8 Best Vermont Ski Resorts for Fresh Powder & Picturesque Peaks

04.10.2024 - 13:15 / cntraveler.com

The East Coast is home to numerous idyllic winter wonderlands, but none quite as idyllic as Vermont. The wide, open fields, the quaint towns, the abundant maple syrup—it’s no wonder there are so many great hotels, cabins, and Airbnbs to cozy up in and hibernate for the season. If you’re a skier or snowboarder, the Green Mountain State is especially hard to beat. Each winter, once the autumn leaves blow away and the first snow dusts the landscape, people travel from all across the Northeast (and the country) to soak up the area’s wintry charms and book a stay at one of their many ski resorts.

Even if you’re a non-skier who's merely accompanying the winter sports enthusiast in your life, you’ll find plenty to do at these Vermont ski resorts. The snow is abundant, the peaks are picturesque, and the warren of scenic byways and small towns make for unending adventures and explorations—but especially if you’re looking to shred some gnar and clock some vertical. Here, find our top picks for the best ski resorts in Vermont, including intel on passes, where to stay, what to eat, and where to après.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Winter at Woodstock Inn & Resort, a short drive from Saskadena Six

The resort formerly known as “Suicide Six” changed to a gentler name earlier this year, but it still has the same gnarly trails and historic ethos that folks around the nation love. Not only does this resort rake in more than 100 inches of average annual snowfall, it is also known for implementing the first “ski lift” in the East, a quasi-tow rope that opened in the mid-1930s. Though small and one of the lesser-known in Vermont, Saskadena Six’s claim to fame is that it hosts the longest-running ski race in North America: the Fisk Trophy Race, founded in 1937, which has been won by many celebrated skiers like Olympian Bode Miller. Locals love Saskadena Six for its wide variety of offerings in terrain and difficulty.

Stats: With a breakdown of 30 percent green circles, 40 percent blues, and 30 percent black diamonds, skiers of all abilities will enjoy this resort.

The pass situation: Come on a weekend and an adult will pay $89 at the window for a lift ticket, but on quieter weekdays you can sneak onto the slopes for just $59, a relative deal as far as ski resorts go these days.

Where to eat and drink nearby: Just a few miles from the slopes sits the Prince & The Pauper Restaurant, where you'll find seafood and fine dining takes on homestyle favorites like meatballs and chicken pot pie.

Where to stay: Located near the shops and cafes along Woodstock’s Main Street, the Woodstock Inn & Resort grants easy access to the Green Mountains and has a classic New England feel.