Chairlifts Are Better Than Fancy Trams. The End.
Ride them long enough and you come to view chairlifts not just as things, but as entities with lives, vibes, and personalities all their own.
4. Mad River Glen, Vermont
For many families, this hill is the foundation upon which many special ski memories are built. For diehards, Mad River Glen will always be a skier’s mountain—a rite of passage for any Vermonter who considers him or herself a true skier.
Ask a Mad River skier to sum up what makes the resort so special, and you get a laundry-list: genuinely challenging terrain highlighted by playful tree runs, cliff drops, and fast groomers; the best service imaginable thanks to employees who truly love their jobs; affordable lift tickets that aren’t scanned by robotic gates; hearty food and Sip of Sunshine IPAs at the legendary General Stark’s Pub; and a real sense of simplicity and continuity in the ever-changing climate of the American ski industry.
To summarize, this small-but-mighty ski area serves up a thrilling yet refreshing experience—a trip back in time, some would say—that’s arguably impossible to find elsewhere these days. Hop on the single chair, take in the scenery, shred the fall line, beam with joy, and repeat. – Connor W. Davis
No. 4 in the East: Mad River Glen, Vt.
Mad River Glen Mountain Stats
| Average Snowfall | Acres | Lifts | Trails |
| 228″ | 115 | 5 | 53 |
Mad River Glen Pass Info
Mad River Glen is not on any multi-resort passes. Info about MRG season passes can be found here.
Trip Planning
From lodging and and dining to off-slope activities and local tips, here are the SKI editors’ picks for what to do in Mad River Glen, Vt.
Mandatory Run
The single chair gets all the hype, and for good reason, but the abutting Sunnyside Chair has plenty of goods to offer as well. Ride it to the top, hop off left, and pop into Gazelle Glades on skier’s right for some of Vermont’s best tree skiing, filled with playful knolls and natural features.
Local Tip
If you have snow tires—and you better if you’re going skiing in Vermont—take some time to aimlessly drive the backroads of Warren and Waitsfield. They’ll transport you to a very happy place, guaranteed.
Good Value
Every year, Mad River Glen honors its original, 1949 lift ticket prices for one day, and one day only. This season’s event takes place on January 28, 2020. Full-access day tickets are—no joke—$3.50.
Best Breakfast
Stop into the Big Picture Cafe in Waitsfield. This. Place. Rules. Killer sit-down breakfast (lunch and dinner, too) seven days a week.
Challenge
Legit vert, even by Western standards, can be found here. Try Paradise, a steep and narrow glade, and Lift Line, a feature-filled run below the iconic single chair.
Local Flavor
Make it your business to stop into The Sweet Spot in Waitsfield for a cone of maple ice cream.
Value
Score free season passes for kids 12 and under with the purchase of a Family Mad Card or Adult Season Pass.
Bragging Rights
Prove yourself in the chutes of Paradise, which might be considered ice-climbing routes at less core mountains.
On-Hill Eats
General Stark’s Pub serves up soup, local beers, and a heavy dose of MRG history in the photos plastered to the walls.
Don’t Miss
Full-moon snowshoe and beer tasting with celebrity brewer Sean Lawson, who is also one of MRG’s staff naturalists.
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Furloughed Government Employees Ski Free
In response to the longest government shutdown in history, some ski resorts offers free lift tickets to furloughed government employees.
Ski Town: Burlington, Vt.
Life on Lake Champlain is rife with craft beer, delicious ice cream, groovin' tunes, and some of the best skiing the Green Mountain State has to offer.
Resorts of the Year 2019: Awards in the East
The season's best spots in the East for skiers, according to readers and editors.
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Four craft beers that honor ski areas.
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Here are the ski resorts with the best on-mountain food, because brown bagging doesn't always cut it.
It's On in the East: Deep Snow, and More Predicted
We caught up with Mad River Glen's Eric Friedman, one of the industry’s least bullshitty public relations guys, for his take on how good the skiing is. For fans of natural snow, now's the time.
Snowboarding Proves a Boon for Taos
Since allowing boarders in 2008, the resort has seen visits climb. Who’s next?
Sticking it to the Ban: "Snowboarding" at Mad River Glen
Check out SKI Magazine's author page.
Sticking it to the Ban: "Snowboarding" at Mad River Glen
Check out SKI Magazine's author page.
The Skatium
We finally found a way to enjoy all of that New England ice.
The Spa at The Sugarbush Health and Racquet Club
A variety of massages delivered to your doorstep.
Big Picture Theater and Cafe
More entertainment than a theater, and more party than a cafe.
Your Authentic Self
A day spa and wellness center that revives and rejuvenates.
Icelandic Horse Farm
View Vermont from the saddle.
Extreme Sledding
Buy local. The Mad River Rocket Sled was invented in the valley, and is still manufactured right in Warren.
MINT
If the word vegetarian makes you shudder, and you can’t go a day without a hamburger, then you’ve clearly never been to MINT.
The Warren Store
Small town Vermont charm meets big city bistro fare.
The Inn at the Mad River Barn
The coziest barn you'll ever sleep in.
West Hill House
Local wines, a mountain-themed room, and a three-course breakfast, if those three things aren’t enough to make you feel warm inside, the crackling fire will be.
American Flatbread
When the line to get in resembles the lift line on a powder day, you know you've chosen the right place to eat.
The Common Man
Fine dining in a barn? Only in Vermont will you find a place where barn raising mixes with fine wines so well.
Inbounds: Off The Map—Where To Find It
Check out Chris Fellows's author page.
Skiing the Sidecountry
Explore open bowls and unmapped trails inside the resort, then dive into untamed descents just beyond the ropes. Your next big adventure is...
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Skiers are uniting to invest in distressed hills in Vermont and BC.
Ski Industry Recognizes Best Marketing, Guest Service Programs
National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) announced the winners of the 2008/09 Marketing and Guest Service Awards.
Regional Round-Up
Check out SkiNet's Bloggers from around the country. Want to know the happening in your area? Look no further.
Sticking it to the Ban: "Snowboarding" at Mad River Glen
The video-contest winners Burton wasn't expecting.
Teague, Welgos Win Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open
Check out SKI Magazine's author page.
Right Coast Goes Green
Check out Ben Hewitt's author page.
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With a long-overdue hotel at its base, a once-glam Vermont resort is looking up.
Bread and Board
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THE INSIDE LINE: Mad River Glen, VT
Travel East
East Update: December 2001
Travel East
19th Century Farmhouse
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