Want to feel like a Killington local? Read this quick overview about the resort’s local geography and weather patterns and you’ll be on your way.
Killington is located in the Green Mountains of central Vermont, about 10 miles east of Rutland. The resort is made up of six separate mountains with summits ranging from a high of 4,241 feet at Killington Peak to 2,456 at Sunrise Mountain Peak. The vertical drop from the summit of Killington Peak to the Skyeship base area is 3,050 feet, comparable to many western resorts.
There are a few reasons why Killington is one of the most popular resorts on the east coast, and this list includes natural snowfall, snowmaking and its central location.
The atmosphere is often kind to the Green Mountains, which serve as a formidable barrier to moist winds that blow from the west and northwest after a storm moves through. The town of Rutland to the west of the mountain sits at about 800 feet while Killington Peak measures more than 4,200 feet. When the air blows from the west, it is forced to rise above 3,400 feet in elevation over fewer than 10 miles. As the air rises, it expands, cools and its moisture condenses into snow. This is called orographic lift and it contributes greatly to the 250 inches of average snowfall measured just below the summit of Killington Peak.