Vermont

2023 Ski Resort Upgrades Ranked: Which Were Hits and Which Flopped?

We rank the major 2022-23 North American ski resort upgrades in order of their overall effectiveness, and we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each initiative.

The Most Challenging Ski Resorts in North America

The toughest ski resorts in North America will turn your idea of what a physical trail can be upside down. In this piece, we call out the 10 most extreme mountains out there—and explain why they’re so difficult.

North America Is Having a Historically Bad Snow Year So Far. Here’s What This Means.

Every major US and Canada ski resort has had a slow start to the season. In this piece, we go through each region one by one and explain the current situation on the ground.

North America’s Ski Season Has Seen a Significant Rebound. Will It Last?

A series of very wintry weather events have given much needed jump starts to ski seasons across Canada and the US. However, a number of less-than-ideal factors have reared their ugly heads over the past few weeks.

Magic Mountain, Vermont Debuts Black Line Quad After Nearly Five Years of Construction

With the installation of its first-ever quad lift, Magic has finally tripled its base-to-summit uphill capacity.

Epic Passes Debut for 2024-25 With Minimal Changes and Higher Prices

Access will remain similar to last year, meaning Epic’s terms will likely continue to undercut its main competitor, the Ikon Pass, although prices have increased across all levels of passes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.