The East is home to a lot of great ski resorts with legendary terrain. Our favorite property on this list is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom town home that accommodates up to 7 people. There are a lot of groomed runs at Bretton Woods, making it a good place for beginner and intermediate skiers to improve their skills. Winners like Magic Mountain in Vermont and Mt. Theres something deliberately defiant about Magic, a mountain that prides itself on being a counterpoint to megaresorts. 2014-2023. Dating back to 1932, this veritable skiers museum is the oldest club-operated ski area in the country, founded by the Titcomb family. Experts go for the double black steeps of Rockys Run. Why these categories? If you do go mid-May, it would be spring conditions, but I personally love warm weather skiing! These are the categories our customers said were most important to them, and would be most helpful in their search for new ski and snowboard experiences. The same spine of mountains carved by the glaciers wind majestically through Maine offering some of the finest terrain and the least crowded skiing and snowboarding on the East Coast. The Snowmaking is vast and typically provides the 30 lifts with more than enough snow when mother nature isnt cooperating. The good news is that with more than a 130 ski areas in New England, there are plenty of places to carve up the hill without battling the masses, starting with New Hampshire's Black Mountain.. When we look at the sheer volume of ratings, all of the great large resorts that we know and love are in the list. See The Methodology #1 Snow Ridge, NY The 1,325 Flying Squirrel snow-tubing park has a special lift for even more fun. Its known for its tight runs, challenging terrain, and off-piste tree skiing an old-school skiers mountain, attracting a loyal community. Vail has nearly doubled their season pass holders. No worries about losing the kids or your friends; all runs end at the rustic base lodge at the bottom of the mountain, where youll find popular Perleys Pourhouse, with better-than-average ski resort food and a nice selection of local craft beers. But what really attracts those in the know is the lack of crowds. The resort has a good transportation system, but it can take a minute to get from place to place. There are some good places to eat at the base of the mountain. Saddleback offered classic ski trails with stunning views of the Rangeley Lakes region plus newly added glades that are exciting. - T.H. You can find great skiing and still take advantage of everything these great cities offer when skiing in this region. Or, slide over to the skiers left and check out the Rams Heads area. If its still available, youll be lucky enough to stay in a ski in-out with modern amenities and plenty of space (1100 square feet). You might also want to rent a camper or RV if youre interested in camping overnight in a parking lot. But at the same time, if youre skiing with a large group, theres great terrain for them, too.. The stunning views from the summit (that you have to hike for now) of Moosehead Lake and Mount Katahdin in the distance are arguably the best in the Northeast! The Snowfields are the only lift-serviced above-treeline terrain in the East and as you wrap up the day, your mind will undoubtedly wander back to memories of carving well-groomed snow as you ski down picture-perfect trails. The amount of cat, heli, and lift-accessed skiing operations available to you is just staggering. Jurassic World franchise TM & 2023 Universal City Studios LLC and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Theres also night skiing ($10 Tuesday nights! It boasts an astonishing average of over an acre of terrain per skier and is easily the least crowded of the nation's highest-tier marquee destination resorts. Maine is a top destination for ocean lovers, naturalists, and those looking for rare treasures created by local artisans. Youll get five-star service and a country club atmosphere at this small and charming ski resort, associated with the plush Woodstock Inn & Resort in pretty Woodstock, Vt. Americas first rope tow, introduced on nearby Gilberts Farm in 1934, evolved into the opening of Suicide Six in 1936, making it one of the oldest ski resorts in the country. Ski areas come in various shapes and sizes, but what all of these have in common is affordable skiing and fun for the entire family. Maine has the least crowded skiing on the East Coast, on the same ridgeline of glacially carved mountains, offering some of the finest terrain. Besides consistent skiing and riding, Sunday River has on-mountain lodging from condos to hotels, extensive lesson programs, great apres ski bars, and a casual resort attitude. Even when you have to park in the lower lot (lot 5), youre still within an easy walk of the slopes and the shuttles run frequently between the lots and the base lodge. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Bargain-price ski-and-stay packages are offered throughout the season. . With a shorter season, families don't have quite as many options when deciding the best time to ski but overall, there are better times than others. Vertical Drop: 2,358 feet Ready to take the leap on a memorable family vacation? Two chairs service 15 trails including the Beaver Snowboard Park. Black Mountain is a ski area the whole family can enjoy. Night skiing not only offers less crowded slopes, but also is an option for an outdoor, socially distant nocturnal activity. You can also find a list of VRBO options for Carrabassett Valley here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Let's go! Skiing with kids in New England? Family-owned for more than five generations, the friendly resort is one of the best places to learn to ski or snowboard. Average annual snowfall is 430 inches. After 5 years of slumbering, a giant has re-awoken in the deep woods of Maine last season. One of our favorites is this beauty right near the lodge. Killington also gets plenty of natural snow to allow for consistent skiing all season long. Beginners have a fantastic terrain with an allocated beginner area. Sunday River is not as tall as The Loaf, but its vast eight interconnected mountain peaks, high-speed lift network, and super powerful snowmaking make it the most reliable ski resort in the East. How to Fall Without Getting Hurt When Skiing. Black Mountain with an elevation of 2,350' has 45 trails, 5 lifts, and 1,100' vertical drop. Saddleback Mountain is old school meets new school. Snowmaking. The resorts that made the top 10 Overall Best in Snow when weighted by our algorithm (skier and snowboarder visits annually, acreage, average true cost of skiing, and uphill capacity) were the ones that have an outsized group of passionate customers. We are committed to providing an accessible user experience for all website visitors. Best Options for Ski Tickets: Purchase at Liftopia (from $39.00). Location: Carrabassett Valley, Maine This is Maines southernmost ski area, which dates back to 1939 when an old pickup truck ran the rope tow. | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Accessibility, As to Disney photos, logos, properties: Disney, WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights JKR. We like to pick the best time to ski so that there is plenty of powder and we're not having to fight for space on the slopes or afterward at the aprs spot. Sugarloaf is also known as a destination for other activities if your legs are tired of skiing. In the past, Anaheim Town Square and Old Towne Orange. Spacious Mtn Top Contemporary - Spectacular Views - in Waterville Estates 143 reviews House 14 Guests 5 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms Accommodates: 14 Minimum Nights: 2 Refund Policy : 100% refund if you cancel at least 30 days before check-in. If you live in the area, we cant say enough about the season pass or better yet, the much-loved Ikon pass. There are some very nice VRBO options you should check for availability. This is THE year to visit before everyone else figures it out. Magic Mountain was also one of the first resorts in the East to offer free uphill Alpine Touring rental equipment and lessons. In fact, parents and grandparents return each year to introduce their families to skiing and riding, where they once made their first turns. Titus is a great confidence builder! Youll find plenty of elbow room, too, as the resort limits its daily lift ticket sales, including holidays, to keep lift lines to a minimum, and slopes free of congestion. If it's a powder day, the slopes could definitely get crowded (and we know there's some snowfall coming over the next few days!) There are plenty of intermediate runs if you want to warm up beforehand. Hop aboard and hang on for the 70 or so vertical foot drop on an ice-packed trough, reaching speeds up to 25 to 30 miles an hour. The hip word in the industry is called overtourism. Ideally located within 5 minutes of downtown Lewiston/Auburn, the popular ski-by-the-hour ticket means there is no excuse not to do a little day or night skiing this season. After hitting it hard on the Heat Bowl, ski over to the other side of the park where youll find the Jordan Bowl. Unlike other resorts in New Hampshire and Maine, you wont feel like youve tapped out your trail options by the middle or end of the day. Saddleback For The New Englander Learn more about Saddleback Many think of New England skiing as the Green Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshires White Mountains. This mountain has a great old school vibe and a great mountain community. Dont forget to bring your camera, a water bottle that will withstand cold weather and your extra warm winter socks as there are few things more beautiful than the views from the Sugarloaf Snowfields when the tree-covered ridge is covered with snow and framed by blue sky. Its warmer, less crowded and youll find yourself navigating some of the better snow on the mountain. Later in the day, the Bear Mountain lifts are an ideal place to finish the day. We also like the Royalty Inn Hotel because they have a 48-hour cancellation that allows you to change your plans if the weather isnt cooperating. Location: Stowe, Vermont Ski Vacation. Check out Snowdon Mountain area and use Bunny Buster as a warm-up. But if youre looking for a more relaxed vibe, consider heading to their sister resort just down the road June Mountain! This particular strength of the resort is extremely helpful for those stretches of winter that drop ice all over New England and Sunday Rivers snow-making capability will only improve into the future as they continue to significantly improve their snow-making infrastructure. Magic offers more than 50 trails and glades, including a few secret glades not on the map (challenge accepted), along with six chairlifts; two to the top, a brand new mid-mountain geared toward intermediates and novices, a beginner carpet and two handle-tows. Theres one base lodge, 205 skiable acres, and six lifts serving 50 marked trails. Enjoy this coastal ski resort, Where the Mountain Meets the Sea.. Jackson, N.H., 603-383-4490, www.blackmt.com This historic ski resort in the White Mountains, dating back to 1935, draws a loyal following among in-the-know skiers and riders. This resort has been around for 85 years and claims to be the birthplace of Alpine skiing in Vermont. It takes three rope tows to get to the top. For those on the Epic Pass, Kicking Horse should be on your to do list now before the secret gets out. Hello, thx for all the great Disney Halloween info. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Spring break is a popular time to hit the slopes, as well, but because it varies by school district, it isn't always considered peak peak season. Although the size of the mountain keeps crowds to a minimum, Carr said, like almost all ski areas, peak times like Martin Luther King weekend and Presidents week can get busy. OK, really, who doesn't? Even though the drive here is scenic, youll be in the car for a least a few hours from the nearest city center or airport. Average Snowfall: 200 inches If the mountains get an early snowfall, then toadally go for it! The front four at Stowe. Looking for more trip ideas or inspiration for your next vacation? Enjoy cruising on wide-open Bobcat and Big Buck. Big Rock is a big ski mountain, drawing skiing families from nearby Presque Isle and Houlton. This cozy 650-acre resort gets over 360 inches of that world class pow at a fraction of the price. Ill provide you with some important information, such as how big the resort is, what type of amenities are available, and lodging and dining options. Stowe is made up of two mountains that give you access to a wide variety of terrain. The resort hopes to open by the first weekend in December. Best of all is that without any high-speed lifts to move people en masse, it keeps the pace chill and the mountain uncrowded. Its a must for Ikon-ic powder days. Need help deciding on the best places to ski? See The Methodology #1 Magic Mountain, VT Best kept secret in VT. The lodging options here are also solid, and you can easily find a place to get cozy at the traditional New England village-like atmosphere in the base and surrounding areas. All trails, which are mostly gentle blue and green groomed runs, funnel down to the base area. Besides the lift tickets, you have to pay for lodging, food, and maybe even rentals, so going on a family ski vacation can be daunting. Even though most of the action is on the Killington Resort slopes, dont forget to log some time at Pico Mountain, a detached, separate mountain. Mount Snow only averages 156 inches of snow a year, which is not that much. Three triple chairs take you to the top of the 850-foot summit, with views of Purity Lake and forests in the distance. For the former, the Stowe Recreation Path is a perfect outdoor option and almost demands one stop at the Alchemist Brewery to pick up some of the nations best craft beer. No other resorts can match Sunday River for its snow-making prowess, but Stowe isnt too far behind. Your email address will not be published. Big bowls, lots of snow, and tons of acreage. Overlooking Hermon Pond are great cruisers like Cloud Nine, Scenic, and Lakeview. The longest attraction line we waited in was 20 minutes." Our final thoughts on Jay Peak skiing? Because it isnt a big resort, the crowds are considerably smaller, she said, with little to no wait for the lifts. Choose a resort that has good snow late season such as Breckenridge, Palisades Tahoe or Mammoth Mountain. It is also a learning and practice facility with a terrain garden for snowboards and the latest rage in ski equipment ski boards. Suicide SixSouth Pomfret, Vt., 802-457-6661, www.woodstockinn.com/mountain/suicide-six-ski-area. Youll find good beer, pizza, salads, burgers and some other options. Copyright VisitMaine.Net 2022Images Courtesy Greg and Heather Burke unless otherwise noted. The above treeline skiing from the summit (the Sugarloaf Snowfields) is unique. Clocking in at over 2,655 acres! Installing the first rope tow back in 1935, Black Mountain soon added the first overhead cable lift in the country and in 1957, made history again, installing one of the first snowmaking systems in New England. There are some very nice VRBO options you should check for availability. If you visit on the weekend, youll want to arrive early to make sure you have a spot to park close to the base. Alta has the best snow of any spot that's tracked in North America, and its conditions during the early season are no exception. And at 1,300 feet, theres always plenty of snow falling, creating secret stashes of powder according to Russo, that dont disappear after the first couple runs of the day. Skiing safe is always important, but icy conditions and crowds make for somewhat sketchy ski conditions. About 20% of these are easy runs. If youre looking for the lowest-cost option that will work for singles or families, check out the Quality Inn and Suites in Gorham. 2 and 108, Black Mountain has something for everyone, including a summit triple chair accessing several scenic runs. No Big Sky? Maine is actually home to the two biggest ski resorts in New England for acreage and terrain, Sugarloaf is #1 with 1,056 acres and Sunday River is now #2 with 870-acres of ski terrain - and they are . The 15-acre T72 Park is the largest of the terrain parks and has the the longest half pipe in the East. The VisitMaine.Net team is the small team of authors and editors that research and write our in-depth guides throughout the site and update past articles to make sure they're still super valuable to you. Ski school is also offered on school vacation weeks. All rights reserved. Since then, its grown to 140 acres and is known for its southern-facing exposure, which means that wind holds are seldom, if ever, a problem, and skiers stay a whole lot warmer. This no-frills, community-owned ski resort in midcoast Maine invites you to Ski the Sea. If youre wondering why there appear to be so many little kids everywhere, its because Sunday River runs a large ski school and also hosts the the Gould Ski Academy. About the season pass or better yet, the much-loved Ikon pass created local... Equipment ski boards Anaheim town Square and Old Towne Orange somewhat sketchy ski conditions top the! And off-piste tree skiing an old-school skiers mountain, drawing skiing families from Presque... To warm up beforehand mount snow only averages 156 inches of snow a year, which mostly. The day option for an outdoor, socially distant nocturnal activity to no wait for the next time comment! This cozy 650-acre resort gets over 360 inches of snow a year, which not... 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