Mountain Review: Sugarbush (2019-2022)
MOUNTAIN SCORE
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN
See our criteria
6
Snow:
5
Resiliency:
4
Size:
7
Terrain Diversity:
8
Challenge:
5
Lifts:
6
Crowd Flow:
5
Facilities:
6
Navigation:
7
Mountain Aesthetic:
GOOD TO KNOW
On-site Lodging: Yes
Apres-ski: Moderate
Pass Affiliation: Ikon Pass
Recommended Ability Level:
+ Pros
Diverse terrain, including demanding expert and backcountry runs
Breathtaking mountain aesthetic
Local feel
– Cons
Lack of snowmaking on some trails, especially expert terrain, that leads to inconsistent conditions
Limited beginner terrain
Long distance between the two resort sides
MOUNTAIN STATS
Lifts: 16
Trails: 111
Beginner: 19%
Intermediate: 34%
Advanced/Expert: 47%
Mountain Review
Located in the Mad River Valley, Sugarbush is one of the larger resorts on the East Coast. It’s often overshadowed by more well-known resorts in Vermont, which have better lift infrastructure and more developed base areas. However, Sugarbush successfully holds its own when it comes to expert terrain while providing unmatched isolation and scenery.
Sugarbush Resort actually consists of two distinct mountain areas: Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen. While far away from each other, both areas are sufficiently sized for most skiers to be satisfied spending their day at one or the other. You may want to alternate your days between the two. If you plan on only spending one day here, Mount Ellen will be better for beginners and families while Lincoln Peak will be better for everyone else.
The Mount Ellen area, previously known and still referred to by locals as Sugarbush North, is really just one peak - Mount Ellen. It’s easy to navigate all the terrain here. This side has a lot of nice green and blue cruiser trails and feels quite local thanks to a lack of build-up at the base. While not as geared towards experts as Lincoln Peak, Mount Ellen does offer some fantastic steep, mogully runs, especially at the top. FIS, Sugarbush’s steepest run, is here.
The Lincoln Peak area, previously just known as Sugarbush before the resort acquired Mount Ellen, is the bigger of the two areas. This side actually includes three mountains: Lincoln Peak itself, Castlerock Peak, and North Lynx Peak. They’re all accessible from the same base area, but the peaks are very far away from each other.
The Gate House and North Lynx areas on North Lynx Peak offer some really nice intermediate terrain, including glade runs. Beginners will need to stick to Gate House, which is home to the only green run on this side of the resort that isn’t a bunny hill. The Super Bravo area on Lincoln Peak mainly consists of blue cruisers but also has some icy, bumpy steeps and multiple wooded trails.
The Heaven’s Gate area, which consists of the upper part of Lincoln Peak, services intermediate to expert terrain with some of the best views in Vermont. At such a high elevation with few man-made distractions, you’ll feel removed from society up here. On cold days, the pine trees up here freeze over, leading to an aura of otherworldliness.
The Castlerock area is where expert skiers will find the goods. Servicing black and double black trails only, this area is all natural snow and rarely receives grooming. The incredibly steep, icy, and narrow terrain here will give even the most formidable skiers a hard time. These trails are very long as well, so come mentally prepared. The Rumble trail, which is about as wide as a hockey stick, is considered by many to be one of the most difficult trails on the East Coast.
Snow quality is good for Vermont thanks to a nearby lake basin that functions as a snow engine. But keep in mind that this is the East Coast, and snow quality varies throughout the season. Snowmaking keeps parts of the resort resilient, but operations aren’t as extensive as at some competing resorts. A sizable portion of expert terrain doesn’t have snowmaking and may be closed if you don’t time your visit right. Castlerock often doesn’t open until January; it tends to stay consistently open after that but is subject to very thin cover at times.
The only on-mountain transportation between the two mountain areas - the Slide Brook Express Quad - is worth mentioning. Only open on weekends and holidays with “sufficient” snow cover (you’ll have to take a more time-consuming shuttle bus to get between base areas when this is closed), this two-way lift traverses through two miles of what seems like complete wilderness and offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. Taking this lift consumes a notable part of your ski day, and the isolation and vertical drops get scary at times. However, it’s well worth doing at least once; for many, this lift will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. At the time of writing, this is the longest detachable quad in the world.
It’s also worth noting that Slide Brook Basin, the area below this lift, is home to more than 2,000 acres of wooded backcountry skiing. On a good day, these untouched glades can be truly amazing. You can access Slide Brook from the top of the North Lynx Triple chair and make your way to a bus stop at the bottom, but it’s easy to get lost in the thick woods. If it’s your first time, you’ll want to sign up for one of Sugarbush’s $40 guided tours or find a local who knows the area well.
When it comes to the rest of its lifts, Sugarbush doesn’t have the most modern setup. However, this is partially by design. Detachable quads provide service from the bases to mid-mountain areas. Only fixed-grip lifts service the peaks, and some of these are difficult to find or require catwalking to get to. These lifts may be slow, but their lower capacity allows for less crowded slopes at the top. This is especially true on Castlerock’s double lift, which has extra-wide spacing between chairs. Fewer crowds, combined with the lack of noise from the lifts, greatly contributes to the sense of isolation you feel up on these peaks. You need to take two lifts to get to the top of any peak.
Crowding can be a problem on busy days at Sugarbush on the Lincoln Peak side. Luckily, helper fixed-grip quads, a few of which have been upgraded in recent years, provide relief at the base when lines for the main lifts become long. Lines at the low-capacity upper mountain Lincoln Peak lifts, which have no direct alternatives, can get bad, however. Crowding is typically less of an issue at Mount Ellen, as the lack of a built-up base and on-site lodging attracts fewer tourists.
Lodging
Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak area offers some on-site lodging options, but there isn’t really a base village. The Clay Brook at Sugarbush, the resort’s only slopeside hotel, is quite upscale but expensive. Trailside condos with ski-in/ski-out access are more reasonably priced but not all have amenities like pools or hot tubs. There’s no on-site lodging available on the Mount Ellen side.
A range of charming bargain-basement to luxury condo rental options exist within a few minutes of the resort. The Bridges Club and Resort, only a short drive or shuttle bus ride from the Lincoln Peak base, offers a fitness center with multiple indoor tennis courts as well as an indoor pool and outdoor hot tub. Hostel Tevere, a shared-room hostel at the base of the Lincoln Peak access road, features an on-site bar and is a fantastic option for those looking to stay somewhere cheap or meet people.
Apres-ski
Sugarbush offers some enjoyable apres-ski options, but the nightlife is limited compared to some other Vermont resorts. Both base areas feature slopeside bars with good beer selection and live music every Saturday afternoon. The Green Mountain Lounge at Mount Ellen has live music on Thursday afternoons. There are some decent casual bars in the town of Warren that can be accessed via the free Mad River Valley shuttle bus; you can find late night bands at the Local Folk Smokehouse and Hostel Tevere on weekends. However, you won’t find any true night clubs here.
Verdict
Sugarbush is an expensive resort, but it can be well worth the cost if you’re looking for demanding, diverse terrain and breathtaking views. But if you’re planning to visit Sugarbush for its expert Castlerock area, keep in mind that the terrain doesn’t always open until later in the season. In addition, if you expected the entire resort to be in one area, you may be disappointed. If you’re choosing between mountain areas, Lincoln Peak delivers higher acreage and more diverse terrain, while Mount Ellen offers a more local, family-friendly environment with fewer crowds.
