Sprawling. Crowded. Pricey. As a longtime skier in the northeast, I lose a little bit of ski soul…read moreevery time I encounter the reality of $249/day window rate lift ticket pricing, like what Sugarbush and its corporate overlord Alterra have unleashed on former independent gems like Sugarbush. Yes, most people will never pay $249/day because they're buying $200 online tickets, but sit with that for a second... $200/day x 2 days for a weekend + food/gas/etc means at least $500 for an average weekend of skiing before you even get to lodging. And that's absurd. Its no exaggeration to say that setting day-of pricing to over $200/day is a marketing (read: extortion) ploy to advance sales of even more expensive multi-mountain passes like Ikon, intended to lock customers into a collection of other overpriced mega-mountains, ensuring customers never know what alternatives there are out there to the over-priced, over-skied, nickel-and-dime experience that modern corporate skiing with has become. And while most customers will mindlessly one-click renew their Epic (Vail) and Ikon (Alterra) passes each year, economically the only reason these passes makes sense is when you have plans for a week away at a different exotic ski resort under the same corporate ownership that epouses equivalently over-priced day rates. In case you missed it, that's an increasingly large array of Vail and Alterra's mega resorts, as consolidation within the ski industry continues its supernova trajectory, targeting any mountain nearing triple-digit trail counts as the next pin in their corporate hats. If that sounds extreme, it's not. It's the reality many of us who've been around a while have seen play out. And it's important to understand because of the very real, far superior options available to the mainstream corporate pass skiing experience. Let me illustrate by a simple comparison: one day at a local independent mountain (Bolton Valley) vs one day at a corporate machine (Sugarbush). SUNDAY AT SUGARBUSH: riding up high-speed 5m lifts with few lines, but dumped into crowded trails laden with bumpy pockets of snow atop an icy, unpredictable base - a natural consequence of pushing hordes of skiers faster and faster up a mountain without any ticket limits that might ensure a better skiing experience. I consider myself an expert skier, who's skied some of the steepest terrain in the world, but skiing icy, unpredictable slopes like Sunday at Sugarbush force-limits anyone's ability to improve, by defaulting to minimum viable slopes stripped of any natural snowfall. It's the equivalent of the mafia offering to fix your garbage problem that it, itself, created. It's the false claim of fixing over-crowded, over-skied trails with more snow-making and faster lifts... which just put more bodies, scraping more snow, creating more of a problem than existed before. However, more bodies on mountain = more food/bev sales for corporate coffers, which ever-present signage reminding you of $1/paper cup charges won't let you forget. Heaven help anyone who just paid $249/day at the window is not also paying for double-digit drinks and $38 pizzas - the horror! SATURDAY AT BOLTON VALLEY: riding up 10m lifts with zero lift lines, skiing uncrowded glades/trails laden with soft, natural powder atop zero ice - a natural consequence of force-limiting ticket sales with smaller parking lots, less traffic, and a family-friendly, independent focus. Window pricing $49 - $109/day, but equally skiable for an entire weekend on a modest $300 season pass (Indy). TL;DR: a split-view compare of independently-owned resorts who prioritize experience over exploitation, independence over incorporation, and presence over pace. Most folks reading this review will assume it's an advert for competitors. It's not. It's a rare insight into two mountains 45m from each other who've taken entirely different paths to profitability and achieved radically different outcomes: one driven to maximize pricing and bodies on the hill, another by nearly six decades of family ownership that's driven by affordability and great experience. As with all things consumer, we all have a choice of where to spend our dollars. Having spent decades skiing the mega-mountains, traveling across the world to ski other Alterra/Ikon resorts like A-Basin, Mammoth, Stratton, and Palisades I can legitimately say the experience is the same: over-crowded, icy weekend skiing in the corporate Frankenstiens trying to solve an unsolvable problem of over-sold slopes with fake snow and higher pricing vs the still-here, uncrowded Indies indexing for reliability, affordability, and uniqueness. There's value in slowing things down, taking in stunning vistas, and paying a lot less to experience a lot more. See beyond trail counts and lift speed and you'll find an entire world of better skiing by generations of family-owned resorts beholden to a different master: your enjoyment, not corporate's bottom line.

The farmhouse rental and ski repair shop which is the sugarbush ski service shop did a great job…read morewax and tuning the edges on my skis. I felt as though I had a new pair of skis after they worked their magic (took about a half hour in the morning). The grooming of the slopes and the friendly lift operators and mountain representatives were also great when I visited the mountain yesterday. The Ted's beef chilli stew topped with cheese and Jalapenos was a great lunch.

THE BEST ski area I've been to. It's not overly crowded, it's very clean, everyone is kind and…read morehelpful and ready to answer your questions. Prices are not too bad (if compared to Killington) and the slopes are well maintained. The people there helped to put on and take off my ski boots (which is always a hassle after being exhausted from the day). I wish I lived closer because this place was perfect. They have a food court with quick options, a bar with a more elaborate menu, and an indoor and outdoor fire pit. Their bar/restaurant Perley's is where we had lunch. My only complaint was the prices for this place. $25 for a cheese burger and fries is criminal. I would stick with the foodcourt instead of bar food.

History, class, comity, and fun. Saskadena Six is a wonderful place for a family and everyone…read moreelse. A skiers' and rider's mountain where old New England still lives. The resort is owned by the venerable Woodstock Inn, a gem of national distinction. And the upscale air is evident in the friendliness and poise of the staff at Saskadena. A huge lodge with historical pictures everywhere, including memorializing the first motorized life transportation in the US, a 900 foot rope tow built in 1934. Formerly named Suicide Six, the resort centers around a modern yet charming lodge with a huge hearth, a bustling cafeteria, and a well stocked bar. The resort is a scant eight minute ride from the beautiful town of Woodstock, where the Rockefeller and Billings legacy is still visible. Parking at Saskadena Six is not an issue, the parking areas are close to the lodge and a ramp takes the visitor to the lodge area. Saskadena Six has been a part of the Indy Pass for a few years now, and it has become a family favorite. Entering the lodge, one can perform ticket purchases inside or outside. Donning boots and equipment is done in benches and chairs in the lodge, with inside cubicles around the walls. The lodge has plate glass windows on its entire slope facing side, providing beautiful views of the ski area. Once ready to hit the slopes, the nearest lift is the fixed quad that takes the visitor to the 1,200 foot summit. The resort has a 650-foot vertical drop, featuring 24 runs on 100 acres.. Besides the quad, Saskadena sports a double lift on the far side of the resort, and a J-bar. The challenging Show Off run is a steep, mogul filled track, while The Face and Crystal are parallel black diamonds. Several other runs feature both natural, groomed and mogul filled. Saskadena Six usually gets 110 inches of yearly snow, augmented by a vigorous snowmaking system. Dining at Saskadena Six is quick and efficient. A roped off area separates the alcohol-served areas from the rest of the lodge. Several local brews are on tap, as well as national selections. Skiing Saskadena is a pleasure. Small but quite pleasant, devoid of the stress of the larger ski areas in New England. Its history and charm are welcome assets in an industry where sterility seems to be popular. Terrain is rated 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced.

This place is old school. Loved it. Strongly recommend going when there is heavy snow on the ground…read moreas it can get thin. Loved every second of it.

Excellent groomed trails that cover a lot of terrain, good rental equipment.read more

Beautiful place full of activities, from ski to tubbing and riding the gondola just to enjoy the…read moreview in case you don't ski . They have lots of gift shops . Tubbing is great , except for the line that pulls you back up the hill . That is simply terrible , difficult to get out of and it's just a matter of time before someone gets injured trying to come out of it . I almost fell on the other side of the line and the staff just stood there and made no attempt to help , with that I injured my hand trying to hold on to the line . They certainly need better staff and a better system .

I am really enjoying Killington more and more. Every spring I now look forward to just to still ski…read moreuntil as late as possible. Skiing opening day this year too set the tone for the season. This past visit I was absolutely thrilled with the lift crew on Bear Mountain. I think they enjoyed my company as much as I did theirs. The fresh snow made it easy to ski all day. Minimal stoppage as I wanted to ski a marathon and then some, successfully accomplished. Looking forward to my next upcoming visits.

A community treasure. We are so grateful to the Cochran family for making skiing accessible to…read moreeveryone and for being a shining example of generosity and goodwill to all.

Make no mistake: only 1 star because we did get a refund…read more Advertised night skiing for Friday night from 3-8pm. Even let us purchase tickets for that time slot 2 days prior. We called around 10am that day to double check our reservation and got no answer. I figured it was because they might not be open yet but no they were and just didn't answer. We drive an hour to come ski only to be told by the car next to us that they closed at 4 when we showed up at 3:30. The staff seemed confused were the mishap was and offered to just move our reservation to another night and eventually just gave us a refund. It said in very small print that they changed the hours for this week. Looked like an alright place to ski for an hour or two, really we were just excited to ski for our Friday night. If you're from out of town I'd steer clear of this place for lack of communication. :(

I spent a few days at Mountain Meadows cross country skiing in February, and I am hooked! I was in…read moreKillington with my family who all downhill ski, and I was looking to learn to XC ski and enjoy the beautiful scenery. I had a great lesson with Logan, and then spent a day and a half exploring all the Mountain Meadows trails. Skiing across the frozen lake and up in to the hills was amazing! Renting the equipment and buying a trail pass was super easy, and the staff were very helpful and friendly! I would advise bringing lunch from one of the local delis to eat in the lodge, as they only have drinks for sale.

From the owner: Permanently Closedread more

This place is a masterclass in neglect. The ski infrastructure is severely dilapidated, outdated,…read moreand constantly breaking down. Lifts stop, crawl, or fail outright. The lifties are nice, but they're stuck managing equipment that should've been replaced years ago. Reddit skiers have been saying the same thing for years: "lifts constantly down," "painfully slow," and "not worth the ticket price." Many warn you'll spend more time waiting than skiing. Alta has zero incentive to invest with Killington right up the road doing everything better. Calling this a "ski resort" is generous. If you value your time or money, drive by and keep going.

Met a great friend there after an hours travel. Although the trip to Pico adds another 20 minutes…read moreto my schedule, it was well worth it. Pico is a separate part of Killington Resort with a primarily local clientele and devoid of the road raging attitudes of some of the visitors. It has a genuinely New England vibe from the parking lot all the way to the top of the mountain. The parking lots have plenty of space. The main lodge has a New England functional vibe, a bit rough and that's how people like it. Once on the slopes, the trails tend to be very New England, with narrow trails, plenty of tight tree glades, and one high speed with the rest of the lifts being fixed quads. Sking Pico is a pleasure. It may not have the vertical of Killington, with just under 2,000 at Pico and 3,000 at Killington. But what it lacks in vertical it more than makes up in customer experience. Killington's ethos is "The Beast", loud, boisterous, gargantuan.... Pico is the exact opposite. Quiet, friendly, local, sedate. Ambassadors and Ski Patrol will assist you anywhere. The food at the cafeteria doesn't have a French name but it's wholesome, hearty, tasty. Loooooong ago, there was a move to connect Killington and Pico with cross trails to each. Massive local opposition and ecological issues put a kabash on the idea. As a result, Pico is next to Killington but it's another world in ski experience.

This review is for the Adventure Center specifically. I…read morewanted to love the experience but the staff is very scattered and the process to rock climb is ridiculous. We tried to climb multiple times and were told to come back. When we did come back at the right time (two separate times) they said the time changed. They don't let you reserve in advance (which would alleviate this problem) but most of all the staff was super rude and went out their way to be unhelpful (Katelyn from st albans - most of all). They could easily have helped but they did not and walked away with us standing there with upset kids (for the third time) For a cost and supposed level of service-- this is shocking. Been a big advocate of this resort my whole life but the atmosphere has sadly changed.

Our tour group took us here, for the Gondola View for Falls colors…read more I'm not disappointed, there were lots of snow up there, by the time we got there, it was very windy, and we're dressed like winter. Inside the upper building, there are shops, restaurant, a coat section with warm setting, and restrooms. We weren't having lunch here, it was packed! We already made plans, to eat elsewhere. Going up or down, even though it was foggy, and spitting, we were able to enjoy some of the view of the season! The gondola ride was still pretty amazing, being up there. It was fun!

I got a very good day of skiing at Gore Mountain; I have not skied Gore before so it is always nice…read moreto explore a new mountain. Getting from my hotel in Lake George to Gore was easy enough. At Gore I ended up parking in one of the more distant parking lots, but a shuttle was right there to deliver me to the base area. A short walk to the lodge where you can settle in and get geared up. There are baskets to store your bag and the lifts are nearby. A bit of a delay at the start of the day as they were still getting the trails and lifts ready. Then there was a single lift running for about 1 hour so the lines were fairly long; when they finally got the gondola and the upper lifts running the lines disappeared and the day became much more enjoyable. Gore has a bunch of different areas, I got through most of them, although I did not get to try the Burnt Ridge and North Creek areas, but did find plenty of nice runs. I spent the day on Blue and groomed Black runs and had a great time. Overall I enjoyed my day skiing at Gore Mountain, if you are in the area it is a good place to ski, probably not worth a long trip to ski, but certainly worth a visit. Gore and Whiteface use the same RIF card so if you have one it is well worth getting a day at each of them.

I unfortunately didn't have the greatest experience Gore could offer due to external factors none…read moreto Gore's fault. I definitely want to come back again and redeem my time here because I'm not a quitter. My boyfriend and I had come up to Gore on Friday the 13th in December 2024 no less. So maybe that's where all my bad luck came from ? PARKING There's a ton of parking, but coming later in the day results in parking far. It's quite a walk to the main lodge and kiosk when you do. Parking is free! PRICE I can't talk about price because my boyfriend works in the industry and got our tickets through his line of work. SNOW CONDITIONS Packed base, icy, mind your tailbone. I would highly recommend starting on some easy greens just to get the feel of the conditions. I've only been snowboarding for 2 years, but have had over 150 hours on snow already and 45ish days. But at the start of the season, everything is new ish again. My boyfriend is an experienced rider. Riding for over 10 years, way more days and hours than I have, and had his start in Colorado. I asked for greens just to warm up, while I do ride on blues, I was riding on a new board and it didn't end well for me. Failing to plan is planning to fail after all. I wish I got a trail map at the beginning, and they should be widely more available to find. Not everyone has great cell service in the mountains. While at the top, near Saddle Lodge, it starts off green, at the beginning of the season there's not many runs open and soon I found myself on a blue on a very playful and new board. It threw me in for a loop since my last board was VERY stiff. The complete opposite! During my second lap of the day I fell wrong and whatever was in my kangaroo pocket jabbed my rib. I couldn't get down on my own due to the pain and nausea and ski patrol had to bring the toboggan. I hated it. I hated having to cut it so short! Gore was a dream mountain of mine and I didn't get to experience it fully. My expectations for myself became defeated. Swallowing that pill was hard. I will be back towards the end of the season to reclaim my experience. After I have more practice on my new board. I just bought another one, which is in between both the stiff and very playful board. SKI PATROL I want to thank Zac for staying by me and my boyfriend while I tried to get myself down. I really didn't want to quit. I'm not a quitter but my boyfriend did say, "it's better to quit now and ride another day than make it worse and be out all season." After thinking about it and how dizzy and nauseous I was I gave in. Just knowing I had the support was reassuring. Zac was also very calm and reassuring. Once I made up my mind to that I couldn't go further on my own, he brought me down with the toboggan. I never rode on a sled before in my life, and it was fun, but let's definitely not make it a habit! It's been almost a month now and my ribs are 99% better. It was an intercostal muscle strain. It hurt like hell for a week and a half, but I rode again at a smaller mountain the next day because we didn't want to end the trip early. I had better runs, no falls, despite the insane amount of pain. GIFT SHOP I had a very lovely chat with the lady who works in the gift shop. I bought many Gore Stickers for my scrapbook! She and I bonded over our love of scrapbooks, and I know that's not something snowboarders regularly do. Mainly stickers go on helmets and boards, but I love them on & in my scrapbook. Pricing is definitely a little more than average. But the stickers are amazing quality so worth it! They also sell just about anything you would need in the shop at the base area lodge. We bought one of those screwdriver sets. OVERALL I highly recommend saving the PDF version of the trail map to your phone for easy access ahead of time before you go anywhere near the mountain. The views are out of this world!! Gore is definitely a place to ride and check out and I will be back with a better updated review!

Brought my favorite skis in for full tune after doing a lot of damage to the bases and edges in a…read moreweek in dry Colorado. Folks are so friendly and knowledgeable. Picked them up the next morning. They looked great but that's not the proof. Took them out for a day and what a difference. Skied like they were brand new. Can't thank Alpine Options enough for their great work.

service is not customer focused - was told to bring skiis in and got there at 4:37pm and they close…read moreat 5:00 but was told i was to late to get skiis sharpened and waxed. They need to be more clear on when they actually close the service as it is different than the store hours.