New England truly is beautiful in all seasons, but under a blanket of snow, it’s a magical winter wonderland. As Bostonians and avid skiers, my husband and I have made an effort to check out as many ski resorts as we can every winter. Here are all the best New England ski resorts and the only comprehensive guide you need to ski the Northeast!
Best New England Ski Resorts: The only Guide you’ll need!
Best Recommendations for New England skiing areas
I’ll cut to the chase, some of my favorite New England ski resorts that I’ve found over the many years living in New England include Mt. Snow, Okemo, Bretton Woods, and Loon. Why are these some of my favorites? There are numerous reasons why these are my favorites as they are all a bit different. One of the main reasons however is because of the views from the top of the mountains and the difficulty these New England ski resorts offer.
If you ask anyone in the Northeast what are the best ski resorts in New England, most will recommend Stowe or Killington. These New England ski resorts are two of the most popular. Killington owes its popularity to being the largest, and Stowe is always in the spotlight as it gets the most national recognition.
New England is also incredibly beautiful in the summer. If you’re looking to plan that summer trip early, here are all the best summer destinations you should be considering.
Does New England have good skiing?
New England absolutely has good skiing as is the capital for skiing on the East Coast. Even though its mountains can be more rough and ragged than those of the West Coast, it makes it more exciting that way! Some say if you can ski the Northeast you can ski anywhere!
What is the biggest ski mountain in New England?
Killington is the biggest New England ski resort with more than 1,500 skiable areas, 22 chairlifts, and a nickname the ‘beast of the east’ for good reason.
How many ski resorts are there in New England?
There are 90 ski resorts in New England. These resorts are spread across the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The smallest state in the United States, Rhode Island, also has a small ski hill as well!
What is the best month to ski in New England?
The best months to ski in New England are January, February, and March because of snowfall accumulation and more moderate temperatures. Depending on the season and the amount of snowfall the New England ski resorts receive, it’s usually better to visit later in the season when the snow has accumulated. This also allows the resorts that make snow some time to add to the accumulation. The temperature in February and March can also become slightly warmer, in contrast to the below-freezing temperatures December and early January can sometimes bring.
Insider tip: I will never forget one year skiing at Mount Snow and they had to close the mountain because the chairlifts were completely frozen! We waited in line for the main chairlift for over an hour hoping they would be able to de-ice it, but it was unfortunately so cold that they were unable to. They did allow us to return on a different day of our choice because of the conditions. Many New England ski resorts will honor these circumstances with unpredictable weather conditions.
A Guide for all New England Ski Resort areas
Vermont’s Ski Mountains
Popular: Killington, Smugglers Notch, Stowe, Mad River Glen, Sugarbush, Okemo, Stratton, Mt. Snow
Smaller Ski Hills: Jay Peak, Burke, Bolton Valley, Middlebury Snow Bowl, Suicide Six, Bromley, Magic Moutain
New Hampshire’s Ski Mountains
Popular: Bretton Woods, Wildcat, Cannon, Attitash, Cranmore, Loon, Waterville, Ragged Mountain, Mt. Sunapee, Gunstock
Smaller Ski Hills: King Pine, Dartmouth Skiway, Tenney Mountain, Whaleback, Pats Peak, Crotched Mountain
Maine’s Ski Mountains
Popular: Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Saddleback, Black Mountain, Mt. Abram, Shawnee Peak
Smaller Ski Hills: Bigrock Mountain, Camden Snow Bowl, Powderhouse Hill
Massachusetts Ski Areas
When visiting Massachusetts, Boston is usually the main draw and there aren’t many ski resorts in Massachusetts. The closest New England ski resorts to Boston include Wachusett, Blue Hills, and Nashoba Valley. Some resorts that are a bit bigger include Jiminy Peak and Ski Butternut.
What New England ski pass should I buy?
Within the last few years, some of the New England ski resorts have gained attention from the major North American ski resort companies, many of them based on the West Coast. Vail Resorts offers the Epic pass, and Alterra Mountain Company offers the Ikon pass. Both of these passes allow skiers and snowboarders the opportunity to visit various mountains as often as they like throughout the entire season for a single price.
The Epic versus the Icon pass: EPIC PASS
The Epic pass allows access to the most popular New England ski resorts of Stowe, Mt. Snow, Okemo, and Mt. Sunapee. There are a few other resorts on the pass as well but the mountains are a bit smaller and hence why they’re not as popular.
The Epic versus the Icon pass: IKON PASS
The Ikon pass allows access to the most popular New England ski resorts of Killington, Loon, and Stratton. It again offers a few other resorts that are a bit smaller and also not as popular.
If you’re interested in skiing on the West Coast or even around the world, both of these passes allow entrance to their sister locations, some even in Australia and Switzerland! The Ikon Pass offers 50+ locations around the world and even in South America!
Another destination I would recommend for winter sports and activities is Whistler, Canada. Here are all the best things to see and do in Whistler including activities for non-skiers and snowboarders! If you’re visiting Europe during Christmas, don’t miss these or these European Christmas markets.
Best Places to Stay: New England ski resorts with lodging
Best Places to Stay in Vermont
As stated earlier, Killington and Stowe are regarded as some of the best ski resorts in New England. Keep reading for the best place to stay near Killington and Stowe resorts. Stowe’s fall foliage is beautiful during the autumn season if you’re interested in visiting then too!
If you’re looking for the best boutique hotels in Vermont, here’s a comprehensive guide to all the best ones.
Best Places to Stay near Killington Resort
Woodstock Inn & Resort $$$: One of my absolute favorite towns in New England is Woodstock, Vermont. If you’re heading to Killington this adorable town is only a half-hour drive from the ski area. The most luxurious place to stay in Woodstock is the Woodstock Inn & Resort.
Best Places to Stay near Stowe Mountain Resort
The Lodge at Spruce Peak $$-$$$: This luxurious resort is located right at Stowe Mountain Resort. This resort is perfect for families as it offers an ice rink and swimming pool. It also has an easy transfer gondola that connects Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak.
Topnotch Resort $$: The best part of this hotel is the variety of activities for non-skiers and snowboarders it offers. You can pick from cross-country skiing, scenic hiking trails, horseback riding, cycle paths, and even a full-service spa.
Where to stay in New Hampshire
The towns of Lincoln and Conway, New Hampshire are just south of Bretton Woods and great areas to stay. Loon is right in the heart of Lincoln if you’re looking to ski a variety of areas. One of my favorite New Hampshire restaurants is also right in this area, The Common Man Lincoln.
Best Places to Stay near Bretton Woods
Omni Mount Washington Resort $$$: One of my favorite ski resorts in New Hampshire is Bretton Woods. This is New Hampshire’s largest ski area and is conveniently located right down the road from the famous Omni Mount Washington Resort. This resort is probably one of the most luxurious and famous in New England. During peak season, expect to pay a minimum of $400/night. My husband and I have yet to stay here, and usually, when we ski in this area we book an Airbnb or hotel.
Best Places to Stay near Loon
RiverWalk Resort $$: A central location in Lincoln this hotel is across the street from Loon Mountain’s South Peak Expansion and RiverWalk. It will provide convenience for skiers and snowboarders. It offers studios as well as one, two, and three-bedroom condominiums to rent.
Lumen Nature Retreat $$: Enjoy this luxury camping and glamping experience in the heart of the White Mountains. After a long day does a luxury bath house and sauna experience sound like the perfect way to unwind?
If you’re looking for the perfect fall weekend itinerary in New Hampshire, you might be revisiting the towns of Lincoln and Conway as they are right off the famous Kancamagus Scenic Byway.
What are the best New England ski resorts for beginners?
Blue Hills and Wachusett are the best New England ski resorts for beginners because their terrain is very mild and their hills are not steep. These locations also aren’t the largest hills, the chairlifts are manageable, and it’s easy to navigate them because of their size. Both of these hills are also the closest to Boston, and if you’re a beginner looking to get a lot of practice you won’t need to travel far.
Killington also has a very small section of the hill that is devoted to greens, which indicates the easiest difficulty level of a hill or slope. Blue colors indicate moderate difficulty and black colors indicate the most difficult terrain, double blacks being extra difficult. Since Killington has a small section of the hill devoted to beginners it also makes for one of the best New England ski resorts for beginners.
What are the best New England ski resorts for families?
Bretton Woods, Smuggler’s Notch, and Mount Snow have a wide range of terrain and wonderful facilities making them the best New England ski resorts for families. They also have good snowmaking and grooming capabilities. Bretton Woods has an incredible gondola that brings you to the top of the mountain. At the top, you’ll have views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range. They also have a restaurant at the top that is beautiful and the food is pretty good.
Bretton Woods is also conveniently located right across the street from the famous Omni Mount Washington. This hotel is one of the best hotels in New England!
Here are a few other posts you may enjoy:
Top 8 Things to Do in Whistler in Winter: Including nonskiing activities
23 Best Things to See in Kennebunkport in Winter
Newport Rhode Island in the Winter: 25 Best Things to Do
14 Things to Do in New England in the Fall
Where to find New Hampshire Fall colors: A Weekend Itinerary
