Snowsure: 3.9
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Stowe is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Stowe Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
September 13, 2018
EasternSkiier from
USA - California
EasternSkiier from
USA - California
I've skied New England for over 30 years and Stowe is in my "Top 3" category ... and those three are pretty much tied, each having their own charms.
What I love about Stowe:
Consistently the best conditions of any mountain in the area. They've invested heavily in their snowmaking in the past 8-10 years, and it's really paid off. They've got all state-of-the-art equipment covering 80% of their terrain.
Consistent pitch ... top to bottom. There's no traversing. No ski this trail to get to that trail, yadda yadda. You ski this mountain from top to bottom with no long run-outs, etc... to get back to the lift.
"Chill" ski patrol. Unlike other mountains, the ski patrol at Stowe doesn't act like a police force. If you don't get hurt or act like a jerk, you'll hardly see them all day at this mountain. That said, this is the oldest and possibly best-trained ski patrol in the US. They take great pride in their history and professionalism, and when you need them they'll be there in a heartbeat and provide you the best of care.
The trails at Stowe are great, especially the Expert terrain. But where Stowe really shines is the vast amount of off-piste skiing available. It is possible to ski from top to bottom without needing to ski a trail (except maybe to cross one) inbounds. Stowe has a boundary to boundary skiing policy, so as long as you enter and exit from open terrain, it's all fair game. If you venture out of bounds, there's about as much easily accessible acreage as there is inbounds. There are a number of factors that make the out of bounds terrain so good. First is that many of the original trails that were cut on Mansfield in the 30's actually didn't end up being incorporated into the modern-day resort. However, those trails still exist, and are skiable ... though for some of them, you'll end up in Underhill State Park, so you'd better have a ride home planned. There is one called "The Bruce" which ends near "The Matterhorn", about two miles down Mountain Road from the resort where you can grab the free shuttle back to the lifts. Heading into the off-piste areas to the North of the gondola provides a huge wooded playground that drops you into the Notch, and you can ski down the closed part of 108 and then it's a short walk back to the gondi. There is much of the out of bounds terrain that is "unofficially" maintained and thinned by the local ski bums during the off-season ... so lots of great secrets to discover.
Finally, since being recently acquired by Vail Resorts, the ticket prices have been moderated some. If you walk up to the window, prepare to be gouged. However, if you buy your ticket online at least 48-hours in advance, you save a considerable sum. Also, Stowe is part of the "Epic Pass", so if you buy a season pass, you gain access to (as of this writing) Stowe, Okemo and Sunapee in the East, plus all of Vail's Western properties. An EpicPass can be had for under $1000 and provides unrestricted access to 65 resorts around the world.
December 02, 2016
DH from
USA - California
DH from
USA - California
it was said best in 2003: "Stowe is probably the closest you can come to western skiing in the East, unless you have skied at Tuckerman Ravine. But the best of Stowe is not on the trail map, other than Goat, Lookout and Starr, but off piste." The locals take pride in their off-piste skiing from Vermont's highest peak! I am really not sure why Stowe get's so much flack for long lift lines. Have you ever been to the other areas on a busy day? Same lift line except it takes you twice as long to get to the top of the mountain and you may still have to take another lift to get to the top. You can ski twice if not 3X the vertical in one day at Stowe when compared to the other areas in Vermont. Yes, each area has it's own unique charm, but no one matches the skiing at Stowe. Not even close.
[note from the editor: names not included in reviews.]
March 12, 2012
GS from
USA - California
GS from
USA - California
I have always loved Stowe, and their diversity of trails and quality of snow has vastly improved over the past ten years. Sprice Peak, which once was not always open due to lack of snowmaking is now open most of the time and has one of the best and most scenic trails in new emglans..Sterling. I can spend half of my day on this trail and not get bored. That being said the are is becoming much less inviting to me, but not because of the mountain. It has become too expensive especially for a family. Try $15.00 hambugers and $20.00 sandwiches. The lift tickets are now $92! Even my well to do friends are starting to avoid this resort. The management has been trying to be the Aspen of the East for some time, but they are forgetting the people who have made this mountain great in the first place. Please Stowe, bring back the charm and consideration for your family skiers and get your prices in line with other areas. Now, also be aware that you can not just get your young, new skiers lessons for an hour or two. You have to buy the whole day program at $175. Sorry, I don't have $1000 to drop on one days skiing for five people.
February 26, 2012
the schusser from
USA - California
the schusser from
USA - California
I skied Stowe 70 days last year. I'd say 90-80 percent of the trails are intermediate. If you are looking to learn how to ski, Stowe and Smuggs are probably the best places in the area. A powder day is a powder day, but of all the places I've skied, the crown for the longest lift lines goes to Stowe. If you're looking for $92/day worth of skiing, go out West. In Vermont, Jay; Mad River Glen and Sugarbush offer a better experience with fewer people.
There is a "but" though. If you're looking to ski the backcountry, Stowe is the town to be in. You are in the middle of three mountain ranges, all of which offer excellent touring for turns style skiing. Mansfield gets crowded, but offers excellent off-piste terrain. If you are looking for a more guided backcountry experience, head over to the Trapp Family Lodge, they have excellent instructors and trails, not to mention other offerings.
Both the Worcester Range and the Sterling Range have a good system of trails on them that you might just want to explore too.
December 19, 2011
rocka from
USA - California
rocka from
USA - California
April 28, 2009
Bob R from
USA - California
Bob R from
USA - California
Stowe is a top-notch eastern ski area. The runs are long and varied, the snow deep by East Coast standards, and the decision to stop the lifts short of the summit of Mansfield means no death-defying, wind-scoured descents are required to reach skiable terrain (unlike Jay Peak, for example).
All that said, any comparisons to the West are misplaced. The weather is still bitter cold and overcast, the snow rock hard when not scary ice, and the trails narrow and over-crowded. The woods are better, but Stowe has been slower than most eastern resorts to create skiable gladed areas by thinning the trees. Sure, you can enjoy the non-thinned areas with little company if you are a superb skier. However, for the rest of us, the prospect of skiing on a 60 percent pitch in a field full of closely spaced telephone poles is not overly inviting.
January 22, 2009
RB from
USA - California
RB from
USA - California
Stowe does not average anything close to 350 inches a year. The University of Vermont maintains a snowstake at 3900 ft on Mt. Mansfied and takes daily measurements. The 50-year average snowfall is 205 inches and the all time record (1970) is about 330 inches. Since the snowstake is above the top of the ski area, Stowe probably receives about half the advertised 350 inches at its 2300 ft mid-mountain elevation (the proper place to measure snowfall). You can check the UVM site on the web.
November 20, 2003
snowbum from
USA - California
snowbum from
USA - California
Stowe is definitely the best in the east, hands down. Unlike all other resorts in the east, pretty much, it is all top to bottom on Vermont's highest peak. But the real deal is all off the trail and in the trees. Just amazing lines, crazy hits, natural tree slides, 10-15ft dropoffs that just appear out of nowhere, and filled with powder. While all the folks on the trails complain about eastern hardpack, you'll find me in the trees riding on the powder. Resorts in the east are finally waking up to the fact that the trees hold the snow much better than open trails. Just check out Jay Peak. Jay gets outrageous snowfalls, and really is the all about the snow. I've been there often and experienced three consecutive days of snowfall, ending up in 40+ inches. I am not making this stuff up either. They average over 350 inches a year. That is great for an eastern resort and not too bad when compared to the western resorts, like vail and others (i don't want to get into a east vs west thing, hey if you have passion and live in the east, you'll find very good stuff to keep you busy). They have a great glade network, but their only downfall is the short vertical and lots of runouts at the end when you want to hit the really good stuff. overall i stick with stowe since you can spend a lot of time on every trail, on and off piste.
If anyone wants more info on stowe or jay, or the others in new england (i've rode them all, including tucks every year for the last 10 years), just send me a line.
pray for snow
August 17, 2003
Ian Dempsey from
USA - California
Ian Dempsey from
USA - California
Nearest