Lost Trail Powder Mountain sits high in the Bitterroot Mountains, a range in the northern Rockies in the northwest of the United States. It takes its name from the Lewis and Clark expedition, who lost the trail crossing this remote pass on the Montana-Idaho line back in 1805, and it's still a place you climb a long way into the mountains to reach, with barely a building in sight. Running since 1938, it's one of Montana's oldest ski areas, and it's still run by the same family. Not much has changed over the years, and that's a big part of the charm. The pace is easy, the two-seat chairlifts have been carrying skiers up for generations, and the single log lodge fills with locals and tourists alike. One of this area’s highlights is its snow, with light, dry powder that, with so few people to track it out, can still be waiting days after it falls.

The skiing spreads across two linked mountains, with room to roam over some 1,800 acres and 60-odd runs. It's high, cold country, the summit topping out near 2,500m and the runs dropping around 550m below it, and the terrain suits every level. Green runs reach both summits, so new skiers aren't stuck on the lower slopes and can ride up for incredible views. Intermediates have the most to play with, including long cruisers like Oreo, which rolls on for nearly 3km from the top lift. And strong skiers can go hunting for the good stuff, whether that's steep chutes, powder-filled bowls, or glades threaded through the trees. One of the best parts of a ski holiday here comes down to the snow quality. Lost Trail pulls in around 9m of light, dry snow in a typical season, all of it natural, since there's no snowmaking on the mountain. The season usually runs from early December into April.

The mountain itself keeps things simple, a single day lodge with a cafeteria, a rental shop, and a ski school, which is all part of the appeal. One thing worth knowing as you plan: Lost Trail runs Thursday to Sunday and on major holidays rather than every day, so it's worth shaping your trip around that. What surrounds it is the biggest draw. The pass sits between two vast wilderness areas, the Selway-Bitterroot to the west and the Anaconda-Pintler to the east, wild country where you'll spot elk in the meadows and ridgelines running off in every direction. There's more than downhill to do here, too. Right across the pass, the Chief Joseph trails offer miles of groomed cross-country skiing and snowshoeing through the forest, at every level, kept in shape by a local club that works hand in hand with the ski area. And on the way back down toward the valley, it's worth stopping for a soak in the mineral hot spring near Sula, a fine way to end a cold day on the hill.

Check out Lost Trail ski deals to start planning your trip.