SnowStash
ForecastsCompareNews
SnowStash Logo

Live snow, webcams and expert resort guides for the world's mountains - plan your next day on snow.

hello@snowstash.com
Download on the App Store

Destinations

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Europe
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • United States

Company

  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Privacy Policy

Explore

  • Compare Resorts
  • News & Updates
  • Snow Forecast
  • Mobile App

© 2026 SnowStash. All rights reserved.

    Vermont, Usa · Ikon

    Pico Mountain

    267 acres, 61 runs near Killington. Historic Vermont resort, big-mountain skiing, Ikon Pass access.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    13 Dec 2025
    Closes
    5 Apr 2026
    Days open
    113
    Annual snow
    15ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Pico Mountain's summit reaches 3,966 feet, dropping roughly 1,965 vertical feet to a base at 2,001 feet across 61 runs spread over 267 acres near Killington, Vermont. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 36 per cent advanced, 16 per cent beginner and 3 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 186 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass affiliation. Six lifts, including two quad chairs and two double chairs, serve the mountain alongside two triple chairs.

    Pico Mountain holds genuine historical significance as one of the first commercial ski resorts established in Vermont, and its more modest scale relative to neighbouring Killington has earned it a reputation as a hidden gem offering big-mountain skiing with small-mountain charm and value.

    The Mead family founded Pico, opening it as Pico Peak on Thanksgiving Day in 1937. Their daughter, Andrea Mead-Lawrence, went on to win a pair of gold medals in alpine skiing at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway, a remarkable point of pride for the small resort that shaped her earliest skiing. Pico also holds the distinction of hosting the first T-bar lift ever operated in the United States, beginning service in 1940.

    The resort went into receivership in 1996 and was purchased by neighbouring Killington Mountain Resort in December 1997, linking the two mountains under common ownership. Powdr Corp acquired both Killington and Pico in 2007, making significant capital investments over subsequent years, before a group of local investors, including Killington homeowners Phill Gross and Michael Ferri, acquired controlling interest in both resorts from Powdr in August 2024. Adult daily tickets run from 109 to 149 US dollars, with a substantial discount for Vermont and New Hampshire residents and free access for seniors aged 80 and over.

    1,965ft
    Vertical
    61
    Runs
    267 acres
    Skiable
    15ft
    Annual snow
    Ikon
    Pass
    The Terrain

    61 runs across 267 acres skiable

    Pico Mountain spreads 61 runs across 267 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 10 beginner runs to find your feet and 24 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    61
    runs
    61 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner10 runs · 16%
    Intermediate27 runs · 45%
    Advanced22 runs · 36%
    Expert2 runs · 3%
    Time it right

    When to visit Pico Mountain

    The 2025-26 season at Pico Mountain ran from 13 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly sixteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 186 inches across the resort's intermediate-and-advanced-weighted terrain. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Pico's varied terrain. As an Ikon Pass resort, Pico draws visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass alongside its core Vermont and regional visitor base, many of whom appreciate the mountain's considerably lighter crowds relative to neighbouring Killington.

    Substantial discounts for Vermont and New Hampshire residents, alongside free access for seniors aged 80 and over, reflect the resort's long-standing value-focused pricing philosophy. School holiday periods bring family visitation given the resort's varied terrain and more relaxed atmosphere compared to larger regional destinations.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Following the August 2024 acquisition by local investors, alongside Killington, from Powdr Corp, Pico continues building on nearly nine decades of history since its Thanksgiving Day 1937 founding by the Mead family. The mountain's hidden-gem reputation and historic ties to Olympic gold medallist Andrea Mead-Lawrence remain central to its identity each season.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    13 Dec 2025
    Opens
    5 Apr 2026
    Closes
    113
    Days open
    15 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Pico Mountain, and where to stay

    Pico Mountain sits near Killington, Vermont, with a base elevation of 2,001 feet and a summit at 3,966 feet across a roughly 1,965-foot vertical drop over 267 acres. This central Vermont setting places the resort in the immediate vicinity of its considerably larger neighbour, Killington.

    The town of Killington and nearby Rutland provide substantial lodging, dining and services within a short drive of the resort, giving Pico visitors access to the broader area's extensive amenities without the crowds of the larger neighbouring resort. The broader Green Mountains region surrounds both mountains.

    US Route 4 provides direct access to the resort, the same route serving neighbouring Killington. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled road is regularly maintained given the area's status as a major regional ski destination. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.

    Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport offers limited commercial service within a reasonable drive, 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 Pico Mountain, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

    Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

    Arosa's Hörnli sector is getting its biggest overhaul in decades. The 1986 gondola and 1994 chairlift linking toward Lenzerheide are both being replaced, with capacity up, tower count down and a new base station lower on the hill. At roughly CHF 67 million, it is the largest single investment Arosa Bergbahnen has ever made - and the target opening has already slipped a year, to December 2028. Here is what is changing, and why the timeline moved.

    20 Aug 2026
    Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

    Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

    Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.

    19 Aug 2026
    Levi and Ruka Confirm October 2 Opening on Farmed Summer Snow

    Levi and Ruka Confirm October 2 Opening on Farmed Summer Snow

    Finland's Levi and Ruka open for the 2026-27 season on October 2, more than seven weeks before most of Europe sees a lift turn. Neither resort is waiting on autumn snowfall - both are skiing on snow buried since last spring, insulated through the Finnish summer and dug back out for opening day. It is not a shortcut. It is a decades-old system now spreading from the Arctic Circle to Idaho, Utah, Vermont and Colorado. Here is how snow farming actually works, and why it is catching on.

    19 Aug 2026
    Sölden's Old Einzeiger Chairlift Gets a Second Life in Montafon

    Sölden's Old Einzeiger Chairlift Gets a Second Life in Montafon

    Silvretta Montafon is replacing its ageing Freda chairlift - but not with something new. The resort is having a 1999 four-seater chairlift, retired from Sölden, dismantled, shipped to Vorarlberg and rebuilt with new electronics, cable and clamps. It has to be running before March 2027, when Silvretta Montafon hosts the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships - the biggest winter sports event Vorarlberg has staged. Here's how a reused lift ends up cheaper.

    18 Aug 2026
    Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season

    Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season

    Nassfeld is putting €13 million into a new 6-seater chairlift, the Tressdorfer Almbahn, connecting Sonnleitn with the Tressdorfer Alm from December 2026. It replaces three ageing drag lifts and will run through summer too, from June 2027, moving up to 2,500 people an hour on the roughly three-minute ride. It's the latest step in Carinthia's largest ski resort building out a genuine year-round offering, following last year's Gartnerkofelbahn gondola.

    17 Aug 2026
    Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope

    Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope

    Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.

    15 Aug 2026
    Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

    Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

    Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.

    15 Aug 2026
    Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening

    Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening

    Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.

    12 Aug 2026

    Lift tickets

    Ikon6 pass options
    Buy passes ↗

    Single-day passes

    Adult 18–64

    Adult Daily Ticket

    US$109up to US$149 peak

    Experience Pico Mountain's 61 trails with authentic Vermont skiing and classic terrain. Located on the same ridgeline as Killington with 1,967 feet of vertical and intimate mountain atmosphere without crowds.

    Buy pass
    Youth 13–17

    Youth Daily Ticket

    US$99up to US$139 peak

    Youth lift tickets at Pico Mountain provide access to authentic Vermont skiing with excellent value. Perfect for young skiers experiencing classic terrain and intimate mountain atmosphere without crowds.

    Buy pass
    Adult 18–99

    Vermont/NH Resident Discount

    US$54up to US$74 peak

    Vermont and New Hampshire residents receive special pricing at Pico Mountain on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Experience authentic skiing with classic terrain at excellent local rates.

    Buy pass
    Adult 18–99

    Military Discount

    US$38up to US$59 peak

    Active duty, retired, and honorably discharged military members receive discounted lift tickets at Pico Mountain. Experience authentic Vermont skiing with classic terrain and intimate atmosphere.

    Buy pass
    Senior 80–99

    Seniors 80+ Free

    Free

    Seniors ages 80 and older ski free at Pico Mountain! Experience authentic Vermont skiing with classic terrain and intimate mountain atmosphere without the crowds of larger resorts.

    Buy pass

    Season passes

    Adult 13–99

    My Pico Season Pass

    US$999up to US$1,199 peak

    Pico Mountain season passes provide unlimited access to 61 trails plus access to Killington Resort. Experience authentic Vermont skiing with classic terrain and intimate atmosphere plus Beast of the East access.

    Buy pass

    Pico Mountain lift tickets & passes

    The 2025 - 2026 season at Pico Mountain closed on Apr 5, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.

    Day passes start from US$38, with peak rates up to US$149.

    Lift tickets FAQ

    How much does a Pico Mountain day pass cost?+
    Pico Mountain day passes range from US$38 to US$149 depending on the date and advance booking.
    Can I buy Pico Mountain lift tickets online?+
    Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
    Are there discounts for multi-day passes?+
    Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
    What is included with a Pico Mountain lift ticket?+
    Full access to all lifts and trails at Pico Mountain, including mountain safety and patrol services.
    What is the difference between Pico Mountain lift tickets and ski passes?+
    "Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Pico Mountain - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
    When should I buy Pico Mountain lift tickets for the best price?+
    Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
    Does Pico Mountain offer group discounts on lift tickets?+
    Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Pico Mountain directly for group booking information and rates.
    How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?+
    Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Pico Mountain.

    More Pico Mountain intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.