Hey all! For whatever reason, chapters are not showing up in this video, despite being in the description. If you want to jump to certain resorts, here are the timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:51 13th in Vermont 2:01 12th in Vermont 3:31 11th in Vermont 4:41 10th in Vermont 6:24 9th in Vermont 7:52 8th in Vermont 9:19 7th in Vermont 11:07 6th in Vermont 13:01 5th in Vermont 14:36 4th in Vermont 16:09 3rd in Vermont 17:41 2nd in Vermont 18:59 1st in Vermont 20:31 Conclusion And if we missed something very obvious that's disabling chapters for this video, please let us know 😅 Also, CORRECTION: Sugarbush and Stratton are UNLIMITED on the Ikon full and Base passes, not 7/5-day access partners.
pico is criminally underrated, and that's by design. The longest I ever waited in line there was 3 minutes, and that was on a 17 inch powder day saturday after getting 40 inches that week.
@@bobl6139 Pico is actually only closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and will be open 7 days a week during peak periods. You can shred Monday, Thursday and Friday as well as weekend.
Pico used to be independent but is now part of killington. It was one of the first in the game, opening for commercial skiing in 1938 and I love it there as well, especially on days when killington is saturated with customers.
The other crazy thing about Pico is you can ski over to Killington (with a Killington tick/pass) and take the shuttle back at the end of the day not something id recommend for a new comer but cool for a local.
Are Pico lift tickets cheaper than Killington’s or is it just the same? I feel like someone traveling to ski would just go to Killington and it’s mainly locals that go to Pico on weekends when Killington is crowded.
Smugglers notch true strengths lie in their back country which has some of the best woods skiing you can find, and the unmarked trails, if you plan a trip to smuggs I strongly recommend to find a local to show you the best trails
I was so mad at myself the year I had a pass for Smuggs, and I spent the whole season only riding groomed trails and constantly being disappointed; then, in the last 2 weeks of the season, I finally tried the woods and realized why everyone I know speaks so highly of it.
I'm extremely fortunate to have skied all these mountains. Can't really comment on the rankings because we're all looking for something a bit different. However, I got a serious sense of nostalgia watching this and thinking about my experiences at each mountain.
Used to ski pro , and my favorite East Coast ski resort is definitely Bolton Valley...Fun terrain, and they have "The Big Rock" where you can send it...I highly recommend this mountain....Good for families too!
We stay in Stowe and go to BV. Its cheaper and the terrain/lift/lodge are good. I would like to see bubble lifts but you can't get too greedy. For novice skiers in the area, I would recommend BV over stowe.
I had an epic powder day at Bolton in the middle of December, (a few weeks ago)- untracked deep powder all day in the woods off of the Vista lift. Best early season skiing I've had. Unfortunately the rains came and took much of it away.
@@marcusteblano6376 That December snowfall was so sad...everything up that point in the season was making it feel like it would be the best ski season in memory, and just as the season was starting everything had to reset...
Great video! I am consistently impressed with Sam’s ability to remain composed while skiing the craziest expert terrain. I would love to see a similar video ranking Quebec ski areas.
I learned to cross-country ski when I moved to New England 10 years ago. every time I'm tempted to try downhill I see the crowds, the lines, and the cost and I'm happy to stick to the skinny skis.
It's not that bad, the people watching helps as do random conversations even if you're just overheard them. LOL. You should give it a shot, try Pico maybe, its one of the least crowded bc everyone goes to Killington or Okemo which are right next door.
Great list, and awesome video as always. However, I will say that Burke should have been included on this lift. I’m a Canadian from Quebec, and I often drive down to Burke due to its close proximity to Montreal to get away from the massive lines at Quebec resorts around montreal as an alternative to jay peak. It’s got a great fall line, and two high speed lifts, so I think it should have been included
Went to Burke last yr only 1 lift promised main 1 open at ticket window, didn't occur. Ski team onsite got to cut paying guests. Nice trees and vertical drop but it was a rip-off
I would have replaced Magic with Burke. Burke is a long standing commercial operation while Magic is not open all the time, and was closed for many years.
It’s just very remote and if you go that far Jay is far better. No hate and I love mountain biking there and the sling is good but it a far ride for most and Jay has much better terrain and bigger snow. If it’s windy at Jay Burke may be a good backup plan.
I worked at bolton for 3 seasons when i lived in vt, i loved that place... i was one of the park pros though we just raked out kickers and pulled down all the fencing at night that access road was terrible
Yea but went last year and the night life at Bolton is garbage. Restaurant closes at 8 and no communal fire or anything. Good day mountain but not a good overnight mountain
I go to Bolton when I’m w a lower level skier but I also want a challenge…fun woods runs run right along side green and blue trails. Excellent intermediate woods skiing at Bolton…and Imactually leave without an empty wallet
Mad River is in my top three fav mountains in VT, tied with Jay at number 1(given similar snow conditions between the two I would choose MRG pretty much every time), and then Smuggs after them. However, given the lack of grooming and snow making, Mad River is probably the worst option to plan your whole trip around if it's a short trip and you're coming from farther away. That being said, if ur intrigued by MRG but dont wanna risk ruining your vacation, Sugarbush is just down the road, so you could plan more around that and if the weather is good, you could take a day to check out Mad River. If you arent keen on the prices and commercial vibe of Sugarbush but want the reliability, consider getting passes limited to just the Mt Ellen peak (Sugarbush North) instead of full mountain passes. You will not be bored here and this section (which is completely separate from the rest of surgarbush) has a much humbler and local vibe than the main Sugarbush resort. ALSO, for experts interested in MRG's terrain, do not be turned off by the small "skiable" acreage because the mountain truly shines with its unmarked terrain (but still within bounds) which I dont think gets taken into account in the official number. If it looks remotely skiable, someone has probably done it and paved the way for you even if its not on the map. FINALLY, if you feel comfortable going out of the resort's bounds and ski patrol rounds, Smugglers Notch offers some incredible backcountry terrain conncted to the long trail, which is also fairly accessible and lapable as it leads you to the parking lots just below the lifts at the bottom of the resort.
I agree with your top 3 exactly. MRG is my go-to spontaneous road-trip getaway when they get dumped on, but nothing to plan a vacation around ahead of time. The single chair lift is something to experience at least once. Favorite slope: Paradise, of course. Jay is my all-time favorite, but selfishly I don't like all the improvements they made, like an indoor water park. It used to be very boring at the base, and I liked that. It was for the true skiers that were there for the first lift, and took the last lift up with limited breaks during the day. No need for nightlife, just refueling for the evening and getting lots of sleep. But so be it. The mountain is still great, and it gets some freak storms. Favorite slopes: Valhalla for the gliding turns in soft conditions through the trees, Staircase to get your heart beating fast from the mental and physical challenge, and UN for the moguls as big as WV Bugs. Smuggs is known as a family-friendly destination, but it has a few slopes that rival any other resort's expert terrain. Little chutes like Robin's Run have had me laughing out loud with pure joy.
Wow those are my exact top 3! Learned to ski at MVG, I love Smuggs family atmosphere and always so relaxing being there. Jay doesn't even feel like it's a Vermont mountain, some of the best snow i've ever had!
When there s sufficient snow, there s Mad River, then there s everyone else…there are massive sections that are off map that look like great on map wood runs…just the best Ski it IF you can. If I had to rank my favs assuming decent amount of natural snow and price is no object 1 Mad River 2 Stowe 3 Smugglers Notch 4 Jay Peak 5 Sugarbush 6 Killington 7 Pico s Peak 8 Mt Snow 9 Okemo 10 Burke
I work at mrg and get free pass it is such a beautiful and unique mountain! The trails flow so naturally! And it’s not as hard as they say, my bf learned to ski for the first time ever on that mountain just a few days ago and is already on the single chair!
I haven’t skied in at least 15 years but back in the old days the single best day of skiing I ever had was at Magic on the legendary Presidents’ Day weekend blizzard. massive snowstorm Friday night took six hours instead of three to get there, but the Saturday skiing was incredible, almost waist deep powder. It was a whole day of giddiness.
Boston skier from the 1970's, it's cool to see this list, in my day the only way you'd know about them is word of mouth, I've skied most of these mtns, Vermont is a beautiful vacation or wknd getaway. Thank you.
I’m sad you guys didn’t include Burke, It actually has a hotel, A nice beginner pod (which might be better with 1 or 2 more trails) 2 High speed quads, and a lot of good glade terrain! It’s a mountain I would certainly like to visit.
I skied at Bolton for years, so I won't badmouth it, but to include Bolton and not Burke is a little silly. Burke is much further from pretty much everywhere, but it's still a nice ski mountain - and almost twice as big as Bolton.
i’ve skied at Burke for years, and i am actually confused as to why you didn’t include it! as someone who loves glade terrain, there’s some amazing glades (caveman
I would take Okemo over most if not all the areas in your video. From southern Connecticut it is far closer than a dozen areas you mentioned. You can get there on I91 and VT 103 both of which move right along. It has 5 high speed lifts, great snowmaking, easy parking, 4 very nice eating facilities and a real town at the bottom. Restaurants, banks, gas stations, ski shops, food stores and lots of lodging. It also uses the Epic pass which is more affordable than the Ikon pass. Just one person's opinion.
Okemo is lovely for families, and the actual town that sits at the bottom of the mountain (Ludlow) is very cute and has many resources (like an actual supermarket) that its main competitor, killington, does not have
I greatly enjoyed this video. skied them all but two; agreed with your comments, prices for lift tickets are astounding.. I was actively skiing when it was a staggering $50 for a day ticket
Lived in Vermont years ago. In Waterbury. I recognized/remember the slopes of Sugarbush, Mad River, Jay, Bolton, and Stowe. I wonder if Jay still has their VT resident (drivers license) specials on Fridays? It was a 75% discount on a day ticket😊. So it was worth the drive of a little over an hour. I was spoiled. It took about 25 minutes to get to Sugarbush, only about 15 to get to Bolton.
@@adrianunser332 not surprised. Mount snow used to have one for VT and NH residents for at least one day each week but as soon as they got bought out by Vail they took those deals out. Gotta scrap as much money out of us as possible lol
I always loved Burke Mountain the best. I went there a lot from 99-02. The place was always empty but it had a ton of awesome trails, glades, and a decent park.
Great job but surprised you didn't even mention the North Face at Mount Snow. Some leg burning Terrain there aside from the main mountain and a important part of Mount Snow. That's a big reason I would go there vs places like Okemo, Stratton and other less challenging resorts in southern VT
7:52 Mt. Snow is on the list. I was surprised Saskadena Six wasn't on here. They've done a turn around recently like Magic. I'm glad Magic was in here as it's one of my destination vacations. Also I grew up skiing all over VT, and you're wrong about Snow being more challenging that Stratton and Okemo. Sorry just factually false. It may have some terrain parks, so go there for that. But Stratton is fast! Okemo's alright.
I remember Mad River Glen, and the only working lift at the time was this smoke belching diesel powered chair lift. The only lodging we could find was this room above a bar, we had to squeeze through the crowded bar with our snowy skis to get to the room! The terrain on the mountain was challenging as advertised though, and it was a memorable weekend.
with all due respect ranking Bromley, Snow and Okemo OVER MRG and Bolton simply because they're in southern Vermont and have good numbers on paper is INSANE! I prefer mountains with character
Bromley is the Last place I'd ski at in Southern Vt. I call it the Blue Square mtn. In southern Vt, the ranking goes: Stratton, Magic, Okemo, Snow, Saskadena Six, backcountry hiking at Mt. Ascutney, backcountry at the closed resort Maple Valley, Whaleback.... then I guess Bromley
I skied Mount Snow many times in the 1970s. It could be crowded at certain times and certain slopes could be crowded but the terrain was unbelievable. So many choices. And if you're an advanced or expert skier, the North Face is for you. Also, the North Face has very few people skiing over there because most aren't good enough to handle it. Stratton is also very nice destination and, Imo, Killington is overrated. It is big but that's about it.
@@thomasluby1754 I did many runs at Stratton and Mt. Snow in the late 70s. Grew up in Brattleboro. I feel the same way about Killington. NH is a great state as well.
As a vermonter, I agree with this list! Granted that its geared twoard folks looking for a vacation destination. I love bolton as a Burlington resident, the low traffic and slower lifts means you can still find untouched powder 2+ days after a storm. And thier summertime mountainbike trails in the woods get covered with snow and make for some EPIC tree runs with jumps!!! But - the access road can be a beast and possibly one of the gnarliest access roads for VT resorts. This list dosnt expand much on parks for folks looking for that - killington is the best imo, but sugarbush has a massive park set up on that ‘second’ mountain location which are only a 8 min drive apart if you dont take that long connecting lift. Just take off one ski boot for the drive ;) Stowe has amazing terrain and lifts and midweek is really good - its just so expensive… really kills the vibe there… Awesome list, maybe look for some locals to interview when making these lists for those good secrets if theyll share them! And also - the ultimate trip advice. Consider staying in burlington Vt and rent a car or drive up here, TONS to do in this awesome city. And jay peak, sugarbush, stowe all about an hour away. Killington 1.5 hrs.
Jay Peak has incredible snow and terrain. I just visited for my first time last weekend and it was the best powder I’ve ever snowboarded at a resort. But yes it was very cold on the lifts and windy and some trails did have some bad ice in some exposed spots. Still, if you prepare yourself accordingly it may be rugged, it’s absolutely the best ski resort I’ve ever snowboarded and I’ve done Killington. But I do like rugged and I like backcountry type feel over comfort and groomed.
Great video! I think the judgment changes based on if you come with a family or expert skier friends, and also whether you come for just a day or two, or entire week. Would probably disagree on one comment about Mount Snow's trails being "too similar" across the mountain. I think that would definitelly be hallmark of Stratton (and for that reason I would move it down the list), and to an extent Okemo. At Snow, depending on conditions, SNOWDANCE fun for wide carving turns, ROLLERCOASTER full of berms and jumps while still on the main face, the area from Ego Alley all the way to the Ridge has different feel and you can come in and out of the woods, because of sun Sunbrook has different snow conditions, and is fun for a visit during the day, and Carinthias trails, even if you dont come for the features can keep you engaged, and then there is the north face with its blacks and glades.
Totally agree--IMO the only downside to Mt. Snow is how busy it typically is. Even with that, I would probably put it above Okemo and Stratton (though I guess I can see that Stratton would be better for beginners and intermediates)
This was a great list. I’ve seen a lot of videos like this from other people but none like this. Also you might wanna consider best ski resort base villages. Might be cool.
Great list! As someone who does a lot of skiing out west, I always tell people that if it’s a good snow season for vermont, killington is as good as most. Love killington (with good snow)!
I had a ton of fun at Jay Peak on my visit! Super helpful lesser-known fact- the Airbnb’s in the towns close by are CRAZY cheap, and they’re all SUUUPER nice. I can’t recommend them enough! Hope you guys do a Maine review soon, it’s my fav east coast state to ski!
Mine is still New Hampshire. Vermont may have the best resorts, but the White Mountains are just unmatched I think in terms of size, beauty, majesty, shape, everything.
Im pretty sad that you did not include Burke because it is bigger than bromly and majic mountain and Burke mountain academy the second best ski team in the world if you did not include Burke on this list will you make a independent video reviewing it?
Mad river glen is insane when you get fresh powder. Was there a day after 2ft of powder and it was the best day of skiing I have ever had and will probally ever have
I'd have to say my favorite VT mountain is Jay for affordability, depth of snow, terrain (woods and steeps), and overall vibe. Drawbacks are cold and wind. Magic is only an hour from where I live and has my favorite steep woods skiing after Jay. Yes, you have to wait for a good snowfall, but when they get it, and they do get sneaker storms that are off the radar, I've had some of my best powder days there. Not as cheap as it used to be (was dirt cheap not too many years ago). I've skied at Killington a fair amount over the years. I got less and less enthused about the vibe there in recent years. It doesn't consistently get the snow some of the northern areas get, it's gotten prohibitively expensive, and it tends to be pretty icy, windy, and cold. It does have some good powder skiing in the woods, but it generally gets tracked out pretty fast. I'll give honorable mention to Bolton Valley for snow totals in a good year and variety and challenge of woods terrain. The drawback is the steep sections are close to the top and fairly short with long run-outs back to the lift.
Good video! I have a home at Stratton and I recognize its drawbacks but 3 things i would add: it’s unlimited on Ikon, the tree skiing (when open) is underrated and it’s where you can find much more of a challenge, and having a true “walking village” at the base is a nice thing to have, even if it feels a little Disney-ish. Like any ski resort, it’s great on weekdays!
After 45 years , I would personally still rate Stowe Vt. the top Ski Capital of the East,… beautiful trails with natural snow and a host of many close accommodations in Stowe itself making for a super vacationing week .
This is one of the most accurate reviews of Vermont ski resorts I've seen. My wife and I have been skiing Vermont for over 20 years and have visited many of the resorts you reviewed here - well done ! Though, we would have put Jay as #1 because of the terrain but yes, it can be friggen cold !
I agree, I've only done Jay(3-4x's), Mt snow (1) and Stowe(1), and Jay is hands down my favorite. It was the closest comparison to Colorado skiing I've done on the east coast in terms of terrain, snow fall and aesthetics.
Good accurate report; however, Stratton and Sugarbush are now unlimited with the full IKON pass. And being a skier-only mountain, even with the slow single chair at MRG, it's worth the throwback feel because it drops a single skier up top every 30 seconds which means you are guaranteed to not have a high speed double quad dropping dozens of dopes and boarders up top at the same time to create massive CFs like you encounter every day at Killington. Plus, MRG is a co-op, skier-owned resort and so lift tix remain very affordable, and they don't gouge you for a beer, wings, or swag in the basebox. On pow days, the MRG single chair is the lift to Heaven. And the General Stark Pub rules!
Take a guess, what state has the most ski resorts in the country? You'd think Colorado, Utah, or Vermont but no, it's New York baby! We've got 52 ski resorts compared to Vermont's 26, so time to get rankin' PeakRankings!
I was born in upstate west and moved to VT at 12 years old. Skied many of these resorts in VT as well as many in the Sierras, Taos NM, Winter Park Colorado, Big Bear CA, Stevens Pass Washington. The most powder I have skied in was in upstate NY at Bluemont.
Contrary to popular belief, MRG is accessible to beginners. I started last season. It’s also one of the only places I could find that offered Telemark lessons. Peace
Feeeheel Fridays at MRG are where I learned to make respectable tele turns. My wife isn't an expert skier and we can ski plenty of MRG terrain together. What's really nice though is that the trail layout allows me to take a steeper section and meet her at different junctions all the way down. With a single base area, it's harder to lose people you're skiing with. The single chair also throttles traffic so that when you're coming down you feel like you have the mountain to yourself. Finally, you can get lunch in the lodge at very reasonable prices and there's Lawson's on tap. MRG would be my #1 and overly commercialized hills like Stowe would be much farther down my personal list.
i lived in vermont for 20 years of my life growing up. iv skied all the mtns , the most memorable and fun experiences some of the best in my whole life summer and winter were at bolton valley. its a place that time has no meaning. a place not in it for the money. a place dedicated to the outdoors and brings snow sports back to the roots of fun and outdoors.
Awww, but Burke is a pretty solid spot. Love Sugarbush, Jay and Killington, they've always been my top 3 favorites on the ice coast. Jay DEFINITELY gets cold. One of my times there it was in the single digits before windchill and my goggles became useless from ice buildup on the inside and out. Had to use my one had to try to block out the wind so my eyes wouldn't literally freeze. LOL That aside its freakin awesome with some pretty epic glades. Can't wait to head up there next month.
Totally unbelievable lift ticket prices! I remember paying $23 at Mount Snow in 1978, and thinking it was high. These places seem to be disinterested in day skiers. I remember when Mt. Snow was the go-to for the closest big-mountain skiing to southern New England. Bubble chairs, clickety-clack converted conveyer belt lifts, Frozen Fountain, outdoor swimming pool, all the funky features, mostly no more.
I have skied every mountain on this list, all of them many times. That said I am a season pass holder at Killington and for a reason. It has great terrain and they have a very big commitment to your skiing experience. That means they run their snow making guns whenever possible and relentlessly. I love Sugerbush, Mad River, Stowe and Jay and if it’s a good snow year they are all great. If not you are much better off at Killington. During peak season and holidays Saturdays can be a bit much. The Canyon area which has some of the best terrain never has a lift line. The tree skiing is also very good. If you study the map a bit you will find it’s laid out very well and they have built tunnels to reduce issues. They have replaced almost all their slow lifts. The ones that are left are in areas that never have a line. For younger people or those of us who like to go out at night Killington has a great nightlife and lots of restaurants. Places like Jay or The Bush not so much. A few year ago 2019 my wife wanted to go to Stowe for a few days with family, the conditions were terrible and even though the temps were cold enough they never ran their guns. This was on a holiday week. Killington on the other had had their guns doing their job. It left a very bad taste, really expensive and rock hard with no commitment to making things better. If it sucks at Killington, say after a rain, freeze cycle it sucks every place else in Vermont. There is a reason the woman’s World Cup races here every November, They know and trust Killington to make snow. Killington has been open for well over a week already.
Yep! Killington is also un-real at recovery after some bad weather (warm temps, rain…., no snow…), I’ve seen them change 80% of the mountain conditions from a horrible rainy day, to almost a powder say the next day (without receiving any snow!). My only complaint with Killington is they don’t spin enough lifts during the week.
Lol OK on your Killington number one pic give me a break. Where else in Vermont can you find Lyft service that goes pretty much to the highest peak and have side country and off accessible. What did Killington pay you for this one.
A 1 day ticket at Whiteface Mountain N.Y. cost me $ 9.50 or so when I skied there in 1978.... I skied Bolton Mtn. 1970-1975, I remember when Killington opened the new 'Bear Mtn.' area (awesome) around....1980 (or so?)
I skied Killington and Jay back in the '60's. Killington had a double chair where the K1 is now. That was a cold ride. Jay's tram hadn't been built yet. They had a chair going up the west side of the peak, pretty much straight up and I never saw it run. It was always coated in ice and snow. There was a T-bar where the Jet Triple is now. As I recall, kid's 5 day ticket with lessons was $25.
I'm alright with you putting Bolton Valley near the bottom. Means us locals get to continue enjoying it without a big dent to lift lines from your influence B)
S6 was competitive 20 years ago. Haven’t been there in a while. I live/ski in Colorado, but still miss glade skiing in leeward snow pockets in VT and especially spring skiing loose granular/corn bumps on bear peak at Killington.
@@AndrewLevy-m2r it was mentioned in the not covered areas at the beginning of the video, under its new name Saskadena Six. old folks knew it as Suicide Six, or S6.
If you know your way around Killington and prefer expert trails, you can easily avoid the crowds and lift lines by never going to a base lift. We also used to hang out at the peak after lifts closed and race the 4 miles down Great Eastern to the car at the end of the day.
As someone who has only snowboarded on the east coast Pico and Killington are the 3rd and best resort that I've gotten to spend some time on. Can definitely relate to Pico having tons of open space with short lift lines as well as getting completely lost at Killington
I have been to just about all of the mountains available in Vermont. Your take on Magik mountain is pretty spot on. If not for it being inexpensive, no one would go there. I loved Bromley. Especially with a 7 and 9 year old. Easy to navigate, and easy to keep on eye them. Would an expert skier go here? no, but if you want decent skiing that is affordable and have young kids, you can't go wrong here. Mad River Glen is absolutely terrible. Mount Snow was fun but extremely crowded and very expensive ... you'll find the closer you get to NYC/BOSTON the more crowded it will get. I can't give an honest review of Okemo as the day we got there on a bus trip they had a huge ice storm. Stratton, is way over priced and is extremely crowded, but it is a good mountain with lots of excellent runs. I enjoyed Sugar Bush, but man did I wipe out hard on one of their black diamond runs. Stowe is incredible ... definitely tops on my list. I have been to Killington and Stowe enough to know I just seem to enjoy Stowe more. Killington is too commercial and the crowds on the weekends are insane.
Cant argue with the list. I spent 2 seasons as a ski instructor at Sugarbush back in the early 00's. So I have a soft spot for them. I might put Sugarbush ahead of Jay Peak but your reasoning makes sense. Enjoyed the video.
Sugarbush is fine, and the terrain is good (maybe not on par with Jay, but still good), but the snow quality is always worse than Jay. jay's in it's own little weather pattern, whereas Sugarbush relies on Nor'Easters for the bulk of it's snowfall.
Sugarbush has better sustained vert and terrain to match, pretty great lift layout, really good trees and out of bounds. Jay has crappy lift layout, and whoever designed the trail system didn't take into account wind and snow preservation - they should've been publicly shamed. Building out the glade system was almost required to get to the snow that blew off the trails... Jay obviously gets more snow, and the backcountry out of bounds can be great (but crowded). IMHO, Jay was better before the crook overbuilt the place- lost its character. I kind of lean toward Sugarbush- probably the best all-around resort now that Stowe's completed the transition to become Aspen East. Overall, Smuggs/Mad River Valley/Stowe/Jay are at the top, to each their own. If you know VT skiing and skiing is the priority (not nightlife/shopping/crap like that), you don't bother going south of Sugarbush to ski.
The reason smugglers notch has the "old school vibe" is because everything there Is legitimately old. it's not on purpose, nothing has been updated in forever. They make you think its old school for aesthetic, but its just so they can make more money by not updating anything (I know, I work there)
11:38 Mont sutton has three triple black diamond runs, and Le massif has le charlevoix which is technically a junior world cup trail but is also a triple black diamond.
Great list, and awesome video as always. However, I will say that Burke should have been included on this lift. I’m a Canadian from Quebec, and I often drive down to Burke due to its close proximity to Montreal to get away from the massive lines at Quebec resorts around montreal as an alternative to jay peak. It’s got a great fall line, and two high speed lifts, so I think it should have been included
Hey all! For whatever reason, chapters are not showing up in this video, despite being in the description. If you want to jump to certain resorts, here are the timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:51 13th in Vermont
2:01 12th in Vermont
3:31 11th in Vermont
4:41 10th in Vermont
6:24 9th in Vermont
7:52 8th in Vermont
9:19 7th in Vermont
11:07 6th in Vermont
13:01 5th in Vermont
14:36 4th in Vermont
16:09 3rd in Vermont
17:41 2nd in Vermont
18:59 1st in Vermont
20:31 Conclusion
And if we missed something very obvious that's disabling chapters for this video, please let us know 😅
Also, CORRECTION: Sugarbush and Stratton are UNLIMITED on the Ikon full and Base passes, not 7/5-day access partners.
Killington above Stowe is just crazy.
your chart at the end lists smugglers notch as having only 2 lifts but it actually has considerably more than that.
pico is criminally underrated, and that's by design. The longest I ever waited in line there was 3 minutes, and that was on a 17 inch powder day saturday after getting 40 inches that week.
But only open on weekends which rules many out
@@bobl6139 Pico is actually only closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and will be open 7 days a week during peak periods. You can shred Monday, Thursday and Friday as well as weekend.
Pico used to be independent but is now part of killington. It was one of the first in the game, opening for commercial skiing in 1938 and I love it there as well, especially on days when killington is saturated with customers.
The other crazy thing about Pico is you can ski over to Killington (with a Killington tick/pass) and take the shuttle back at the end of the day not something id recommend for a new comer but cool for a local.
Are Pico lift tickets cheaper than Killington’s or is it just the same? I feel like someone traveling to ski would just go to Killington and it’s mainly locals that go to Pico on weekends when Killington is crowded.
Smugglers notch true strengths lie in their back country which has some of the best woods skiing you can find, and the unmarked trails, if you plan a trip to smuggs I strongly recommend to find a local to show you the best trails
I was so mad at myself the year I had a pass for Smuggs, and I spent the whole season only riding groomed trails and constantly being disappointed; then, in the last 2 weeks of the season, I finally tried the woods and realized why everyone I know speaks so highly of it.
@@PaleCentaur yes it’s the best part
I haven't been in the backcountry, but the Shakedown trees are my favorite in the state.
I'm a telemarker......Shhh we dont want to end up like mansfield lmaop
Getting ready to go to killington next week very excited
I'm extremely fortunate to have skied all these mountains. Can't really comment on the rankings because we're all looking for something a bit different. However, I got a serious sense of nostalgia watching this and thinking about my experiences at each mountain.
Can you do a video on New York?
Used to ski pro , and my favorite East Coast ski resort is definitely Bolton Valley...Fun terrain, and they have "The Big Rock" where you can send it...I highly recommend this mountain....Good for families too!
We stay in Stowe and go to BV. Its cheaper and the terrain/lift/lodge are good. I would like to see bubble lifts but you can't get too greedy. For novice skiers in the area, I would recommend BV over stowe.
I had an epic powder day at Bolton in the middle of December, (a few weeks ago)- untracked deep powder all day in the woods off of the Vista lift. Best early season skiing I've had. Unfortunately the rains came and took much of it away.
@@marcusteblano6376 That December snowfall was so sad...everything up that point in the season was making it feel like it would be the best ski season in memory, and just as the season was starting everything had to reset...
I can’t believe you were ever a professional, I’m so much better than you! Lol
@@stvbrsn So you are a crazy person are you?
Great video! I am consistently impressed with Sam’s ability to remain composed while skiing the craziest expert terrain. I would love to see a similar video ranking Quebec ski areas.
I learned to cross-country ski when I moved to New England 10 years ago. every time I'm tempted to try downhill I see the crowds, the lines, and the cost and I'm happy to stick to the skinny skis.
It's not that bad, the people watching helps as do random conversations even if you're just overheard them. LOL. You should give it a shot, try Pico maybe, its one of the least crowded bc everyone goes to Killington or Okemo which are right next door.
Great list, and awesome video as always. However, I will say that Burke should have been included on this lift. I’m a Canadian from Quebec, and I often drive down to Burke due to its close proximity to Montreal to get away from the massive lines at Quebec resorts around montreal as an alternative to jay peak. It’s got a great fall line, and two high speed lifts, so I think it should have been included
Shhhhhh. :D
Went to Burke last yr only 1 lift promised main 1 open at ticket window, didn't occur. Ski team onsite got to cut paying guests. Nice trees and vertical drop but it was a rip-off
I would have replaced Magic with Burke. Burke is a long standing commercial operation while Magic is not open all the time, and was closed for many years.
It’s just very remote and if you go that far Jay is far better. No hate and I love mountain biking there and the sling is good but it a far ride for most and Jay has much better terrain and bigger snow. If it’s windy at Jay Burke may be a good backup plan.
I grew up there. 20 years ago it was considered the best value resort.
After 15 years skiing/riding the east from northern NJ, this is the best overview and ranking I have seen
Bolton night skiing is unmatched. May not be the best mountain but definitely has the best vibe.
One run is unmatched?
one *icy* run@@tesserpooh
I worked at bolton for 3 seasons when i lived in vt, i loved that place... i was one of the park pros though we just raked out kickers and pulled down all the fencing at night that access road was terrible
Yea but went last year and the night life at Bolton is garbage. Restaurant closes at 8 and no communal fire or anything. Good day mountain but not a good overnight mountain
I go to Bolton when I’m w a lower level skier but I also want a challenge…fun woods runs run right along side green and blue trails.
Excellent intermediate woods skiing at Bolton…and Imactually leave without an empty wallet
Mad River is in my top three fav mountains in VT, tied with Jay at number 1(given similar snow conditions between the two I would choose MRG pretty much every time), and then Smuggs after them. However, given the lack of grooming and snow making, Mad River is probably the worst option to plan your whole trip around if it's a short trip and you're coming from farther away. That being said, if ur intrigued by MRG but dont wanna risk ruining your vacation, Sugarbush is just down the road, so you could plan more around that and if the weather is good, you could take a day to check out Mad River.
If you arent keen on the prices and commercial vibe of Sugarbush but want the reliability, consider getting passes limited to just the Mt Ellen peak (Sugarbush North) instead of full mountain passes. You will not be bored here and this section (which is completely separate from the rest of surgarbush) has a much humbler and local vibe than the main Sugarbush resort.
ALSO, for experts interested in MRG's terrain, do not be turned off by the small "skiable" acreage because the mountain truly shines with its unmarked terrain (but still within bounds) which I dont think gets taken into account in the official number. If it looks remotely skiable, someone has probably done it and paved the way for you even if its not on the map.
FINALLY, if you feel comfortable going out of the resort's bounds and ski patrol rounds, Smugglers Notch offers some incredible backcountry terrain conncted to the long trail, which is also fairly accessible and lapable as it leads you to the parking lots just below the lifts at the bottom of the resort.
Ski it if you CAN
I agree with your top 3 exactly. MRG is my go-to spontaneous road-trip getaway when they get dumped on, but nothing to plan a vacation around ahead of time. The single chair lift is something to experience at least once. Favorite slope: Paradise, of course.
Jay is my all-time favorite, but selfishly I don't like all the improvements they made, like an indoor water park. It used to be very boring at the base, and I liked that. It was for the true skiers that were there for the first lift, and took the last lift up with limited breaks during the day. No need for nightlife, just refueling for the evening and getting lots of sleep. But so be it. The mountain is still great, and it gets some freak storms. Favorite slopes: Valhalla for the gliding turns in soft conditions through the trees, Staircase to get your heart beating fast from the mental and physical challenge, and UN for the moguls as big as WV Bugs.
Smuggs is known as a family-friendly destination, but it has a few slopes that rival any other resort's expert terrain. Little chutes like Robin's Run have had me laughing out loud with pure joy.
Wow those are my exact top 3! Learned to ski at MVG, I love Smuggs family atmosphere and always so relaxing being there. Jay doesn't even feel like it's a Vermont mountain, some of the best snow i've ever had!
When there s sufficient snow, there s Mad River, then there s everyone else…there are massive sections that are off map that look like great on map wood runs…just the best Ski it IF you can.
If I had to rank my favs assuming decent amount of natural snow and price is no object
1 Mad River
2 Stowe
3 Smugglers Notch
4 Jay Peak
5 Sugarbush
6 Killington
7 Pico s Peak
8 Mt Snow
9 Okemo
10 Burke
I work at mrg and get free pass it is such a beautiful and unique mountain! The trails flow so naturally! And it’s not as hard as they say, my bf learned to ski for the first time ever on that mountain just a few days ago and is already on the single chair!
new hampshire resorts when?
Agree ski’d Pico last year while at Killington, the wait to get on the lifts were unbelievably short and the terrain is quite good!
I love magic and it goes to shows the 80s ski area once you look past the lodge and snowmaking that’s the fun it to be free and no lines
I haven’t skied in at least 15 years but back in the old days the single best day of skiing I ever had was at Magic on the legendary Presidents’ Day weekend blizzard. massive snowstorm Friday night took six hours instead of three to get there, but the Saturday skiing was incredible, almost waist deep powder. It was a whole day of giddiness.
The black line lift finally opened in February. I was on it and it shaves several minutes to get to the peak.
@@jefffawcettthat’s awesome got a good 2 days of skiing in 2022 when they got a good 2-3ft of powder
I am happy and thankful I learned to ski in Vermont. Once you learn how to ski there, you can ski everywhere.
Correct
But it's difficult to get good at skiing in crud and powder in Vermont, because there almost never is any of that.
@@humanbeing2420 go to jay peak
@sidski2021 👍i coached jrs. in upstate NY in the 80’s. Our best kids got almost completely smoked by the VT kids every time
Boston skier from the 1970's, it's cool to see this list, in my day the only way you'd know about them is word of mouth, I've skied most of these mtns, Vermont is a beautiful vacation or wknd getaway. Thank you.
I’m sad you guys didn’t include Burke, It actually has a hotel, A nice beginner pod (which might be better with 1 or 2 more trails) 2 High speed quads, and a lot of good glade terrain! It’s a mountain I would certainly like to visit.
And burke is way better than Stowe
I skied at Bolton for years, so I won't badmouth it, but to include Bolton and not Burke is a little silly. Burke is much further from pretty much everywhere, but it's still a nice ski mountain - and almost twice as big as Bolton.
i’ve skied at Burke for years, and i am actually confused as to why you didn’t include it! as someone who loves glade terrain, there’s some amazing glades (caveman
Very strange. I guess it was just too far away from to bother with?
@@timkirchoff3869 it's no further than Jay...
I would take Okemo over most if not all the areas in your video. From southern Connecticut it is far closer than a dozen areas you mentioned. You can get there on I91 and VT 103 both of which move right along. It has 5 high speed lifts, great snowmaking, easy parking, 4 very nice eating facilities and a real town at the bottom. Restaurants, banks, gas stations, ski shops, food stores and lots of lodging. It also uses the Epic pass which is more affordable than the Ikon pass.
Just one person's opinion.
Gonna be going there soon from southern Connecticut!
Okemo is lovely for families, and the actual town that sits at the bottom of the mountain (Ludlow) is very cute and has many resources (like an actual supermarket) that its main competitor, killington, does not have
I greatly enjoyed this video. skied them all but two; agreed with your comments, prices for lift tickets are astounding.. I was actively skiing when it was a staggering $50 for a day ticket
Lived in Vermont years ago. In Waterbury. I recognized/remember the slopes of Sugarbush, Mad River, Jay, Bolton, and Stowe. I wonder if Jay still has their VT resident (drivers license) specials on Fridays? It was a 75% discount on a day ticket😊. So it was worth the drive of a little over an hour. I was spoiled. It took about 25 minutes to get to Sugarbush, only about 15 to get to Bolton.
That Vermonter rate is sadly long gone. I sure do miss those days!
@@adrianunser332 not surprised. Mount snow used to have one for VT and NH residents for at least one day each week but as soon as they got bought out by Vail they took those deals out. Gotta scrap as much money out of us as possible lol
I always loved Burke Mountain the best. I went there a lot from 99-02. The place was always empty but it had a ton of awesome trails, glades, and a decent park.
Shhhh ….
The Stratton & Sugarbush pass affiliation is wrong in the video, both are unlimited with the Ikon pass!
Would love to see a Burke video some time. One of the best resorts in the east coast and criminally underrated.
Shhhh... Keep Burke local
I loved Burke when I was skiing. Cheap, no BS. Pure eastern skiing. No fake snow advertising (looking at you Jay Peak).
Real Vermonters remember the chairlift jump over the rock at SMUGGS
Nice rankings, nice priorities for the rankings, nice narrator voice. Glad Killington is #1-everyone should go there!
finally a killington comment ❤
I just moved to Bolton and cannot wait for this season! Tomorrow is opening day ❄
Fair evaluations. Even the “worst” have enough attractive qualities for a great weekend.
Great job but surprised you didn't even mention the North Face at Mount Snow. Some leg burning Terrain there aside from the main mountain and a important part of Mount Snow. That's a big reason I would go there vs places like Okemo, Stratton and other less challenging resorts in southern VT
7:52 Mt. Snow is on the list.
I was surprised Saskadena Six wasn't on here. They've done a turn around recently like Magic. I'm glad Magic was in here as it's one of my destination vacations.
Also I grew up skiing all over VT, and you're wrong about Snow being more challenging that Stratton and Okemo. Sorry just factually false. It may have some terrain parks, so go there for that. But Stratton is fast! Okemo's alright.
I remember Mad River Glen, and the only working lift at the time was this smoke belching diesel powered chair lift. The only lodging we could find was this room above a bar, we had to squeeze through the crowded bar with our snowy skis to get to the room! The terrain on the mountain was challenging as advertised though, and it was a memorable weekend.
with all due respect ranking Bromley, Snow and Okemo OVER MRG and Bolton simply because they're in southern Vermont and have good numbers on paper is INSANE! I prefer mountains with character
Show love to Bromley. You can't beat the sun mountain. That said I'll obviously take MRG over all the mountains you listed.
Snow has arguably one of the best terrain parks in the country so
Bromley is the Last place I'd ski at in Southern Vt. I call it the Blue Square mtn. In southern Vt, the ranking goes: Stratton, Magic, Okemo, Snow, Saskadena Six, backcountry hiking at Mt. Ascutney, backcountry at the closed resort Maple Valley, Whaleback.... then I guess Bromley
MRG when there s snow…unmatched
Failed to mention that mount snow has the biggest and best terrain park in the north east and has some serious terrain on north face
yessir
I skied Mount Snow many times in the 1970s. It could be crowded at certain times and certain slopes could be crowded but the terrain was unbelievable. So many choices. And if you're an advanced or expert skier, the North Face is for you. Also, the North Face has very few people skiing over there because most aren't good enough to handle it.
Stratton is also very nice destination and, Imo, Killington is overrated. It is big but that's about it.
@@thomasluby1754 Are you from Brattleboro by chance?
@@jonathanp1884 No. I grew up in the NYC metro area and currently live in NH.
@@thomasluby1754 I did many runs at Stratton and Mt. Snow in the late 70s. Grew up in Brattleboro. I feel the same way about Killington. NH is a great state as well.
As a vermonter, I agree with this list! Granted that its geared twoard folks looking for a vacation destination.
I love bolton as a Burlington resident, the low traffic and slower lifts means you can still find untouched powder 2+ days after a storm. And thier summertime mountainbike trails in the woods get covered with snow and make for some EPIC tree runs with jumps!!! But - the access road can be a beast and possibly one of the gnarliest access roads for VT resorts.
This list dosnt expand much on parks for folks looking for that - killington is the best imo, but sugarbush has a massive park set up on that ‘second’ mountain location which are only a 8 min drive apart if you dont take that long connecting lift. Just take off one ski boot for the drive ;)
Stowe has amazing terrain and lifts and midweek is really good - its just so expensive… really kills the vibe there…
Awesome list, maybe look for some locals to interview when making these lists for those good secrets if theyll share them!
And also - the ultimate trip advice. Consider staying in burlington Vt and rent a car or drive up here, TONS to do in this awesome city. And jay peak, sugarbush, stowe all about an hour away. Killington 1.5 hrs.
Jay Peak has incredible snow and terrain. I just visited for my first time last weekend and it was the best powder I’ve ever snowboarded at a resort. But yes it was very cold on the lifts and windy and some trails did have some bad ice in some exposed spots. Still, if you prepare yourself accordingly it may be rugged, it’s absolutely the best ski resort I’ve ever snowboarded and I’ve done Killington. But I do like rugged and I like backcountry type feel over comfort and groomed.
Thank you!! Pray for snow this season 🙏💯🌲⛷🤙
Great video! I think the judgment changes based on if you come with a family or expert skier friends, and also whether you come for just a day or two, or entire week.
Would probably disagree on one comment about Mount Snow's trails being "too similar" across the mountain. I think that would definitelly be hallmark of Stratton (and for that reason I would move it down the list), and to an extent Okemo. At Snow, depending on conditions, SNOWDANCE fun for wide carving turns, ROLLERCOASTER full of berms and jumps while still on the main face, the area from Ego Alley all the way to the Ridge has different feel and you can come in and out of the woods, because of sun Sunbrook has different snow conditions, and is fun for a visit during the day, and Carinthias trails, even if you dont come for the features can keep you engaged, and then there is the north face with its blacks and glades.
Totally agree--IMO the only downside to Mt. Snow is how busy it typically is. Even with that, I would probably put it above Okemo and Stratton (though I guess I can see that Stratton would be better for beginners and intermediates)
I would love to see the same format for New Hampshire.
That would be a little easier; Loon, Cannon, Waterville, Bretton, Wildcat, Attitash, Gunstock, Sunapee, Cranmore…and Tucks just because
@@jackof1 I mean tucks is technically expert backcountry and this is a resort guide, but yes just because. 😉
no! le them all go to Vermont. i don't think there are any ski areas in NH, anyway.
@@jayjackson5705 no no I've heard the best skiing is in maine and massachusetts, there is barely any skiing in VT.....
@@jackof1 what's your mountain aesthetic ranking for those?
This is very helpful, when is the Smugglers Notch video coming out?
I lived in the northern suburbs of Boston for like 20 years, we only start driving up towards the ski area at the tail end of a major snowstorm
Would love to see a list like this or reviews for NH ski mountains
This was a great list. I’ve seen a lot of videos like this from other people but none like this. Also you might wanna consider best ski resort base villages. Might be cool.
Great list! As someone who does a lot of skiing out west, I always tell people that if it’s a good snow season for vermont, killington is as good as most. Love killington (with good snow)!
I had a ton of fun at Jay Peak on my visit! Super helpful lesser-known fact- the Airbnb’s in the towns close by are CRAZY cheap, and they’re all SUUUPER nice. I can’t recommend them enough!
Hope you guys do a Maine review soon, it’s my fav east coast state to ski!
Mine is still New Hampshire. Vermont may have the best resorts, but the White Mountains are just unmatched I think in terms of size, beauty, majesty, shape, everything.
Cochran's Hill also offers night skiing.
Im pretty sad that you did not include Burke because it is bigger than bromly and majic mountain and Burke mountain academy the second best ski team in the world if you did not include Burke on this list will you make a independent video reviewing it?
Love the videos! I would love to see one of these videos for New York State!
Love the videos keep up the good work!!
There are mistakes in the video at 14:36 and 16:00. Stratton and Sugarbush have unlimited number of days on full Ikon Pass.
Unlimited even on the Ikon Base Pass....
Mad river glen is insane when you get fresh powder. Was there a day after 2ft of powder and it was the best day of skiing I have ever had and will probally ever have
I'd have to say my favorite VT mountain is Jay for affordability, depth of snow, terrain (woods and steeps), and overall vibe. Drawbacks are cold and wind. Magic is only an hour from where I live and has my favorite steep woods skiing after Jay. Yes, you have to wait for a good snowfall, but when they get it, and they do get sneaker storms that are off the radar, I've had some of my best powder days there. Not as cheap as it used to be (was dirt cheap not too many years ago). I've skied at Killington a fair amount over the years. I got less and less enthused about the vibe there in recent years. It doesn't consistently get the snow some of the northern areas get, it's gotten prohibitively expensive, and it tends to be pretty icy, windy, and cold. It does have some good powder skiing in the woods, but it generally gets tracked out pretty fast. I'll give honorable mention to Bolton Valley for snow totals in a good year and variety and challenge of woods terrain. The drawback is the steep sections are close to the top and fairly short with long run-outs back to the lift.
Good video! I have a home at Stratton and I recognize its drawbacks but 3 things i would add: it’s unlimited on Ikon, the tree skiing (when open) is underrated and it’s where you can find much more of a challenge, and having a true “walking village” at the base is a nice thing to have, even if it feels a little Disney-ish. Like any ski resort, it’s great on weekdays!
As someone who skis Killington a lot- IT DESERVES THE WIN ❤ Can we have some appreciation? 🎉
Have you ever been to Jay peak at all?I been there many times.
Great video, helped me plan my vacation!
After 45 years , I would personally still rate Stowe Vt. the top Ski Capital of the East,… beautiful trails with natural snow and a host of many close accommodations in Stowe itself making for a super vacationing week .
Am i going crazy or is that ski clip at 7:42 from pats peak New Hampshire. I swear i have skied that exact run.
I love the flat dome summit of Stratton! It feels like you can just skate around while you make up your mind where to descend.
Just a note at least for Mount Snow, the Epic Local does have blackout dates. There is a 4th Full Epic pass for no blackout dates.
This is one of the most accurate reviews of Vermont ski resorts I've seen. My wife and I have been skiing Vermont for over 20 years and have visited many of the resorts you reviewed here - well done ! Though, we would have put Jay as #1 because of the terrain but yes, it can be friggen cold !
No Stowe is probably the worst in Vermont ever since Vail bought it jay is the best Killington is way to crowded to be number one
I have frozen my tail off at all these mtns... luck of the draw.
you just gotta know when to go...@@rangerbuckley9174
I agree, I've only done Jay(3-4x's), Mt snow (1) and Stowe(1), and Jay is hands down my favorite. It was the closest comparison to Colorado skiing I've done on the east coast in terms of terrain, snow fall and aesthetics.
Good accurate report; however, Stratton and Sugarbush are now unlimited with the full IKON pass. And being a skier-only mountain, even with the slow single chair at MRG, it's worth the throwback feel because it drops a single skier up top every 30 seconds which means you are guaranteed to not have a high speed double quad dropping dozens of dopes and boarders up top at the same time to create massive CFs like you encounter every day at Killington. Plus, MRG is a co-op, skier-owned resort and so lift tix remain very affordable, and they don't gouge you for a beer, wings, or swag in the basebox. On pow days, the MRG single chair is the lift to Heaven. And the General Stark Pub rules!
Take a guess, what state has the most ski resorts in the country? You'd think Colorado, Utah, or Vermont but no, it's New York baby!
We've got 52 ski resorts compared to Vermont's 26, so time to get rankin' PeakRankings!
Lots of “upstate” in NY that’s why. The ones in the southern half though will start to get squeezed by climate change sooner than VT.
I was born in upstate west and moved to VT at 12 years old. Skied many of these resorts in VT as well as many in the Sierras, Taos NM, Winter Park Colorado, Big Bear CA, Stevens Pass Washington. The most powder I have skied in was in upstate NY at Bluemont.
Ski bus days growing up in Vermont >>
Great video! Would love to see a similar rundown for New Hampshire.
Giving the smaller, non corporate owned mountains the lowest ratings is a sin.
I visited many resorts all over the United States and Killington is my favorite place to ski! ⛷️
Same but winter park is pretty fun too
You have to do this but for New Hampshire too...id love to hear your opinion on their resorts
We gotta hit a few more NH mountains before we make that list, but that’s definitely in the pipeline!
I've been at the top of Jay in a wind chill of -70 degrees. It's no joke...
Nice video. Will you be doing one on New Hampshire mountains?
Yeah, we’ll be finishing out our reviews for that region this winter and should have a full ranking for fall ‘24!
Contrary to popular belief, MRG is accessible to beginners. I started last season. It’s also one of the only places I could find that offered Telemark lessons. Peace
Feeeheel Fridays at MRG are where I learned to make respectable tele turns. My wife isn't an expert skier and we can ski plenty of MRG terrain together. What's really nice though is that the trail layout allows me to take a steeper section and meet her at different junctions all the way down. With a single base area, it's harder to lose people you're skiing with. The single chair also throttles traffic so that when you're coming down you feel like you have the mountain to yourself. Finally, you can get lunch in the lodge at very reasonable prices and there's Lawson's on tap. MRG would be my #1 and overly commercialized hills like Stowe would be much farther down my personal list.
like Jimmy Buffett, MRG doesn't need any awards the fans know why
Yeah IF…The chair at Birdland is open
i lived in vermont for 20 years of my life growing up. iv skied all the mtns , the most memorable and fun experiences some of the best in my whole life summer and winter were at bolton valley. its a place that time has no meaning. a place not in it for the money. a place dedicated to the outdoors and brings snow sports back to the roots of fun and outdoors.
Awww, but Burke is a pretty solid spot. Love Sugarbush, Jay and Killington, they've always been my top 3 favorites on the ice coast. Jay DEFINITELY gets cold. One of my times there it was in the single digits before windchill and my goggles became useless from ice buildup on the inside and out. Had to use my one had to try to block out the wind so my eyes wouldn't literally freeze. LOL That aside its freakin awesome with some pretty epic glades. Can't wait to head up there next month.
20:46 you flipped Okemo and Mount snow in the overall ranking screenshot
I'm planning on going in April and I want fresh snow and easy to medium terrain any suggestions?
Totally unbelievable lift ticket prices! I remember paying $23 at Mount Snow in 1978, and thinking it was high. These places seem to be disinterested in day skiers. I remember when Mt. Snow was the go-to for the closest big-mountain skiing to southern New England. Bubble chairs, clickety-clack converted conveyer belt lifts, Frozen Fountain, outdoor swimming pool, all the funky features, mostly no more.
Magic Mtn had throwback Thursdays for $25 or $29 as recently as 4 years ago. That was a deal.
You guys have got to go to Burke, such a fun resort
Yeah. been skiing there every weekend in the winter every year since I was 5
I thought Burke was in Canada?
@@timkirchoff3869 No. it’s in east Burke vt
Nice conference hotel at Burke…nice place
I have skied every mountain on this list, all of them many times. That said I am a season pass holder at Killington and for a reason. It has great terrain and they have a very big commitment to your skiing experience. That means they run their snow making guns whenever possible and relentlessly. I love Sugerbush, Mad River, Stowe and Jay and if it’s a good snow year they are all great. If not you are much better off at Killington. During peak season and holidays Saturdays can be a bit much. The Canyon area which has some of the best terrain never has a lift line. The tree skiing is also very good. If you study the map a bit you will find it’s laid out very well and they have built tunnels to reduce issues. They have replaced almost all their slow lifts. The ones that are left are in areas that never have a line. For younger people or those of us who like to go out at night Killington has a great nightlife and lots of restaurants. Places like Jay or The Bush not so much. A few year ago 2019 my wife wanted to go to Stowe for a few days with family, the conditions were terrible and even though the temps were cold enough they never ran their guns. This was on a holiday week. Killington on the other had had their guns doing their job. It left a very bad taste, really expensive and rock hard with no commitment to making things better. If it sucks at Killington, say after a rain, freeze cycle it sucks every place else in Vermont. There is a reason the woman’s World Cup races here every November,
They know and trust Killington to make snow. Killington has been open for well over a week already.
Yep! Killington is also un-real at recovery after some bad weather (warm temps, rain…., no snow…), I’ve seen them change 80% of the mountain conditions from a horrible rainy day, to almost a powder say the next day (without receiving any snow!). My only complaint with Killington is they don’t spin enough lifts during the week.
Yup I always own a Killy pass and because they make snow, size, length of season. It’s bang for the bucks. Plus, how far do you want to drive.
Shorter runs not counting connecting trails
Love the video! However, bolton valley got snubbed. Seriously, it's an incredible resort! I'd ski it over many of the others!
It's a good thing, helps keep the secret going... 😉
Even though I’ve never been to Vermont, I still love the vids you put out. Do “California resorts ranked” next !
Lol OK on your Killington number one pic give me a break. Where else in Vermont can you find Lyft service that goes pretty much to the highest peak and have side country and off accessible. What did Killington pay you for this one.
A 1 day ticket at Whiteface Mountain N.Y. cost me $ 9.50 or so when I skied there in 1978.... I skied Bolton Mtn. 1970-1975, I remember when Killington opened the new 'Bear Mtn.' area (awesome) around....1980 (or so?)
growing up in ASPEN in the 70s i could ski and eat lunch for 10 dollars a day 3 dollar lift tickets for ASPEN school kids
I skied Killington and Jay back in the '60's. Killington had a double chair where the K1 is now. That was a cold ride. Jay's tram hadn't been built yet. They had a chair going up the west side of the peak, pretty much straight up and I never saw it run. It was always coated in ice and snow. There was a T-bar where the Jet Triple is now. As I recall, kid's 5 day ticket with lessons was $25.
I'm alright with you putting Bolton Valley near the bottom. Means us locals get to continue enjoying it without a big dent to lift lines from your influence B)
Park skiings not mentioned at all?
We found Mt. Snow intermediate runs less difficult and on weekdays non-holiday less crowded than those at Okemo.
S6 was competitive 20 years ago. Haven’t been there in a while. I live/ski in Colorado, but still miss glade skiing in leeward snow pockets in VT and especially spring skiing loose granular/corn bumps on bear peak at Killington.
Where i ls s6 on this?
@@AndrewLevy-m2r it was mentioned in the not covered areas at the beginning of the video, under its new name Saskadena Six. old folks knew it as Suicide Six, or S6.
How is Ikon a good deal if you're still paying close to $200/day even with the 7-day pass??
Do NY next
buddy NY skiing is by far some of the worse skiing in New England. you guys have two ski areas ICE-face and gore.
Great video, I am from NJ and was planning on hitting Vermont this year.
You wont be the first. We did every one of the above...from No NJ before we graduated HS.
If you know your way around Killington and prefer expert trails, you can easily avoid the crowds and lift lines by never going to a base lift. We also used to hang out at the peak after lifts closed and race the 4 miles down Great Eastern to the car at the end of the day.
You forget to mention the biggest thing my snow has going for it, one of, if not the best park on the entire east coast
Where is Burke???!!!!!! Best mountain in VT!! You guys should really go there.
As someone who has only snowboarded on the east coast Pico and Killington are the 3rd and best resort that I've gotten to spend some time on. Can definitely relate to Pico having tons of open space with short lift lines as well as getting completely lost at Killington
I have been to just about all of the mountains available in Vermont.
Your take on Magik mountain is pretty spot on. If not for it being inexpensive, no one would go there.
I loved Bromley. Especially with a 7 and 9 year old. Easy to navigate, and easy to keep on eye them. Would an expert skier go here? no, but if you want decent skiing that is affordable and have young kids, you can't go wrong here.
Mad River Glen is absolutely terrible.
Mount Snow was fun but extremely crowded and very expensive ... you'll find the closer you get to NYC/BOSTON the more crowded it will get.
I can't give an honest review of Okemo as the day we got there on a bus trip they had a huge ice storm.
Stratton, is way over priced and is extremely crowded, but it is a good mountain with lots of excellent runs.
I enjoyed Sugar Bush, but man did I wipe out hard on one of their black diamond runs.
Stowe is incredible ... definitely tops on my list. I have been to Killington and Stowe enough to know I just seem to enjoy Stowe more. Killington is too commercial and the crowds on the weekends are insane.
Cant argue with the list. I spent 2 seasons as a ski instructor at Sugarbush back in the early 00's. So I have a soft spot for them. I might put Sugarbush ahead of Jay Peak but your reasoning makes sense. Enjoyed the video.
If you can't argue with this list you haven't spent enough time skiing in VT.
@@acszym You might be right. It's been 20 years since I've been there. I lived there from 2001-2003. So my opinions might be out of date.
Sugarbush is fine, and the terrain is good (maybe not on par with Jay, but still good), but the snow quality is always worse than Jay. jay's in it's own little weather pattern, whereas Sugarbush relies on Nor'Easters for the bulk of it's snowfall.
Sugarbush has better sustained vert and terrain to match, pretty great lift layout, really good trees and out of bounds. Jay has crappy lift layout, and whoever designed the trail system didn't take into account wind and snow preservation - they should've been publicly shamed. Building out the glade system was almost required to get to the snow that blew off the trails... Jay obviously gets more snow, and the backcountry out of bounds can be great (but crowded). IMHO, Jay was better before the crook overbuilt the place- lost its character. I kind of lean toward Sugarbush- probably the best all-around resort now that Stowe's completed the transition to become Aspen East. Overall, Smuggs/Mad River Valley/Stowe/Jay are at the top, to each their own. If you know VT skiing and skiing is the priority (not nightlife/shopping/crap like that), you don't bother going south of Sugarbush to ski.
@@johngilbert4670 the Bush could be the best w the right mgmt…they have sooo much terrain in and out of bounds
The reason smugglers notch has the "old school vibe" is because everything there Is legitimately old. it's not on purpose, nothing has been updated in forever. They make you think its old school for aesthetic, but its just so they can make more money by not updating anything (I know, I work there)
I’ve been skiing at smuggs since I was 2. Amazing variety and the lifts aren’t bad at all. Smuggs for life
We found Okemo weekday non-holiday lift lines were short.
Excellent video. Helps me decide.
11:38 Mont sutton has three triple black diamond runs, and Le massif has le charlevoix which is technically a junior world cup trail but is also a triple black diamond.
Great list, and awesome video as always. However, I will say that Burke should have been included on this lift. I’m a Canadian from Quebec, and I often drive down to Burke due to its close proximity to Montreal to get away from the massive lines at Quebec resorts around montreal as an alternative to jay peak. It’s got a great fall line, and two high speed lifts, so I think it should have been included