New England Skiing By Heather Burke  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. 802-484-7711 Lodging 800-243-0011 Vertical Drop: 1,800’ Skiable Terrain: 150 acres 6 Lifts, 57 Trails 95% snowmaking www.ascutney.com 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, Vermont802-434-3444 Lodging 1-877-9BOLTON Vertical Drop: 1,704’ Skiable Terrain: 165 acres 6 Lifts, 64 Trails 60% snowmaking www.boltonvalley.com Founded in 1966 Bolton Valley Resort boasts great views of the Green Mountains, western lying Lake Champlain and NY’s Adirondacks. Bolton has recently 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. 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 Founded in 1936 Bromley has a family friendly atmosphere with great learning programs, a central base lodge with convenient parking and a variety of terrain. With $25 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 www.skiburke.com 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 www.jaypeakresort.com 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. Slopeside lodging in the Hotel Jay or in beautiful mountainside condos make the ski vacation complete so far north.  KILLINGTON
RESORT - Killington, Vermont802-422-3333 Lodging 800-621-MTNS Vertical Drop: 3,050’ Skiable Terrain: 1,001 acres 27 Lifts, 150 Trails 60% snowmaking www.killington.com 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. MAD RIVER GLEN - Waitsfield, Vermont 802-496-3551 Vertical Drop: 2,037’ Skiable Terrain: 120 acres 5 Lifts, 45 Trails 15% snowmaking www.madriverglen.com 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 www.magicmtn.com 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. 802-388-4356 Vertical Drop: 1,050’ Skiable Terrain: 115 acres 3 Lifts, 17Trails 45% snowmaking www.middlebury.edu 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 www.mountsnow.com Founded in 1954 Moutnt Snow has a half century of great skiing and socializing tradition. Now owned by ASC, the ski area has the Longest Terrain Park in the East at 4940 feet. 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 busy ski getaway.  OKEMO
MOUNTAIN RESORT – Ludlow, Vermont802-228-4041 Lodging 800-78OKEMO Vertical Drop: 2,200’ Skiable Terrain: 624 acres 18 Lifts, 117 Trails 97% snowmaking www.okemo.com 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 new Jackson Gore base includes an impressive full service Inn, residences in the Adams House, an ice-skating rink and fitness and aquatic center.  PICO MOUNTAIN – Killington, Vermont802-422-3333 Lodging 800-621-MTNS Vertical Drop: 1,967’ Skiable Terrain: 214 acres 6 Lifts, 50 Trails 72% snowmaking www.picomountain.com 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, Vermont802-644-8851 Lodging 800-451-8752 Vertical Drop: 2,610’ Skiable Terrain: 310 acres 8 Lifts, 78 Trails 62% snowmaking www.smuggs.com Founded in 1956 Smugglers’ is celebrating 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, Vermont802-253-3000 Lodging 800-253-4SKI Vertical Drop: 2,360’ Skiable Terrain: 485 acres 13 Lifts, 48 Trails 90% snowmaking www.stowe.com 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 in the midst of a transformation, with a new gondola, new village at Spruce Peak, and mountainside homes. What won’t change 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 www.stratton.com 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, Vermont802-583-6300 Lodging 800-537-8427 Vertical Drop: 2,600’ Skiable Terrain: 580 acres 16 Lifts, 111 Trails 70% snowmaking www.sugarbush.com 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, a new lodge, condos and a hotel. Located in the beautiful Mad River Valley, Sugarbush should be on your must ski list.  SUICIDE
SIX –Woodstock, Vermont802-457-6661 Lodging 866-448-7900 Vertical Drop: 650’ Skiable Terrain: 100 acres 3 Lifts, 23 Trails 50% snowmaking www.woodstockinn.com 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. |