As we recently wrote, backcountry skiing has seen significant growth in recent years. Increasingly, skiers and riders are ditching lift lines and crowded slopes for the vastness of the backcountry. Whether you just love to earn your turns or you’re on the hunt for untracked powder, you’ll find plenty of it in the backcountry. And while many North America skiers and riders may think of the West when they think of backcountry skiing, there’s a lot of great backcountry terrain to be found in New England.
The following guide will help as you’re planning a New England backcountry ski trip. If you’re new to backcountry skiing, then we recommend you start with our introduction to backcountry skiing here.
Backcountry Skiing At New England Ski Resorts
For those just starting out, some ski resorts offer uphill access and backcountry terrain for skiers and riders to enjoy backcountry terrain in a more controlled environment. This is a good gateway to backcountry skiing. The following are some of the best New England resorts for sidecountry and backcountry skiing. Each resort has different policies, access, and terrain options, so do your research before you head out.
Bolton Valley, Vermont
Bolton Valley has access to 12,000 acres of backcountry terrain. The majority of its backcountry area is on the leeward faces of its highest ridges, where skiers and riders can enjoy mostly shaded terrain with light, fluffy snow throughout a lot of the winter season. Several guided tours and lessons are offered daily through the Bolton Valley Guided Backcountry Program to explore the resort’s backcountry terrain. They include everything from intro courses to private guided tours to advanced skills classes. Bolton offers Intro to Backcountry Skiing and Riding clinics on select Saturdays at a discounted price. The resort also owns two backcountry cabins, the Bryant and the Bolton Cabin, available to rent overnight for winter adventures that each sleep up to 8 people.
For those who prefer sticking to a resort’s uphill routes, there are two designated on-trail routes, Timberline and Wilderness. You’ll just need a Bolton Valley uphill ticket or season pass. Stay up to date on open routes and trails on Bolton Valley’s website.
Check out Lodging options at Bolton Valley
Jay Peak, Vermont
One of the snowiest resorts on the East Coast, Jay Peak is home to more than 100 acres of gladed terrain. Jay breaks down their wooded skiing into two sections, Jay’s Glades and Jay’s Woods. Jay Peak’s glades, opened and closed by ski patrol, are specifically marked on its map. Its Woods are in-bound sections of forest that are not named on the map and not monitored by ski patrol. Jay recommends guests ski in groups of three and only enter if they can ski advanced terrain. Most of Jay Peak’s backcountry zones are steeper, tighter, and more technical, and therefore only suited for advanced riders. Entry is not permitted after 3 p.m.
Popular out-of-bounds areas include Andre’s Paradise and Beaver Pond Glades. It’s highly recommended to stay within the bounds of this area, as venturing too far beyond the boundary line will require hours of strenuous hiking back to the resort. Uphill travel is permitted only during operational hours. Uphill season passes are available for $50, while they’re free for season pass holders.. Before you venture out, read more safety guidelines and terrain information here.
Check out Lodging options at Jay Peak
Sugarloaf, Maine
As the tallest ski resort in Maine, Sugarloaf has great uphill access. This Carabasset Valley favorite offers one uphill route along Windrow to Timberline. Sugarloaf requests that all skiers and riders have a valid pass or day ticket, and review the mountain report and uphill policies daily to ensure a safe tour. Uphill traffic begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 8:30 a.m. before the lifts start spinning. There is no travel permitted after closing. The eastern side of Sugarloaf, on Burnt Mountain and Brackett Basin, is the best bet for sidecountry skiing.
Check out Lodging options at Sugarloaf
Get To Know The Uphill New England Pass
The Uphill New England Pass is a fantastic option for East Coasters or those travelers who want to go uphill skiing at several ski resorts. The pass provides unlimited access to 20 resorts around the Northeast that have designated uphill trails and policies. The pass, which is the first multi-resort pass of its kind, is run by a local non-profit group. For the 24/25 season, the pass started at $185 for adults and $115 for students and ski patrol who purchase early. Uphill New England Pass resorts include Bolton Valley, Berkshire East, Killington, Saddleback, Whaleback, and more. Check out our Uphill New England Pass Guide for more information and a full resort list. Passes can be purchased at uphillnewengland.org.
Where To Go Backcountry Skiing Away From Resorts
The East Coast is home to tons of great wilderness and mountains for backcountry skiing and riding. In Massachusetts, Mount Greylock is the highest peak in the state and a popular conquest for uphill enthusiasts. Located in the Berkshires, skiers can use the historic Thunderbolt Ski Trail on their descent for a glade-filled good time on one of the wider trails in the Northeast.
Another Massachusetts mountain, Mount Watatic, located 60 miles outside of Boston, is ideal for those starting out since it was formerly home to a ski area. Several trails, cut from its lift-service days, provide 600 vertical feet of drop. Despite being close to the city, this area is usually not very crowded, meaning that the odds of finding some nice pow stashes after a storm are high. This is a great hill for those just getting into touring, especially since the hikes aren’t too difficult.
We can’t talk about backcountry skiing in New England and not mention Tuckerman Ravine, located on the eastern side of Mount Washington, the Northeast’s highest peak. Arguably the most famous backcountry zone in New England, this is for more advanced skiers. These runs are steep — we’re talking anywhere from 40 to 55 degrees — and require a skin into the bowl itself and then a boot pack up the headwall.
Tucks, as the locals call it, is an area to research before you go out. The snowpack can be spotty and avalanche danger is high in the earlier winter months. Come springtime, the base of the bowl is a true party, with backcountry enthusiasts setting up shop with lawn chairs, coolers, speakers, and more. Skiing Tucker’s Ravine is something of a rite of passage for East Coast skiers.
Backcountry Organizations and Events
If you’re looking for other glades in the Whites, Granite Backcountry Alliance is an excellent resource. Mostly volunteer-run, this organization works on sustainably and responsibly cutting and maintaining glades across New Hampshire. Granite Backcountry Alliance hosts glade days during the fall, when volunteers go out in White Mountain National Forest to help prepare the backcountry trails for the winter. During the ski season they host touring days and events at select areas to help grow the New England touring community.
One of their biggest events is the Mount Washington Backcountry Ski Festival, which happens every February. This weekend-long event is designed to help develop your skills, learn from professionals, and meet new touring partners. In April, they take over King Pine Mountains for the Wild Corn Backcountry Shindig, which is another event focused on all things backcountry, featuring gear demos, costume contests, uphill races, and more. These festivals are ideal for first-timers, as they allow you to experience the sport in a safe and controlled environment.
Founder and director of Granite Backcountry Alliance, Tyler Ray, champions first-time riders to get out there. “For folks new to backcountry skiing and uphill touring, my advice is to get involved in the vibrant and interconnected uphill community,” he said. “Utilize resources like Granite Backcountry Alliance and Uphill New England, which put out weekly newsletters about uphill happenings. Become a steward of the backcountry by pitching in to help maintain backcountry ski zones in the fall. Come out to a Granite Backcountry glade day, and you’ll feel the energy of the volunteers who are just so stoked to be creating their future winter playground!”
Additionally, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is a great resource for background skiing and splitboarding. Their website acts as a hub for information about locally cut glades and touring-focused guides and events. They also operate an expansive network of backcountry huts and lodges available for booking that make getting first tracks a breeze.
March 12, 2025
