Vermont offers some of the best skiing and boarding in the country with as much as 25 feet of natural snow every winter, along with state-of-the-art snow-making equipment. You can expect reliable outstanding conditions, with many resorts open in late November if not earlier, staying open until mid-April or longer. Lots also include a host of other attractions along with dining and lodging options, making them ideal for an unforgettable ski vacation.
Jay Peak, Jay
Jay Peak is located in northern Vermont, just five miles south of the Canadian border, and offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the East, which can be enjoyed all the way from mid-November through mid-May. There are 78 trails, 15 for beginners, 30 for intermediate and 31 for experts, with backcountry skiing especially popular here among the more advanced. The full-service resort at the base of the mountain offers a wide range of lodging options to suit just about every budget, along with a spa, ice skating, sleigh rides and dining.
Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe
Stowe Mountain Resort offers a ton for skiers and non-skiers alike in one of the most picture-perfect settings in the country. Skiing has been popular here for decades – back in 1937, one of the world’s first chairlifts was installed here. More than half of the resort’s 116 trails are for intermediates, but you’ll find 19 for beginners and 29 for experts. Visitors here can also enjoy sled rides pulled by Alaskan huskies as well as Gentle Giants’ sleigh rides driven by gentle Percheron and Belgian draft horses that will bring you across covered bridges, along winding brooks and through the snow-covered forest.
Sugarbush Resort, Warren
Sugarbush hosts more than 4,000 acres of epic New England skiing spread across two mountains and six peaks. Over half of its 111 trails are for intermediate skiers, but experts will appreciate the challenge on 36 trails and 21 glades, while beginners have 24 trails to enjoy. It’s home to the only CAT skiing experience in the East, with access to first tracks on fresh powder mornings or spring skiing on Mount Ellen. The base at Lincoln Peak hosts a full-service resort village that includes a spa, store, luxury hotel and condos.
Killington Resort, Killington
Killington is referred to as the “Beast of the East,” as the state’s largest ski resort with seven different mountains areas and it also boasts one of New England biggest après-ski scenes. It has 155 trails which include more expert terrain than any other mountain, with 60 trails and 16 glades, though beginners and intermediates will find lots too, with 43 and 53 trails respectively. There are 22 lifts, two of which are express gondolas, to get you to where you want to go, and lots of other outdoor adventures too, including tubing, sleigh rides and snowmobile tours.
Mount Snow,
While Mount Snow is in southern Vermont, it gets plenty of snow – so much so that major events like the Winter X-Games and Winter Dew Tour have been hosted here. When Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, man-made snow makes up for it. It’s one of the most popular ski resorts in the state with its reliable snow and location as the closest major ski resort to many of the Northeast’s metro areas. It offers both budget-friendly and more luxurious lodgings are at the base area, along with multiple eateries.
Okemo Mountain Resort, Ludlow
Okemo Mountain is family-friendly ski resort that’s highly rated for its children’s ski programs. It’s also further south than many other ski resorts in the state, making it easier to reach from major metro areas in the Northeast. While Okemo my be ideal for beginners, it offers plenty for intermediate and advanced skiers too, including 2,200 feet of vertical drop with more than 30 percent of the terrain black and double black diamond trails. At the base are condos, a full-serve luxury hotel, fine and casual dining, a spa, outdoor and indoor pools, a tubing hill, and a covered skating rink.
Mad River Glen, Waitsfield
Mad River Glen offers an old-school, friendly feel, dedicated to natural terrain, natural snow, and skiers only. Lift tickets are reasonably priced and there are lots of accommodations in the area, from hotels, condos and quaint inns to bed-and-breakfasts and hostels. Cricket Club Daycare is available for the little ones who aren’t ready to start making turns just yet, located right by the lift.
Smuggler's Notch, Jeffersonville
Located about 30 miles south of Burlington, Smuggler’s Notch is one of the most popular resorts for families with some of Vermont’s best kids’ ski programs. Group and private lessons are available for kids 30 months and older, and daycare is offered to little ones as young as six weeks old. A great feature for parents is that GPS technology is available for tracking and recording their children’s day out on the slopes. The resort also offers teen centers, a Fun Zone, an indoor pool and spa, nine onsite restaurants, arts and crafts workshops, an arcade and dog sledding.
Stratton Resort, Stratton
Stratton Mountain is another great resort for families, home to southern Vermont’s highest peak. It offers a wide range of terrain, from a huge beginners’ park to challenging double black diamond runs, with the majority of the 99 trails groomed perfectly for family skiing. Other activities like snow tubing in the Tube Park, ice skating and swimming in the heated indoor and outdoor pools can be enjoyed as well.
Suicide Six Ski Resort, Woodstock
The Suicide Six Ski Resort is arguably the very best for families with young children. There are just 24 trails, and 70 percent are for beginner or intermediate levels. Ski lessons are offered along with sledding and ice skating. The small resort also has a cafeteria onsite for fueling up, but you’ll find many other options along with overnight accommodations nearby in the town of Woodstock.
