Best of New England: Killington reigns supreme in reader survey

Skiers in New England have many great options that abound throughout the region. (Joe Klementovich/Cannon Mountain)

It’s an election year. We have differences. It doesn’t matter whether it is politics, sports or skiing — everyone has an opinion.

We all have unique perspectives on what we are looking for when it comes to skiing, but deep down we all seek the rush that comes from being outside and feeling the wind pass by.

Our second annual “Best of New England,” compiled from NESJ’s reader survey, presents the region’s best in terrain, nightlife, grooming, scenery and more.

LAST YEAR: How our Best of New England looked in 2023

Best overall

1. Killington
2. Saddleback
3. Sugarloaf
4. Cannon
5. Stowe

There is something for everyone at Killington, from having a large teaching staff to solid groomers, bumps, trees, the longest season in the East and everything one would expect from a place that earns its “Beast of the East” moniker. It’s got 155 trails and 1,509 skiable acres. If you are looking for it, Killington will have it. The new ownership is doing its best to make it even better by infusing $30 million into the mountain over the next 16 months, with 1,000 new snowmaking guns and upgrading the Superstar Quad into a six-pack and replacing the Skyeship cabins.

Best family skiing

1. Smugglers’ Notch
2. Loon
3. Okemo
4. Bretton Woods
5. Gunstock

Smugglers’ Notch has something for every group — Morse Mountain for those getting started on their skiing/snowboarding journey, progressing to Sterling, and Madonna has terrain that rivals the mountain on the other side of the notch. The children’s programs are varied for age and skills and offer activities off the slopes for those who aren’t looking to go from first chair to last. Accommodations vary from cozy studios to larger options for friends and family to settle in under the same roof. Dining can be casual or upscale at the on-resort restaurants or do it yourself with your own kitchen.

Most challenging

1. Mad River Glen
2. Cannon
3. Sugarloaf
4. Jay Peak
5. Killington

The bumper sticker says it all: “Ski it if you can.” Not for the faint of heart, or boarders. For those who want a challenge, Paradise is what you seek. You can hype yourself up during the 9½-minute ride up the iconic single chair. Whether it is finding your way through the trees, steeps (Fall Line, Lift Line), bumps (Chute) or some classic Ice Coast conditions, Mad River Glen will give you exactly what you seek. Off the Sunnyside Double, Canyon and Gazelle prove that you don’t have to go up the single chair to get your fill of excitement.

Best terrain variety

1. Killington
2. Sugarloaf
3. Stowe
4. Sunday River
5. Loon

With 1,509 skiable acres, Killington is the epitome of variety. The split is 17 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate and 43 percent diamonds. Beginners will like Snowden and winding their way down Great Eastern to the creek, Bear and Ramshead are for the freestyle crowd. Snowden, Killington Peak and Skye Peak are great for intermediates (Skyeburst, Bittersweet). Bear, the Canyons and Killington Peak bring the challenge, whether on the trail (Cascade, Downdraft) or in the trees (Anarchy, Juanita, Julio).

Best snowmaking

1. Killington
2. Sunday River
3. Okemo
4. Bretton Woods
5. Wachusett

Of the $30 million the new ownership group has committed to putting into Killington, $7 million of that will be going into the 1,000 guns. Killington showed off just how powerful the resort’s artificial snow system is in 2021 when the weather did not give many windows for making snow but the mountain managed to lay down enough snow to host the World Cup. That system only has gotten better and more efficient. When staffers start building the Superstar glacier and get it 35 feet or deeper to last well into spring (this upcoming season excluded because of the upcoming Superstar Quad replacement), it is something special to see.

Best grooming

1. Bretton Woods
2. Okemo
3. Sunday River
4. Mount Sunapee
5. Loon

Perfect corduroy strips greet those who are there for first chair at Bretton Woods. Consistent conditions help make this one of the best places to learn to ski. While the mountain does have a reputation for being on the tamer side, Bode’s Run and Dave’s Drop have a good pitch perfect for sinking an edge into.

Best lifts

1. Sunday River
2. Loon
3. Killington
4. Okemo
5. Stowe

Sunday River recently has rolled out some of the top lifts in the country with Barker 6 opening last year and the Jordan 8 for 2022-23 (along with the Merrill Hill Triple). There’s no doubt things can get crowded at Sunday River, but resort operators know how to get customers up the mountain and spread them out.

Best glades

1. Jay Peak
2. Saddleback
3. Bretton Woods
4. Cannon
5. Sugarloaf

There’s no better way to avoid the wind at Jay Peak than by getting into the trees with great spots like Beaver Pond, Kitz Woods and Timbuktu. You’ll need the tram running (or your skins) to access favorites like the Face Chutes and Valhalla. That doesn’t even begin to touch on the stashes that aren’t on the trail map. Saddleback has fantastic options led by Casablanca, while Bretton Woods has sneaky good glades off the Stickney T-bar.

Best scenery

1. Wildcat
2. Cannon
3. Bretton Woods
4. Gunstock
5. Mount Sunapee

Mountain views seem to be preferred over lakes, but be sure to snap plenty of photos from the top of all of these spots. Wildcat peeks into Tuckerman Ravine on the other side of Pinkham Notch. In Franconia Notch, Mount Lafayette looks imposing from Cannon. There’s something about the Cog Railway track leading up Mount Washington from Bretton Woods with the Omni Mount Washington in the foreground.

Best lodges

1. Killington
2. Stowe
3. Saddleback
4. Bretton Woods
5. Sugarbush

The K-1 Lodge opened for the start of the 2022-23 season and like the mountain it is at, everything is bigger at the Beast. Of the five on this list, Saddleback has the coziest lodge, featuring a beautiful fireplace.

Best value

1. Cannon
2. Saddleback
3. Magic Mountain
4. Ragged Mountain
5. Black Mountain of Maine

With Ragged joining this summer, it put all five of these mountains on the Indy Pass. While the masses might take Exit 32 off I-93, 15 more minutes north yields some of the best terrain in New England at a reasonable walkup rate. Saddleback’s terrain is right there with neighboring Sugarloaf for a fraction of the cost, and Black does not have the crowds of its neighbor Sunday River while still having a solid option of trails. Magic screams value in the challenge to lift ticket ratio and will have the quad spinning for the entire season. Ragged is a great daytrip option for most people in the Boston area.

Best après

1. Killington
2. Stowe

These two ran away with the title from our survey takers, as both Killington Road and Route 108 have a number of great après options. The Wobbly Barn in Killington and Matterhorn in Stowe are the leaders for each respective location. Other top options at Killington include Still on the Mountain if you are looking for a whisky bar or the Pickle Barrel for the nightlife. In Stowe, check out WhistlePig Pavilion at Spruce Peak for a stiff drink or The Backyard for a laid-back atmosphere.