10 best mountain cities in North America

Hiking on the weekend, ski lifts in winter, and a backdrop that never gets old.

Ranked by climate, cost of living, language access, safety, and lifestyle fit. Personalize this →

#1
San Francisco, United States
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Tech's hometown. Fog rolls in from the Pacific, and the highest salaries on earth roll in from the south.
#2
Los Angeles, United States
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Sprawl, sunshine, and the global capital of cinema. A car-dependent paradise — if you have a car.
#3
Seattle, United States
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Coffee, Amazon, Microsoft, and Mt. Rainier in the window. Grey winters that locals quietly love.
#4
Portland, United States
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Bike-friendly Pacific Northwest city. Bookstores, breweries, and a forest inside city limits.
#5
Denver, United States
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Mile-high gateway to the Rockies. Sunshine 300 days a year, world-class skiing at the doorstep.
#6
Vancouver, Canada
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Ocean on one side, mountains on the other. North America's most outdoor-friendly city.
#7
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
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Colonial highland Mexican town. Pink cathedral, art schools, the Americas largest English-speaking expat retiree scene.
#8
Asheville, United States
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Blue Ridge mountain town. Craft breweries, organic everything, queer-friendly Appalachia.
#9
Boulder, United States
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Flatirons mountains rise out of town. Outdoor obsession meets serious tech and university energy.
#10
Banff, Canada
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Postcard Rockies town inside a Canadian national park. Turquoise lakes, elk on the lawn, world ski terrain.

San Francisco, United States