Monarch Mountain in Salida, Colorado, is the smallest resort on our list, but it’s a great off-the-beaten-path ski destination. Most people are unaware this resort exists, and those in the know ...

Monarch's east-facing slopes and high elevation (it tops out at 11,952 feet) provide the ski area with 350 inches of all-natural snow a year. There's zero snowmaking — a rarity in Colorado.