Overview of Sugarbush Resort, Vermont

Sugarbush is sweet, like Vermont maple syrup. Located in the beautiful Mad River Valley, this is Vermont skiing at its best, authentic. The two interconnected mountains, Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen, feature long classic meandering trails, gorgeous birch and Sugarbush glades, and spectacular views of pastoral hillsides and Camels Hump, Stowe's Mt Mansfield, Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks in the distance. Sugarbush skis like a 4,000-acre playground thanks to the two ski areas and the 2,000-acres of backcountry glades in between called Slidebrook, where you can enjoy long natural glade runs on untouched snow with or without a guide. Sugarbush proudly only grooms half their terrain, leaving much of their terrain un-groomed, un-altered and inherent - authentic Vermont.

Sugarbush is worth a week to explore all the terrain from the perfectly groomed cord to challenging natural runs and glades on Castlerock, Heavens Gate, and Slide Brook. Sugarbush doesn't get the same accolades as Stowe or Killington or Stratton, but it doesn't get the volume of skiers either. Sugarbush was once dubbed Mascara Mountain, as this was the ski spot of the chic and glamorous NY'ers in the 1960-70s. Today the vibe at Sugarbush is more wholesome, fewer Bogners and more localvore - with micro brew Vermont beer and cheddar served in the slopeside restaurant Timbers.  Sugarbush has casual elegance due to the new Lincoln Peak Village and the Clay Brook Inn. Also, the legendary Chez Henri still serves as a vestige of Vermont meets French museum atmosphere at Sugarbush, Henri celebrated 50 years here in 2014. 

The casual but welcome vibe permeates Sugarbush Resort thanks to the owner Win Smith, a former financial Wall Street guy who purchased the Bush in 2001. Win is passionate about skiing and great customer service and it shows. You will likely see him out skiing, chatting with customers or taking skiers out for first tracks on a powder day via the Lincoln Limo snow cat. Winn added a new, fixed grip quad - The Valley House Quad for 2015-16 winter.

Sugarbush and the Mad River Valley have lots of charming BnBs and romantic inns, like The Pitcher Inn in Warren Village where you will find each room themed and spectacular. The dining at Pitcher Inn is also extraordinary. The Sugarbush Inn is nothing fancy, but the off mountain location is very close to the slopes. Waitsfield is also home to several nice BnBs and lots of condo complexes like The Eagles, Bridges, and Seasons Resort. 

But if you like to stay slopeside then The Clay Brook Inn is your ticket. What looks like a classic big red barn is home to condo style suites and traditional hotel rooms in lovely Vermont mountain decor. The Clay Brook Inn offers everything from ski valet, and valet parking, to a steamy outdoor pool and two Jacuzzis. You are steps away from all the skier service in Lincoln Peak Village, the ski shop, the Schoolhouse for kids learn to ski and ride schools, The Farmhouse and Gatehouse offer skier services and cafe style dining, and Timbers Round Barn has more formal dining. The Castlerock Pub rocks for après ski. 

Sugarbush offers skiers some extra sweet treats, book the Lincoln Limo for first tracks via snow cat, you may even be accompanied by Win Smith himself or John Egan - former Warren Miller extreme ski film star now Sugarbush’s ski ambassador. In the evening after skiing, be sure to drive to the pretty towns of Warren and Waitsfield to visit the classic Vermont country stores, Vermont craft boutiques, our favorite ski shop Sportiv for stylish ski outfits, and the many great local Sugarbush area restaurants like Blue Stone Pizza, Common Man and the Hyde Away. Or take the snow cat at night to Allyn’s mid mountain lodge for an extraordinary wine, beer or fondue dinner and moonlight ski down.