This is why my partner and I have taken up XC skiing in our area vs downhill. We can pay something like $35 a year when we register our vehicle, and we then have unfettered access to the State's national parks, which contain a lot of ski trails in winter.
$35 to have us both access 25+ trails within 2 hour drive, or pay $250 per person for a season pass at the local ski mountain.
Wasn't a tough decision, and I was surprised how many hills there are in XC ski. I thought I would be bored switching over but I really am not!
Location: Upper Peninsula of Michigan