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Stratton Mountain Ski Resort
Owned by Intrawest, the team behind Whistler and Mont Tremblant, Stratton brings big league skiing to a little spot in Vermont’s rolling Green Mountains. Climb the old fire tower at the summit to peek above the pines for a 360° view of 4 different states. Looking west you’ll spot the mountains near New York, a city with a big influence on Stratton which is called home by much of its clientele.
The New York state of mind has done a great deal for the resort and cobbled village that is its base – consistently in the top 10 for grooming, lifts, parks, food and chic boutiques. Organic meats and pre-prepped gourmet dishes are staples at the store, New York newspapers provide breakfast reads and nearby Manchester has enough discounted designer wear to send shopaholics into overdrive. Proximity to New York is also great for those wanting to combine a city break with a snow holiday and get the most mileage out of the Transatlantic flight.
If you’re not here for fine dining, luxury accommodation or the exclusive Stratton Mountain Club, chances are you’re a snowboarder. Slightly at odds with its shiny exterior, Stratton is the first stop on any one-plank pilgrimage, as this was first resort to allow boarders on its slopes (in 1983). Jake Burton started his iconic brand building prototypes in a local garage, which he would test out on Suntanner under cover of darkness. The pivotal moment came in 1985 when they started holding the US Open Snowboarding Championships here, now one of the biggest events on any respectable rider’s schedule.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Vermont, USA
Established: 1961
Open: November - April
Downhill: 670 acres / 97 runs
View our detailed Stratton Mountain snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Stratton Mountain snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Albany International Airport (ALB) | 77 miles, 1h40 |
| Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) | 150 miles, 3 hours |
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| Top Altitude: | 1181m / 3875ft |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1872ft / 571m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1872ft / 571m |
| Longest run: | 3 miles |
| Slope Orientation: | N E |
| Vertical Drop: | 611m / 2003ft |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 670 acres / 97 runs |
| Beginner slopes: | 40% |
| Intermediate: | 35% |
| Advanced slopes: | 25% |
| Lift Pass Price: | $92-105 (adult day pass) |
| Nearby resorts: Okemo, Mount Snow, Sugarbush | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Stratton Mountain
Home to the tallest peak in southern Vermont, Stratton has 97 trails over 670 acres - 160 of which are glorious glades. We could happily ride the immaculately groomed runs all week - on some of the fastest lifts for miles - but Stratton’s famous freestyle demands attention. The cradle of boarding as we know it today has a socking great SIX terrain parks.
Between the Base village and Sunbowl Lodge area, there’s a huge network of trails for a beginner - usually quiet enough to get lots of mileage (with the help of those speedy lifts). A 580-foot covered magic carpet and the Villager chairlift are the places to start, before progressing to the tree-lined runs around the Tamarack Lift. Once the knees are steeled, top to bottom beginner trail Mike's Way to Meadows to Wanderer is a thrilling 3-mile trip from the top of the mountain to the village.
The Ski School here has graduated a total of 42 Olympians and more than 100 national team members on last count, and instructors know how to help you master the basics. Check out if they still offer the Learn-to-Ski and Learn-to-Ride packages for a good way to save.
Getting into intermediate terrain, this place really pulls it out of the bag. Even double black diamond tree-skiing like Moonglade is relatively forgiving, so upper intermediates pretty much have the run of the mountain. The American Express lift services nothing but intermediate terrain, good for laps. See how much of a challenge the steep blue Sunriser Supertrail poses before moving up to placid black trails North American (wide and straight) or Polar Bear (immaculately groomed with a fun winding finish). You can also test a bump run on White Birch or Lower Spruce.
Despite being one of Vermont’s tallest mountains, Stratton isn’t the steepest, and experts will need to look further afield for death-defying descents. The steepest runs, like World Cup, are still bumpy and exhilarating, while lots of super long lanes like Kidderbrook and Liftline are perfect for going hell-for-leather – luckily these are often quiet too. Forests are also a Green Mountain forte and you’ll find lots of good glades, many not marked on the map.
As this was the resort where Burton first started shredding, boarders have to try at least one of the 6 terrain parks, where features include wooded trails, carving parks, over 70 acres of glades, bump terrain, pocket playgrounds and Stratton's Top Ten Hits. The resort is also home to the world's first snowboard school, and anyone looking to progress can get in on their expertise and book some freestyle lessons.
Stratton Mountain Apres Ski
When it comes to nightlife, Stratton generally saves itself for the weekends when the live bands and weekenders roll into town. Bars like Grizzly's stay open till the wee hours, with planet-sized pizzas to soak up whichever of the local brews you’ve been guzzling.
But a spot of 4pm weekday après is also common practice. Grizzly’s patio and indoor balcony get the busiest, but head to the Fire Tower for more sinful stuff like Rum Chata Hot Chocolate topped with Whipped Cream & Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or a Bacon Old Fashioned made with the maple syrup Vermont does better than anywhere.
Keep up a snowboard tour by heading to original boarder hangout, the Green Door pub, squirreled away in Mulligan’s basement. Early Burton boards adorn the walls, there’s a pool table, table football, plus Jägermeister and fireballs on tap.
With the New York skyline twinkling in the distance, there are obviously some decent places to eat here. Food is as locally and ethically sourced as if the fine waiters has grown it themselves at Verdé, where the tempura beans give the succulent steaks a run for their money.
Shops have a better showing than most ski resorts and include a candy shop, stationers, jewellers, and Stratton Mountain Provisions, a veritable Aladdin’s cave and with a selection far above that available in most resorts. The only real downer to do with Stratton's shopping is that almost everywhere closes by 6pm. But the nearby town of Manchester has more than 100 stores, brimming with every product imaginable and the best concentration of brand names you could hope for in one place - think Versace, Timberland, Ralph Lauren, DKNY and van Heusen.
Winter activities go well beyond just skiing and boarding. Half the joy is spending evenings on the Coca-Cola Tube Park or sledding with the Green Mountain Mushers, while other activities include fat biking, taking moonlight snowshoe treks or snowmobile tours and ice skating beneath the stars.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Stratton Mountain
Best time to visit & ski Stratton Mountain
While an average annual snowfall of 180 inches doesn’t exactly break any records, Stratton has poured money into its snowmaking systems, which now cover 93% of terrain. They’re so confident in their kit, they usually offer a “Great Snow Guarantee” which lets skiers trade lift passes for different days if they aren’t happy with conditions. The fact that the main mountain and myriad runs around the Gondola and American Express lift (including most of the parks) are shady and north facing certainly helps.
March is known as the Vermont ski month, and sees an average of 157cm at the top and 103cm at the bottom of the ski area. This is also just the time Vermont’s maple syrup comes into season, and special events like the Marchdi Gras block party and the Vermont Open boarding and music festival come to town.
Peak Dates
Shopping in Manchester takes care of last minute gifts for Christmas in Stratton, though who really needs presents when you’ve got rolling white glades, award-winning terrain parks and bacon-based cocktails for the festive season?
Kids crafts, face painting and caricaturists tend to start the fun early at New Year in Stratton, followed by a torchlight parade that incorporates a “21-jump salute” (that just has to be seen). From there the dancing, live music and champagne toasts get going at Grizzly’s and throughout the Village.
Get the most out of your week with a Half Term in Stratton, flying through New York for a city break and ski holiday in one. The kids’ holiday diaries will be overflowing.
Spend Easter in Stratton for blissful bluebird skiing and beers in T-shirts on the Grizzly deck. If you’re lucky, the rocking Minus Zero music festival may even be on.
Families in Stratton Mountain
Stratton is a pretty little package for a family ski trip, with all the luxuries of a Whistler or a Mont Tremblant in a compact cobblestoned village. Perfect corduroy, speedy modern lifts, plus renowned ski and snowboarding instruction are best enjoyed from one of the resort’s numerous ski-in, ski-out lodgings. The small things are every bit as important when you’re bringing the brood, and families love that the 4 and 6 seater chairs and gondola have room for everyone to sit together on the way up the mountain. All the New York baby boomers didn’t take much convincing, and the international onlookers agree – this resort has long held its position in the list of US resorts which rank "best in the world" for families.
The Wintersports Club programs here are known for turning out national racers and freestylers, but the Ski and Board school is every bit as talented for shorter term instruction. This is available in the KidsKamp and operates daily for 4 to 12 year olds. Children aged 4 to 6 can join 'Little Club' and 7 to 12 year olds are made welcome at 'Big Club'. Children 6 weeks to 5 years can also be looked after by KidsKare between 8am and 5pm in the fully licensed childcare centre.
Kids aren’t just “put up with” at Stratton. Most of the eateries in the resort have children's menus and sprogs are allowed to use the swimming pool in the sports centre.
GroupsGroup Holidays Stratton Mountain
You might want to keep this place all to yourself, with its high-speed lifts, flawless grooming and broad, beautiful trails that beg for wide, fast turns – but you’ll get kudos for sharing.
Off the slopes there’s plenty to keep everyone busy. Some might be travelling back to where it all began for boarding, drinking Jaeger in the Green Pub and taking turns on the floodlit halfpipe. Intrepid explorers may be getting giddy over fat biking, moonlight snowshoe treks and snow mobile tours. Or, if you’re after New York vibes with some skiing on the side, take a shopping expedition to nearby Manchester and dabble in some “fireside flow” yoga. Let group members decide which they want to do and convene at Grizzly’s to share the stories.
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