Massachusetts
They may call it the Bay State, but don't tell skiers and snowboarders that. Massachusetts snowsports enthusiasts comprise the major population pool for the entire New England industry. And as far as they're concerned, winter rules.
An axiom among ski area operators in the northern tier is that they'd rather see it snow in Massachusetts, because they can make snow, while the flatlanders like to see the white stuff in their yards before they're willing to head for the slopes.
Here, you've got the eastern Mass. suburban areas (Blue Hills, Nashoba Valley and Ski Bradford), a mid-state Mecca (Wachusett Mountain) and a cluster of areas in the western part of the Commonwealth, spreading from Berkshire East in the Pioneer Valley along Route 2 down to Butternut Basin in the southwest corner of the state.
Massachusetts offers a good mix of small, feeder hills, where folks learn the sport before heading off for greater challenges up north; and larger areas, which can rival the big new England resorts for lifts, slopes and trails, and snow-making systems.
The Commonwealth also actively courts the cross-country skier. There are a number of ski touring centers spread across the state, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management welcomes backcountry enthusiasts to its state forests and parks. A number of the DEM facilities offer many miles of cross-country trails; trail network maps are usually available at parking lots and trail heads.
