Revealed: The 5 Best Vermont Ski Resorts

We’ve picked out our favorite Vermont ski resorts for your delectation…

America’s East Coast is packed with places to ski, and Vermont is one of the top spots to ski and snowboard in the USA.

Rich with ski history, and with breathtaking snowy slopes, Vermont is something of a ski institution, and there are plenty of different ski areas to choose from — just make sure that you choose the best location for you!

This is our ultimate guide to the best ski resorts in Vermont…

Contents

1 The Best Ski Resorts in Vermont

The Best Ski Resorts in Vermont

Killington

By Mark Klapper (CC BY 2.5 licence)

Known as ‘the Beast of the East’, Killington ski resort has a well earned reputation for some of the best ski terrain in Vermont, and over 700,000 skiers and snowboarders come here each year.

You can easily get here from NYC by train or bus, making it all the more convenient to enjoy Killington’s 1,509 acres of terrain with a vertical drop of 3,050 feet, and a mammoth 500 inches seasonal snowfall thanks to the resort’s 1,400 snow guns.

Take a look at this cool video of the mountain from top to bottom:

There are a 155 designated trails at Killington, served by 22 lifts and two express gondolas.

Beginners can ski on 28% of those, including a zone reserved for learners on the base slopes, and some nice, gentle green runs.

33% of the trails are ideal for intermediate skiers, with blue runs on each of Killington’s 6 peaks, with long groomed runs and tree skiing.

The rest of the trails are for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders, and the terrain has steep, double black trails, gladed trails, and steep moguls.

There are also six terrain parks at the resort for snowboarders and freeskiers. Including one with an impressive 500-foot long Superpipe with 18 foot high walls.

After spending all day skiing on the picturesque peaks, there’s plenty of après-ski action in Killington. As you’d expect from a huge resort that pulls in the crowds, the options are vast, and people like to party.

The Wobbly Barn is a late night live music venue that attracts the party crowd and things can get a little debauched, but there are a whole host of other bars and clubs to choose from, and plenty of quieter venues for couples or families.

There’s a fantastically varied dining scene too, with everything from sushi to pizza, to an indulgent fine dining experience on the summit of Bear Mountain at The Motor Room bar which can only be reached by snowcat.

Where to Stay: The Snowed Inn

Just one mile and a half miles from Killington ski resort, The Snowed Inn is a family-owned and operated small hotel-style inn with a AAA 3-Diamond rating within walking distance of Killington’s famous Killington Road with its restaurants, shops and nightlife.

Cozy and tasteful rooms and suites each have their own private bathroom, flat screen TVs, and complimentary WiFi, and some rooms and suites feature gas fireplaces.

Guests also benefit from a delicious complimentary continental style breakfast, and the use of the year round outdoor hot tub to soothe the muscles after a hard day on the slopes.

Outdoor hot tub
Fireplace in communal living area
Close to restaurants, bars and shops
Close to ski area

Okemo Mountain

By Jrclark at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0 licence)

The family friendly, world class ski resort of Okemo Mountain has a real sense of community, and is loved by locals and tourists alike.

The vertical drop on offer here is 2,200 feet, and there are 121 trails spread out over 667 ski-able acres.

Average annual snowfall is 200 inches, and the trails are well divided into 32% beginner, 37% intermediate,and 31% advanced and expert runs, and there is a great Snow Stars ski school for adults and kids.

Although Okemo is a relatively small resort, there are plenty of long groomed cruisers, glades, moguls, and black diamond runs, serviced by 20 ski lifts.

Okemo ski resort is also home to seven terrain parks and the longest superpipe on the East coast. This is a resort that caters to all ages and abilities, with something to please everyone, and all with sweeping views of the beautiful Ludlow Valley.

Après-ski entertainment on Omeko is fun and friendly. There are great bars and restaurants to grab a beer and a burger — the Loft Tavern complete with juke-box is particularly popular.

If you crave more international fare there are Mexican, Japanese, Italian or contemporary gourmet dining restaurants serving craft cocktails.

Other activities include, ice skating, a luxury heated outdoor pool, a world class spa, and more.

Where to Stay: Holiday Inn Club Vacations Mount Ascutney Resort

Guests at the 4 star Holiday Inn Mount Ascutney Resort can enjoy spacious hotel suites or condominium style self catering apartments.

The condos are available with 1 to 3 bedrooms with fully equipped kitchens, separate comfortable living room areas with dining space, flat screen satellite TV and DVD player, a fireplace, pull-out sleeper sofa, private en suite bathroom and free Wi-Fi.

There are a ton of activities on site for the kids, and for the adults there are indoor and outdoor pools, a state of the art fitness center, and a cocktail lounge.

The resort restaurant ‘The Maple Kitchen’ dishes up a true taste of Vermont with locally sourced, farm to table ingredients.

Restaurant
Bar
Fitness center
Children’s activities
Self catering apartments
Swimming pool

Jay Peak

By Mark Drago (CC BY-SA 2.0 licence)

Nestling in the heart of the Green Mountains just a few miles away from the Canadian borderline lies Jay Peak, Vermont’s most northerly ski resort.

With 330 inches of snowfall per winter season, a vertical drop of 2152 feet, and 38s acres available for skiing and snowboarding, Jay Peak offers 78 trails, most of which are best for intermediate and advanced skiers.

However, although only 19% of the runs are green, the resort still appeals to beginners thanks to its wide, gentle terrain and introductory glades in green run areas.

The main draw though is the 41% blue runs and 41% black runs, with frosty glades, chutes, and excellent tree skiing, and for expert skiers it’s possible to access some fantastic and challenging backcountry terrain.

Jay Peak also features 4 terrain parks to suit all levels of snowboarding ability.

Aside from fabulous skiing, this top quality resort has another surprise up its sleeve in the form of a huge and impressive 50,000 square foot indoor water park which has surfing, a luge, and hot tubs — it’s great entertainment for kids and adults alike.

If you fancy a more relaxed après ski affair, there are many bars and restaurants, plus delis, cafes and a spa.

The Tower bar is a popular spot for post-ski drinks, and sophisticated eats can be found at the Foundry Pub & Grille.

Shopping in Jay Peak is unfortunately pretty much limited to ski shops and souvenirs, but this is in keeping with the resort’s authentic atmosphere.

Where to Stay: Jay Peak Resort

Lodgings at Jay Peak ski resort include hotel rooms and suites, condominiums, townhouses, and cottages.

Accommodations feature complimentary WiFi, ski-in/ski-out access to the slopes, flat screen televisions, fireplaces and more.

Some lodgings feature kitchenettes or fully kitted out larger kitchens for self catering.

All guests at Jay Peak Resort Vermont can enjoy the on site facilities — which includes the incredible indoor water park- – as well as easy access to all the nearby restaurants and bars.

Guests at The Tram Haus Lodge can also benefit from the on site luxury spa and sauna, have drinks at The Tower Bar, and dine on hearty fare at Alice’s restaurant.

Ski-in/ski-out access
Self catering options available
Close to restaurants and bars
Spa
Water park

Sugarbush

By Mark Metzler (CC BY 2.0 licence)

With over 4,000 acres of ski terrain, Sugarbush ski resort in the heart of the beautiful Mad River Valley is one of Vermont’s largest ski resorts.

Sprawling over the peaks of Mount Ellen and Lincoln Peak, Sugarbush has a vertical drop of 2,600 feet, with an average of 250 inches of snowfall powdering the peaks every year.

This resort is packed with charm, and has 111 runs for skiers and snowboarders to explore, with a good spread of greens, blues, and blacks.

A chairlift and shuttle bus connect the two mountain peaks, and there are 16 lifts in total.

The 23% of runs allocated to beginners are on the lower slopes, and are immaculately groomed, with the best trails near the fantastic Glen House mountain restaurant on Mount Ellen.

At 42% of runs, intermediate skiers have varied and exciting wide open glades, tree skiing and twisty trails.

For the more advanced skiers and snowboarders there are challenging steep runs, moguls, and unrelenting double black diamond runs.

In the last decade, Sugarbush ski resort has invested in vastly improving lodgings and services and now is a place to see and be seen — but this doesn’t mean it has lost its authenticity.

Friendly bars like the General Stark’s Pub and Chez Henri’s Back Room bistro rock the après ski into the early hours, whilst Timbers restaurant is more refined with cocktails and fine wines.

Dining at Sugarbush resort is a delight. Each restaurant serves fresh and artfully prepared culinary treats using locally raised meats and veggies and you can get anything here from an amazing burger or waffle to Thai food and high class comfort food.

Shopping at Sugarbush isn’t bad either, with toy shops, galleries, clothing boutiques, and sports equipment stores aplenty.

Where to Stay: The Featherbed Inn

One of the great things about Sugarbush is the stunning valley at the foot of the mountains.

Built around 1806 The Featherbed Inn has a unique and tranquil position on 20 acres near the banks of the fast flowing Mad river, just 10 minutes away from Sugarbush ski resort.

The Inn has nine lovely, spacious rooms, two of which are suites.

All rooms are individually and elegantly decorated with antiques, cozy fluffy featherbed mattresses, TV and DVD player, fireplace, fridge, and en suite bathrooms.

The complimentary home cooked breakfast (menu changes daily) is served in the elegant and sunny dining room, and guests are invited to relax in the comfortable lodge room in front of a roaring fire.

Breakfast included
Close to restaurants and bars
Warm and welcoming
Lovely quiet location

Stowe

By Stevage (CC BY-SA 3.0 licence)

A gondola shuttles guests between the lofty crests of Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, to take maximum advantage of the 2,360 foot vertical drop and 485 acres of ski-able terrain.

Snowfall at Stowe ski resort is around 315 inches annually, meaning there’s plenty of powder on the 115 runs on the slopes here.

Only 16% of those runs are beginner greens, which are all found on Spruce Peak along with the ski school.

The good news is that with a massive 55% of the runs being blues, there are plenty of opportunities for gentle progression from beginner to intermediate level.

The long, groomed intermediate trails on Stowe’s gondola are some of the longest and most fun blue cruisers in Vermont.

The options for experienced skiers are good at Stowe too, with some legendary expert terrain full of steeps, glades and moguls.

Backcountry skiing in the woods is on offer for the most expert skiers, and the resort also has six freestyle terrain parks for thrill seekers.

Stowe mountain resort was originally settled by the Swedes in 1912, and was developed as a resort a few years later, and the history and charm of the place shines through.

Stowe retains an ‘old world’ feel, which combines seamlessly with the decadent new developments such as luxury ski-in/ski-out eco hotels with spas, a shiny plaza packed with shops, a performing arts center, a rock climbing center, ice skating rink, and much more.

There are a wealth of bars and over 60 restaurants in Stowe Village, including everything from gourmet fine dining, to American, European, Italian, Mexican, and Japanese cuisine and affordable, tasty snacks.

Evenings tend to be fairly quiet during the week, but weekends at places like The Rusty Nail and The Shed with dancing and live music can be a blast until the early hours.

Where to Stay: Innsbruck Inn at Stowe

This intimate and welcoming 3 star hotel is located just under 2 miles away from the Stowe ski slopes, in a scenic setting in landscaped gardens next to a stream.

The ambience and style at the Innsbruck Inn at Stowe is that of a traditional Austrian Alpine inn, but with the benefit of the spacious accommodations and modern amenities of a prime mountain resort.

The rooms and suites at this dog friendly hotel feature European style furnishings, en suite bathrooms, comfortable sitting areas looking out over the landscape, refrigerators, CD players and satellite TVs.

Some rooms benefit from balconies, jacuzzis, and fireplaces. Guests benefit from the luxury spa room with Swedish sauna, state of the art outdoor whirlpool spa, heated outdoor pool, and a skating rink.

The hotel cafe and bar has a roaring open fire, and serves a delicious Full Country Buffet Breakfast, plus complimentary afternoon Apres-Ski soup and snacks.

The friendly bar serves local micro brewery beers and ale, and a selection of quality wines by the glass.