Mad River Glen

Ski it if you can: the co-op with a single chair.

A skier-owned co-op with a 1948 Single Chair, mostly natural snow and narrow trails that follow the mountain’s contours. Snowboards aren’t allowed, grooming is light and day tickets are capped, so it rarely feels crowded. It suits strong skiers who want old-school Vermont; beginners have Birdland, but conditions swing with the weather.

The mountain

Vertical drop

2,037 ft

Summit

3,637 ft

Skiable terrain

115 acres

Trails

45

Lifts

5

Average snowfall

250″ a year

Snowmaking

15% of terrain

Terrain mix

• Beginner 30%
• Intermediate 37%
• Advanced 33%

What’s here besides skiing

• Snowshoeing
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• Opening daySat Dec 12

  Opening day

  First day of the 2026-27 season, natural snow permitting.

• RaceEarly January (held Jan 4 in 2026)Usually

  The Family Tournament

  A friendly family race open to all abilities, with roots in a father-son race from 1942.

Where to stay

• lodgeMad River Barn

  Ski lodge with a pub upstairs and a dining room, close to the Single Chair.

  5 min drive
• innHyde Away Inn

  Casual ski lodge with a restaurant on Route 17.

  5 min drive
• innThe Pitcher Inn

  Luxury inn in Warren village.

  20 min drive
• b&bThe Inn at Round Barn Farm

  B&B on a farm with a historic round barn outside Waitsfield.

  15 min drive

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Naturalist snowshoe tours · At the base

  Guided snowshoe walks on General Stark Mountain with the Stark Mountain Foundation, most winter weekends.

• Telemark at MRG · At the base

  A free-heel stronghold, with telemark lessons and Free Heel Fridays.

• Ole’s Cross Country Center · 20 min drive

  Groomed cross-country trails around the Warren airfield, with rentals and lessons.

• Lawson’s Finest Liquids · 10 min drive

  Taproom of the much-loved Vermont brewery in Waitsfield.

Après and nightlife

• General Stark’s Pub

  The Basebox pub, walls covered in “Ski It If You Can” bumper-sticker photos, with live music on Friday afternoons.

• Mad River Barn

  Upstairs pub with hearty food and local craft beer.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Burlington International (BTV) · about 50 min drive
• Montreal · about 2.5 hr
• Boston · about 3.5 hr
• New York City · about 5.5 hr

Directions in Google Maps