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Best Ski Resorts In Vermont
BY Christopher Steiner

Vermont has the best skiing in North America east of the Rockies. The best ski resorts in Vermont possess terrain with a touch of everything, from classic eastern tree-cut runs to rocky and steep descents. The snow, however, is what sets Vermont's best ski resorts apart from other spots in the east.

For a full understanding of the best snow in Vermont, see our exhaustive piece on the matter: The Best Snow in Vermont.

Below you will find the rankings for the best ski resorts in Vermont that take into account a number of factors: snow, terrain, continuous vertical descent, and crowds.

Multipass?
True Snow*
     Acres Vert Summit Lifts Score
1 Stowe

VT
305 in 485 acres 2,160 ft 4,395 ft 13 67.7
Stowe sits leeward of Vermont's Mt. Mansfield—in the shadow of the mountain relative to most passing storms—and it catches about 300 inches of snow a year, which is a monster average for ski resorts east of the Rockies. The resort has a gondola and it sees a lot of skiers—try to avoid it on peak days—but quiet powder days during the week can be blissful. Skiers can float down the mountain's 2,160 feet of vertical and soak in some of the best skiing Vermont has to offer.
Multipass?
True Snow*
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2 Jay Peak

VT
322 in 385 acres 2,153 ft 3,968 ft 8 67.6
Jay Peak gets a lot of snow, the most and best snow in the east. This fact alone pushes the ski resort, which sits near the border of Quebec, way up our Vermont ski resort rankings. Jay Peak receives more than six inches of snow on 17% of its winter days, with a quarter of months bringing more than 90 inches. These would be elite numbers in the western United States, but are utterly anomalous for the east. With these frequent storms, however, comes a great deal of wind, which can scour Jay's faces of snow. The good news is that the powder has to go somewhere, and it often ends up in the trees, which is why Jay's trees are perhaps the best habitat for snow east of the Rockies. Jay's frequent storms are also one of the reasons the resort has a Jackson Hole-style tram that goes from the bottom to the mountain all the way to to top, giving skiers some shelter and a stable ride when other mediums, such a chairlift or a gondola, couldn't run.
Multipass?
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3 Smugglers Notch

VT
322 in 1,000 acres 2,610 ft 3,640 ft 8 62.5
Tucked into a ridge that rises above the northern shoulder of Mt. Mansfield, the tallest peak in Vermont, Smugglers' Notch sits in an advantageous position to gather snow from passing weather systems. The ski resort averages more than 320 inches of snow a year, making it the the second snowiest resort in the east behind fellow Vermont mountain Jay Peak. Smuggs is a good bet for those looking to dodge the crowds at Stowe, which is just a jog south in the same valley. Smugglers' Notch comprises 1,000 acres of ski runs and glades, making it one of the larger ski resorts by area in the East. As with most eastern resorts, there are loads of picturesque tree-cut runs. There are also some steeper shots off of Madonna Mountain that are best skied when the cold is holding and the snow is chalky.
Multipass?
True Snow*
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4 Killington

VT
240 in 752 acres 3,076 ft 4,241 ft 22 61.4
Killington is a strong entrant in the Vermont ski world for a bevy of reasons. It does not receive the larger amounts of snow that mountains further north in Vermont, do, but there is a lot to like. Among those likable items: Extensive Terrain: Killington offers the most extensive terrain of any ski resort in the eastern United States, with 155 trails and 22 lifts, catering to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, from beginners to experts. Snowmaking Capabilities: Killington has one of the most extensive snowmaking systems in the world, covering 600 acres of terrain, ensuring that there is always quality snow for skiing and snowboarding, even during warmer periods–in the Eastern United States, high-level snowmaking is an imperative. Long Ski Season: Killington typically has one of the longest ski seasons on the East Coast, thanks to its high elevation and snowmaking capabilities, often running from October to May. Varied Terrain: Killington's varied terrain includes steeps, glades, moguls, and terrain parks, making it an ideal destination for skiers and snowboarders who want to experience a variety of terrain. Location: Killington is located in central Vermont, making it easily accessible from many major cities in the Northeast, and there are plenty of accommodation options in the area.
Multipass?
True Snow*
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5 Sugarbush

VT
267 in 508 acres 2,600 ft 4,083 ft 16 61.3
The Alterra Mountain Company purchased Sugarbush in November 2019, making it a permanent member of the Ikon Pass. This gives eastern skiers another stalwart on the Ikon Pass, and a great candidate for holiday skiing, for which Sugarbush's powerful snowmaking system typically gets good swaths of terrain open.
Multipass?
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6 Mad River Glen

VT
269 in 115 acres 2,037 ft 3,637 ft 4 55.8
Mad River Glen remains one of three ski resorts in the United States that does not allow snowboarders on its slopes. It also has zero snowmaking, which can make skiing during earlier days in the season sporadic. But by mid January the slopes here often offer some of the better underfoot conditions in the east, as there's no man-made icy crust nudging out at the edge of runs. The mountain is actually a collective, owned by a cooperative. Skiers can buy in, or they can show up and just ski the place for daily fee like anywhere else. Mad River Glen's trees, bumps and short boulder shots give it some of the better terrain in the east. Its vibe feels like Alta did 30 years ago. It's a place where skiing is just skiing, and it's marvelous.
Multipass?
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7 Pico Mountain

VT
250 in 265 acres 1,967 ft 3,967 ft 9 50.5
This is a good place for skiers to head who are seeking cold snow and smaller crowds. More than 80% of Pico's terrain faces north, which helps it preserve the snow it receives, and it gets far better than average compared to most mountains in the East. Pico sits at the southern edge of the ridge that runs through northern Vermont that receives the best snow east of Rockies in North America. It's a far quieter spot than Killington, which is just down the road and can get overloaded with crowds on weekends.
Multipass?
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8 Okemo

VT
167 in 632 acres 2,200 ft 3,344 ft 19 49.1
Okemo sits farther south in Vermont than many of the best mountains in the state, but it still manages to catch more than 160 inches of snow per winter, which is a respectable total in the east. The ski resorts has built up a reputation as a family pleaser and a place that gets open early and stays open late in the season. It can do this because of its expansive snow-making system, something that Vail, as the newer owner of the place, has continued to prioritize. The resort largely faces east, which isn't a bad deal in the deepest heart of winter when the sun's rays can help expel the deep cold of January Vermont nights. That east exposure becomes a problem in mid to late February when those sun rays can soften the snow up and set the mountain into a freeze-thaw cycle, but that's fairly standard in the east.
Multipass?
True Snow*
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9 Stratton

VT
189 in 600 acres 2,003 ft 3,875 ft 11 46.6
Stratton receives the most snow in southern Vermont, and it has a mix of terrain that includes swaths that are good for beginners, intermediates and experts. The varied terrain and the higher level snow make it one of the best choices in this part of the state, only rivaled by Mt. Snow. Half of the terrain at Stratton faces east, which puts the sun on it early and can put the snow into a freeze-thaw cycle earlier in season, usually by mid-February. That's fairly common for the east, however. The ski area covers more than 600 skiable acres, which lets the weekend crowds, which can be intense, spread out across a lot of runs. Stratton is easy to reach from Boston, and one of the closer spots in Vermont to drive to from New York City.
Multipass?
True Snow*
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10 Mount Snow

VT
167 in 590 acres 1,700 ft 3,600 ft 23 41.9
For skiers in southern Vermont, Mount Snow is one of the best options for big league skiing along with Stratton. It preserves snow fairly well for a resort in southern Vermont as 50% of its slopes face north. Its 164-inch annual snowfall average is solid for a ski area just three hours from Boston and just more than four from New York City. The proximity to New York and the fact that Mount Snow is owned by Vail make it a popular destination for New Yorkers who hold the Epic Pass. This can lead to some crowds on the weekend, but those are generally hard to avoid at most larger resorts in New England.
Multipass?
True Snow*
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11 Burke Mountain

VT
200 in 260 acres 2,011 ft 3,267 ft 4 40.9
Multipass?
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12 Bromley Mountain

VT
145 in 300 acres 1,334 ft 3,284 ft 8 38.0

Christopher Steiner is the founder of ZRankings and the author of two New York Times Bestselling Books.