The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Stratton Mountain's summit reaches 3,875 feet, dropping roughly 2,001 vertical feet to a base at 1,874 feet across 99 runs spread over 670 acres near Stratton, Vermont, southern Vermont's highest peak. Terrain splits 41 per cent beginner, 31 per cent intermediate, 17 per cent advanced and 11 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 176 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass affiliation. Thirteen lifts, including three quad chairs and four six-person chairs, serve the mountain alongside one double chair, one triple chair, one gondola and three surface lifts.
Stratton Mountain holds the distinction of being southern Vermont's highest peak, and its considerable investment in high-speed, high-capacity lift infrastructure has made it one of the region's most efficiently served resorts. The mountain's luxury slopeside village gives Stratton a genuinely upscale character among Vermont's ski destinations.
The Stratton Corporation established the resort in December 1961 with three double chairlifts and a three-storey base lodge, part of a broader mid-century push for alpine skiing development across the Green Mountains. The access road was paved in 1962 ahead of the second season, and two T-bar lifts were added in 1963 for the third. A significant expansion for the 1964-65 season opened the Snow Bowl area, adding a double chairlift and more than 30 acres of new terrain.
Intrawest purchased Stratton from Victoria USA, Inc. in 1994, quickly rolling out four new high-speed six-person chairlifts and establishing the resort as a genuine four-season destination that drew respect across the industry for the scale of its reinvestment. In 2017, KSL Capital Partners and Henry Crown and Company acquired Intrawest, combining Stratton with Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and other mountains to form Alterra Mountain Company, launched in January 2018. Adult daily tickets run from 139 to 189 US dollars.
2,001ft
Vertical
99
Runs
670 acres
Skiable
15ft
Annual snow
Ikon
Pass
The Terrain
99 runs across 670 acres skiable
Stratton has 99 runs over 670 acres (271 hectares) near Stratton, Vermont, climbing from a base at 1,870 ft (571 m) to a summit of 3,870 ft (1,181 m), a vertical of 2,000 ft (610 m). It is unusually beginner friendly, with 41% green circle, 31% blue square, 17% black diamond and 11% expert. About 176 inches of snow falls in an average winter. A gondola, four six-packs, three quads, a triple, a double and three surface lifts move people quickly, with high-speed chairs doing most of the work.
Upper Tamarack has sweeping bends, while Frank's Fall Line and Upper Standard drop straight down the hill, and Upper Standard and Black Bear hold a steady pitch. Lower Tamarack and East Meadow are gentle options for learners. The Snow Bowl is the favourite for more technical skiing with fewer people, and glades can be found off Kidderbrook. Five terrain parks include the Progression Park near the base, plus East Byrneside Park and Suntanner Park. Stratton suits families, progressing skiers and park riders, with enough black terrain to keep stronger skiers busy for a few days.
Terrain split
99
runs
99 runs across 4 grades
Beginner41 runs · 41%
Intermediate31 runs · 31%
Advanced17 runs · 17%
Expert11 runs · 11%
Time it right
When to visit Stratton
The 2025-26 season at Stratton Mountain ran from 28 November 2025 to 12 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 176 inches. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather on southern Vermont's highest peak.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Stratton's beginner-and-intermediate-weighted terrain. As an Ikon Pass resort within the Alterra Mountain Company network, Stratton draws substantial visitation from Ikon Pass holders alongside its traditional southern New England weekend visitor base.
Stratton's luxury slopeside village and four-season resort amenities continue to support strong visitation beyond typical ski-day traffic, a legacy of Intrawest's substantial reinvestment during its ownership tenure. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's varied terrain and considerable village-based amenities. Weekend crowds draw heavily from the greater Boston and New York metropolitan areas.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Alterra Mountain Company's January 2018 formation, Stratton has continued operating as part of the Ikon Pass network, building on more than six decades of history since the Stratton Corporation's December 1961 founding. The resort's high-speed lift infrastructure and luxury village character remain central to its seasonal identity.
Season 2026 - 2027
18 Nov 2026
Opens
12 Apr 2027
Closes
145
Days open
15 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Stratton, and where to stay
Stratton Mountain sits near Stratton, Vermont, with a base elevation of 1,874 feet and a summit at 3,875 feet across a roughly 2,001-foot vertical drop over 670 acres, southern Vermont's highest peak. This setting places the resort within a considerable drive of the greater Boston and New York metropolitan areas.
The resort's own luxury slopeside village provides substantial on-site lodging, dining and shopping, giving Stratton a genuinely self-contained destination-resort character. Manchester, a larger regional town, lies within a reasonable drive as well, offering additional visitor services.
Vermont State Route 30 provides access to the resort from the broader southern Vermont region. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled road is regularly maintained given Stratton's status as a major regional destination. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Albany International Airport in New York and Bradley International Airport in Connecticut both serve the broader region within a reasonable drive, with Stratton's southern Vermont location making it a popular weekend option for visitors from across southern New England and the greater New York metropolitan area.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Stratton, 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
Stratton Lift System
Stratton Mountain runs thirteen lifts: one double chair, three quad chairs, four six-person chairs, one triple chair, one gondola and three surface lifts, serving 99 runs across 670 acres on southern Vermont's highest peak. This substantial network has grown considerably since the resort's December 1961 opening with just three double chairlifts.
That original three-lift configuration expanded through the 1960s, with two T-bars added for the 1963 season and a further double chairlift accompanying the Snow Bowl expansion for the 1964-65 season, unlocking more than 30 acres of additional terrain. This steady early growth established Stratton's foundation as a significant Vermont ski destination.
The transformative period came under Intrawest's ownership beginning in 1994, when the company rolled out four new high-speed six-person chairlifts, a substantial investment that earned Stratton respect across the industry and established the resort's reputation for efficient, high-capacity lift service. This six-person chair infrastructure remains a defining feature of Stratton's current network.
Since Alterra Mountain Company's formation in January 2018, following KSL Capital Partners and Henry Crown and Company's 2017 acquisition of Intrawest, continued investment has supported this thirteen-lift system as part of the Ikon Pass network. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects beyond this ownership transition are not confirmed in available resort information. Stratton's high-speed lift infrastructure remains central to its efficient, high-throughput visitor experience.
13lifts across 6 types
1
Gondola
4
6-Person Chairs
3
Quad Chairs
1
Triple Chair
1
Double Chair
3
Surface Lifts
Stratton lift system
Stratton is served by 13 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 Stratton intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.