Ski, Stay & Store Vermont: A Guide to the Slopes of Burlington, VT

Skiing is a favorite winter pastime in the state of Vermont and Burlington, a vibrant little city at the edge of Lake Champlain, offers some of the best skiing the state has to offer. The city is the largest in the state and is home to the University of Vermont, Ben & Jerry’s and the city’s largest airport, making it a very popular tourist destination. As for skiing, there are several options within an hour of downtown.

Best Burlington, VT Skiing Destinations

If you are getting ready to plan your next Vermont skiing adventure, here are a few resorts very near Burlington that you really must consider.

Cochran’s Ski Area

20 minutes outside of downtown Burlington, sits Cochran’s Ski Area in Richmond, VT. It was the nation’s first nonprofit ski area with a mission to provide area youth and families affordable skiing and snowboarding, lessons, and race training. It is certainly not the biggest mountain on this list, but it’s where most of the local kids learn to ski and it’s turned out more than its fair share of Olympic skiers and medal-winners. You’ll enjoy two rope tows, a 500 foot vertical drop, night skiing, a variety of runs and an incredible community vibe.

Bolton Valley

Bolton Valley Ski Resort is another local favorite. It’s located in Bolton Valley, about 25 minutes from Burlington. It gets an average 300 inches of snowfall each year and has 6 lifts for its 71 runs, three terrain parks and some of the best backcountry skiing around. There’s plenty here to keep both beginners and experts entertained, plus it’s affordable for families and college students. They also have night skiing, a Nordic center and a sports center with a pool and hot tub.

Stowe Mountain Resort

Stowe Mountain Resort is a massive, upscale winter wonderland. It’s located on Mount Mansfield, just outside Stowe, less than an hour from Burlington. The ski resort has 116 trails with over 480 acres of skiable terrain and 13 lifts. The lines can get long, but the views from the top are unreal. A true winter resort, they offer plenty of other activities in addition to skiing, including ice skating, cross-country skiing, a spa and dining at their cliff-side restaurant.

Smugglers’ Notch

Also under an hour from Burlington, in Cambridge is Smuggler’s Notch. This family-friendly resort spans three mountains with eight lifts, 84 runs and a huge variety of terrain for beginners, experts, and everything in between. Backcountry skiing is also an option. The resort is small village with plenty of lodging, dining and entertainment options within walking distance.

Sugarbush Resort

One of the largest ski resorts in New England, and just one hour from Burlington, this list would not be complete without Sugarbush Resort. It is a fantastically large ski resort in the Mad River valley in Warren, Vermont. It offers a higher-end skiing experience and sits on more than 4,000 acres total, 484 acres of which are skiable. It has 53 miles of trails and 16 ski lifts. There are two distinct base areas: Lincoln Peak Village and Mount Ellen Lodge. Lincoln Peak is the larger of the two base areas and has more amenities, but you’ll find lots of long, satisfying runs at both.

Vermont Ski Storage

When it’s time to put your skis away, make sure you have a nice place to store them and keep them safe. Log Ski Rack creates storage racks for skis and snowboards that are both beautiful and functional. Our high-quality ski racks are handcrafted from northern white cedar logs and provide excellent ski storage for homes, resorts and more. Shop our ski racks online now and get free shipping to the Burlington, VT or contact us for a custom ski rack to meet your unique storage needs.