Stratton Mountain, Vt.
Manicured trails and fine dining combine with high quality terrain parks and tree skiing at this Vermont resort.
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Stratton did the village thing way before the village thing was cool, and today it’s still the defining element of the place. Gone is the fake Austrian theme, a product of its time. But it’s still a treat, after a day on the slopes, to get out of your ski boots and saunter among the shops and restaurants, perhaps trying to decide where to eat that night. Or dinner could be your own creation back at the condo. Stratton specializes in big, fancy ones, with fully equipped kitchens and full-size dining tables.
You won’t need your car. You can walk or take a quick shuttle everywhere. And best of all, by coming to Stratton, you’ve got extra time to relax and enjoy it all: As readers repeatedly point out, “It’s the closest, best mountain in Vermont. I can get there in 3.5 [hours] from the office.” Presumably that’s an office in New York City, from which so many Stratton skiers hail. They’d give it an even higher rank for Travel Ease (No. 8), but they’re New Yorkers, so, meh, they’ve seen better. But even they have to give grudging compliments to the work of Stratton’s capable grooming staff, which works miracles in the worst of New England winters. And as for terrain, Stratton’s many long, swoopy, top-to-bottom cruisers can be counted on to scour off the big-city shell. “An unexpectedly awesome place.” — Joe Cutts
2021 SKI Reader Rank for Stratton Mountain: No. 14 in the East
| Average Snowfall | Acres | Lifts | Trails |
| 180″ | 670 | 11 | 97 |
- DOWN-DAY ACTIVITY: When it’s time to do your thing for the consumer economy, nearby Manchester’s famous outlet shops—including Orvis, of course—are there for you.
- LOCAL TIP: Not just day-trippers, but even some Stratton condo dwellers have been known to drive to Sun Bowl. Easy parking, great new lodge, mellow terrain drenched with morning light.
Read about No. 15 in the East: Snowshoe Mountain, W.Va.
Want to see who was No. 13 in the East? Read about Stowe, Vt.
Featured Article for Stratton Mountain: The Changing of the Guard
Stratton Mountain’s 2020 SKI Magazine Reader Resort Survey Rank: 13th in the East
For New Yorkers, a Vermont ski weekend can mean as much as eight hours of driving one-way … or as little as four, which is what it takes to get to Stratton. Maybe if it were farther, Stratton skiers would appreciate the place more, but as usual they seem a little tough with their rankings. No. 13 for Lodging and Travel Ease? No. 17 for Scenery? Even Stratton’s highest mark—No. 6 for Nightlife—seems low to anyone who has ever partied at the Green Door.
It’s always easy to spot less deserving resorts with higher rankings, but reader comments tell a different story. No one describes Stratton as an expert’s paradise (No. 19 for Terrain), but it’s clear that there’s real love for the place—for the busy village, the reliably well-groomed cruisers, speedy lifts, luxurious lodgings, and splendid summit views. “Helpful staff ”… “Family-friendly” … “I’ve never had a bad day at Stratton.”
And those stingy rankings? Maybe they’re just trying to keep the place to themselves. — Joe Cutts
Stratton Mountain’s 2020 SKI Magazine Reader Resort Survey Rank: 13th in the East
- APRÈS-SKI: The party-hearty deck at the Grizzly, with its view of the base area and terrain park, makes all the other great après-ski decks of the East feel a little insecure.
- DINNER PICK: Try the 21-hour pork belly at Verde or Wiener Schnitzel at the new Fire Tower, then explain how Stratton only ranks No. 11 for Dining.
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SKI Magazine’s 2019 Review of Stratton, Vt.
Stratton is a classy place, long a destination for affluent metropolitan skiers who like the easy drive to its southern Vermont slopes. And as you’d expect at a place that feels a little like a country club on snow, Stratton’s trails are as immaculately groomed as any fairways. High-speed lifts and solid-blue cruisers, clean and spiffy lodges, a private slopeside clubhouse, a thriving race academy, and a base-area promenade lined with shops and fine restaurants seal the deal for the Westchester County families, many of whom have been loyal Stratton skiers for decades.
Come to Stratton Mountain for the…
- DINNER RESERVATION Fire Tower for a Bacon Old Fashioned and the signature Ahi nachos.
- MANDATORY RUN Limber up on Sunriser Supertrail, then hop the quad and hit sun-soaked Shooting Star first thing.
- APRÈS SPOT Totally redone this past season, Grizzly’s is bigger and better with more live music.