What is the best "hidden" ski resort in the west USA/Canada?

If you are looking for a great ski AREA with out all the resort features (spas, nightlife, restaurants, etc.), try Wolf Creek, Colorado. It is about 4 to 6 hours from any decent sized airport. There is no lodging at the ski area, the closest town is about 15 minutes down the road, the skiing is fantastic, and they get record snow falls almost every year! The locals fight every developer that tries to convert the ski area into a ski resort. They know they have a great ski area and the don't want to ruin it. If you are looking for a good RESORT, I would try Breckenridge. It is easy to get to and not too crowded compared to other resorts. There is also a hidden gem called Apahoe Basin (A-Basin) just minutes from Breck. This is where all the locals ski to get away from all the tourists. A-Basin is also one of the first ski areas to open (mid Nov.)and one of the last to close (May?).

Kirkwood, CA. Sure, a lot of people KNOW about it, but not a lot of people actually go there. All the resorts at nearby Lake Tahoe are super convenient to access and have shuttle service, etc., from the Reno/Tahoe Airport. If you want to go to Kirkwood, you have to rent a car and do some driving. Plus, the road getting there is a narrow two-lane road that tends to close a lot in heavy weather. So a lot of people don't waste the time driving past Tahoe and just go to the bigger resorts like Heavenly and Squaw. Once you're at Kirkwood, your set. Normally the wait for a chair is around 5 mins. during the busiest parts of the day. And a lot of lifts you can just ski right up to without any wait at all. The skiing is terrific. Lots of challenging terrain, steep moguls, wide bowls, cornices, chutes, and everything else you could possibly want for a great day on snow.

Castle Mountain, AB. Don't tell ANYONE! http://www.skicastle.ca/index.cfm

I like Sunshine Village in Banff National Park which is only about 1.5 hours from Calgary.They get tons of snow and it isn't too busy either. It is also very big with over 100 runs. They also have an off piste section called Deliriun Dive that is definetly worth the hike.