Stowe, Vermont is difficult to top for travelers who are looking for a beautiful and inviting vacation destination to enjoy. In every season of the year, Stowe provides locals and visitors alike with access to that quintessential New England charm and small-town appeal rivaled only by the beauty of the natural surroundings. Stowe enjoys a place in the Green Mountains and is a top destination on the map for those who are looking to adventure and relish time in the great outdoors. It’s also a place where it’s easy to spend time exploring the historic village, popping in and out of boutique shops, or curbing a craving at one of the many palate-pleasing eateries in town. If you’re someone who is looking to boost your Stowe itinerary with experiences at local festivals and art galleries, there’s a long lineup of options to enjoy here as well.
A Perhaps Unexpected, Yet Ideal Ski Destination
While you might not think of New England right off the bat when planning a ski getaway, a single ski-focused adventure to Stowe will likely have you heading back this way year after year alongside family and friends who share your passion for winter recreation. While places like Utah and Colorado have a way of toping traveler lists in the wintertime in terms of ski resorts, with skis and snowboards in hand, you’ll find Stowe has just as much, if not even more to offer in the way of downhill fun and thrills for skiers of all skill levels and route preferences. Stowe Mountain Resort is a one-of-a-kind ski getaway for solo travelers, couples looking to enjoy a ski getaway, and family vacations in the wintertime alike. It’s located just an hour from Burlington and no more than 3.5 hours from Boston, making it a convenient place to set your sights this ski season. Winter is the time of year to create unforgettable ski getaway memories and if you have seven days to spare in the name of downhill fun, the following ultimate Stowe ski guide is designed to help you make the most of every moment ahead.
Get Familiar with the Ski Adventure Setup Ahead of Time
If you want to maximize your time on the Stowe Mountain Resort slopes, having an understanding of how the resort is set up ahead of time is always beneficial. Stowe Mountain Resort is comprised of not just one, but two mountains which include Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield. Between the two peaks, you’ll find easy access to Spruce Peak Village. This design gives travelers convenient options to pick and choose between varying slopes and stops to rest up and fuel up according to their preferred getaway pace. Stowe Mountain Resort’s two mountain peaks are connected by a gondola which makes for a simple transition between the base areas. When it comes to overall dimensions, Mount Mansfield is larger and typically a favorite among expert skiers. Snowboarders and intermediate skiers also find plenty of great runs at Mount Mansfield while beginners can keep this locale in mind for future runs when they have the basics down with confidence. Mount Mansfield is also designed with its own gondola in place that takes you to the summit and its here that you can also access on-site dining like the iconic Cliff House restaurant when cravings come calling.
Over at Spruce Peak, you’ll find yourself face-to-face with the ideal place to slow things down or learn to ski and snowboard for the first time. This area is packed with inviting beginner-level trails and there’s also a charming terrain park on the mountain’s right side that’s great for little ones in your traveling crew this winter. The inclusion of a magic carpet and enclosed bubble makes getting to the top of your runs a breeze and there are plenty of lesson options to book here as well. At the base of Spruce Peak, you can easily pair your downhill fun with great shopping, dining, and even ice skating with the entire family!
Purchasing Passes Made Simple
Stowe Mountain Resort is part of the greater Vail Resorts mountain organization, meaning you can easily purchase an Epic Pass for easy and budget-friendly access to the slopes. There are two varieties of passes that are typically purchased including the full Epic Pass or the Epic Pass Local. If you go ahead and invest in the full pass, you can plan your ski getaway to Stowe without having to adhere to any date restrictions. Alternatively, the Epic Pass local has unlimited Stowe skiing options at the resort but you will have to work around designated holiday blackout dates. If you know you’re only going to be able to hit the slopes a time or two this ski season, purchasing the Northeast Value Pass instead is a good choice. This gives you access to over 20 resorts in the Northeast capped at a maximum of 10 days of skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort with holiday restrictions in place too. Beyond the passes that many ski enthusiasts purchase when wintertime comes around in Stowe, visitors excited to enjoy the fresh powder can also choose to simply purchase individual ski passes according to their needs. These are available at the lift ticket window and there are often group discounts available upon request.
Perfect Times to Visit
While it’s hard to go wrong when you head to Stowe any time in the winter to enjoy a ski getaway, if you’re looking for the most fresh powder to enjoy while you’re here, a January visit is your best bet. January not only sees the most snowfall annually in the area but is also typically the coldest month of the year in this area. The combination makes for great ski conditions because chances for local rain do tend to increase as the ski season makes its way into February and March.
If you’re a group of ski enthusiasts heading to Stowe this winter who are looking to avoid the crowds, you’ll want to try to avoid weekend outings and instead, focus on planning a winter trip that has you hitting the slopes during the weekdays. Lift lines are always longer in January and February because of the ideal snow and temperature conditions, but if you’re willing to risk a little rain, you can enjoy more space at the resort in March and early April toward the end of ski season.
For travelers who don’t live close enough to drive and are flying into Stowe for a ski getaway, plan on booking tickets for Tuesdays or Wednesdays if you want to enjoy significant savings on airfare. Many travelers opt to fly into Burlington, Vermont on Tuesdays or Wednesdays to avoid weekend travel crowds as well as business travelers heading in on Monday and out on Thursdays.
No matter when you find yourself in Stowe to make the most of an amazing adventure on the slopes at Stowe Mountain Resort, you’ll want to stay as close to the mountains as possible. Booking a vacation rental within easy reach of the slopes eliminates the need to worry about timely transportation or whether or not you’ll have enough parking options on-site. When you book a close stay, you can let go of stress and focus on maximizing your time on the trails instead.
Ski Run Guide
Stowe Mountain Resort is packed with incredible ski runs for beginners, intermediate skies, and advanced athletes alike. Moving between runs of varying difficulty levels is simple when you hop on the inter-mountain transfer gondola which spans Vermont’s Route 108 and can accommodate 10 at a time. The resort’s 116 runs span more than 40 miles and are enhanced by the area’s average of 314 inches of annual snowfall each ski season. In total, there are 12 lifts to choose from that boast an hourly uphill capacity of over 15,500 passengers. Broken down by skill level percentage, 16% of Stowe Mountain Resort’s runs are beginner level while 55% are marked intermediate, and 29% are designed for experts. The highest skiing elevation here is 3,625 feet while Mount Mansfield has a summit elevation of 4,395 feet. The snowmaking coverage during a typical ski season at Stowe Mountain Resort is around 83%.
While setting aside enough time to explore all of the local ski runs fit to your particular ski level is advisable, if you’re limited on time, there are a few you won’t want to miss. If you’re an experienced skier looking to tackle some impressive steeps, the run known as Waterfall is a must-add to your lineup. This run is fast but includes an under-gondola chute and the route gets its name from the runoff that you’ll be faced with during a late winter thaw. It’s a run that’s not for the faint of heart! If you’re relatively new to skiing, the run named Main Street is a great starting point and is often pointed out as one of the best cruiser routes across the resort. It’s a blue level run that’s easy to navigate and refreshingly wide while offering up beautiful Green Mountain views everywhere you look. Those who are up for a challenge with wide steeps will love National, while Goat is a great run for adventure seekers wanting to conquer boulders, streams, and winding full ledges.
Beginner’s Tips
Above all, beginners heading to Stowe Mountain Resort excited to learn Stowe skiing for the first time will want to take full advantage of the resort’s exceptional instruction team of experts, or to continue with this Stowe backcountry guide. There are top-rated ski schools on-site for kids and adults alike and you always have options to pick and choose between group or private lessons depending on your comfort level and needs. A ski lesson is certainly worth the added investment when you want to make sure you have a strong foundations of basics in place before putting your skills to work on the slopes. These lessons focus on technique and confidence building alike so you’re ready to head out and make the most of the fun at your personalized pace. In the event you’ve booked your ski getaway using the above-mentioned Epic Pass, there are typically discounts of up to 20% offered as a bonus for group ski lessons as part of your purchase. Children as young as three are invited to take part in ski lessons at Stowe Mountain Resort and there are full-day clinics offered here as well.
Once you’ve had your lessons and you’re ready to head out on your own, focus your time on the Spruce Peak side of the resort. Make it a point to warm up on the magic carpet and use The Meadows Quad to get mid-way up the mountain with ease. Here, you can access beginner and intermediate trails that will have you feeling comfortable and able to navigate confidently.
Ski Guide for Advanced Skiers
If your seven day getaway to Stowe Mountain Resort is designed so you can put your expert skills to work on the slopes, this is a resort that never fails to impress. Kick things off at the Mount Mansfield side of the resort which is where you’ll focus most of your time on intermediate and expert runs. The Mount Mansfield gondola provides you with great views on your way to the summit and if you want to warm up with an easy run first, Perry Merrill is always a good choice. Once you’re feeling warm, make the most of the thrills waiting for you on Nosedive and the double diamond known as Bypass. Both have long, steep lines that are sure to provide the adrenaline-pumping fun you’ve been searching for! Nosedive Glades is up next and includes a consistent pitch and trees to maneuver around. Taking the Fourrunner Quad to the top of the mountain and turning left onto Lord Loop puts you within easy reach of Lookout. From here, you can make your way to Lookout Glades which links up with Starr—another great option for fresh tracks. Before you leave for the day, you’ll want to make sure you make time to run Goat and Upper Goat which is another terrific double diamond.
Lodging
When your ski adventure brings you to Stowe, making sure you have accommodations in place that are close to the slopes, feature impeccable amenities, and provide easy access to on-site fun is a must. That’s where booking your stay at The Spruce Peak Lodge through Stowe Mountain Rentals comes in. The Lodge at Spruce Peak sits in the heart of Spruce Peak Village and here, you’re welcome to book accommodations that fit your needs seamlessly from among anywhere from 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom retreats packed with amazing features and furnishings. There are elegant suites to enjoy for added luxury and options for booking rentals with full kitchens, balconies, custom-built bedrooms, and impressive entertainment setups in place too. Guests can enjoy access to on-site hot tubs to warm up after a day on the slopes and great dining and spa services are at your fingertips as well. Reach out today to learn more and to start turning your ideal ski vacation to Stowe into a reality soon!
