
Downhill
Madbush falls is located less than 15 minutes from 3 world class ski resorts where a variety of terrain awaits from perfectly groomed beginner trails, to steep and technical woods. Sugarbush has one of the best terrain parks on the east coast with an endless supply of rails and jumps. Mad River Glen is a unique ski area known for its challenging terrain and natural, ungroomed snow.

Sugarbush - Lincoln peak
The biggest and (some say) baddest resort in the Valley is only 8 minutes directly uphill from Madbush Falls. On weekends and holidays midwinter, Lincoln Peak is the most popular spot for a reason, but there is always a way to get away from the crowds. Every local has their own favorite stashes at Lincoln Peak. Here are a few of our favorites:
The Valley House Quad offers steep fall-line laps and virtually the entire mountainside is gladed. Especially on midweek powder days, the trees off of every trail hide fluffy powder all day long.
On a spring corn morning there is nothing better than Castlerock, with an east-southeast face that catches the morning sun perfectly. One of the steepest lifts in Vermont, Castlerock can go from firm and scary to soft and forgiving when that sun hits. Early season before the lift opens, mountain ops will often open Castlerock trails via a hike on the long trail from Heaven’s Gate, which means 1800’ of lightly tracked snow after a 15 minute ridgeline walk.
No matter how busy it is, North Lynx offers fun fall line skiing with minimal crowds and it catches the sun better than any other lift on the mountain. If you’re feeling adventurous, North Lynx is the jump-off spot for Slide Brook backcountry, which you can explore for yourself or hire a guide at Sugarbush to take you.


Sugarbush -
Mt Ellen
Possibly the least crowded major resort in Vermont, Mt Ellen offers 2600’ of quality vertical from the third-highest summit in Vermont. Even on the busiest days of the year, somewhere Mt Ellen offers fun fall-line runs with no lines. Here are a few of our favorite spots:
Lower FIS: if you’re not afraid of a traverse back, get a taste of old Vermont skiing on Lower FIS. Originally intended to offer an Olympic downhill, Lower FIS hides soft snow through gorgeous birch trees even days after it snows.
Tumbler & Hammerhead: right off the GMX are 2 more fantastic old school runs, unadlerated from their original form.
Inverness: even on the busiest day of the year, Inverness will offer an uncrowded lift and fall-line runs. The trail inverness is a ripping groomer, and Semi-Tough (both trail and woods) hide soft snow for days.
Sunshine Quad park! One of VT’s best parks crews maintains the park on Riemergase, the liftline along the Sunshine Quad. Riding up the lift is a party on weekends, watching riders of all abilities try their hand at every kind of feature imaginable.
Mad River GLen
Rated the #1 ski area in the east by Ski Magazine for a couple of years in a row, Mad River needs no introduction. It is the OG, and it’s unchanged from its OG form. “Recent” modernizations included the 2007 replacement of the Single with a replica of itself and actually adding a midstation on the Sunnyside double. You WILL be rewarded for exploring at Mad River. The lines are there for you to find–go find them! Here are a few of our favorites:
Birdland: Mad River is known for its steep and gnarly terrain, but there is simply no better beginner lift than Birdland. It’s protected from the wind, offers its own base lodge and warming hut on weekends, and has a selection of fun, interesting low-angle trails that are always the softest snow on the mountain. The steep terrain off of the Double lands on birdland, so you can go enjoy it without sacrificing a steep run.
Lower Antelope: it’s a black for a reason, but you won’t figure that out until you’re halfway down this epicly long run. With windy turns, tree stashes peeling off in every direction, a few wide open steep faces, and a secret “Jug Handle”, Lower Antelope offers skiing the way it used to be, should be, and always will be.
Paradise: if there is a higher quality steep run full of mandatory chutes and icefalls anywhere, we’d like to know where. It’s a popular place and it can get scary and skied off, but when it’s good, it’s really good.
The woods everywhere: basically woods you can reach with gravity from the top of either lift has a line hidden in it somewhere. You might pay the price if you get it wrong, but you’ll reap rewards when you get it right.
Insider tip: buy your tickets online in advance and you can spend $65-$100 to ski one of the best resorts in the East. Wait until day-of and go to the ticket window, and it’ll cost more.


Bolton Valley
40 minutes from the Valley, Bolton Valley hides a few gems. Most of all, it’s one of the best jumping-off points for backcountry skiing off of the back side in Cotton Brook and Ricker Basin. If you have skins, backcountry travel knowledge and a willingness to explore, head out in the morning to find some pure VT backcountry. If you want to get right to the goods, or if you’re not the best at finding your way back up at the end of the day, hire a guide through Bolton.
For alpine skiing, our favorite spot is the Timberline Chair. You wouldn’t think that the lowest elevation chair offers the best fall line skiing, but Spellbinder, Showtime and Twice is Nice is where you’ll find it. The woods between them, especially Adams Solitude, are pretty great too.
And anyone who says Bolton doesn’t have steep skiing has never skied the Preacher.

Middlebury SNow bowl
30 minutes from Madbush you’ll find one of the most scenic and uncrowded spots in Vermont: the Middlebury Snow Bowl! With 1000’ vertical, the Snow Bowl has enough to entertain you all day. If you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced skier looking to find something new and avoid all of the crowds, try the Snow Bowl. Here’s a few of our favorites:
The Allen: a legendary race trail, the Allen is as good of a cruiser as you’ll find, with big rolls that can surprise you with air and plenty of space to arc a big turn.
Bailey Falls Chair: it doesn’t open much, but when the backside is open, you’ll enjoy all natural snow trails with zero people.
Woods! On the map now are 8 gladed zones that will stay fresh all day when it snows.
Night Skiing: new in 2023, the Sheehan chair has short, steep fun laps after work!
