Best

Peaks Overall

The rank-order of East Coast ski resorts we’ve been to based on overall mountain experience.

#1 East Coast

Killington, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Size for Vermont
Terrain diversity
Lift infrastructure
Snowmaking operations

    –   Cons

Lift logistics that lead to large crowds in popular areas
Ease of navigation

Size, snow quality, and terrain diversity make this East Coast mountain incredibly appealing, but navigation could be easier.

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#2 East Coast

Mont-Tremblant, QC

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Terrain diversity
Ease of navigation
Modern lift infrastructure
Spectacular base village

    –   Cons

Frigid temperatures
Crowd flow on busy days

This busy, frigid resort offers a well-rounded East Coast experience and spectacular base village.

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#3 East Coast

Stowe, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Demanding expert terrain
Snow quality for Vermont
Modern lifts in most major areas
Ease of navigation

    –   Cons

Crowd flow
Impractically placed Mansfield base facilities

Despite a few logistical flaws, this classic Vermont resort holds its own against the best on the East Coast.

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#4 East Coast

Jay, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Top-tier East Coast snow accumulation
Excellent glade terrain
Extraordinary expert chutes
Striking footprint
Fewer crowds than resorts further south

    –   Cons

Frequent wind holds
Lackluster snowmaking and grooming
Extraordinary cold spells throughout the core season
Slow or uncomfortable lift rides aside from tram
Long drive from major metropolitan areas

Vermont’s northernmost resort offers class-leading snow and expert terrain, but resiliency issues hurt it against more convenient competitors.

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#5 East Coast

Warren, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   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

This charming Vermont resort offers diverse, demanding terrain and a local feel. However, the best expert runs aren’t always open.

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#6 East Coast

Carrabassett Valley, ME

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Size
Intuitive layout
One-of-a-kind East Coast bowl and sidecountry terrain
Local feel
Advance-purchase value

    –   Cons

Extremely variable openings for most unique terrain
Frequent wind holds and cold spells
Ordinary-feeling terrain on main resort face

Maine’s largest ski area is a competitive East Coast choice, but it’s a hard sell against more conveniently-located alternatives.

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#7 East Coast

Bretton Woods, NH

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Upscale feel and resort infrastructure
Family-friendly slopes, including glade terrain
Modest crowds
Stunning Mount Washington views

    –   Cons

Short vertical drop
Lackluster advanced and expert terrain

This Mount Washington-adjacent ski area offers the most upscale ski resort experience in New Hampshire, but its lack of advanced and expert terrain is a serious drawback.

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#8 East Coast

Newry, ME

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Size
Reliability for East Coast
Unique-feeling mountain pods
Available chondola and bubble lifts

    –   Cons

Lack of long terrain
So-so expert footprint
Slow lifts in some areas

One of New England’s largest, most reliable ski resorts is held back by a so-so vertical drop and less intense terrain than some competitors.

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#9 East Coast

Stratton Mountain, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Lift infrastructure
Impeccable resort signage
Size and terrain for southern Vermont
Snowmaking and grooming operations

    –   Cons

Crowds
Commercialized feel
Inconvenient overflow parking
Lack of true expert terrain

This southern Vermont mountain delivers an ideal family experience thanks to excellent grooming and easy navigation, but you’ll be giving up some snow and terrain quality for the location.

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#10 East Coast

Wilmington, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Terrain diversity
Truly extreme, naturally formed Slides runs
Long vertical drop
Phenomenal resort views

    –   Cons

Extraordinary susceptibility to wind problems and lift shutdowns
Inconsistent trail openings in some places, especially the Slides
Slow, wind-exposed lifts in some areas
Frigid on-mountain conditions

Severe wind problems and unreliable trail openings detract from one of the most unique, challenging resorts on the East Coast.

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#11 East Coast

Rangeley, ME

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Striking aesthetic for the East Coast
Natural insulation for skiers of different ability levels
Lack of crowds

    –   Cons

Small footprint
Underwhelming facilities
Limited on-site lodging for smaller groups

This remote Maine mountain delivers a combination of natural beauty, empty slopes, and reasonably well-rounded terrain that’s tough to match elsewhere in the Northeast.

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#12 East Coast

Waterville Valley, NH

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Local feel
Unique upper mountain setup
Ski racing and freestyle culture
Convenient on-mountain lodges
Close proximity to Boston

    –   Cons

Limited beginner and expert terrain
No true ski-in/ski-out lodging
Lower snow totals than some competitors
Upper mountain accessed only by t-bar

Despite a modest footprint size, this New Hampshire resort offers a compelling set of strengths for those driving up from Boston.

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#13 East Coast

Sutton, QB

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Exceptional glade footprint
Terrain diversity for a range of abilities
Unique Eastern Canadian charm
Value

    –   Cons

Outdated lift infrastructure
Limited lodging
Short vertical drop, even for the Northeast
Early-season reliability of glade terrain

Despite outdated lifts, a remote location, and a modest vertical drop, this southern Quebec resort’s glade terrain and lower-than-average crowds make it a unique option for an East Coast ski vacation.

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#14 East Coast

Smugglers' Notch

Jeffersonville, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Remote, beautiful footprint
Local feel
Variety of distinctive terrain
Reasonably-priced lift tickets

    –   Cons

Archaic, low-capacity lifts
Lackluster snowmaking operations
Beginner zone poorly connected with other resort areas
Long drive from major Northeast cities

Ancient lifts and lackluster resiliency measures hold back a staple of the northern Vermont skiing scene.

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#15 East Coast

Pico

Mendon, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Low crowds
Local feel
Straightforward footprint
Available ski-in/ski-out lodging

    –   Cons

Modest footprint
Secondary lifts that don’t operate consistently
Closed on most Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Intermediate trail congestion at summit

This central Vermont mountain gets overshadowed by bigger competitors, but it offers decent terrain and an escape from the crowds.

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#16 East Coast

Cannon

Franconia, NH

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Local feel
Modest crowds
Striking surrounding scenery
Extremely demanding expert runs

    –   Cons

Profound wind exposure
Inconsistent expert terrain openings
Limited beginner terrain
Slow lifts in some areas
Very limited on-site lodging

While it lacks the most modern infrastructure and sees inconsistent conditions, this state-owned New Hampshire ski resort offers unique terrain and low crowds.

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#17 East Coast

Okemo

Ludlow, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Lift infrastructure in most major areas
Wide variety of beginner and groomed terrain
Size for southern Vermont

    –   Cons

Lack of expert terrain
Lift logistics at the main base area
Crowds during peak times

This family-friendly mountain boasts modern lifts and a wide variety of groomers, but expert terrain is lacking. Crowding has gotten worse in recent seasons.

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#18 East Coast

Mount Snow

West Dover, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Lift infrastructure in most major areas
Wide variety of beginner and groomed terrain
Size for southern Vermont

    –   Cons

Crowds
Outdated lift infrastructure in some areas
Less unique terrain and lower snowfall than resorts further north

This popular resort delivers a lot for southern Vermont but struggles to handle crowds in some areas.

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#19 East Coast

Wildcat

Gorham, NH

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Stunning Mount Washington views
Long, consistent vertical drop
Straightforward layout

    –   Cons

Profound wind exposure
Small footprint
No on-site lodging

One of the tallest, most stunning ski resorts in New Hampshire is held back by a modest footprint size and significant wind exposure.

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#20 East Coast

Loon

Lincoln, NH

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Strong snowmaking
Modern lifts
Wide variety of intermediate terrain
Close proximity to Boston

    –   Cons

Packed on weekends
Cramped gondola cabins
Limited advanced and expert terrain
No trail connection between North and South Peak sides

This popular New Hampshire resort offers a competitive lift fleet and excellent snowmaking, but other mountains offer more unique terrain and better crowd management.

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#21 East Coast

Mad River Glen

Waitsfield, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Extremely demanding expert terrain
Local, uncommercialized feel
One-of-a-kind single chair

    –   Cons

Small footprint
Extremely limited snowmaking, leading to large terrain closures throughout the season
Slow, low-capacity lifts
Ban on snowboarders

With very limited snowmaking and a ban on snowboarders, this small Vermont mountain is about as raw as it gets for the Northeast.

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#22 East Coast

Gore

North Creek, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Standout glade terrain
Lower crowds than other East Coast resorts
Value

    –   Cons

Lackluster on-mountain maintenance
Strange resort layout
Lower snowfall than Vermont resorts
No on-site lodging

New York State’s largest ski resort stands out with excellent glade terrain, but it can’t match the snow quality or on-mountain infrastructure of the best East Coast mountains.

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#23 East Coast

Bromley

Peru, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Ease of navigation
Sunny, south-facing slopes
Local feel
Low crowds

    –   Cons

Small footprint
Lack of difficult terrain

While much smaller and less diverse than Vermont’s major destinations, this local-feeling hill will satisfy families thanks to easy navigation and low crowds.

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#24 East Coast

Bolton Valley

Richmond, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Strong regional snowfall
Lack of crowds
Excellent tree terrain
Available night skiing
Easy access to lift-accessed backcountry terrain

    –   Cons

Small footprint
Limited vertical drop
Slow lifts
So-so snowmaking, leading to unreliable trail openings throughout the core season

This Vermont mountain is too small and undeveloped to compete with the state’s most popular destinations, but its combination of local, uncrowded slopes and strong natural snowfall may do the trick for some.

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#25 East Coast

Mount Sunapee

Newbury, NH

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Close drive to Boston
High-speed lifts
Beautiful lake views

    –   Cons

Little advanced and expert terrain
No on-site lodging
Crowds on weekends

For those willing to travel, Sutton offers a standout experience for all ability levels, especially those with the skills and inclination to ski Sutton’s truly one of a kind gladed terrain.

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#26 East Coast

Holiday Valley

Ellicottville, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Strong snow totals and snowmaking
Diverse layout for the size
Value

    –   Cons

Short vertical drop
Some crowd flow and navigational issues

Strong natural snowfall and varied terrain make this Western New York resort a strong local option, but a short vertical drop and complicated layout prevent it from competing with bigger East Coast destinations.

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#27 East Coast

Magic Mountain

Londonderry, VT

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Diverse slopes for the size
Demanding terrain for southern Vermont
Low on-piste skier density
Value

    –   Cons

Limited snowmaking across all levels of trails, leading to widespread thin cover
Modest footprint
Utilitarian, run-down vibe
Slow lifts
Closed on most off-peak weekdays

This modestly-sized mountain doesn’t have the refinement to compete with the destinations, but it’s hard to beat for the challenge and value in southern Vermont.

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#28 East Coast

Attitash

Bartlett, NH

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

High-speed lifts
Strong intermediate terrain
Available ski-in/ski-out lodging

    –   Cons

Lackluster snow totals
Inconsistent grooming
Limited beginner and expert terrain

This New Hampshire resort offers pleasant terrain and fast lifts, but it doesn’t especially stand out when it comes to the overall experience.

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#29 East Coast

Windham

Windham, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Strong regional snowfall
Lack of crowds
Excellent tree terrain
Available night skiing
Easy access to lift-accessed backcountry terrain

    –   Cons

Compact, basic footprint
Crowds hard to avoid on weekends and holidays
Freeze-thaw cycles can disrupt conditions throughout the season
Value

This Catskill resort can’t beat out the true East Coast destinations in snow, acreage, or terrain diversity, but it lacks some of the major issues that plague nearby competitors. Peak ticket values are among the worst of any North American ski area.

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#30 East Coast

Snowshoe

Snowshoe, WV

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Regional snow quality
Impressive vertical drop for Mid-Atlantic
Close proximity to multiple major cities

    –   Cons

Confusing resort layout
Often very crowded
No cell service

Despite its messy layout and crowds, this West Virginia resort’s impressive snow quality and vertical descent are unmatched anywhere else in the Mid-Atlantic.

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#31 East Coast

Hunter

Hunter, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Reliable snowmaking
Ease of navigation
High-speed lifts in major areas

    –   Cons

Horrendous crowding issues on weekends and holidays, even at bunny hill lifts
Small, relatively basic footprint
Some mountain areas almost never open

High-speed lifts, reasonably varied terrain, and proximity to New York City make this Catskill mountain an appealing choice on paper. However, poor crowd management really hurts the overall experience.

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#32 East Coast

Belleayre

Highmount, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Strong snowmaking
Only gondola in the region
Fewer crowds than some competing mountains

    –   Cons

Vanilla footprint, even for the Catskills
Scarce advanced and expert terrain
Inadequate facilities for the demand
No on-site lodging

This Catskill mountain offers family-friendly terrain and reasonable crowds for the region, but a few factors make it a tough sell for those planning a weekend getaway.

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#33 East Coast

Peek'n Peak

Clymer, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Impressive snow totals and snowmaking
Charming, Tudor-style hotel and facilities
Available night skiing
Strong lift redundancies
Value

    –   Cons

Small footprint and short vertical drop
Undistinguished slopes
Lack of even remotely challenging terrain
Aging lifts in need of a refresh
For such a small resort, requires a surprising number of lifts to traverse from end to end

This Western New York ski resort offers a good value for beginners, but the mountain lacks the challenge or aesthetic to compete with many other East Coast resorts.

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#34 East Coast

Plattekill

Roxbury, NY

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

Exceptionally low crowds
Local feel
Strong advanced terrain for the region

    –   Cons

Small footprint and vertical drop
Limited grooming and snowmaking
Lackluster beginner terrain
Ancient lifts
Closed on off-peak weekdays

The Catskill region’s northernmost ski hill offers surprisingly strong advanced terrain, but infrastructure and grooming operations are severely lacking.

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#35 East Coast

Big Snow American Dream

East Rutherford, NJ

MOUNTAIN SCORE

    +   Pros

One-of-a-kind indoor skiing complex
Year-round skiing and riding
Learning-oriented slope setup
Proximity to New York City and suburbs

    –   Cons

Extremely small, repetitive footprint
Lack of even modestly challenging terrain
Crowd management
Commercialized feel

North America’s only indoor ski resort can’t provide terrain that’s remotely close to a real mountain, but it offers unparalleled reliability, year-round skiing, and a great environment to learn.

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