Brighton, UT

Perched at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton offers a true mountain escape less than an hour from Salt Lake City. Life here revolves around the outdoors, with legendary skiing right outside your front door in the winter and quiet hiking trails throughout the summer. The community is small and rustic, made up mostly of cabins tucked among the pines. Living at nearly 9,000 feet means dealing with heavy snow and mountain weather, but locals love the peaceful atmosphere and tight-knit alpine feel.