Best Skiing in New England

Planning for a winter vacation? New England has some ski places that will make you look like you’ve been skiing all your life. However, if you are planning to travel to Vermont or New Hampshire then you are definitely going to experience the best. Let’s break it down.

Skiing in Vermont

When it comes to skiing in New England, Vermont is the first place that comes to many people’s minds. It is a skiing paradise with great ski resorts such as Killington, Stowe, and Bromley. All of them are different and have their own feel to them no matter if you are a beginner or a pro.

Resort Name	Total Slope Length (km)	Why You’ll Love It
Killington	117.5 km (73 miles)	Biggest in New England, diverse terrain
Stowe	113.5 km (70.5 miles)	Killer views, great trails, awesome amenities
Bromley	40.7 km (25.3 miles)	Super family-friendly, lots of sun (yep, true story)

Killington wins the crown as the largest ski resort in the Northeastern U.S. (On The Snow). It’s got plenty of trails and lifts, so you’ll never run out of things to do. Stowe is your place to visit for beautiful views and well-groomed hills. But do not underestimate Bromley because if you are traveling with the little ones, it’s the ideal place.

New Hampshire’s Best Bets

Alright, New Hampshire may not always steal the headlines, but it’s got some rad skiing spots too. Resorts here come loaded with modern amenities and a bunch of trails to keep everybody happy.

Resort Name	Total Slope Length (km)	Why You’ll Love It
Loon Mountain	73.9 km (46 miles)	Mixed terrain, great for families, summer fun too
Bretton Woods	64.7 km (40.2 miles)	Beautiful scenery, ideal for beginners
Attitash	58.8 km (36.5 miles)	Epic terrain parks, stunning views

Loon Mountain is very famous and is mostly prefer by family vacation goers. There are a lot of space to explore and things to do. Bretton Woods? If you are a beginner, it’s the spot to be to learn how to ski and still get some amazing photos to take home with you. Finally, it has the adrenaline sport lovers, the terrain parks and the stunning views of the mountains.

New England can thus be defined as the skiing and snowboarding hub of the East Coast since it hosts as many as 76 ski resorts in six states that include Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine (On The Snow). These two states of Vermont and New Hampshire should therefore not be missing from your winter plan if you are to have the best time ever.

Skiing for Every Skill Level

If you are planning to go skiing in New England then let us help you. You’re in luck. Whether it is the first-time skiers or snowboarders, intermediate or experts, New England has got you covered.

Beginner-Friendly Ski Spots

Just starting out? No worries. New England is here for you with some great beginner ski resorts. Also other less challenging resorts such as Crotched Mountain, Sunapee and Attitash are ideal for the beginner. They ensure that you are well protected and assist you to get your skiing skills right without falling on the snow too many times (97. 5 WOKQ). Cranmore and Bretton Woods are not to be forgotten; these also have wide open trails and the rudimentary lessons for the newbies which will not make you feel clumsy.

Ski Resort	Location	Why It Rocks for Beginners
Crotched Mountain	New Hampshire	Lots of gentle slopes and friendly vibes
Sunapee	New Hampshire	Top-notch programs for rookies
Attitash	New Hampshire	Soft and forgiving slopes
Cranmore	New Hampshire	Broad trails and great beginner lessons
Bretton Woods	New Hampshire	A+ in teaching, fantastic staff

Taking It Up a Notch: Intermediate Slopes

Once you’re past the pizza and French fries stage (you know what I mean), there’s a whole world of intermediate slopes waiting. Resorts like Crotched, Sunapee, and Attitash offer perfect blends of easy and more challenging runs. This way, you can step up your game without biting off more than you can chew (97.5 WOKQ).

Ski Resort	Location	Intermediate Goodies
Crotched Mountain	New Hampshire	Smooth transitions from beginner to intermediate
Sunapee	New Hampshire	Fantastic for mastering new skills
Attitash	New Hampshire	Variety that keeps you on your toes

Thrills for the Pros: Expert Slopes

Got the skills? New England has it going on. If you are an adrenaline junkie then you will find what you are looking for at K pulverizer Mountain, Sugarbush, and Stowe in Vermont due to its steep and rocky terrains. These trails are no child’s play – these are best for adventurous souls who love to take risks and get an adrenaline boost.

Ski Resort	Location	What Makes It Tough and Awesome
K pulverizer Mountain	Vermont	Steep, gnarly lines
Sugarbush	Vermont	Plenty of trails for pros
Stowe	Vermont	Runs that test your mettle and stamina

Beyond New England

New England’s got it all, but if you’re thirsty for more, check out some other killer spots. Whether you’re curious about the best skiing in Europe, looking to hit the powder in Japan, or want a Canadian adventure, the slopes are calling.

Best Ski Resorts in New England

When I think about the best skiing in New England, two main things pop: The quality of the snow and the types of trails that are available have been good. These two factors are in a way contribute to forming my skiing experience

Snow Quality and Grooming

This is because New England ski resorts are willing to spend money on snow making machinery so that we are able to enjoy great skiing even when it has not snowed. In most areas of the country the snowfall averages between 60 to 100 feet per year (On The Snow).

Take Killington, for example. This resort can produce 10 million gallons of water per day and uses more than 250 snow guns that makes 12 inches of fresh snow on sixty acres every day. With 600 acres of skiable terrain and 1,700 snow guns, it is not surprising that it is favorite among the tourists (Ski Journal).

Bretton Woods in New Hampshire is one of the resorts that are known for its great snow and well maintained slopes. It was a great paper and it got 8 out of 10 rating. With 61 places, it is the best skiing destination in the East, says the SKI Magazine.

Ski Resort	Snowmaking Capacity	Snow Quality Score
Killington	10 million gallons/day	N/A
Bretton Woods	N/A	8.61

Terrain Variety and Trail Ease

This also falls under the top things that New England ski resorts cannot afford to lack and this is the variety of terrains and the ease of navigation. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert, there is always something to do.

Consider Mad River Glen in Vermont for instance. This area is specifically famous for the challenging slopes that are suitable for the expert and the advanced skiers only. Scoring 8. It has been ranked as #30 in Top 20 Ski Resorts in the East for 2023, and it’s one of the only ski resorts that does not allow snowboarders on its slopes (SKI Magazine).

On the other hand, Berkshire East located in Massachusetts is very easy to get to and is quite popular. The parking is readily available near the base lodge and therefore one does not have to struggle much to access the slopes. This advantage was praised by the reviewers for its parking making it receive the highest marks for parking from (Ski Journal).

Ski Resort	Terrain Variety	Accessibility Features
Mad River Glen	Advanced and Expert	N/A
Berkshire East	Varied	Handy parking nearby

Knowing how great the snow is and having a mix of trails really shows why New England is a top spot for skiing. These traits make sure I can find runs that match my style while having a great time on the slopes. And when I want a change of scenery, I also check out skiing around the globe, including Europe, Japan, Canada, and Utah.

Ski Resort Rankings That’ll Make You Want to Hit the Slopes

Top Ski Resorts in Vermont

Vermont’s got some gnarly ski spots. Here’s my go-to list:

Resort Name	Score	Notable Features
Killington	N/A	155 trails, self-branded “Beast of the East,” massive terrain over 3,000 acres (Ski Journal)
Smugglers’ Notch	7.92	Famous ski school, tough runs, and primo snow quality (SKI Magazine)

Best Ski Resorts in New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s got some killer ski spots too. Check these out:

Resort Name	Score	Notable Features
Bretton Woods	8.61	Tops the charts for snow quality and grooming (SKI Magazine)

Ski Greats in Massachusetts

Gotta shout out Massachusetts’ slopes, prime for a sick day trip:

Resort Name	Score	Notable Features
Wachusett Mountain	8.32	Fantastic snowmaking, and perfect for quick hits (SKI Magazine)

These spots showcase some of the best skiing in New England. If you’re all about shredding some serious powder, these resorts should be your next stop.

Ski Resort Facilities

In order to determine the best places for skiing in New England it’s not only important to look at the snow conditions but also the resort amenities. On a ski day things like parking and lifts are a big deal and can either ruin your day or make it great. Let us discuss about the parking area, facilities, Lifts, and accessibility.

Parking and Amenities

Actual parking can do a lot to enhance or diminish your day on the slopes, that is why it is very important. Imagine this: when you get to the resort you are eager to hit the slopes but you spend most of your time driving around looking for a space. Not fun. It is not always a smooth sail though, some resorts make it easier. Consider Berkshire East in Massachusetts which has done a great job to provide large and well-organized parking area close to the lodge. (Ski Journal).

A quick look at parking setups at various resorts:

Ski Resort	Parking Situation	Notes
Berkshire East	Plenty and well-organized	Close to the lodge
Okemo Mountain Resort	Often full	Can lead to long lift lines
Sugarbush Mountain Resort	Decent but crowded	Better during non-peak times
Mad River Glen	Limited but manageable	Suits die-hard skiers

Lift Systems and Accessibility

Lift systems are probably the most important part of any ski resort as they provide the necessary movement for skiers. The more you are on your feet, the more you ski. Killington stands out with its extravagant lift setup: It has 21 lifts in total which include 3 gondolas and 10 quad lifts which give you an access to more than 1500 acres. This is the best remedy to overcoming all kinds of terrains (Ski Journal).

Here’s how some resorts stack up with their lifts:

Ski Resort	Number of Lifts	Lift Types
Killington	21	3 Gondolas, 10 Quads, 2 Triples
Okemo Mountain Resort	Various	Family-friendly options
Sugarbush Mountain Resort	Various	Challenging terrain, well-connected
Mad River Glen	Limited	Catered to seasoned skiers

In my opinion, accessibility is a big plus. After a day of shredding the most frustrating thing I can think of is having to head back to the base. Resorts that allow one to get to the lifts without having to do a trg marathon? Yeah, those are keepers. There are some things that can make a great difference that will transform a good ski day into a really great one.

Need more ski trip prep tips? Check out these guides on best skiing in Europe, best skiing in Japan, and best skiing in Canada.

Epic Skiing Adventures in New England

When I visited the snowy terrains of New England I discovered that there is more to skiing than perfect snow. This area presents breathtaking panoramas and the facilities found in this area are friendly to tourists with children. Now let us take you through two main reasons why New England should be your next ski trip destination.

Killer Views and Varied Terrain

The views are stunning and there are very many types of land forms here to make it complete. For instance, there is Killington which is referred to as the “Beast of the East” and for good cause. Standing with 155 trails over 3,000 acres it caters for all levels of skiers from beginners with gentle slopes to experts with black and double black diamond slopes. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or an expert, there is always something you will like.

Another corner of this winter fairy tale is Jay Peak – the off piste paradise with well maintained runs. Intermediate shredders can navigate between the trees, while the pros charge the steep lines. This is as close to backcountry skiing as it can be if you do not want to go deep into the backcountry.

Resort Name	Trails	Terrain	Cool Features
Killington	155	Beginner to Double Black	“Beast of the East”
Jay Peak	Varied	Off-piste & Glades	Backcountry vibes

Resorts That Suit the Whole Family

New England is not just the place for the die-hard skier it is also for the entire family. For instance, Stratton Mountain Resort based in the East ranked 18th in the list. It perfect concerning grooming, service and there are a lot of activities for children and adults. It is the place that is designed for fun, joy, recreation and formation of memorable experiences for families.

Now, let’s discuss about Sugarbush Mountain Resort. Coming in 16th this resort offers some of the most difficult trails along with some of the easiest slopes for beginners. Set in the beautiful Mad River Valley, it is equally suitable for the hard core skier and the family. It suits all types of people here, the professionals, intermediaries, the beginners, and the children enjoying their first time on the skis.