East Coast

The 10 Highest Ski/Snowboard Lesson Prices In North America for 2022-23

Learning how to ski or snowboard has never been cheap, but at the most prestigious destinations, this season’s lesson costs approach an entirely new tier of insanity.

Stowe Sunrise Six Upgrade: Not Just A High-Speed Helper Lift

Stowe’s first-ever six-pack brings about enhancements in beginner progression, crowd flow, and amenity access that have diminished many of the resort’s previous annoyances.

Mount Snow Sunbrook and Sundance Six-Packs: Critical Upgrades for an Increasingly Popular Resort

Mount Snow’s first major lift upgrades in over a decade have done quite a bit to enhance the lift and crowd flow experiences on the mountain.

Sunday River Jordan 8: A Big Red Boom on Maine’s Most Popular Mountain

This high-class lift brings a number of new benefits to Sunday River’s Jordan terrain zone. Some guests may lament that this upgrade took precedence over other improvements, although this will be addressed in part for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Windham Rebrands to “Windham Mountain Club”, Will Remain Open to The Public

The old Windham Mountain is no more…so says the Catskills resort. The move comes paired with upgraded restaurants and limits to ticket sales.

Vail Resorts Epic Lift Upgrades: A Comprehensive Effectiveness Breakdown

We analyze why Vail Resorts pulled the trigger on many of its recent lift investments—and why it may have passed over some much-needed opportunities.

Big Snow American Dream

North America’s only indoor ski resort can’t provide terrain that’s remotely close to a real mountain, but it offers unparalleled reliability, year-round skiing, and a great environment to learn.

Plattekill

The Catskill region’s northernmost ski hill offers surprisingly strong advanced terrain, but infrastructure and grooming operations are severely lacking.

Hunter

High-speed lifts, reasonably varied terrain, and proximity to New York City make this Catskill mountain an appealing choice on paper. However, poor crowd management really hurts the overall experience.

Wildcat

One of the tallest, most stunning ski resorts in New Hampshire is held back by a modest footprint size and significant wind exposure.

Belleayre

This Catskill mountain offers family-friendly terrain and reasonable crowds for the region, but a few factors make it a tough sell for those planning a weekend getaway.

Windham

This Catskill resort can’t beat out the true East Coast destinations in snow, acreage, or terrain diversity, but it lacks some of the major issues that plague nearby competitors. Peak ticket values are among the worst of any North American ski area.

Magic Mountain

This modestly-sized mountain doesn’t have the refinement to compete with the destinations, but it’s hard to beat for the challenge and value in southern Vermont.

Attitash

This New Hampshire resort offers pleasant terrain and fast lifts, but it doesn’t especially stand out when it comes to the overall experience.

Bolton Valley

This Vermont mountain is too small and undeveloped to compete with the state’s most popular destinations, but its combination of local, uncrowded slopes and strong natural snowfall may do the trick for some.

Bromley

While much smaller and less diverse than Vermont’s major destinations, this local-feeling hill will satisfy families thanks to easy navigation and low crowds.

Loon

This popular New Hampshire resort offers a competitive lift fleet and excellent snowmaking, but other mountains offer more unique terrain and better crowd management.

Gore

New York State’s largest ski resort stands out with excellent glade terrain, but it can’t match the snow quality or on-mountain infrastructure of the best East Coast mountains.

Mount Snow

This popular resort delivers a lot for southern Vermont but struggles to handle crowds in some areas.

Okemo

This family-friendly mountain boasts modern lifts and a wide variety of groomers, but expert terrain is lacking. Crowding has gotten worse in recent seasons.

Bretton Woods

This Mount Washington-adjacent ski area offers the most upscale ski resort experience in New Hampshire, but its lack of advanced and expert terrain is a serious drawback.

Cannon

While it lacks the most modern infrastructure and sees inconsistent conditions, this state-owned New Hampshire ski resort offers unique terrain and low crowds.

Smugglers' Notch

Ancient lifts and lackluster resiliency measures hold back a staple of the northern Vermont skiing scene.

Pico

This central Vermont mountain gets overshadowed by bigger competitors, but it offers decent terrain and an escape from the crowds.

Waterville Valley

Despite a modest footprint size, this New Hampshire resort offers a compelling set of strengths for those driving up from Boston.

Saddleback

This remote Maine mountain delivers a combination of natural beauty, empty slopes, and reasonably well-rounded terrain that’s tough to match elsewhere in the Northeast.

Stratton

This southern Vermont mountain delivers an ideal family experience thanks to excellent grooming and easy navigation, but you’ll be giving up some snow and terrain quality for the location.

Whiteface

Severe wind problems and unreliable trail openings detract from one of the most unique, challenging resorts on the East Coast.

Sugarloaf

Maine’s largest ski area is a competitive East Coast choice, but it’s a hard sell against more conveniently-located alternatives.

Sugarbush

This charming Vermont resort offers diverse, demanding terrain and a local feel. However, the best expert runs aren’t always o

Jay Peak

Vermont’s northernmost resort offers class-leading snow and expert terrain, but resiliency issues hurt it against more convenient competitors.

Stowe

Despite a few logistical flaws, this classic Vermont resort holds its own against the best on the East Coast.

Killington

Size, snow quality, and terrain diversity make this East Coast mountain incredibly appealing, but navigation could be easier.

Tremblant

This busy, frigid resort offers a well-rounded East Coast experience and spectacular base village.

Holiday Valley

Strong natural snowfall and varied terrain make this Western New York resort a strong local option, but a short vertical drop and complicated layout prevent it from competing with bigger East Coast destinations.

Peek'n Peak

This Western New York ski resort offers a good value for beginners, but the mountain lacks the challenge or aesthetic to compete with many other East Coast resorts.

Mad River Glen

With very limited snowmaking and a ban on snowboarders, this small Vermont mountain is about as raw as it gets for the Northeast.