Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River Valley in Warren, Vermont. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres (16 km²) total, 578 trail acres (2.34 km²) skiable, 53 miles (85 km) of trails, and 16 ski lifts.
Whether you're visiting with a large group of family & friends or traveling solo, Sugarbush Resort has accommodations to suit your needs. As a resort guests you’ll receive complimentary access to the Sugarbush Health & Racquet Club. Sugarbush has two mountain areas separated by Slide Brook Basin. The south side of Sugarbush, Lincoln Peak, is the resort's main mountain area. Most of the resort real estate is located at Lincoln Peak, including the new Claybrook condominiums and hotel. Lincoln Peak has 2,400 vertical feet and a summit elevation of 3,975 feet (1,211.6 m), with 72 of Sugarbush's 111 runs. Also at Lincoln Peak are several other smaller peaks: Gadd Peak, Castlerock Peak, and North Lynx Peak.
Castlerock Peak is known to for its steep, narrow, winding, New England-style runs. A single double chair brings skiers and riders to this peak and is littered with warnings of "expert only" and "thin coverage." It is also the only peak of Sugarbush that does not use snowmaking, although there are several runs such as Paradise and Domino not in the Castlerock area that also do not incorporate snowmaking. Castlerock is also home to Rumble, arguably the most difficult trail at Sugarbush. Off to the left of Rumble is home to Rumble Woods, a very extreme and steep woods trail covered in rockfaces and cliff drop offs. Rumble Woods is regarded by some as the most difficult terrain on the mountain.
The area between Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen is called the Slide Brook Basin. This wooded wilderness area comprises over 1000 acres (4 km²) and is skiable only with a guided tour and is for expert skiers only. Some of this terrain is very treacherous, and it is not routinely swept by ski patrol. If you follow the Slide Brook it will bring you out to German Flats Road. When the shuttle bus is running it makes a stop at Slide Brook Road (on German Flats) and will drop off at either Lincoln or Ellen base areas. The two areas of Sugarbush, Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen are connected by a two mile long chairlift known as the Slide Brook Express Quad. The Quad mainly operates on weekends and holidays, but does occasionally during the week. It will also not run if the temperature is below five degrees or during strong winds
To the north, separate from Lincoln Peak, is Sugarbush's other mountain area called Mt. Ellen. Mt. Ellen's top elevation is 4,083 feet (tied for third highest in the state with Camel's Hump), and it has one of the largest continuous vertical drops in Vermont at 2,600 feet (790 m). Several states and southern Quebec are visible from the summit of Mt. Ellen.
Formerly an independent resort (founded by Walt Elliot in the early 1960s), Mt. Ellen has Sugarbush's steepest run, FIS. Mt. Ellen also has a secondary peak, Inverness Peak, which is home to the Green Mountain Valley School's (GMVS) racing slopes Inverness, and Brambles.
Mt. Ellen is also home to Sugarbush's terrain park. Although some terrain features can be found all over Sugarbush, such as on Slowpoke at Lincoln Peak, the primary terrain parks on Mt. Ellen's Riemergasse and Graduation trails. Sugarbush has chosen not to build a half pipe in recent years, though it has the capability to do so. Mt. Ellen's terrain includes groomers, terrain parks, and tree skiing, along with mogul terrain.
Directions to Sugarbush:
Northbound directions from Albany and points south and west
Take I-87 Northway to Exit 20, go northeast to NY #149 to Route 4 to Route 100. Follow Route 100 North to Warren. Turn left onto the Sugarbush Access Road (look for the Sugarbush Resort Area sign).
Southbound directions from Burlington or Montreal
Take I-89 south to Exit 10 Waterbury. Follow Route 2 south through Waterbury to Route 100 South. Follow 100 South through Waitsfield. Turn right onto the Sugarbush Access Road (look for the Sugarbush Resort Area sign).
Northbound directions from New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and points south
Take I-89 north to Exit 9/Middlesex to Route 100b. Follow 100b to 100 South through Waitsfield. Turn right onto the Sugarbush Access Road (look for the Sugarbush Resort Area sign).
If the weather isn't too snowy, take Exit 3/Bethel off I-89. Take 107 west to 100 North, then follow it up through Rochester, Hancock and Granville until you take a left onto the Sugarbush Access Road (look for the Sugarbush Resort Area sign) in Warren.
