The sport of skiing owes a debt of gratitude to New England. Its early history is centered in the region, and many pioneers cut their teeth on its breath-taking slopes — especially in Vermont. The nation’s first ski tow, for example, opened on Gilbert’s Hill in Woodstock in 1934. Today, Vermont features some of the best skiing resorts in the Northeast. Come winter, those Green Mountains become a snowy wonderland. Ready to hit the slopes? Read on for a selection of our favorite Vermont ski resorts.
Guide to Vermont Ski Resorts
Stowe Mountain Resort | Guide to Vermont Ski Resorts Photo Credit : Courtesy of Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe’s roots as a skiing destination date back to 1912, when Swedish families moved here and brought their skis to get around town. A little more than two decades later, Stowe Mountain developed the ski area. Today it covers two different mountains: Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak, and Spruce Peak. Stowe offers a nice variety of trails, from double-black diamonds to long intermediate cruisers. Looking for more ideas about what to do in the Stowe area? We’ve got you covered.
At the very northern tip of Vermont sits one of New England’s most legendary skiing destinations. Located in the villages of Jay and Montgomery Center, and home to the most snowfall of any ski resort in the Northeast, Jay Peak offers 78 alpine trails and a vertical drop of more than 2,100 feet. When it’s time to take a break from snowy adventures, warm up — and catch a wave! — at the resort’s sprawling indoor water park.
Sugarbush Resort | Guide to Vermont Ski Resorts Photo Credit : Courtesy of Sugarbush Resort
Set in the heart of the Mad River Valley town of Warren and spread across two mountains (Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen), Sugarbush has 111 trails for all skill levels. Its vertical drop of 2,600 feet is the second largest in New England, after nearby Killington (3,050).
Killington Mountain | Guide to Vermont Ski Resorts Photo Credit : Chandler Burgess
Affectionately referred to as “the Beast” by skiers, Killington boasts a vertical drop that ranks as the second largest on the East Coast. Don’t miss the Stash, the resort’s all-natural terrain park, whose features include a 500-foot-long Superpipe with 18-foot walls. When you’re ready for a little après-ski action, check out Killington’s lively restaurant and bar scene.Smugglers’ Notch Resort | Guide to Vermont Ski Resorts Photo Credit : Courtesy of Smugglers Notch Resort
Rated the No. 1 overall resort in the eastern U.S. and Canada by the readers of Ski magazine in 2017, Smugglers’ Notch Resort has long been one of New England’s premier family-friendly skiing destinations. Why? For starters, there are miles of easy terrain for newbies to find their ski legs. Weekly activities include a Monday night bonfire, family karaoke, and family tubing. For those in need of a more black-diamond experience, take up the challenge (and the gnarly runs) atop Smugs’s signature peak, Madonna Mountain.
Set in the southern Vermont town of Ludlow, Okemo Mountain was born as a community-run ski hill that eventually morphed into a top-tier four-season resort. Come winter, Okemo’s 2,200-foot vertical drop and 121 trails offer something for every kind of skier.
The highlights at this legendary winter destination include 97 trails, more than 100 acres of glades, and a network of prized terrain parks, as well as the fastest set of lifts in the East. Stratton is consistently rated by Ski magazine as one of the country’s top 10 resorts for snow, grooming, and lifts, among other categories.
Where are your favorite Vermont ski resorts? Let us know!
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Ian Aldrich is the Senior Features Editor at Yankee magazine, where he has worked for more for nearly two decades. As the magazine’s staff feature writer, he writes stories that delve deep into issues facing communities throughout New England. In 2019 he received gold in the reporting category at the annual City-Regional Magazine conference for his story on New England’s opioid crisis. Ian’s work has been recognized by both the Best American Sports and Best American Travel Writing anthologies. He lives with his family in Dublin, New Hampshire.
