America’s favorite mountain towns

North Conway is just east of White Mountain National Forest, placing it within a half-hour of 13 ski resorts and more than a thousand miles of wooded hiking trails.

The gateway to Montana’s Glacier National Park is a minuscule hamlet with big appeal. It’s from here that guided treks, fly-fishing programs, rafting expeditions and heli-tours depart for the park. And this is where, in the winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing reign supreme. Nicknamed “Crown of the Continent,” the park preserves a million acres of mountain wilderness, including 25 active glaciers, and is home to endangered animals such as the grizzly bear and lynx.

Summer visitors can drive above the tree line on the scenic Trail Ridge Road, which crosses the Continental Divide after a series of overlooks. More than 350 miles of hiking trails afford even grander views, such as from the top of Flattop Mountain in the middle of the park.

This Montana college town has all the trappings for a Rocky Mountain getaway. Among the ski areas nearby, compact and rugged Snowbowl is the closest to town and has some of the steepest slopes in America.