Sugarbush
581 acres, 111 runs across two peaks in the Mad River Valley. Ikon Pass access, legendary glades.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
21 Nov 2026
Closes
2 May 2027
Days open
162
Annual snow
177in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Sugarbush's summit reaches 4,082 feet, dropping roughly 2,599 vertical feet to a base at 1,483 feet across 111 runs spread over 581 acres in Warren, Vermont, across two connected mountains. Terrain splits 42 per cent intermediate, 27 per cent advanced, 24 per cent beginner and 7 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 177 inches. The resort carries Ikon and Mountain Collective pass affiliation. Thirteen lifts, including ten quad chairs and one double chair, serve the mountain's Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen alongside two triple chairs and three surface lifts.
Sugarbush earned an early and enduring reputation for attracting sophisticated New York visitors to Vermont's remote Mad River Valley, a glamorous image that helped establish the resort as a genuine social and skiing destination from its earliest years. Its two connected mountains, Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen, linked by the Slide Brook Express, give Sugarbush a considerable combined scale within the valley.
Damon and Sara Gadd, together with Jack Murphy, opened Sugarbush on 25 December 1958 after the Gadds moved to the Mad River Valley four years earlier. The Gadds took a genuinely innovative approach to resort development, installing the first enclosed Italian-built gondola in the United States, opening one of the country's first on-mountain apres-ski bars, the Wunderbar, and founding an international ski school, innovations that helped cement Sugarbush's fashionable early reputation.
The Gadds sold Sugarbush to Roy Cohen in 1977, and Cohen purchased the neighbouring Glen Ellen Ski Area, now Mount Ellen, in 1979, unifying the resort's two-mountain footprint. In 2001, Win Smith and a group of investors formed Summit Ventures NE LLC to purchase Sugarbush from the American Skiing Company, before Alterra Mountain Company acquired the resort in November 2019. Adult daily tickets run from 135 to 195 US dollars, with discounted access to Mount Ellen only.
2,598ft
Vertical
111
Runs
581 acres
Skiable
177in
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
111 runs across 581 acres skiable
Sugarbush links two mountains, Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen, with 111 runs over 581 acres (235 hectares) in Warren, Vermont. The base sits at 1,480 ft (452 m) and the top reaches 4,080 ft (1,244 m), a vertical of 2,600 ft (792 m). Intermediates get 42% of terrain, with 27% black diamond, 24% green circle and 7% expert. About 177 inches of snow falls in an average winter. Ten quad chairs, two triples, a double and three surface lifts keep the network moving across both mountains.
Lincoln Peak holds 72 of the 111 runs, and Castlerock Peak, served by a single double chair, is known for steep, narrow, winding New England runs, including Rumble, arguably the hardest trail at Sugarbush. Mount Ellen offers steeps, wide-open cruisers and good intermediate terrain, and the two sides are separated by Slide Brook Basin. Sugarbush suits intermediates and advanced skiers who want variety, and the Mad River Valley location puts it close to Mad River Glen for a very different day, and either one rewards a second visit.
Terrain split
111
runs
111 runs across 4 grades
Beginner27 runs · 24%
Intermediate47 runs · 42%
Advanced30 runs · 27%
Expert8 runs · 7%
Time it right
When to visit Sugarbush
The 2025-26 season at Sugarbush ran from 6 December 2025 to 3 May 2026, a roughly twenty-one-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 177 inches across the resort's two connected mountains. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather in the Mad River Valley.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across Sugarbush's varied terrain spanning Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen. As an Ikon and Mountain Collective pass resort, Sugarbush draws substantial visitation from pass holders alongside its traditional Mad River Valley visitor base, still drawing on the resort's long-standing fashionable reputation.
The Mad River Valley's genuinely close-knit community, shared with neighbouring Mad River Glen, continues to shape Sugarbush's seasonal character alongside its considerable scale across two mountains. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's varied terrain across both peaks. Extensive gladed terrain and challenging steeps, including the legendary Castle Rock area, draw dedicated expert skiers throughout the season.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Alterra Mountain Company's November 2019 acquisition, Sugarbush has continued operating within the Ikon Pass network, building on more than six decades of history since Damon and Sara Gadd's December 1958 founding. The resort's two-mountain scale and Mad River Valley setting remain central to its seasonal identity.
Season 2026 - 2027
21 Nov 2026
Opens
2 May 2027
Closes
162
Days open
177 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Sugarbush
Daily snow reports at Sugarbush go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
11 in
Snowiest day
21 Feb 2026
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
179 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Sugarbush, and where to stay
Sugarbush sits in Warren, Vermont, in the Mad River Valley, with a base elevation of 1,483 feet and a summit at 4,082 feet across a roughly 2,599-foot vertical drop over 581 acres spread across Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen. This setting places the resort within one of Vermont's most storied ski valleys, alongside neighbouring Mad River Glen.
Warren and the broader Mad River Valley offer lodging, dining and a genuinely close-knit ski community atmosphere within a short drive of the resort. Waitsfield, a nearby village, provides additional visitor services, while Burlington, Vermont's largest city, lies within a reasonable drive.
Vermont State Route 100 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 Sugarbush accessible for visitors flying into northern Vermont, supporting its long-standing draw for visitors from the greater New York and Boston metropolitan areas.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Sugarbush, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Sugarbush's ski season?
Sugarbush's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 21 through May 2. That window is roughly 162 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Vermont, Usa often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Sugarbush have?
Sugarbush lists about 581 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 111 named runs (235 hectares alongside 581 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Sugarbush?
Trail grading at Sugarbush breaks down roughly as 24% beginner, 42% intermediate, 27% advanced, 7% expert. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Green/Blue) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical feet. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Sugarbush have?
Sugarbush operates 16 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 10 quad chairs, 3 surface lifts, 2 triple chairs, and 1 double chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Sugarbush?
Base elevation at Sugarbush is about 1,483 ft (452 m), with the summit around 4,081 ft (1,244 m), giving roughly 2,598 ft (792 m) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Sugarbush get each season?
Sugarbush averages about 177 inches (450 cm) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Does Sugarbush accept the Ikon / Mountain Collective?
Sugarbush is affiliated with the Ikon / Mountain Collective. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Ikon / Mountain Collective, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
Where can I buy Sugarbush lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans US$49 to US$195, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Sugarbush before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 8 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Sugarbush so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Sugarbush have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Sugarbush. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Sugarbush located?
Sugarbush sits in Vermont, Usa. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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31 Oct 2026
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31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
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30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
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30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season
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28 Oct 2026