Favorite Small Ski Areas

[tree_skier]

NY and overall Snow Ridge
VT (not many small ones left) Ascutney
NH Granite Gorge
MA Berkshire East
ME Big Rock

 

[SkiMangoJazz]

Berkshire East is excellent. Good challenge, some very difficult runs, good intermediate runs. When there's snow, some nice bumps too.

Lifts are not high speed, but it rarely gets crowded (except on a race day, there's a lot of racing there.)

 

[knuckledragger]

I teach at Cochrans in Richmond Vt. Great place to start the kids off.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

To be honest everytime I have skied at a small area I have enjoyed the experience. The vibe is so diferent than the big ones. The people are down to Earth. Probably cause I am a geezer but sometimes it's not just about the skiing to have a great day on the slopes and I am not talking about shopping or dining.

My fav is Shawnee Pk, heck I have even had fun at Lost Valley. Several others but they are not open anymore.

 

[loafer89]

I teach at Cochrans in Richmond Vt. Great place to start the kids off.

That is one of the last places that I have not skied in Vermont (Bear Mountain Resort is the other one). Unfortunately it was closed when we where up there in mid March, so I hope to ski there next season with my son.

 

[ChileMass]

MA - Nashoba and BEast
NH - Pat's and Crotched
ME - Titcomb and Black
NY - West and Greek Peak
VT - as stated above, there aren't any small ones anymore........Bromley and Bolton just for size differential from the big guys.....

 

[andyzee]

VT - as stated above, there aren't any small ones anymore........Bromley and Bolton just for size differential from the big guys.....

Suicide Six?

 

[loafer89]

Suicide Six?

Yes Suicide Six was alot of fun for a small place with 650' of vertical.

There is also Quechee Ski Area which I skied several years ago. It is a private ski area the ocasionally sells lift tickets to the public. The vertical is also 650'.

Middlebury Snow Bowl is also small in size with 1,020' of vertical.

 

[maplevalleymaster]

I used to love Maple Valley, VT. I also like Bromley.

 

[knuckledragger]

Hey loafer not only do I teach at cochrans but I work at Middlebury College. Thr Snow bowl is much better than Botlton could ever be and you do not get the attitude that you get elsewhere. another great small mtn.

 

[thetrailboss]

Cochran's and Middlebury Snowbowl...quite a drive between the two.

I've gotta get back to my alma mater's hill. Allen is a downright nasty trail.

 

[knuckledragger]

Where I live it takes 20 min to get to richmond and about 40 to get to the snow bowl. Compare that with 50 to 60 to get to stowe and about 2 hours to jay. A ride down to the snowbowl doesn't seem so bad. My daughter fell in love with the place during a girl scout trip.

 

[hrstrat57]

King Pine, NH

A place where I could always turn my kids loose, let em have a blast. Also has one of the steepest runs in NH (Pitch Pine)

Still get there at least one day a year, tho kids are grown....they still love the place. Mostly memories, which never get old.

Retired from teaching at Yawgoo Valley but one night a week of doing laps on Yellow Jacket when nobody is there is still great exercise and a lotta fun.....

 

[saabski]

VT: Suicide Six
actually I would consider it the best small area in New England.

 

[hrstrat57]

elaborate?

VT: Suicide Six
actually I would consider it the best small area in New England.

One of the places in New England that I always wanted to ski....tell me why you like it so much.....

I only have chkd it out in the summer while camping in the area(Quechee/ Calvin Coolidge St parks) and it looked nice.

Tell more?

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I was very impressed with Dartmouth. Crotched's snow is amazing (although I'll always miss the old trail configuration and the East Side).

B-East is tops in MA.

I guess Bear Creek doesn't quite qualify as small.

 

[Chris I]

MA - Nashoba and BEast
NH - Pat's and Crotched
ME - Titcomb and Black
NY - West and Greek Peak
VT - as stated above, there aren't any small ones anymore........Bromley and Bolton just for size differential from the big guys.....

How is Greek peak compaired to West? I learned to ride at west, haven't been back in a while, they are too expensive for what they offer. But anyway im going to Cortland next year for college and I know Greek is a stone throw away so i would love some info.

 

[jack97]

Nashoba: great times skiing with my daughter. However, she is starting to like Wa Wa

Ragged: on a good snow year, this place seems bigger than it is. They leave some of their narrow trails ungroomed. The glades are great. Overall, a nice variety of terrain and pitches.

 

[Skier75]

To be honest everytime I have skied at a small area I have enjoyed the experience. The vibe is so diferent than the big ones. The people are down to Earth. Probably cause I am a geezer but sometimes it's not just about the skiing to have a great day on the slopes and I am not talking about shopping or dining.

My fav is Shawnee Pk, heck I have even had fun at Lost Valley. Several others but they are not open anymore.

I'm with ya....I'd have to say I do like Shawnee Peak, it's a fun mountain. OMG, it soo funny you mention Lost Valley, I was going to say that....do you realize that Lost Valley is only a whopping 240 vert! I pretty much to learn on that mountain.

 

[ChileMass]

How is Greek peak compaired to West? I learned to ride at west, haven't been back in a while, they are too expensive for what they offer. But anyway im going to Cortland next year for college and I know Greek is a stone throw away so i would love some info.

Hey Chris - I spent 18 months on a long project assignment in Cortland NY back in 95-96 and skied Greek a couple times to keep from going crazy. It's not quite as large as West, but they have night skiing, the lodge is great and they have really good snowmaking, or at least I recall they did 10 years ago. Today it must be better. Anyway, it's only 5 min from downtown Cortland and a great place to go for beers even if you're not skiing. You'll definitely have fun there. The other ski areas south of Syracuse pretty much are local yokel areas (IMHO). Song, Tongennburg (or whatever it's called) aren't much. Greek is the best in the area.

Have a great time in Cortland and go to Woodman's (Woody's) on Central Street and have a draft and throw some darts for me.......