How to Do a Weekend in Mount Snow, Vermont

Located an easy drive away from both New York City and Boston, Mount Snow is the place to go if you’re looking for a big mountain weekend getaway. With 600 acres of terrain, events every winter weekend, and slope-side lodging, you can make the most of your precious weekend time here.

How to Do a Weekend in Mount Snow, Vermont

Hotel: It’s hard to miss first chair if you’re staying at The Grand Summit Hotel, which is located right next to the chairlift (with some rooms offering a direct view of the lift, so you can see if there’s a line when you’re ready to go). This slope-side hotel has a free ski valet, so you can store your equipment overnight and simply grab it and go in the morning.

Friday: After an easy drive, you should arrive just in time for dinner. Harriman’s Farm to Table restaurant is conveniently located in the Grand Summit Hotel, and has live music on Fridays and Saturday nights.

Saturday: If you’ve planned ahead and brought breakfast to make in your hotel room (studios and above have kitchens), you can roll right out of bed, eat, and be on the chairlift in less than 30 minutes.

It’s never too cold to ski at Mount Snow, thanks to their bubble chairlifts (a rarity in New England), which protect riders from the cold and wind. There are 86 trails to explore, ranging from tough black diamond glades to long and easy green circles.

If you’re in need of a mid-day break, The Bullwheel, located at the summit has great views (especially from the outdoor observation deck if it’s warm enough) to enjoy lunch from.

Mount Snow has festivals or events nearly every weekend during the ski season, so make sure you check their calendar when planning your trip. I visited during their annual Reggaefest, and highly recommend it. Bands play music during the day on a big open air stage at the base of the mountain, setting a festive atmosphere for the day. This is also the weekend that the resort holds the Pond Skim competition, in which entrants try to ski or snowboard across a 100-foot icy cold pond, with points being awarded based on costume and style. If you’ve never seen someone in a hot dog costume try (and fail spectacularly) to make it across a pond, I can vouch that it is hilarious. The Duct Tape Derby is also held this weekend, and is a soap-box racer style sledding event for kids and adults.

Sunday: Since Mount Snow likely isn’t too far of a drive for you, you can ski or snowboard until last chair (4pm) and maximize your mountain time. Even if you’re not ready to hit big jumps yet, make sure you visit the Carinthia peak at Mount Snow, which has a number of different terrain parks—you can see some skiers and snowboarders doing some pretty impressive tricks here.

Mount Snow Bars & Restaurants

• Harriman’s Farm to Table
• The Bullwheel
• Cuzzins Bar & Grill

Mount Snow Attractions

• A ride in Mount Snow’s bubble chairlift
• Watching the action at Carinthia terrain parks
• Weekend festivals/events
• Long John Trail (3.1 miles)

More from SmarterTravel:

• The 30 Ski Trip Essentials You Need for a Winter Vacation Rental
• The Ultimate Ski Trip Packing List
• 9 Winter Travel Essentials for Your Next Trip

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Caroline was hosted by Mount Snow. Follow Caroline’s adventures around New England and the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline .