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Anyone can bounce through powder and slarve turns in Western corn snow. But if you can set an edge on a New England groomer in the dead of winter, you can really ski. Anyone who thinks that the most challenging terrain in the East can’t hold a candle to Western vertical is in for a reality check. Tight, technical glades? Check? Steep and icy chutes? Yep. Massive moguls that have never met a grooming machine? You bet.
See the Full Rankings: The Top 20 Resorts in the East for 2024
That’s what you’ll find at these 10 ski areas, voted the toughest ski resorts in the East by SKI readers in the 2024 Reader Resort Survey.
Top 10 Eastern Resorts With the Most Challenging Terrain
No. 10: Sunday River, Maine
Score: 8.00
Other Strengths: Snow, Grooming
Weaknesses: Value, Access
(Photo: Courtesy of Sunday River)What Readers Say
“I would recommend this resort to everyone. It has variety, has a good network of trails for beginners, but also steeps, glades, and challenge for those looking for it.”
“Folks who just want to cruise around on groomers can skip SR. I recommend Sunday River to anyone who likes to challenge themselves in a wide variety of terrain.”
No. 9: Gore Mountain, N.Y.
Score: 8.05
Other Strengths: Lifts, Family Friendly
Weaknesses: Dining, Lodging
What Readers Say
“Gore is Great! Good variety of terrain. Great cruisers and challenging black diamond runs.”
“Experienced skiers have a variety of challenging slopes and my personal favorite is the long winding runs through the woods.”
No. 8: Stowe Mountain Resort, Vt.
Score: 8.14
Other Strengths: Dining, Lodging
Weaknesses: Snow, Value
What Readers Say
“The access to challenging terrain is the best in the East. ”
“Challenging and classic New England ski resort in a quintessential New England town.”
No. 7: Jay Peak, Vt.
Score: 8.47
Other Strengths: Snow, Value
Weaknesses: Grooming, Lifts
What Readers Say
“Great terrain, great people, challenging mountain, good “backcountry” accessible terrain, even for east coast resort.”
“Jay keeps it real, and the skiing challenge and terrain are fantastic.”
No. 6: Sugarbush Resort, Vt.
Score: 8.52
Other Strengths: Terrain Variety, Family Friendly
Weaknesses: Snow, Grooming
What Readers Say
“Good combination of proximity to my home, challenging terrain, good conditions, and IKON pass area.”
“[I] like the resort for the terrain, it’s got some pretty challenging stuff.”
No. 5: Killington Resort, Vt.
Score: 8.57
Other Strengths: Lifts, Après
Weaknesses: Family, Value
What Readers Say
“Killington offers a wide variety of terrain and it is easy to get around the mountain to find the fun and challenging trails.”
“For skiers that like to be challenged, Killington would be a good choice. ”
No. 4: Sugarloaf Resort, Maine
Score: 8.58
Other Strengths: Terrain Variety, Lodging
Weaknesses: Parking, Access
What Readers Say
“Sugarloaf is easily one of the top resorts in the east due to its size, terrain variety, and the majority of its lodging being ski-in/ski-out.”
“Recommended for hardcore skiers.”
No. 3: Cannon Mountain, N.H.
Score: 8.91
Other Strengths: Parking, Access
Weaknesses: Snow, Grooming
What Readers Say
“Recommended for hard-chargers and families because it offers great, challenging terrain but also some cruisers and milder terrain that allows young ones and less experienced skiers to develop their skills.”
“The natural terrain is great for a skier that wants challenge and variety.”
No. 2: Smugglers’ Notch, Vt.
Score: 9.15
Other Strengths: Grooming, Parking
Weaknesses: Lifts, Après
What Readers Say
“The resort has great options for the whole family. The kids have plenty of beginner terrain, hard chargers can get challenged on Madonna, and the woods off of Sterling will keep anybody entertained all day.”
“Hidden gems abound for experts looking to challenge themselves. Wonderful for children, in particular, the highlands lift.”
No. 1: Mad River Glen, Vt.
Score: 9.90
Other Strengths: Terrain Variety, Value
Weaknesses: Grooming, Nightlife
What Readers Say
“The terrain is varied and challenging and yet there is more than enough for every level. The woods are epic. The snowmaking and grooming get better and better each year. It’s a place for kids and old ones and everyone in between. It is not a resort; it is a skier’s paradise!!”
“Although its bumper sticker says “SKI IT IF YOU CAN” sounds intimidating, it really means: if you can get here, by all means, ski it. There are plenty of beginner and intermediate groomed trails, and for the more extreme skiers, trails like Fall Line and Paradise along with hundreds of acres of maintained woods will challenge the best.”