Most Over/Under Rated Ski Resorts

[Conrad]

I compare Killington to the Vancouver Canucks. When the Canucks were rated the "most overrated team in the NHL," the Canucks couldn't believe it and were like, 'we won the President's Trophy, we made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, how can we be overrated?" Well that is actually the reason why. Because they are so good, they have everyone's attention and everyone will jump on even the smallest flaws. It doesn't help Killington's cause when everyone comes on here proclaiming that it is the "best mountain in the East" and it is "King of Spring" because everyone else is now looking at their home mountain and saying wait a minute, my mountain is just as good in that category. For an example, many Killington fans proclaimed Killington "King of Spring" the Monday after Sugarloaf and Sugarbush closed, which in my opinion is just asking for criticism. First of all, the slogan comes from Sugarloaf and secondly many people care more about quality (conditions, amount of terrain) than quantity (number of days open).

I am not a "vocal opponent" of Killington. I think it is a great ski area.
However, you might consider me a "vocal opponent" of people who state their opinions as facts about how Killington is the better than everyone else. If one were to say "Killington is the best in the East in my opinion," that is fine and I might say why I think my favorite mountain is the best. However, when people say "Killington is hands down the best in the East," I am going to go out there and say why I think they are wrong.

Maybe this post was uncalled for because there has actually been more discussion on Sugarbush than Killington. However, I am curious what people think.

No one is out there proclaiming a small ski area "overrated" and there is a reason why.

 

[Gilligan]

Maybe this post was uncalled for because there has actually been more discussion on Sugarbush than Killington.

Yep. Physician, heal thyself.

 

[Newpylong]

Underrated: Gore
Over: Okemo

 

[SkiRaceParent]

Here's my take:

Underrated: Burke, Sugarloaf, Smuggler's Notch (note: nearly anything that's hard to get to without the fluffiness that the wine and cheese crowd requires these days)

Overrated: Loon, Cannon, Sunday River (note: I find that Loon is too crowded; Cannon has awfully slow lifts and the best runs require you to either freeze (cannonball chair) or ski on a single route nearly every run (tram) and Sunday River is like 5 gunstocks all laid out horizontally, none with anything worthy of going).

 

[Conrad]

Originally Posted by Conrad: Maybe this post was uncalled for because there has actually been more discussion on Sugarbush than Killington.
Originally Posted by Gilligan: Yep.

The irony...
Alright, done with that, don't want to get into any back and forth battle since this thread is not about which ski areas are better.

 

[snowmonster]

I have a different take on Sunday River. I actually think that it's underrated and some posts here have confirmed that for me. As far as I am concerned, there's more to it than what people see. Yes, it is short, does not have ridiculous steeps and has a lot of wide groomers. But, if this is all you see of this place, then you're just scratching the surface. I've always thought that the tree-skiing here is severely underrated. The off-the-map stuff is superb but, even if you don't know a local, there's still a lot of on-map stuff to keep things very interesting. I'm a glade hound and SR delivers the goods (when the snow fills in, of course). Sometimes, I'll just hit SR and be in the glades all day. It's a totally different resort when you see it from this perspective.

 

[Edd]

I have a different take on Sunday River. I actually think that it's underrated and some posts here have confirmed that for me. As far as I am concerned, there's more to it than what people see. Yes, it is short, does not have ridiculous steeps and has a lot of wide groomers. But, if this is all you see of this place, then you're just scratching the surface. I've always thought that the tree-skiing here is severely underrated. The off-the-map stuff is superb but, even if you don't know a local, there's still a lot of on-map stuff to keep things very interesting. I'm a glade hound and SR delivers the goods (when the snow fills in, of course). Sometimes, I'll just hit SR and be in the glades all day. It's a totally different resort when you see it from this perspective.

Could not agree more with this post.

 

[Conrad]

Could not agree more with this post.

Same with me.

 

[dlague]

Here's my take:

Underrated: Burke, Sugarloaf, Smuggler's Notch (note: nearly anything that's hard to get to without the fluffiness that the wine and cheese crowd requires these days)

Overrated: Loon, Cannon, Sunday River (note: I find that Loon is too crowded; Cannon has awfully slow lifts and the best runs require you to either freeze (cannonball chair) or ski on a single route nearly every run (tram) and Sunday River is like 5 gunstocks all laid out horizontally, none with anything worthy of going).

Those are good picks!

 

[dlague]

I have a different take on Sunday River. I actually think that it's underrated and some posts here have confirmed that for me. As far as I am concerned, there's more to it than what people see. Yes, it is short, does not have ridiculous steeps and has a lot of wide groomers. But, if this is all you see of this place, then you're just scratching the surface. I've always thought that the tree-skiing here is severely underrated. The off-the-map stuff is superb but, even if you don't know a local, there's still a lot of on-map stuff to keep things very interesting. I'm a glade hound and SR delivers the goods (when the snow fills in, of course). Sometimes, I'll just hit SR and be in the glades all day. It's a totally different resort when you see it from this perspective.

We don't mind Sunday River - but the distance away makes it a one or two times and done resort! I like to consider cost/value/distance into the equation! Your points on the glades are intriguing - unfortunately we have been there 5 times over 4 years and never had good glade days! Need better planning I guess.

 

[thetrailboss]

Killington is over rated because Pico is under rated...

+ 1.

I guess we have to agree to disagree. Gate House is cruising terrain, don't know what else you'd call it. Besides that's only one of many cruisers I mentioned at Lincoln. You complain about the short run out at the bottom of Super Bravo then go on to suggest that the way to avoid the long run out under the lower chair at Ellen is to take the long upper traverse over to Inverness, doesn't make much sense to me. North Ridge chair at Ellen basicly has two cruisers off the top then opens up more down lower off one of them, the other goes to the base of the summit chair not offering much vertical. Two cruisers don't make it a top cruising mountain. Inverness is nice but I'd argue Valley House alone offers more cruising terrain. Mt. Ellen is nice & is under rated but to suggest Lincoln is over rated because of that is wrong in my opinion.

edit: lower FIS is a great cruising trail but the traverse back to the ski area at the bottom is a killer. I'd love to see a lift & more trails cut in that area.

The Lower FIS I know is rarely groomed....and is usually au naturale, at least it was in the years I skied it. I would not call that a cruiser.

And I would not say that Gatehouse is particularly a "cruiser" area. Yes, there are one or two groomed routes and one off the top of North Lynx, but that does not really make it a cruiser area.

I agree that Mount Ellen is underrated; Lincoln Peak is overrated IMHO.

Burke is also underrated.

As to west, I'd say that Loveland is underrated.

 

[nanjil]

actually the river has great variety . The trails are short but the variety more than makes up for it. Peaks like oz are simply delightful. I ski the loaf also a lot. People keep on asking me which one I like better. My answer is they are totally different , I mean architecture of the places are different. The loaf is classic big mountain and the river is a collection of diverse bowls

 

[snowmonster]

We don't mind Sunday River - but the distance away makes it a one or two times and done resort! I like to consider cost/value/distance into the equation!Your points on the glades are intriguing - unfortunately we have been there 5 times over 4 years and never had good glade days! Need better planning I guess.

I'm the classic Sunday River daytripper. Three and a half hours one way is pretty standard for me. Then again, I should be a truck driver. This year was a great year to be in the glades. Even the ones that don't fill in too well filled in really well. I would give you a glades tour next season but, alas, there will be no next season for me at the River.

As to west, I'd say that Loveland is underrated.

Agree. I also say that Deer Valley and the Canyons are underrated.

 

[abc]

I also say that Deer Valley and the Canyons are underrated.

Underrated? By whom?

Both mountains are super-expensive. And I don't know about DV, Canyons are mobbed on weekends! Both are reasonably nice mountains but holy cow they're expensive (compare to the mountains in the Cottonwoods and rest of the state, hint: Snowbasin/Powder Moutain). For that alone, I'd say they're OVER rated!

 

[drjeff]

Underrated? By whom?

Both mountains are super-expensive. And I don't know about DV, Canyons are mobbed on weekends! Both are reasonably nice mountains but holy cow they're expensive (compare to the mountains in the Cottonwoods and rest of the state, hint: Snowbasin/Powder Moutain). For that alone, I'd say they're OVER rated!

If you look at the cost of their day tickets, yup that's some big cash. However, for that cash you get VERY efficient lift systems to quickly get you to some GOOD terrain that often because of what their "average" clientele wants doesn't get skied off nearly as quick as some of their neighbor resorts do. And in terms of "resort" amenities (and granted for some this IS a turn off) both are truly world class at the experience they give you when you're not clicked in to your bindings. For many, the total experience you get at DV or the Canyons is worth the extra $$ you fork over for the premium product they strive to offer



Sent from my DROID RAZR using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[abc]

For many, the total experience you get at DV or the Canyons is worth the extra $$ you fork over for the premium product they strive to offer

They're certainly "right" for some. But that doesn't make them "under" rated.

I ski Canyons a lot. Not because I perticularly like it but because I get buddy pass from my ... buddy! So I know the mountain. It's sprawling and difficult to get from one place to another. If you have a group of mixed ability, it's entirely impossible to keep together or, if part of your group wants to ski different terrain, impossible to meet up for lunch!

About the amenity, hotels are rediculously expensive and, although you're "ski-in/ski-out", your have to deal with that silly gondola every morning, and put on battle gear to fight your way down at the end of the day! There're lots of amenity but it's far from "premium".

Can't say so much about DV, only skied there a few times. I would say I'm underwhelmed as far as skiing goes.

Both mountains have excellent resturants, but they're: 1) not always possible to find a table, 2) relatively expensive for the quality & quantity (even by NYC standard). Basically, it's above average for on-mountain food. But it comes with above average price tag too.

It's not under rated even for the average folks, and only ok for the more hard core skier provided you have ways to get a deep discount, not "under" rated by any standard.

 

[deadheadskier]

If I'm not mistaken, don't most people consider Snowbasin to have one of the most efficient lift systems around? I'm sure there are numerous places that have just as good of a lift system as DV and strive to deliver the same quality product. Deer Valley (as does Stowe in the East) doesn't charge the prices they do because they have something other places don't (in terms of a skiing product - not resort amenities), they charge what they do because that's what people are willing to pay.

 

[Newpylong]

Agreed 100%. Place has a bad rap / isn't "core" enough. Place is really pretty sick to rip turns at. They have so many runs with good uninterrupted vert.

I have a different take on Sunday River. I actually think that it's underrated and some posts here have confirmed that for me. As far as I am concerned, there's more to it than what people see. Yes, it is short, does not have ridiculous steeps and has a lot of wide groomers. But, if this is all you see of this place, then you're just scratching the surface. I've always thought that the tree-skiing here is severely underrated. The off-the-map stuff is superb but, even if you don't know a local, there's still a lot of on-map stuff to keep things very interesting. I'm a glade hound and SR delivers the goods (when the snow fills in, of course). Sometimes, I'll just hit SR and be in the glades all day. It's a totally different resort when you see it from this perspective.

 

[abc]

If I'm not mistaken, don't most people consider Snowbasin to have one of the most efficient lift systems around?

Snowbasin is the most underrated mountain around Salt Lake City for day skiing. But for its lack of on mountain lodging and lack of a "cool" town, it's off the radar for most vacationers.

Of the Part City trio, each has its own nitch. So depends on what you're looking for, one might be above or below expectation, FOR YOU.

Doesn't make any of them over or under rated on average.

 

[thetrailboss]

If I'm not mistaken, don't most people consider Snowbasin to have one of the most efficient lift systems around? I'm sure there are numerous places that have just as good of a lift system as DV and strive to deliver the same quality product. Deer Valley (as does Stowe in the East) doesn't charge the prices they do because they have something other places don't (in terms of a skiing product - not resort amenities), they charge what they do because that's what people are willing to pay.

Yes, Snowbasin is the only mountain that can host an Olympics and still not be on the radar for most folks. We went up there last summer to scope it out. From the road it actually reminds of the view of Stowe from the town and there is a long access road that has NOTHING on it to the resort. The ski area has no base lodging at all and no real development. The day lodges, however, are RIDICULOUSLY ornate. The lifts are nice, the terrain looked legit from our gondola ride and they have a lot of snowmaking and a lot of good consistent pitched runs with little in terms of flats/runouts compared to Alta/Snowbird. But as said, middle of nowhere for most folks.

And I think that Snowmonster's point was that Deer Valley's terrain is underrated and considered by many to be boring groomers. But go beyond the corduroy and you will find....

Canyons: it is the ugly stepchild of the Park City resorts. It was Park West and a relatively sleepy locals place until Les Otten came in. He did some great things at other places, and he did a good job with lifts and putting money into it, but the layout is downright confusing and really cumbersome. I agree that if you know how to navigate it and are patient you can get some good stuff. Snowmonster and I liked it, but I did some recon beforehand. The current ownership has really had to do a lot to fix what ASC did (or didn't) do right, but there are just some things that you can't really fix, like the fact that the base area sits higher than the lowest point of the resort so you have to either download, get to the "right" place to ski down, or ride a handle tow up out of the area on looker's right.