The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Killington's summit reaches 4,241 feet, dropping roughly 3,080 vertical feet to a base at 1,165 feet across 155 runs spread over 1,509 acres near Killington, Vermont. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 28 per cent advanced, 17 per cent beginner and 15 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 250 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass affiliation. Twenty-one lifts, including ten quad chairs and three gondolas, serve the mountain alongside one double chair, one six-person chair, two triple chairs, three surface lifts and one t-bar.
Killington holds the title of the largest ski resort in Eastern North America, spread across six connected peaks, and markets the longest ski season in the East, a combination that has earned it the enduring nickname the Beast of the East. This considerable scale, paired with a long tradition of skiing innovation, has made Killington one of the most significant resorts in Northeast skiing.
In 1954, 24-year-old ski enthusiast Preston Leete Smith approached Vermont state forester Perry Merrill about leasing state land on Killington Peak to develop what he called Killington Basin. Smith spent nearly four years amassing investor funding, eventually forming the Sherburne Corporation and raising 127,500 US dollars through stock sales at 250 US dollars a share, and Killington opened on 13 December 1958. Under Smith's leadership, the resort pioneered numerous industry innovations, including the ticket wicket, extending the season to six months by opening earlier and closing later, novice terrain served by chairlifts, and early snowmaking installations during the 1960s.
In 1984, the Sherburne Corporation restructured as S-K-I Limited, which also owned Sunday River in Maine and Mount Snow in Vermont, before Les Otten's American Skiing Company took over and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1997. Financial difficulties led Killington to become privately owned under Powdr Corp in 2007, and in August 2024 a group of local investors, including Killington homeowners Phill Gross and Michael Ferri, acquired controlling interest in Killington and neighbouring Pico Mountain from Powdr. Adult daily tickets run from 129 to 219 US dollars.
3,077ft
Vertical
155
Runs
1,509 acres
Skiable
21ft
Annual snow
Ikon
Pass
The Terrain
155 runs across 1,509 acres skiable
Killington covers 155 runs over 1,509 acres (611 hectares) across six peaks, rising from a base at 1,160 ft (355 m) to 4,240 ft (1,293 m) at the top, a vertical of 3,080 ft (938 m). The terrain leans intermediate at 40% blue square, with 28% black diamond, 17% green circle and 15% expert. About 250 inches of snow falls in a typical year. Three gondolas, ten quad chairs, a six-pack, two triples, a double, three surface lifts and a T-bar link Killington Peak, Skye Peak, Bear Mountain, Snowdon, Ramshead and Sunrise.
Bear Mountain holds the toughest skiing. Outer Limits is a steep mogul pitch averaging more than 29 degrees, and Devil's Fiddle is known for its cliff and corkscrew sections. Easier routes such as Bear Cub and Bear Trax lead back toward the Bear Mountain base. Superstar is a long trail whose natural snow pile keeps the season running into late May or June in good years. Terrain parks add freestyle options. Killington suits groups with mixed abilities, mogul skiers and anyone chasing early or late season turns in the East.
Terrain split
155
runs
155 runs across 4 grades
Beginner26 runs · 17%
Intermediate62 runs · 40%
Advanced43 runs · 28%
Expert23 runs · 15%
Time it right
When to visit Killington
The 2025-26 season at Killington ran from 22 November 2025 to 17 May 2026, an exceptionally long roughly twenty-six-week season, the longest in the East, supported by average annual snowfall of around 250 inches and extensive snowmaking across the resort's six peaks. This marketed longest season reflects decades of deliberate early-opening and late-closing strategy dating to founder Preston Smith's era.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across Killington's considerable 1,509 acres. As an Ikon Pass resort, Killington draws substantial visitation from Ikon Pass holders alongside its traditional Northeast visitor base, supported by the resort's status as the largest in Eastern North America.
Killington's considerable scale supports strong visitor capacity during peak weekend and holiday periods, with terrain and lift infrastructure spread across six peaks to help manage crowds. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's varied terrain and legendary nightlife and entertainment options in the surrounding area. The resort has also hosted Women's World Cup ski racing.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations and World Cup racing is not confirmed in available resort information. Following the August 2024 acquisition by local investors from Powdr Corp, Killington continues building on nearly seven decades of history since Preston Smith's 1958 founding. The Beast of the East's considerable scale and marathon season remain central to its seasonal identity.
Season 2026 - 2027
11 Nov 2026
Opens
24 May 2027
Closes
194
Days open
21 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Killington, and where to stay
Killington sits near Killington, Vermont, with a base elevation of 1,165 feet and a summit at 4,241 feet across a roughly 3,080-foot vertical drop over 1,509 acres spread across six connected peaks. This central Vermont setting places the resort within one of the most significant ski destinations in the Northeast.
The town of Killington and nearby Rutland offer extensive lodging, dining and nightlife within a short drive of the resort, giving Killington a genuine destination-resort character supported by its considerable scale. The broader Green Mountains region surrounds the resort with additional outdoor recreation across all seasons.
US Route 4 provides direct access to the resort from both the east and west, connecting to the broader Vermont and New England highway network. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled road is regularly maintained given Killington's status as a major regional destination. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport, within a reasonable drive, offers limited commercial service, while Burlington International Airport and airports in the greater Boston area serve as the primary gateways for visitors flying in from further afield.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Killington, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Vermont Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Few Dates Set, Killington Waits on the Cold
Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.
9 Oct 2026
Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships President Resigns Ahead of Fraud Hearing
Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.
9 Oct 2026
Kelly Canyon, Idaho, Adds Snowmaking, a Bigger Terrain Park and More Parking for 2026-27
Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.
9 Oct 2026
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
Killington Lift System
Killington runs twenty-one lifts: one double chair, ten quad chairs, one six-person chair, two triple chairs, three gondolas, three surface lifts and one t-bar, serving 155 runs across 1,509 acres spread over six connected peaks. This extensive network, the largest in Eastern North America, has grown considerably since the resort's December 1958 opening under founder Preston Leete Smith.
Under Smith's leadership, Killington pioneered numerous lift-related innovations, including chairlift-served novice terrain that gave beginners a better learning experience than the rope tows common at the time. Subsequent decades of investment, spanning ownership under S-K-I Limited, American Skiing Company and Powdr Corp, added substantial infrastructure including the Skye Peak Express Quad and the Snowdon Six.
The ten quad chairs and three gondolas distribute the considerable skier volume across Killington's six connected peaks, supporting its status as the East's largest resort. The double chair, triple chairs, six-person chair, surface lifts and t-bar provide additional capacity across the mountain's varied terrain.
Following the August 2024 acquisition of controlling interest by a group of local investors, including Killington homeowners Phill Gross and Michael Ferri, from Powdr Corp, continued investment is expected to support this twenty-one-lift network under the new, locally rooted ownership structure. Specific further planned lift projects beyond this ownership transition are not confirmed in available resort information. Killington's extensive lift system remains central to its identity as the Beast of the East.
21lifts across 7 types
3
Gondolas
1
6-Person Chair
10
Quad Chairs
2
Triple Chairs
1
Double Chair
1
T-Bar
3
Surface Lifts
Killington lift system
Killington is served by 21 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 Killington intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.