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
15ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
111 runs across 581 acres skiable
Sugarbush spreads 111 runs across 581 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 42%, with 27 beginner runs to find your feet and 38 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
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 2025 - 2026
6 Dec 2025
Opens
3 May 2026
Closes
148
Days open
15 ft
Annual snow
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
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Sugarbush, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Sugarbush Webcams
8 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Sugarbush's live webcams
Check live conditions across Sugarbush with 8 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Gatehouse Lift1,601ft
- Monitor Sugarbush ski resort through this Gatehouse Lift webcam at 488 meters elevation. This Sugarbush live cam captures lift operations and snow conditions at this key access point to Lincoln Peak's diverse terrain. Essential for planning your Mad River Valley ski adventure, this live snow cam showcases the natural beauty that makes Sugarbush Vermont's favorite locals' mountain.
- Super Bravo Lift2,201ft
- Experience Sugarbush's mid-mountain terrain through this Super Bravo Lift webcam at 671 meters elevation. This Sugarbush live cam provides views of the high-speed quad and surrounding intermediate trails. Skiers use this Sugarbush web cam to assess conditions in the heart of Lincoln Peak before exploring Vermont's most challenging ski terrain.
- North Ridge2,999ft
- Discover Sugarbush's legendary expert terrain through this North Ridge webcam at 914 meters elevation. This Sugarbush live cam captures the resort's most challenging natural snow zones and famous glades. Advanced skiers rely on this live snow cam to monitor powder conditions before tackling Vermont's steepest and most technical ski runs.
- Gate House Plaza1,601ft
- Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Sugarbush through this Gate House Plaza webcam at 488 meters elevation. This Sugarbush web cam monitors base area activity, lift operations, and guest arrivals at Lincoln Peak. Perfect for timing your visit, this Sugarbush live cam reveals the uncrowded conditions that locals cherish at this authentic Vermont ski resort.
- Castle Rock Cam3,501ft
- Witness commanding summit perspectives through this Sugarbush webcam at Castle Rock's 1067-meter elevation. This live snow cam delivers panoramic views across the Mad River Valley and the surrounding Green Mountains. Essential for assessing visibility and snow quality, this Sugarbush live cam showcases the natural terrain that defines Vermont's most challenging ski area.
- Heaven's Gate Base3,799ft
- Experience Sugarbush's summit access through this Heaven's Gate Base webcam at 1158 meters elevation. This Sugarbush web cam captures the upper mountain base area and conditions at this gateway to the resort's most spectacular terrain. Skiers planning to explore the summit use this Sugarbush live cam to check snow conditions and lift operations before ascending to Vermont's highest ski terrain.
- Slidebrook Express2,500ft
- Monitor Sugarbush's popular Slidebrook terrain through this Express lift webcam at 762 meters elevation. This live snow cam shows conditions on one of the resort's key lifts serving intermediate and advanced terrain. Families and recreational skiers use this Sugarbush live cam to assess crowd levels and snow quality before exploring the Mad River Valley's premier ski destination.
- Allyns Lodge Snow Stake2,700ft
- Track precise snowfall accumulation through this Sugarbush webcam focused on the Allyn's Lodge snow stake at 823 meters elevation. This specialized Sugarbush live cam provides real-time powder measurements at mid-mountain, essential for planning your Vermont ski adventure. Powder hunters rely on this live snow cam to monitor exactly how many inches have fallen before exploring Sugarbush's legendary terrain.
Sugarbush snow cams FAQ
How often do Sugarbush snow cams update?
All Sugarbush snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Sugarbush.
Which Sugarbush webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Heaven's Gate Base webcam at 1,158m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Sugarbush webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Sugarbush lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Sugarbush snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Sugarbush snow cams?
Check Sugarbush webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Sugarbush lift tickets?
Use our Sugarbush webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Sugarbush webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Sugarbush snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Sugarbush intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.