Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont Resort Reviews - Local Reviews and Travel Information


	Home > US Ski Resorts > Vermont > Stowe Mountain Resort > Resort Reviews

Stowe Mountain Resort

Resort Info	Local Deals	Ski News	Resort Reviews	Weather Report
Stowe Mountain Resort Reviews State Reviews Add your review

Overall User Rating:
Snow Quality:
Terrain:
Family Friendly:
Apres Ski:

maximalist - 12/16/2007, 02:33 PM

Stowe as far as Vermont mountains go is one of the best. It offers unequalled expert terrain, unspoiled glade skiing, as well as a local community which makes it the East Coast's answer to Aspen. Its northerly position also acts a time deterent of the New Yorker crowds which clog the lines at other Vermont ski areas such as Killington or Okemo. Stowe is known for its expert skiing and this is rightly so. The front four have been longly notorious as some of the best expert runs in New England bar none. In addition Stowe's glades have been featured in ski magazines such as Snow Country as being some of the best in the East. For those not inclined to ski the more advanced trails Stowe provides a more pleaseant alternative. Its second mountain "Spruce Peak" allows for fun novice to intermediate skiing separating the advanced skiers from the beginners. This is often a problem at other mountains, such as Okemo, where the most dangerous and challenging portion is navigating and avoiding the mind field of ski school children. Ski Buffs will be hard pressed to find a classier town to spend the nightlife in. Stowe is home to Vermonts only 4 star hotel, "Topnotch" as well as a vast array of award winning restaurants. This grandeur does come at a price stow is definately costly and nightlife can be restricted to the few who can afford it. One other nice thing about Stowe is that its lift lines do not reminds you of Soviet Russia as they do at Killington. This is credited to two things. The first being that Stowe is a bit further north than places like Killington and weekend warriors from New York do not tend to make it past the southern Vermont resorts. Secondly there are a vast array of chair lifts which make for speedy rides. Stowe definately rates in the top for class and terrain in Vermont and is definately worthy of your next ski vacation.

Overall:
Snow Quality:
Terrain:
Family Friendly:
Apres Ski:

Alice - 03/11/2007, 02:40 PM

Stowe is a combination of the best parts of New England skiing: Vermont's tallest mountain (Mansfield), high speed lifts, long continuous runs and the quintessential Vermont town. The best part of Stowe is the long, uninterrupted nature of the runs and long, fast lifts. Take a look: the Stowe Gondola, Forerunner HS Quad, Big Spruce double and the Lookout double are all over a mile long and climb about 1700 - 2100 vertical feet. They serve runs for all abilities that go are generally over a mile long and do not have a lot of criss-crossing trails. This is the key to Stowe. Most other resorts have one lift that serves the entire vertical of the mountain and the other lifts just serve smaller pods of about 1000 vertical feet (Killington, Okemo, Sunday River). Not at Stowe. It's long run after long run after long run. If you stick to the Quad or Gondola you can get in a ton of vertical. Stowe also has a lot of other thing going for it. Snow. It gets among the most in New England. Jay gets the most, but I would expect Stowe is #2. Sugarbush tries to claim they get more, but I would chalk that up to marketing hype. Stowe also preserves its snow better because of its elevation (2000-4000 feet) and its northern exposure (with the exception of Spruce Peak which faces south and can suffer). Classic Trails Experts. The front four expert trails have been classics for years. Starr has the steepest headwall. Goat is the longest, narrowest and most challenging. National - steep but widened and manageable. Liftline - frequently groomed. Outside of the front four Stowe is famous for its tree skiing - some is on the map now like Tres Amigos, but look around the Gondola for some thinned out glades. Also, people will hike to the top of Mansfield when there is enough snow and ski some of the tight chutes. Intermediates. Perry Merrill is perhaps the best cruising trail on the East Coast - 1.5 miles long, 2000 vertical, served by a nice warm Gondola. Lord, Sunrise and North Slope are also great cruisers off the Forerunner Quad but a little more narrow. Beginers. Toll Road is the classic East Coast scenic way down for 4 miles. Setting Stowe is easily one of the most beautiful places in New England. From the top you can see forever - or at least Mt. Washington in NH, Killington, and hundreds of other lesser mountains. There are some problems with Stowe. The beginner's area on Spruce Peak is located across the access road from Mt. Mansfield (where most of the intermediate/expert skiing is) and requires a shuttle bus ride. The crowds on the major lifts can be quite bad in the mornings when locals, UVM students and vacationers show up. The locals and students seem to leave around lunch. Also, their snowmaking is not quite up to par with Okemo, Sunday River and Killington, but they do get more natural snow than those areas. Overall, skiing Stowe is a treat. University of Vermont students who can get discounted passes at a few great areas within an hour drive of Burlington (like Sugarbush, Mad River Glen, Smugglers' Notch, Jay Peak) overwhelmingly choose Stowe. You should too.

Overall:
Snow Quality:
Terrain:
Family Friendly:
Apres Ski:

quick_skier - 03/02/2007, 02:31 PM

Yes it's expensive and yes it's worth it. There is terrain for everyone and plenty of snow to ski it. Some of the best cruisers in the east Lord, Ridgeveiw Standard etc. and some of the best expert trails to ever have been graced by a ski Goat, Lookout, Chinclip etc. In town the food is tops and there are a myriad of things to do and see. Go to Stowe and you won't be dissapointed I promise.

Overall:
Snow Quality:
Terrain:
Family Friendly:
Apres Ski:

nutlet88 - 02/04/2007, 02:36 PM

All right where do I start. It is $60.00 to get on the lifts. It is waspy all over the place. The Mountain has more double black runs than any mountain I have been to. BUT! Noone rides those double black moguls!!! Everyone rides three or four runs and they get icy pretty quick. And after snowboarders scraped all the snow off the mountain what you have left is: a lot of ice for 60 bucks.

Overall:
Snow Quality:
Terrain:
Family Friendly:
Apres Ski:

startitup - 01/22/2007, 05:08 AM

Up there with Jay Peak and Mad River Glen, Stowe offers the best skiing in Vermont. The tree skiing is great, the bumps runs are long and thin, and the steeps are terrifying. Only an hour north of killinton and Stratton, and 5 hours north of NYC, the travel time is worthwhile. One of the best experiences I had at Stowe was hiking the extra 700 vertical feet to the Summit. The view on top of Mt. Mansfield is terrific, but might cold. Coming down is a challenge as well, unless you are in good shape and a good skier. Although Stowe is a bit pricey, it ranks in the same category as Stratton and Killington, but offers better skiing and less ski traffic and lift lines. Make that extra effort to get there if you can!