There is not any denying it — in relation to snowboarding within the U.S., there’s nothing like snowboarding out west. However, for these nearer to the East Coast, it is oftentimes considerably simpler to leap within the automobile and drive to your favourite ski resort, which is likely to be positioned in an enthralling New England ski city with some top-tier lodging and eating choices.
By way of the precise time spent on the mountain, sure, circumstances may be variable, and there is a respectable probability you may hit some ice, however we expect that additionally brings a number of the pleasure (and talent). The magic that you simply get on a bluebird day is indescribable and retains us East Coasters itching for extra. And, reality be instructed, in the event you can ski the East, you’ll be able to ski anyplace.
When you will not discover the identical megaresorts which can be widespread out west, you’ll find attraction and that storybook, ski-town really feel. Snowboarding the East Coast can be extra favorable in your pockets. With cheaper elevate tickets (which you may sometimes see at independently owned resorts) and ski faculty pricing, you’ll be able to expertise the mountain really feel for much less. Should you’re a season passholder with Epic, Ikon or Indy, there is a plethora of resorts on the East Coast with much less restrictive — and cheaper — go choices.
What’s extra, there have been a couple of enhancements for the 2024-2025 winter season. For starters, Hunter Mountain in New York will likely be debuting a brand new high-speed chairlift and greater than 70 automated snow weapons. And one of many largest ski resorts in Vermont, Sugarbush, has invested near $12 million into the resort’s infrastructure, together with the brand new Heaven’s Gate Quad.
So, with many resorts gearing up for opening day, the place are the most effective ski resorts on the East Coast?
Finest snow: Jay Peak Resort
Jay, Vermont
As probably the most northern resort in Vermont, Jay Peak is without doubt one of the finest in relation to pure snowfall, averaging 347 inches per 12 months. As a body of reference, that is much like (or much more than) what you may see at a number of the mountains out west, the place Beaver Creek Resort averages 323 inches per 12 months and Park Metropolis Mountain Resort averages 355 inches per 12 months. With this a lot snow yearly, you may discover wonderful terrain and a plethora of tree glades. Jay Peak additionally provides a 45-person aerial tram to the summit — the one tram within the state. Be warned, although: Jay Peak is unquestionably one of many colder mountains you may discover on the East Coast, so gown accordingly.
Take into account that Jay Peak is understood for much more than epic snowboarding and snowboarding trails. After a day on the mountain, there’s the Jay Peak Pump Home, that includes an indoor water park with a lazy river and a FlowRider. There are additionally an indoor climbing health club, an arcade, a movie show and an ice skating enviornment. With a spa for the mother and father and youngster care beginning at 6 weeks previous, there’s loads to maintain your complete household occupied — each on and off the mountain.
Jay Peak can be one of many 230-plus ski resorts on the Indy Cross (though go gross sales come and go). With this go possibility, you may obtain two days of snowboarding at every collaborating resort. If you end up snowboarding at many collaborating impartial resorts this winter — and even subsequent winter — this is without doubt one of the least costly methods to ski.
Nonetheless, its location, simply south of the Canadian border, makes Jay Peak one of many tougher mountains to go to. For these already positioned within the Northeast, it is near a four-hour drive from Boston and 7 hours from New York Metropolis. Should you’d choose to fly, Burlington Worldwide Airport (BTV) is your finest wager at simply barely over an hour away.
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With no big-brand lodge choices in Jay, utilizing factors is a problem. Nonetheless, there are numerous ski-in, ski-out condos that you would be able to ebook via Vacasa and doubtlessly use your Wyndham Rewards factors this manner. There are additionally three lodge choices, with many packages out there, comparable to elevate ticket combos and entry to the water park.
Finest for luxurious: Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe, Vermont
Nicknamed the Vail of the East by many, Stowe has a particularly luxurious really feel, not dissimilar to what you’d discover at a number of the high-end resorts out west. The Village at Spruce Peak, positioned proper on the base of Mount Mansfield, provides a top-notch lodge, together with many outlets and eating places. With an out of doors ice skating rink within the middle and lots of fireplace pits round, you may expertise the perfect apres-ski scene (it seems like a miniature Swiss village). You’ll be able to even reserve your individual outside non-public pergola proper within the village middle.
The creme de la creme is definitely the aforementioned lodging, The Lodge at Spruce Peak. This Hyatt-affiliated lodge has luxurious written throughout it. From its ski valet and opulent spa to its outside swimming pools and scorching tubs, you may really really feel like you might be on a splurge-worthy trip. The resort even provides all the pieces out of your typical studio lodge room to four-bedroom penthouse suites. With current expansions, you’ll be able to even ebook your individual separate residence or townhome. It is also the one lodge possibility proper on the base of the mountain.
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However luxurious does not go simple on the pockets. Ticket costs at Stowe are a number of the costliest you may discover on the East Coast — luckily, your Epic Cross might help carry down the fee. And with Epic Mountain Rewards, you may additionally get 20% off group ski classes and leases — which is one other approach to make the price of ski faculty extra palatable.
Resort rooms are additionally out there at a jaw-dropping worth. However once more, you’ll be able to carry the fee down considerably by utilizing your World of Hyatt factors. All through a lot of the winter, the property expenses peak pricing, which implies you are taking a look at 45,000 factors per night time. Or, in the event you’re actually trying to splurge, you’ll be able to ebook a two-bedroom suite for as much as 90,000 factors per night time.
However in the event you aren’t trying to spend the cash — or factors — to remain on the mountain, there are many lodge choices — at many ranging worth factors — in and round Stowe. (Take a look at the historic Trapp Household Lodge, Topnotch Resort or Talta Lodge, that are a couple of of our different favorites.) Should you do not thoughts a 30-minute drive, you’ll be able to even keep on the Fairfield Inn & Suites Waterbury Stowe together with your Marriott Bonvoy factors — or your free night time certificates that include choose Marriott bank cards.
The city of Stowe can be completely lovely and price a go to. With loads of outlets, eating places and actions, you may by no means be bored. Should you’re searching for a ski resort in northern Vermont, Stowe is barely nearer than each Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Jay Peak Resort whereas additionally providing extra to do away from the mountain.
Finest for households: Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Jeffersonville, Vermont
Often known as America’s Household Resort, Smugglers’ Notch provides the most effective household environment you would ask for. Along with the 1,000-plus acres for snowboarding and using, the resort provides extra actions than you’ll be able to even think about for your complete household. Along with your conventional snowshoeing, tubing, cross-country snowboarding, ice skating and even swimming, there’s additionally the FunZone 2.0 complicated. Right here, you might have entry to impediment programs, laser tag, miniature golf, arcade video games and inflatable slides. The resort additionally organizes many actions — day and night time — catered towards your complete household. This consists of bingo, winter carnivals, scavenger hunts, bonfires, board recreation nights and magic reveals.
Smuggs may even permit these as younger as 3 years previous to benefit from the magic of a full-day ski faculty program, whereas many different mountains begin at 4 years previous — or require a non-public lesson. The resort additionally options terrain for everybody, with three distinct mountains, permitting all skiers to benefit from the slopes at their very own tempo. These simply beginning out on skis will thrive on Morse Mountain, which is made up of principally inexperienced trails. However, in the event you’re actually trying to push your self, head over to Madonna Mountain, the place you’ll be able to expertise the one triple-black-diamond path in your complete Northeast.
To expertise the enjoyment of Smuggs, staying on-site is the way in which to go. You may additionally discover accessing the mountain and different actions to be extraordinarily simple, particularly as a result of on-demand shuttle that’ll take you across the resort. And with condos starting from one to 5 bedrooms — which may be reserved via Airbnb or instantly with the mountain — you can ebook lodging that work for your loved ones. There’s additionally the Membership Wyndham Smugglers’ Notch Vermont, the place you’ll be able to theoretically use your Wyndham Rewards factors, however availability — on factors — is extraordinarily laborious to come back by.
Take into account that in winter, Smugglers’ Notch Cross, referred to as the Notch, is closed. This makes the drive to Smuggs about half-hour longer than in the event you have been to go to Stowe Mountain Resort.
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Finest for selection: Sugarbush Resort
Warren, Vermont
Many would say that Sugarbush provides a number of the finest terrain within the east. Whether or not you are searching for cruises, bumps, ungroomed trails or glades, you may discover a wide range of choices at this resort. You may even discover some trails which can be by no means groomed, making it a go-to spot on a powder day. The resort additionally incorporates a 2,600-foot vertical drop, which is without doubt one of the steepest in New England.
However do not let the range discourage you in the event you aren’t an skilled. There’s loads of terrain for newcomers as properly, making this an awesome resort possibility for all talent ranges. Nonetheless, Sugarbush may be regarded as two distinct peaks; in the event you’re heading to the mountain with skiers and riders of all ranges, you would possibly end up separated for a lot of the day. And if you end up headed to Lincoln Peak, you may respect the brand new high-speed quad, permitting for a greater expertise attending to the summit — with much less wind holds.
The Clay Brook Resort & Residences is the perfect lodging possibility in the event you’re trying to be slopeside. Nonetheless, there are numerous resort condos and townhomes alongside the shuttle route, making it simple to get to the bottom.
With Waterbury, Vermont, being proper between Sugarbush and Stowe, you would even go for the Fairfield Inn & Suites Waterbury Stowe and go to each resorts throughout your ski trip. Observe that Sugarbush is on the Ikon Cross.
Finest for newcomers: Okemo Mountain Resort
Ludlow, Vermont
Whereas Okemo can cater to all skiers, those that are simply getting their toes moist (or snowy, slightly) on the slopes will totally benefit from the mountain. Right here, you may discover many vast trails with loads of newbie and intermediate terrain. The resort can be well-known for its ski faculty, making it an awesome place to actually discover ways to ski. Many visitors additionally respect the 2 bubble lifts that’ll take you to the summit. On a chilly or moist day, a elevate experience may be one of the vital painful experiences in relation to snowboarding, however these heated bubbles could be a recreation changer and offer you time to heat up throughout your experience to the highest. There are many inexperienced trails down from the height of the mountain, permitting newcomers to benefit from the summit. Should you’re an Epic Cross holder, Okemo is likely to be your finest wager to maintain your total price down.
Okemo provides two completely different base lodges, with newbie slopes accessible from each. There are additionally loads of lodging at each lodges, however in the event you can swing it, Jackson Gore Inn is a superb possibility. Or, in the event you choose to unfold out, there are numerous ski-in, ski-out condos, a few of which even supply indoor swimming pools or different facilities proper on-site. Whereas there aren’t many choices to make use of factors, that is the proper alternative to money in a few of your versatile award factors with applications comparable to Chase Final Rewards and Capital One. Nonetheless, in the event you’re up for a drive, there’s the Finest Western in Springfield, Vermont, in addition to the Vacation Inn Membership Holidays Mount Ascutney Resort — each half-hour away.
Being in southern Vermont, Okemo is considerably simpler to entry than most of the northern Vermont mountains — particularly in the event you’re coming from the New York Tristate space or farther afield. Sadly, there aren’t many good airport choices close by, with Albany Worldwide Airport (ALB) and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) each being two hours away.
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Finest terrain park: Killington Ski Resort
Killington, Vermont
This legendary resort’s nickname, the Beast of the East, says all of it. In relation to East Coast snowboarding, that is the most important resort you may discover, with greater than 60 miles of whole slope size and 22 lifts. However what actually makes the resort particular is the terrain park, now referred to as Killington Parks. With a slew of park choices throughout the mountain, there is a terrain park for each age and talent — whether or not you might be new to the game or trying to excellent your 360. Killington additionally maintains the park weekly by altering the options, permitting you to come across a unique park expertise on each go to.
Being one of many largest mountains within the east comes at a worth, because the slopes are fairly packed on the weekends. However with down-the-road Pico Mountain additionally being on the go, you’ll be able to discover each mountains throughout your ski trip (Pico is far smaller and sometimes much less crowded). And despite the fact that the mountain was simply bought to a bunch of native buyers, it should nonetheless be a part of the Ikon Cross this 12 months.
Killington can be recognized for its apres-ski occasion scene, so whereas the resort is nice for all age teams, you would possibly really feel the youthful vibe.
Should you’re trying to make use of your lodge factors, Killington Mountain Lodge, a Hilton property, is a stable possibility. It prices between 50,000 and 60,000 factors per night time throughout ski season. Whereas this is not a ski-in, ski-out property, it is solely 2 miles down the highway.
Though Killington is in southern Vermont, it is nonetheless farther away than Okemo Mountain Resort and Stratton Mountain Resort, which is simply one thing to bear in mind in the event you’re not trying to prolong your drive. However, the gap could be very similar to touring from Boston.
Finest village: Stratton Mountain Resort
Stratton Mountain, Vermont
Should you’re craving for a traditional ski village on the base of the mountain, then Stratton is a superb match. The resort can be an excellent vacation spot in the event you’re heading to the mountain with nonskiers; if you are hitting the slopes, different visitors in your occasion can stroll out and in of outlets all through the day and even hit the arcade. And with many restaurant choices, you all can get pleasure from a calming apres-ski scene.
At Stratton, guests may even discover a tubing park, indoor mountaineering, snowmobile excursions (even for teenagers!) and an out of doors ice skating rink. You too can take a night snowcat experience for a singular eating expertise on the Mid Mountain Lodge. And so long as you ebook a lodge or apartment on the mountain, you really by no means should get in a automobile throughout your complete ski trip.
Stratton can be one of many closest southern Vermont mountains in the event you’re coming from the New York Tristate space. With no main visitors (i.e., in the event you go away earlier than Friday afternoon), you can also make it to the mountain in lower than 4 hours from the George Washington Bridge. The mountain can be a part of the Ikon Cross.
Finest for slopeside lodging: Sunday River
Newry, Maine
In case your aim of a ski trip is to remain on the mountain — at an affordable price — then Sunday River provides simply that. The resort provides slopeside lodging throughout the mountain, with most choices being near one of many three base lodges. This lets you decide a apartment or lodge that matches your complete household at a worth level that works for you. For instance, we have been capable of finding a ski-in, ski-out studio apartment for about $250 per night time throughout a peak winter weekend, which is considerably higher than different East Coast resorts.
Sunday River can be an awesome possibility in the event you’re trying to avoid the crowds. Regardless of being one of many extra common ski resorts in Maine, it does not get the identical variety of guests as you would possibly discover at many well-known Vermont and New Hampshire mountains. It additionally provides eight mountain peaks, with various terrain on every. This enables newcomers to discover a ton of inexperienced runs on North Peak, whereas these searching for ungroomed double-black-diamond trails can head over to Oz and Jordan Bowl. (Observe that whereas difficult for some, the double blacks aren’t the steepest you may discover on the East Coast.)
The resort additionally options twilight snowboarding, which you will not discover at many different resorts as of late. On Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, you’ll be able to prolong your ski day during 6:30 p.m. All through winter, you may additionally expertise slopeside fireworks reveals and lots of different family-friendly actions, particularly throughout peak vacation durations.
Sunday River can be on the Ikon Cross, however entry is proscribed. Relying on the go you buy, you are restricted to only 5 or seven days of snowboarding all through the season. Should you’re searching for a one-time journey, the Threedom Pack is likely to be your only option, providing you with three days on the mountain.
Take into account that Sunday River is sort of far for these outdoors of New England. Whereas it is solely a 3 1/2-hour drive from Boston, it is properly over seven hours from New York Metropolis. Should you’re trying to fly, the mountain is simply 70 miles from Portland Worldwide Jetport (PWM).
Finest surroundings: Bretton Woods
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
In relation to East Coast snowboarding, there really is nothing as breathtaking because the surroundings from the highest of Bretton Woods. On a transparent day, you may have views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Vary. On the summit, you’ll be able to expertise the comparatively new Rosebrook Lodge, which may make you’re feeling such as you’re out west. Right here, you’ll be able to get pleasure from lunch — or a drink — outdoors on the patio, really soaking in your complete ski expertise. And with an eight-passenger gondola that’ll take you from the bottom to the highest, even nonskiers can expertise the summit.
The resort is the most important ski resort in all of New Hampshire and consists of 63 trails, 35 glades and one terrain park. The mountain can be constructed so that almost all ranges can discover a manner down from the highest — particularly with many long-wide greens. The resort is implementing a brand new radio-frequency identification ticketing system this 12 months, with reductions when buying tickets prematurely on-line — which means much less time in line and extra time on the slopes. An intensive Nordic path system can be loved by way of skis, snowshoes and even winter fats bikes.
Bretton Woods can be dwelling to the enduring Omni Mount Washington Resort. Though there are some condos on the resort, the Omni or its smaller, charming sister property, the Omni Bretton Arms Inn, is really the place to remain. At just some minutes’ drive from the bottom, the lodge gives a shuttle proper from the entrance door. The lodge dates again to 1902, and though there have been many renovations and additions since that point, you’ll be able to nonetheless expertise the historic decor and attraction all through. Adults will benefit from the spa and the speakeasy, whereas youngsters will wish to spend time on the arcade and the outside tubing space. There are additionally each indoor and outside swimming pools.
For these loyal to the Omni model, you need to use your earned Omni credit for a free keep. Moreover, the resort provides a “Keep Right here, Ski Free” deal for midweek, nonholiday stays in any respect three properties that features two free tickets for Bretton Woods per night time of keep (restrictions apply).
With Bretton Woods shut to 3 hours from Boston, you may discover it to be one of many farthest New Hampshire resorts, however the gorgeous drive is value it.
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Backside line
With many East Coast ski resort choices, you may see that you do not have to fly all the way in which west to benefit from the mountain really feel. With many well-recognized mountains represented all through the East Coast, you’ll be able to strap in your skis and revel in a ski trip very quickly.
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