
Killington
1,509 acres, 155 runs across six peaks. Eastern North America's largest resort, Ikon Pass, longest season.
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.
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.
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.
Daily snow reports at Killington go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
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.
Hotels and lodges near Killington, powered by Stay22.

The Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi lift link isn’t dead after all. A South Tyrol court has overturned Santa Cristina’s rejection of the new Monte Pana-Saltria link on procedural grounds, after the council skipped required public information sessions. Opponents want the missing sessions held and a fresh vote, and nothing has been approved. For now it’s still a bus between the two, but a plan first floated in 2017 is back in the conversation.

A section of Whistler Peak terrain will stay closed all 2026-27 season, Vail Resorts has confirmed, with rockslide mitigation work continuing into summer 2027. Peak Express is still expected to run this winter, but locals are already arguing about what’s actually off limits, whether the Whistler Bowl is gone, and why the news landed after pass sales wound down. Here’s where things stand.

Loveland is open. The Colorado ski area started Chet’s Dream turning on Saturday 7 November to kick off 2026-27, with $60 adult lift tickets to mark 60 years of snowmaking. Expect three runs, nearly 1,000 vertical feet (about 300 metres) of top-to-bottom skiing, live music on the Basin Patio and no beginner terrain yet. Here’s what’s open, what it costs and when Loveland Valley follows.

Fried chicken is heading up the Dolomites. From 5 December KFC will run two restaurants on the slopes - one at 2,123 metres at Cortina, one at 1,700 metres at Madonna di Campiglio - and the polenta-and-canederli crowd has opinions. Local politicians, conservation groups and plenty of Facebook commenters are calling it a step too far, while others just want a cheaper lunch. Here’s what’s on the menu and what’s the fuss.

Mt Rose is going for the first-in-Tahoe title, with the Lakeview Express due to spin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 6. One main lift, three runs and plenty of snowmaking, sitting on the highest base elevation in the region at 8,260 ft. Here is what is open, what is not (sorry, tubing fans), and how the early North American openings are stacking up.

Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.

Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.

Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
7 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
More Killington intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.