Skiing on the East Coast brings to mind a lot of things—historic ski resorts, technical terrain, a die-hard ski community, and icy cold mornings. But while the East Coast isn’t known for the heavy snowfall, towering peaks, and vertical drop of ski resorts out West, there are tons of ski resorts that beckon skiers and riders who are eager to rack up vertical.
Continue reading as we show you where you can find the most vertical at East Coast ski resorts. For more recommendations, explore this article that highlights the ski resorts across North America with the most vertical.
East Coast Ski Resorts With The Most Vertical
Whiteface, New York, 3,430′ Vertical Drop
It should come as no surprise that Whiteface has the greatest vertical east of the Rockies. After all it’s hosted two Winter Olympics. Located in Wilmington, New York, near Lake Placid, Whiteface has 94 trails across a humble 299 acres of skiable terrain, and lots of opportunities to stack vertical. Situated in the Adirondack Mountains, the mountain is known for its often tricky conditions and technical terrain that’ll challenge the most advanced skiers and riders. Nevertheless, Whiteface offers a good mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain, making it a versatile destination for all skill levels. A good way to wrap up your day is on the Wilmington Trail, which at 2.1 miles long, is Whiteface’s longest run.
» Check out lodging options at Whiteface.
Killington, Vermont, 3,050′ Vertical Drop
Killington earns its name as the “Beast of the East.” It holds the title as the largest ski resort on the East Coast and is surpassed in vertical drop only by Whiteface. Skiers and riders can enjoy more than 1,500 skiable acres and 70 miles of trails across 7 distinct peaks. Its nearby sister mountain, Pico, adds another 468 skiable acres and nearly 2,000 feet of vertical. Skiers and riders will find it all at Killington, from easy-going greens to long, winding blues to steep double blacks. Killington boasts New England’s second-longest run, Great Eastern, which spans 3.46 miles. It runs from Skye Peak down to the very bottom of the mountain.
» Check out lodging options at Killington.
Sugarloaf, Maine, 2,820′ Vertical Drop
Sugarloaf, located in the picturesque Carrabassett Valley, is one of the East Coast’s largest ski areas (1,360 skiable acres and more than 175 runs) and is the only resort on the East Coast to provide lift-served terrain above the treeline. These snowfields are among the resort’s highlights, contributing to the mountain’s impressive vertical drop. Other highlights for more advanced skiers and riders include Brackett Basin and Burnt Mountain. West Mountain is the more beginner, intermediate, and family-friendly part of the resort.
Tote Road, clocking in at 3.5 miles long from top to bottom, is one of the longest ski runs in New England. It’s the perfect way to cap off an epic New England ski day before aprés-ski.
» Check out lodging options at Sugarloaf.
Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont, 2,610′ Vertical Drop
You don’t have to travel far in New England in search of vertical. Smugglers’ Notch, aka Smuggs, is conveniently located just an hour from Burlington. It’s a favorite among locals and families, rated as the second-most family-friendly Vermont ski resort by OnTheSnow users. Beginners and intermediates will find plenty of smooth groomers among its 78 marked trails. Yet there’s plenty to keep more advanced skiers and riders happy. The Black Hole, the only triple black diamond run in New England, will test the skill level of even the most advanced skiers.
» Check out lodging options at Smuggler’s Notch.
Sugarbush, Vermont, 2,600′ Vertical Drop
Sugarbush Resort lets you double the fun with two mountains, Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Ellen, to rack up vertical on. Both mountains have some pristine East Coast tree skiing, while Mt. Lincoln is known for its iconic Castle Rock area with steeps, rocks, cliffs, and everything in between. Take the old-school two-person lift up the Castle Rock for a proper challenge before rewarding yourself with après at Castle Rock Pub. All total Sugarbush is home to 111 trails and 16 lifts spread across 2,000 acres of terrain. It’s truly one of the best all-around ski experiences in New England.
» Check out lodging options at Sugarbush.
Gore Mountain, New York, 2,537’ Vertical Drop
Gore Mountain, boasting the most terrain in New York state, is home to 108 trails served by 14 lifts, and makes for a complete ski resort experience in the Adirondacks. Skiers and riders will find a variety of terrain, from cruisers to steeps to glades, across four peaks. Its top to bottom run, at 4.4 miles, gives skiers and riders some serious mileage and the best opportunity to get as much vertical as possible. Skiers can keep the fun going past sunset on weekends with twilight skiing and riding under the lights of Gore’s Village Slopes.
» Check out lodging options at Gore Mountain.
Stowe, Vermont, 2,360′ Vertical Drop
Stowe, sitting on Mt. Mansfield (Vermont’s tallest peak), is not only one of New England’s most famous ski resorts, but one of the most famous ski resorts in North America. It’s the quintessential New England ski experience, featuring 12 lifts, more than 115 trails across 485 acres of skiable terrain, and receiving about 300 inches of snow annually on average. Stowe’s Front Four double black diamond runs, Starr, Liftline, National and Goat, are among New England’s most iconic ski runs, and are a must-ski for advanced riders. More than half of the resort is for intermediate, making it a great destination for skiers of all abilities.
» Check out lodging options at Stowe.
Sunday River, Maine 2,340’ Vertical Drop
One of Maine’s most popular destination ski resorts, Sunday River spans eight interconnected peaks. Located in Bethel, Sunday River has 884 acres of skiable terrain with 144 trails and 19 lifts. Skiers and riders who want some mileage can head to the top of Jordan Bowl, where they’ll find Lollapalooza, one of the longest runs in Maine. This three-mile run takes guests from the top of Jordan Bowl down to Sunday River’s base. If you time it right, don’t miss twilight skiing at Sunday River, which takes place off the Chondola and South Ridge Express lifts on select nights.
» Check out lodging options at Sunday River.
Okemo, Vermont, 2,200’ Vertical Drop
Okemo may not have the name recognition as many other New England ski areas, but it’s no less historic and worth visiting. Its 20 lifts serve 123 trails across 667 acres. Okemo is considered one of New England’s top family ski resorts, while OnTheSnow users rate it the no. 1 ski area in Vermont for intermediate terrain. It has nearly an equal mix of beginners, intermediate, and advanced terrain. The Sunburst Six lift (1,673 feet) is among the headliners for more intermediate to advanced skiers and riders, unloading guests at Summit Lodge, with access to numerous blue and black runs.
» Check out lodging options at Okemo.
Loon Mountain, New Hampshire, 2,190’ Vertical Drop
Loon Mountain isn’t as well-known as some of the other ski areas we’ve discussed, yet it’s a popular day trip for people who live in Boston, since it’s just a couple hours away. The 403-acre resort has made a name for itself on the East Coast for freestyle skiing with its award-winning terrain parks, while skiers and riders of all abilities will find a lot to love across its 70-plus trails. At just over 2,100′ of vertical, Loon has the most vertical in New Hampshire.
Just 20 minutes away, Cannon Mountain, featuring a good mix of technical terrain and challenging conditions, is another great New Hampshire ski area to pair with a ski trip to Loon. Cannon’s vertical is slightly less than Loon at 2,180′.
» Check out lodging options at Loon Mountain.
Header image: ©Sunday River Resort
March 12, 2025
