Skiing is a much-loved winter pastime when the temperatures tumble, but you don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy a holiday home near the slopes. While house prices in the famed ski resort of Aspen remain sky-high, there are plenty more scenic – and happily affordable – destinations to invest in a dreamy winter retreat if you know where to look. Let's head for the mountains...

With four bedrooms and a cosy, stylish interior, this Aspen home is a tempting find – there's even a characterful brick fireplace to curl up in front of after a day on the slopes. However, while the price tag isn't in seven figures, it's far from cheap, coming in at a sizeable $810,000 (£663k). Head north and you'll find your money stretches a whole lot further.

Tiny Biwabik is the nearest town to Giants Ridge, a ski resort and golf course in Minnesota’s Iron Range, with more than 35 alpine runs to enjoy. At almost a quarter of the price of the Aspen property, this 2,248-square-foot rustic condo is part of a collection of villas right at the base of the resort, on the shores of Lake Wynne.

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Inside, the characterful interior features warming pine and plenty of exposed stone. A large glazed gable window floods the living room with light, while a double-height ceiling creates an airy spacious feel. We can just imagine basking by the hearth as the snow falls outside.

The four-bedroom property offers incredible views of Lake Wynne from the outdoor deck. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars around the villas, and you can take advantage of the shared pool and hot tub too. Plus, the house is a total bargain – it’s currently on sale for just $289,000 (£234k).

Surrounded by woodlands and flanked by mountains, this charming log home is on the doorstep of Aspen. Decked out in a crisp neutral palette, the interior is equal parts snugs and stylish, but it does come at a cost, with the two-bedroom home listed for a staggering $3 million (£2.5m). However, if you're willing to look further afield, you might just bag yourself a bargain.

The Cascade Mountains near Leavenworth, Washington, are home to the Stevens Pass ski resort, with 1,125 acres of skiable terrain suitable for all abilities. A 48-minute drive away in remote woodlands, this two-bedroom timber house is the perfect mountain retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

The sweet log home is nestled in a third of an acre of woodlands in Tall Timber, a secluded community surrounded by picturesque granite mountain peaks. Log beams clad the interiors walls, drawing the outside landscape in. The main open-plan living space features a kitchen, dining area and lounge, while each of the two bedrooms has its own bathroom.

With every room oozing country charm, there's no way you won't feel at home here, plus you can call this place your winter getaway for the modest price of $344,000 (£282k). A 45-minute drive from the historic town of Leavenworth, there's plenty to do in the surrounding area too. Having reinvented itself as a Baravian-style alpine village in the 1960s, the town is a bustling tourist hotspot with plenty of German beer and bratwurst.

Vast and luxurious, this four-bedroom home in Aspen features a spacious outdoor terrace overlooking breathtaking mountain views, plus floor-to-ceiling windows in the living area and a 1,400-bottle wine room. But at $7.6 million (£6.2m), this exclusive property is far from affordable. Want to get more for your money? Head for the West Coast.

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Nestled in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, Mammoth Lakes is a popular destination for an adventure break – and it’s beginning to rival Aspen in the high-end skiing stakes. Just a 10-minute drive from the town, this enormous 5,000-square-foot home in the Obsidian Private Residence Club is one of the most exclusive properties in the area, and best of all, it won't break the bank.

Situated on the Sierra Star golf course, the four-bedroom, three-storey home comes with a private hot tub, home cinema and access to the complex's clubhouse, which has a gym and swimming pool. Homeownership in this unique estate comes with an All Access Mammoth Mountain Black Pass, meaning you won’t have to queue up for ages at the ski resort. Sound good? You could snap it up for just $429,000 (£351k).

Even when the snow fades at Mammoth Lakes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Surrounded by pines, the crystal-clear lakes are a stunning backdrop for fishing, hiking and mountain biking. There are even a few secret spots for hot-spring soaking, too. After a long day exploring, you can warm up beside the roaring fire in the property's cosy modern living room.

Situated deep in the mountains, this remote home in Aspen has four bedrooms and 2,559 square feet of living space. While the views from the hot tub out on the deck are undoubtedly incredible, we’re not sure we could justify dropping $2.8 million (£2.3m) on this winter retreat. Luckily, there are more affordable ski spots to invest in...

Found in the shadow of Mount Rainier, Washington, and just a 53-minute drive from Seattle, the town of Enumclaw is home to this spacious urban property. Costing more than $2 million (£1.6m) less than the Alpine property, it's an ideal base for skiers heading to the Crystal Mountain Resort, less than an hour away by car. Stretching 2,600 acres and featuring over 50 runs, there's plenty to keep the whole family active.

This modern four-bedroom home is listed with an asking price of just $440,000 (£360k), and with a 2,853-square-foot interior, it offers more space than the pricey Aspen dwelling. With its grand vaulted ceilings, modern kitchen and three-car garage, it’s sure to attract buyers looking for a slice of the ski-season action in a convenient suburban location.

Contemporary wooden floors flow throughout the open-plan living space, while upstairs, the master bedroom comes complete with a walk-in closet and luxury ensuite bathroom. To top it all off, a refrigerator, washer and dryer are included in the sale, you won't have to worry about purchasing major appliances either. Bargain!

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Coming in at a steep $1.8 million (£1.5m), this three-bedroom property in Aspen will set you back a pretty penny. Raised on stilts, the hillside home has stunning views of the area's exclusive mountain resort, no doubt contributing to its hefty asking price. However, head north across two states and your money can get you a whole lot more.

The quaint city of Kellogg, Idaho, is home to the Silver Mountain Resort, which boasts North America's longest gondola – you can take a scenic 3.1-mile journey directly from the centre of Kellogg up to the top of the mountain where you can hit the slopes. Just a 12-minute drive from the town centre, this luxury property offers stylish living at a snip of Aspen prices.

The open-plan, three-bedroom home has huge windows that frame 180-degree vistas of the mountains. The modern kitchen features granite counters and a breakfast bar, while a grand piano takes centre stage in the living room, adding an opulent touch. Outside, the scenic stone patio is the perfect setting for family barbecues with a view.

With an interior spanning a generous 3,800 square feet, there's plenty of space for the whole family to enjoy. As well as the slopes, there's a golf course and waterpark nearby too, so you'll never tire of ways to while away the time. You can snap up this luxe pad for the incredible price of $490,000 (£401k).

In the shadow of Aspen Mountain, this has to be the resort's ultimate getaway, with six bedrooms, four bathrooms and a tranquil outdoor deck. Minutes away from the Roaring Fork River, the home is in a stunning location, but we’re not sure we’d be willing to fork out the eye-watering sum of $3.1 million (£2.5m). Over on the west coast, prices are a little more palatable...

At less than five times the price of the Aspen lodge, this huge house for sale in the vibrant city of Bend, Oregon, is a real steal. Home to Mount Bachelor in the Cascade Mountains, the sixth-largest ski resort in North America, the property has 71 ski runs on its doorstep. Even better, it's located in the city's desirable Sun Meadow neighbourhood, just a 17-minute drive from the slopes. 

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The light, bright home has six bedrooms, three bathrooms, vaulted ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling exposed stone wall in the living room, while the kitchen features sleek granite counters and a breakfast bar. As well as the main living space, there’s also a smaller sunroom for reading and relaxing in. The height of luxury, the master bedroom even features a two-sided glass fireplace, a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite.

With living space spread across 4,356 square feet, this charming contemporary home has plenty going for it. Even outside of ski season there's lots to enjoy in Bend, with 300 days of sunshine a year and no shortage of great hiking and biking trails. This vast home is currently listed for the bargain sum of just $550,000 (£450k).

This characterful chalet-style home in Aspen is listed for a staggering $4 million (£3.3m). While its rustic wood-panelled walls and stunning views of Aspen Mountain are undoubtedly idyllic, you could snap up a slice of the alpine life without parting with such a significant sum.

In the heart of the northern Rocky Mountains lies this contemporary home in up-and-coming ski hotspot Whitefish. Located just outside of the town centre, the architectural property is just five and a half miles from Whitefish Mountain Resort, which rivals Aspen with its incredible views and laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere.

Luxurious and modern, the three-bedroom house features an open-plan living area with a cosy wood-burning stove and a gleaming contemporary kitchen complete with breakfast island. Outside, the charming patio is perfect for alfresco dining and admiring the views.

Listed for the reasonable price of $574,000 (£470k), swathes of glass throughout the interior frame spectacular vistas of the surrounding forest. Spanning 2,000 square feet of living space, vaulted ceilings give this sleek home a bright and airy feel. More of a hiker? The property is also close to Glacier National Park, which offers more than 700 miles of hiking trails.

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Decked out in characterful white clapboard, this classic four-bed Victorian home in Aspen offers simple living spaces in a desirable location on Main Street. However, there's nothing quaint about the cost of the dwelling, which is listed for $3.8 million (£3.1m). Elsewhere in Colorado, you can bag an equally beautiful mountain home for almost a fifth of the price.

Two and half hours from Aspen's snowy peaks, this beautiful Craftsman-style retreat is the ideal base for a chilled-out skiing holiday. Nestled high up in the Rocky Mountains in Georgetown, Colorado, the home is situated just 13 miles from Loveland Ski Area – known for its ultra-light, powdery snow – and 23 miles from another popular skiing location, Silverthorne.

This 2,761-square-foot home is no stranger to luxury, with four ensuite bedrooms, a kitchen packed with mod cons and two large fireplaces, offering a cosy après-ski ambiance at the touch of a button after a long day out on the slopes. On the market for the relatively low price of $770,000 (£630k), there's not much this alpine base goes without!

With a stunning mountain backdrop and airy vaulted ceilings, the home's contemporary interior frames the best of its surroundings. Aside from being a scenic skiing hot-spot, Georgetown has a historic town centre to explore, filled with Victorian architecture, cafes and second-hand bookshops, so there's something for everyone. When do we move?

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