
The Green Mountain State offers some of the best skiing in the
Northeast, big mountains, great views, and charming resorts and ski
towns for end of the ski day amusements.
ASCUTNEY -
Route 44, Brownsville, Vermont
802-484-7711 Lodging 800-243-0011
Vertical Drop: 1,800’
Skiable Terrain: 150 acres
6 Lifts, 57 Trails
95% snowmaking
Founded in 1946
Ascutney Mountain Resort has a little something for everyone, great
programs for kids from DUCKS daycare to mini-Olympians and Bumps for
the teens. The compact and convenient slopeside village includes a
hotel, a fitness center at the base of good size Ski Mountain.
Cheddar the Mouse hosts a Happy Hour to entertain your kids after
the lifts close, so you can enjoy après ski in Brown’s Tavern.
BOLTON VALLEY
RESORT - Bolton Valley, Vermont
802-434-3444 Lodging 1-877-9BOLTON
Vertical Drop: 1,704’
Skiable Terrain: 165 acres
6 Lifts, 64 Trails
60% snowmaking
Founded in 1966
Bolton Valley Resort boasts great views of the Green Mountains,
western lying Lake Champlain and NY’s Adirondacks. Bolton, now under
local ownership, has
expanded its skiing terrain to encompass glades and a quad
chair to the summit. Terrain parks and a self-contained village
round out the experience. Bolton tends to be less crowded and
affordable for families. Bolton also boasts the only wind turbine at
a Vermont ski resort.
BROMLEY MOUNTAIN
- Manchester Center, Vermont
802-824-5522 Lodging 800-865-4786
Vertical Drop: 1,334’
Skiable Terrain: 175 acres
10 Lifts, 44 Trails
80% snowmaking
www.bromley.com
Bromley has a family friendly atmosphere with great learning
programs, a central base lodge with convenient parking and a variety
of terrain. With affordable midweek/non-holiday lift tickets, Bromley is a
deal. The southern exposure makes it a sunny mountain too.
BURKE MOUNTAIN SKI
AREA - Sherburne Lodge Road, East Burke, Vermont
802-626-7300 Lodging 888–BURKEVT
Vertical Drop: 2,000’
Skiable Terrain: 250 acres
4 Lifts, 45 Trails
80% snowmaking
Founded in 1956
Burke has long served as a training mountain for Burke Academy ski
racers. The terrain is impressive, and the setting in Vermont’s
Northeast Kingdom is awesome.
JAY PEAK
RESORT - Route 242, Jay, Vermont
802-988-2611 Lodging 800-451-4449
Vertical Drop: 2,153’
Skiable Terrain: 385 acres
8 Lifts, 76 Trails
80% snowmaking
Founded in 1955
Jay has the reputation as the snowiest
mountain in the Northeast. The summit Aerial Tramway is a unique
ride to the summit, where you can ski classic groomed slopes or
venture into Jay’s expansive glade terrain. A new slopeside Tram
Haus Lodge debuts at Jay thanks to owner Bill Stenger, with a Tram Bar -
like Snowbird's version. Jay also sports nice mountainside condos to make this northern ski vacation
complete.
KILLINGTON
RESORT - Killington, Vermont
802-422-3333 Lodging 800-621-MTNS
Vertical Drop: 3,050’
Skiable Terrain: 1,001 acres
27 Lifts, 150 Trails
60% snowmaking
Founded in 1958
Killington is the largest ski and
snowboard resort in the eastern United States, with monstrous
snowmaking capacity and seven mountains of interconnected terrain.
Also legendary is the nightlife and restaurants that line the Access
Road. Killington has ramped up its family offerings at Ram’s Head
and Snowshed, and designated the entire Bear Peak for freeriders and
skiers looking for parks, pipes and bumps. Killington notoriously
opens early and keeps skiing til late, sometimes June. Now owned by
SP Land and Powdr Corp., Killington continues to work on a new base
village and interconnected lifts and trails with neighboring Pico.
MAD RIVER GLEN
- Waitsfield, Vermont
802-496-3551
Vertical Drop: 2,037’
Skiable Terrain: 120 acres
5 Lifts, 45 Trails
15% snowmaking
Founded in 1949
Mad River Glen is a retro ski area, managed by a purist co-operative
of skiers. No snowboarders allowed. With the landmark Single Chair,
one of two in all of North America, Mad River is about classic
unadorned ski terrain, hence the slogan, ski it if you can. While
you won’t find fancy lifts or high tech snowmaking, the un-crowded
environment and genuine heart of this ski area is special.
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
- Londonderry, Vermont
802-824-5645
Vertical Drop: 1,700’
Skiable Terrain: 135 acres
5 Lifts, 34 Trails
87% snowmaking
Founded in 1960
Magic Mountain has mellow terrain and steeps and glades if you
follow a local who knows where to go. The Hocus Pocus Terrain Park
and Ala Kazzam Tubing Park give kids additional places to play. The
Inn on Magic Mountain has been renovated and offers Ski and Stay
deals for downhillers.
MIDDLEBURY
COLLEGE SNOW BOWL - Middlebury, Vermont
802-388-4356
Vertical Drop: 1,050’
Skiable Terrain: 115 acres
3 Lifts, 17Trails
45% snowmaking
Founded in 1934
The Middlebury College Snow Bowl is steeped in NCAA tradition, owned
and operated by the Ivy League college. Open to the public, the
ticket prices are super low, for a pretty high fun factor. And you
can watch the Panthers race gates on training days.
MOUNT SNOW RESORT
– West Dover, Vermont
802-464-3333 Lodging 800-245-7669
Vertical Drop: 1,700’
Skiable Terrain: 590 acres
19 Lifts, 106 Trails
80% snowmaking
Founded in 1954
Mount Snow has a half century of great skiing and socializing
tradition. Now owned by Peak Resorts, the ski area has the Longest
Terrain Park in the East located on its own mountain, Carinthia. With over 100 trails and 19
lifts, expert childcare and lesson programs, and a Grand Summit
Resort Hotel, Mount Snow has all the makings for a great ski getaway.
OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT
– Ludlow, Vermont
802-228-4041 Lodging 800-78OKEMO
Vertical Drop: 2,200’
Skiable Terrain: 632 acres
18 Lifts, 119 Trails
97% snowmaking
Founded in 1956
Okemo Mountain Resort is known for their
exceptional snowmaking and grooming, bountiful slopeside lodging,
and a friendly staff. The skiing stretches across four miles, and
the views carry over the Green Mountains and the picturesque Ludlow
Valley. The Mueller family owns this resort and continues to improve
upon a great family ski resort. The Jackson Gore base includes
an impressive full service Inn, residences in the Adams House, an
ice-skating rink and fitness and aquatic center. The
food at Okemo is also
outstanding.
PICO MOUNTAIN
– Killington, Vermont
802-422-3333 Lodging 800-621-MTNS
Vertical Drop: 1,967’
Skiable Terrain: 214 acres
6 Lifts, 50 Trails
72% snowmaking
Founded in 1937
Pico Mountain has a warm, historical feel, but offers modern lifts,
sweeping trails and fantastic summit views. Sister resort to
Killington Resort, Pico offers a
quieter ski experience with one central base and walk to slope
lodging with a Sports Center.
SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH
RESORT – Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont
802-644-8851 Lodging 800-451-8752
Vertical Drop: 2,610’
Skiable Terrain: 310 acres
8 Lifts, 78 Trails
62% snowmaking
Founded in 1956
Smugglers’ has over 50 years in
the ski biz, and a mountain of awards for family programs. With
three interconnected ski mountains, and a bustling resort village,
families find plenty to do in this northern Vermont setting. What
sets Smugglers’ apart from other resorts is the incredible staff of
caring counselors, and endless activities - learn to ski, to après
ski science class, and a FunZone. A cast of characters including
Mogul Mouse and Good Time Charlie keep the whole gang entertained on
and off the slopes.
STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT
–Stowe, Vermont
802-253-3000 Lodging 800-253-4SKI
Vertical Drop: 2,360’
Skiable Terrain: 485 acres
13 Lifts, 48 Trails
90% snowmaking
Founded in 1934
Stowe is the quintessential ski resort town
in New England. And with the highest peak in Vermont, the skiing on Mt
Mansfield is formidable, especially on the Front Four. Stowe is the Deer
Valley of the East, with a new gondola, a new village at
Spruce Peak, The Stowe Mountain Lodge and posh mountainside homes. What
hasn’t changed about Stowe
(Ski Capital of the East) is the classic terrain, and the charming
town and Mountain Road of entertaining shops and restaurants.
STRATTON MOUNTAIN
RESORT –Stratton, Vermont
802-297-2200 Lodging 800-787-2886
Vertical Drop: 2,003’
Skiable Terrain: 600 acres
16 Lifts, 90 Trails
90% snowmaking
Founded in 1961
Stratton is a sprawling ski area, served by 4 - 6 pack chairlifts
and a summit gondola. Stratton is the meeting spot of sophisticated
families from away, and it’s a great place to play whether you like
groomed cruisers or glades and terrain parks.
SUGARBUSH RESORT
–Warren, Vermont
802-583-6300 Lodging 800-537-8427
Vertical Drop: 2,600’
Skiable Terrain: 580 acres
16 Lifts, 111 Trails
70% snowmaking
Founded in 1958
Sugarbush encompasses 4,000 acres and a five-mile expanse of two
mountains connected by the Slide Brook transport lift. The terrain
is diverse from hard-core backcountry in Slide Brook and Castle
Rock, to scenic cruising on Mt Ellen. The new Lincoln Village has
brought a Sugarbush revitalization, with Timbers Restaurant and the
Clay Brook Inn.
Mount Ellen offers cat skiing - the only Eastern resort to do so. Located in the beautiful Mad River Valley, Sugarbush should be on
your must ski list.
SUICIDE SIX
–Woodstock, Vermont
802-457-6661 Lodging 866-448-7900
Vertical Drop: 650’
Skiable Terrain: 100 acres
3 Lifts, 23 Trails
50% snowmaking
Founded in 1934
The first rope tow in America was rigged here. Now this classic ski
hill continues the tradition of classic skiing and kinship. Owned by
The Woodstock Inn, the winter experience includes gracious lodging
in at the 4-diamond Inn, skiing off the two chairs of well-pitched
slopes and touring miles of scenic cross-country trails. And there’s
the historic hamlet of Woodstock to shop and explore where the
Rockefeller family settled to cap off your winter wanderlust.
Published Vermont Ski Stories:
Maine
|
New Hampshire
|Canada
|
Rockies
|
Sun n'Sea Travel
All Stories by Heather Burke
All Photography by Greg Burke