Butternut

22 runs, 110 acres in the Berkshires. No expert terrain, ten lifts, family-owned since 1963.

Season 2026 - 2027

Opens

11 Dec 2026

Closes

28 Mar 2027

Days open

107

Annual snow

10ft

The Overview

Michael Fulton

Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

Butternut's summit reaches 1,801 feet, dropping roughly 980 vertical feet to a base at 820 feet across 22 runs spread over 110 acres in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Terrain splits 60 per cent intermediate, 20 per cent beginner and 20 per cent advanced, with no expert-rated runs. Average annual snowfall is modest at roughly 115 inches, meaning the resort relies substantially on snowmaking. Butternut carries no major multi-resort pass affiliation and remains independently, family-owned.

Ten lifts, including three quads, one double, one triple and five surface lifts, serve the 22-run network, a dense lift count relative to the resort's compact size. The heavily intermediate-weighted terrain, with no expert runs, gives Butternut a reputation as a learning and family mountain within the Berkshires. The resort leases part of its land, within the East Mountain State Forest, from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Its name comes from the butternut trees found in the mountain's basin.

Ski trails on East Mountain were first cut by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, developing into the G-Bar-S Ranch rope tow area that operated for roughly two decades before a fire and ownership troubles closed it in 1957. Channing and Jane Murdock took over the site in 1963 and named it Butternut Basin. Their son Jeffrey Murdock took over operations in 1994, and the resort remains Murdock family-owned today, one of relatively few independently held ski areas left in the Northeast.

With no major pass affiliation, Butternut sells its own day tickets and season passes directly. Adult full-day tickets range from 65 to 85 US dollars depending on date, with an Unlimited Season Pass at 399 dollars and a discounted Midweek Season Pass at 189 dollars. The resort suits Berkshires-area families and skiers from the New York and Boston metropolitan areas seeking an accessible, intermediate-focused mountain. Its continued family ownership since 1963 sets it apart from the region's larger, corporately owned resorts.

981ft

Vertical

Runs

110 acres

Skiable

10ft

Annual snow

The Terrain

22 runs across 110 acres skiable

Butternut is a compact family mountain in the Berkshires near Great Barrington, with 110 acres (45 hectares) and 22 runs. The base is at 820 ft (250 m) and the top at 1,800 ft (549 m), so the vertical is about 980 ft (299 m). The split is 20% beginner, 60% intermediate and 20% advanced, with no expert runs, and every trail is covered by snowmaking. Five chairlifts and five surface lifts serve this small footprint, so beginners and intermediates never wait long to get back up.

There are no named steeps to chase here, and the terrain is a straightforward mix of green, blue and black trails, roughly eight of each. Two terrain parks add some interest for kids learning to jump, and a tubing area with a moving carpet is on site for non-skiers. The surface lifts give ski school classes their own space, which helps first-timers. Butternut suits families, new skiers and anyone in the New York or Boston area wanting an easy day on snow rather than a challenge.

Terrain split

runs

22 runs across 4 grades

Beginner4 runs · 20%

Intermediate13 runs · 60%

Advanced4 runs · 20%

Expert0 runs · 0%

Time it right

When to visit Butternut

The 2025-26 season at Butternut ran from 6 December 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week window supported substantially by snowmaking. The resort's modest natural snowfall means season length depends heavily on temperatures suitable for artificial snow production. Season dates can shift based on early and late-season weather. This is a comparatively long season for a resort with Butternut's snowfall totals.

Average annual snowfall of roughly 115 inches is modest for the Berkshires, meaning Butternut depends on snowmaking for the majority of its season-long conditions rather than natural accumulation. This makes temperature, more than storm cycles, the key variable in the resort's operating reliability. Base depth is maintained artificially across most of the season. Specific snowmaking coverage percentage is not confirmed in available resort information, though it is understood to cover the great majority of terrain.

Midwinter, from late December through February, typically offers the most reliable conditions once snowmaking has built a consistent base. Weekend crowds are heavier than weekdays, given the resort's role serving both Berkshires locals and weekend visitors from New York and Boston. Late-season visits into April can be inconsistent as temperatures warm and snowmaking becomes less viable. School holiday periods bring the heaviest family visitation given the resort's beginner and intermediate focus.

Butternut's calendar centres on ski school and family programming rather than festival events, consistent with its long-standing role as a learning mountain. The resort's continued family ownership under the Murdocks since 1963 keeps operating priorities focused on accessible skiing over destination-style programming. Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. As one of the Berkshires' more family-oriented resorts, the calendar leans toward reliable, beginner-friendly conditions throughout the season.

Season 2026 - 2027

11 Dec 2026

Opens

28 Mar 2027

Closes

107

Days open

10 ft

Annual snow

Getting there

Getting to Butternut, and where to stay

Butternut sits in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, within the East Mountain State Forest, with a base elevation of 820 feet and a summit at 1,801 feet across a vertical drop of roughly 980 feet over 110 acres. This is the Berkshires, a hilly, forested region in western Massachusetts. The resort leases part of its terrain from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Great Barrington itself is a well-known Berkshires town with a strong arts and culture scene alongside its winter recreation.

Great Barrington is the nearest town, offering lodging, dining and the broader Berkshires cultural scene beyond the ski area itself. The wider Berkshires region draws visitors year-round for its arts institutions, historic villages and outdoor recreation, with skiing as one part of a broader tourism economy. New York's Hudson Valley and Connecticut's northwest corner lie within a short drive, extending Butternut's practical catchment area. Boston lies further east, a roughly two and a half hour drive.

US Route 23 and other local roads connect Great Barrington and Butternut to the broader Berkshires highway network, including the Massachusetts Turnpike further north. The drive from New York City takes roughly two and a half hours, while Boston is a similar distance in the opposite direction. Winter driving conditions in the Berkshires can include snow and ice on rural roads, though main routes are generally well-maintained. No direct public transport service reaches the resort itself, though regional bus and rail services serve nearby towns.

Albany International Airport in New York is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, roughly an hour's drive from Butternut. Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, offers a further alternative. Boston's Logan International Airport provides more extensive flight options but sits considerably further away. Most visitors drive to Butternut from the New York or Boston metropolitan areas rather than flying into a specific regional airport.

Where to stay

Search all stays →

Hotels and lodges near Butternut, powered by Stay22.

From the SnowStash desk

View all news →

Valle Nevado Extends Season to November 8 After 108 cm in 48 Hours

Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.

9 Oct 2026

Alps Snow Forecast: Cold Front Brings Thursday Snow to the High Alps

The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.

8 Oct 2026

California Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Mammoth Leads, Tahoe Follows

Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.

7 Oct 2026

Colorado Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: A-Basin and Keystone Race to Be First

Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.

5 Oct 2026

Dolomiti Superski 2026-27: Four New Gondolas, New Reservoirs and an €89 Peak Day Pass

Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.

4 Oct 2026

Utah Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Brian Head First, Eagle Point Out

Brian Head is targeting 6 November, though last year it aimed for 7 November and did not open until the 25th. Park City, Alta and Solitude are pencilled in for 20 November, Snowbird and Snowbasin for 27 November, and Deer Valley for 5 December. Eagle Point will stay closed after the Cottonwood Fire. A super El Niño is forecast, but the big snow is not expected until January.

4 Oct 2026

Hintertux Glacier Opens for 2026-27 With 12 Kilometres of Piste

Hintertux became Austria's second glacier to open for 2026-27 on Friday 2 October, after the Pitztal Glacier. Twelve kilometres of piste are running around the Olperer and Gefrorene Wand, served by one gondola and two drag lifts, with the Betterpark also open. Lifts officially run 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, but skiing stops at 2 pm for now.

4 Oct 2026

Vail Resorts Counts the Cost of a Thin Winter as Pass Sales Slide Further

A historically poor western winter cut Vail Resorts' annual net income from $280 million to $147.5 million and skier visits by 13.4 per cent. Now 2026-27 pass units are down 12 per cent as of 18 September, worse than the 10 per cent flagged in spring. Vail blames the weather and thinks some buyers are simply waiting, and it forecasts a rebound if the snow behaves.

3 Oct 2026

Butternut Lift System

Butternut runs ten lifts: three quad chairs, one double chair, one triple chair and five surface lifts, serving 22 runs across 110 acres. This is a dense lift network for a resort this size, with five surface lifts alone reflecting the mountain's strong beginner and intermediate focus. Quad chairs provide the primary uphill capacity for the bulk of the terrain. There is no gondola or six-pack chair given the resort's modest scale.

The lift network has been built up incrementally since Channing and Jane Murdock's 1963 purchase, with continued investment under Jeffrey Murdock's leadership since 1994. The five surface lifts, a notably high count relative to the resort's size, support Butternut's identity as a learning-focused mountain. Quad, double and triple chairs cover the remaining intermediate and advanced terrain across the mountain's roughly 980-foot vertical drop. Family ownership has kept investment decisions independent of any larger corporate portfolio.

All lifts return to a single base area given the compact 110-acre footprint. There is no mid-mountain facility, consistent with Butternut's modest vertical drop. The dense lift spacing, particularly the five surface lifts, minimises walking for beginner skiers moving between different learning zones. This layout suits a resort built around ski school and family programming rather than complex terrain navigation.

Under continuous Murdock family ownership since 1963, lift investment has tracked the resort's role as a learning and family mountain rather than pursuing high-speed, high-capacity installations aimed at destination visitors. No major recent lift additions are confirmed in available resort information beyond the existing ten-lift network. The family's leasing arrangement with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation shapes long-term development decisions on state forest land. Further lift changes are not confirmed in available resort information.

10lifts across 4 types

Quad Chairs

Triple Chair

Double Chair

Surface Lifts

Butternut lift system

Butternut is served by 10 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.

More Butternut intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.