
A common refrain I often hear when sharing a chair with seasoned skiers is concern for the state of the ski industry. Perhaps you’ve heard some of the same complaints: The lines are too long, the food too expensive, they’re making me pay to park, my favorite stashes are skied out within the first hour, the big passes are killing the vibe …
Well, there are other options out there for those truly interested in changing their pace. Checking out a resort that is off the beaten corporate track might provide the perfect attitude adjustment you need. For those bouncing between the big mountains of Vermont, Bolton Valley is precisely the kind of ski area to help rekindle that vibe.
With a summit elevation of 3,150 feet and about 300 skiable acres, Bolton operates six lifts (two quads, three doubles and a surface lift) to provide access to 71 trails and about 1,700 vertical feet. Situated in the heart of the Green Mountains, the resort receives 312 inches of average annual snowfall.
Located less than 30 minutes from Burlington, Bolton Valley isn’t the biggest or steepest resort around (Stowe Mountain Resort is situated to the north and Sugarbush Resort/Mad River Glen to the south), but Bolton is proof that some really big things come in smaller packages.