Mad River Glen
115 acres, 52 runs in the Mad River Valley. America's only cooperatively owned ski area, legendary Single Chair.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
12 Dec 2026
Closes
3 Apr 2027
Days open
112
Annual snow
15ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Mad River Glen's summit reaches 3,638 feet, dropping roughly 2,037 vertical feet to a base at 1,601 feet across 52 runs spread over 115 acres in Fayston, Vermont. Terrain splits 35 per cent each for advanced and intermediate, 20 per cent beginner and 10 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 185 inches. Three lifts, including the legendary Single Chair, serve the mountain alongside one triple chair and one t-bar.
Mad River Glen operates as the only cooperatively owned ski area in America, a genuinely unique structure that has protected the mountain's deliberately unpretentious, skier-first character for decades. Its famous slogan, 'Ski it if you can,' reflects the resort's reputation for challenging, largely ungroomed terrain that has earned a fiercely devoted following.
Roland Palmedo, who also later helped shape skiing at Stowe, founded Mad River Glen in 1947, leading a group of investors that included members of the Rockefeller family, with the explicit intention of creating a ski area for dedicated skiers with minimal commercial development. The resort's Single Chair, a pioneering fixed-grip lift, was completed and began operating in 1948 alongside five original trails and a small base lodge, and remains today the only lift of its kind still operating in the contiguous United States, travelling at 600 feet per minute.
A group led by Truxton Pratt purchased the ski area in 1972, and his wife Betsy took controlling interest of the Mad River Corporation upon his death in 1975. Wanting to sell only to people she could trust, Betsy Pratt eventually created a cooperative ownership structure, and on 5 December 1995 the Mad River Glen Cooperative formed, giving the resort's devoted skiers direct ownership and a voice through regular Town Hall meetings. When the ageing Single Chair needed attention, more than 80 per cent of shareholders voted to restore it rather than replace it, raising the full 1.8 million US dollar cost through community donations. Adult daily tickets run from 89 to 109 US dollars, with active military skiing free.
2,037ft
Vertical
52
Runs
115 acres
Skiable
15ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
52 runs across 115 acres skiable
Mad River Glen is a compact 115 acres (47 hectares) with 52 runs in Fayston, Vermont, running from a base at 1,600 ft (488 m) to a summit of 3,640 ft (1,109 m) for a vertical of 2,040 ft (621 m). The split is 35% blue square, 35% black diamond, 20% green circle and 10% expert, which is tougher than the numbers suggest because so much is left ungroomed. About 185 inches of snow falls in an average winter, and snowmaking covers only around 15% of the mountain, all below 2,200 ft. A single chair, a double, a triple and a T-bar do the work.
The first five trails cut here were Chute, Catamount, Fall-Line, Grand Canyon and Porcupine, and Paradise and Chute remain well-known lines, with Lynx a local pick for fresh tracks. Many of the best lines carry no map marking or sign, so exploring is part of the deal. The 1948 Single Chair is the only one of its kind left in the lower 48 states, and a practice slope lift looks after beginners. Mad River Glen suits advanced skiers who value natural snow and tight tree lines over grooming.
Terrain split
52
runs
52 runs across 4 grades
Beginner10 runs · 20%
Intermediate18 runs · 35%
Advanced18 runs · 35%
Expert5 runs · 10%
Time it right
When to visit Mad River Glen
The 2025-26 season at Mad River Glen ran from 13 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly sixteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 185 inches across the resort's challenging, largely natural-snow terrain. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Mad River's advanced-and-intermediate-weighted terrain. As a cooperatively owned resort without major multi-resort pass affiliation, Mad River draws a fiercely devoted visitor base of shareholders and dedicated skiers specifically seeking the mountain's authentic, largely ungroomed character.
The resort's famous 'Ski it if you can' ethos continues to define visitor expectations throughout the season, with limited grooming and a genuine emphasis on natural, challenging conditions. Cooperative shareholders participate in regular Town Hall meetings, giving the resort's devoted skier-owners a direct voice in seasonal operations and management decisions throughout the year.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since the Mad River Glen Cooperative's formation on 5 December 1995, following Betsy Pratt's decision to sell only to trusted skiers, the resort has continued operating under its unique shareholder governance model. The legendary Single Chair and the cooperative's preservation-first values remain central to Mad River's identity each season.
Season 2026 - 2027
12 Dec 2026
Opens
3 Apr 2027
Closes
112
Days open
15 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Mad River Glen, and where to stay
Mad River Glen sits in Fayston, Vermont, in the Mad River Valley, with a base elevation of 1,601 feet and a summit at 3,638 feet across a roughly 2,037-foot vertical drop over 115 acres. This setting places the resort within one of Vermont's most storied ski valleys, alongside neighbouring Sugarbush.
Waitsfield and the broader Mad River Valley offer lodging, dining and a genuinely close-knit ski community atmosphere within a short drive of the resort. Burlington, Vermont's largest city, lies within a reasonable drive as well, providing a broader regional population base.
Vermont State Route 17 provides access to the resort through the Mad River Valley. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled road is regularly maintained given the valley's status as a significant regional ski destination. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Burlington International Airport, within a reasonable drive, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, making Mad River Glen accessible for visitors flying into northern Vermont, though the resort's devoted visitor base is drawn primarily by its cooperative ownership and distinctive character rather than convenience.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mad River Glen, powered by Stay22.
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