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
115in
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
22
Runs
110 acres
Skiable
115in
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
22
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
115 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Butternut
Daily snow reports at Butternut go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
3 in
Snowiest day
14 Dec 2025
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
5 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
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.
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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
3
Quad Chairs
1
Triple Chair
1
Double Chair
5
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.