hikes when the weather warms up. Home to clean rivers, immense mountains, and a small but packed-with-cultural offerings town, you may never want to leave.

This town near the Sangre De Cristo range in the southwest houses a world-renowned ski resort and more. There’s also the UNESCO Native American Heritage site, where you can view a multi-story home made of adobe. Beyond that, Taos is an art colony where many go for inspiration for their work.