Sugarbush Ski Resort - Warren, Vermont

Address:Warren, Vermont
Tel: (802) 583-2381

When Sugarbush first opened its doors on Christmas Day in 1958, the lift ticket cost $5.50 and there were only three employees tending the 10 runs, 2 lifts and an entire mountain. Since that day Sugarbush has changed hands many times, but the people keep on coming, no matter who is in charge.

A lot of things have changed since that historic first day. Nowadays, Sugarbush is composed of two mountains, Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen, which together comprise a total of 508 skiable acres, with 2,600 feet of vertical drop, 111 trails, and 18 chairlifts. Sugarbush is a state of the art ski resort, with high speed detachable quads and capabilities for more than 50% of snowmaking when need be.

Sugarbush's legendary terrain sets the standard for big mountain skiing and boarding. You can find everything you're looking for here at Sugarbush, whether its tree-lined glade runs, mogul fields, or narrow and demanding runs, all of which can be found on the more advanced Lincoln Peak, which was the original Sugarbush. Beginners, meanwhile, will flock to Mt. Ellen where the majority of the beginner runs are located. Not that Mt. Ellen is for beginners only. Its 2,600 vertical feet and steep fall-line pitches guarantee the more advanced skiers stay fully entertained as well.

Snowboarders are more than welcome on all the mountain's trails, and almost all of them are steep enough to ensure that no hiking is necessary. Just watch out for Lower FIS - no matter how hard you hit it, you'll end up kicking up a snowstorm to get out of there. For some terrain park action you'll have to make your way over to Mt. Ellen where the terrain park and superpipe have their own lift. The features in the park change regularly throughout the season, but you're always sure to find a nice variety of rails, jumps, hips, wedges, and much much more. On weekends, the resort plays great rhythmic tunes to get you in the move for speed.

Sugarbush's season runs from early December to April. There are great discounts for beginning and end of season skiing for all. The mountain is open on weekdays from 9:00am, and the last upper mountain lift chairs are at 3:45pm while the lower mountain closes up at 4:00pm. Slide Brook, which is the connector between Mt. Ellen and Lincoln Peak, does not open on weekdays. On weekends the Super Bravo at Lincoln Peak and the GMX at Mt. Ellen open at 8 am, while the other lifts open at 9:00am. Closing time is the same as on weekdays but the Slide Brook is only open until 3:15pm. Make sure to check out the various deals available in the valley. Options such as the Ski the Valley ticket, a joint ticket for the Mad River Glen and Sugarbush, are only available for those who book accommodation in the resort, but are well worth asking about when making a reservation.

There are lots of on and off the slope activities available for those who have had enough skiing for the day, or are just looking to try something new. Activities range from cross-country skiing, sledding, Icelandic horseback rides (skijoring), snowshoeing, indoor tennis, movies, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, and tubing to plenty of other activities nearby. Also not to be missed are the groomer tours. Sugarbush allows its visitors a shotgun ride in the groomers at the end of the day for a once in a lifetime adventure.

2006 brought about the rebirth of Lincoln Peak Village, with the creation of a new 23,000 square-foot day lodge with cathedral ceilings, a food court with beautiful views, and a downstairs pub featuring live music. There are a few other dining options on the mountain that may suit your fancy, but trying out the restaurants of the Mad River Valley is a culinary experience worth trying. There are over 40 restaurants located in the valley, and not one of them is a fast food chain. You'll find French bistros, local country style cuisine, pizza, and much much more here.

For your après-ski experience, start off at the base lodge where business is booming when the lifts close. Move on to the on slope bars and pubs, or take a shower and head on over to the base area at Mad River Glen or any of the area's local haunts.

There is lodging aplenty both on slope and right by the mountain. With 2,250 beds on the slope, varying from hotels to vacation rentals and condominiums and off the slope, with 7,000 beds in the nearby motels, hotels, inns B&Bs and so on. Those who bring their home with them will find overnight camping facilities waiting here for them, but with no hook up or additional campgrounds nearby. No matter where you stay, you should be sure to ask about the various shuttle services offered in the area.

With two mountains, a killer terrain park, a halfpipe, tons of gladed areas and the 2,000 acre Slidebrook Wilderness area, there's no question that Sugarbush is one of the best Vermont ski areas! Combine that with our acclaimed Ski & Ride School programs from the Adventure Learning Center, 5 high-speed quads and famous customer service, and there's no doubt where the best ski resort is this winter!