Best ski resorts on the East Coast (2026-27)
The best ski resorts on the East Coast, ranked by how often it snows, how much snow falls and how much vertical there is: Jay Peak (Vermont), Smugglers' Notch (Vermont), and Whiteface (New York).
How we rank: snow days (40%, 10 seasons of daily weather), resort-reported average snowfall (30%) and vertical drop (30%), each scaled within this list. It doesn't weigh price, crowds or lodging; see the picks below for those angles. Details
Best for…
- Most snow daysWildcat Mountain · about 30 days of new snow a season
- Most annual snowfallJay Peak · about 359 inches a year (resort-reported)
- Biggest verticalWhiteface · 3,647 ft from base to summit
- Best for beginnersSmugglers' Notch · Smugglers' Notch, 19% beginner terrain
- Closest to New York CityMountain Creek · about 1 hr 15 min by car
- Top on the Epic PassWildcat Mountain · #5 overall
- Top on the Ikon PassKillington · #4 overall
The top 15
-
1. Jay Peak Vermont
Score 84- Snow days
- 29
- Avg snowfall
- 359"
- Vertical
- 2,153 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 12.9"
Independent · best time to ski
-
2. Smugglers' Notch Vermont
Score 78- Snow days
- 25
- Avg snowfall
- 312"
- Vertical
- 2,610 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 7.8"
Independent · best time to ski
-
3. Whiteface New York
Score 73- Snow days
- 22
- Avg snowfall
- 190"
- Vertical
- 3,647 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 12.9"
Independent · best time to ski
-
4. Killington Vermont
Score 71- Snow days
- 21
- Avg snowfall
- 250"
- Vertical
- 3,076 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 8.0"
Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay
-
5. Wildcat Mountain New Hampshire
Score 71- Snow days
- 30
- Avg snowfall
- 200"
- Vertical
- 2,112 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 12.0"
Epic Pass · best time to ski
-
6. Loon Mountain New Hampshire
Score 70- Snow days
- 26
- Avg snowfall
- –
- Vertical
- 2,100 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 3.6"
Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay
-
7. Sugarbush Vermont
Score 70- Snow days
- 23
- Avg snowfall
- 250"
- Vertical
- 2,600 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 10.4"
Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay
-
8. Sugarloaf Maine
Score 70- Snow days
- 25
- Avg snowfall
- 200"
- Vertical
- 2,820 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 13.4"
Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay
-
9. Stowe Vermont
Score 68- Snow days
- 26
- Avg snowfall
- 224"
- Vertical
- 2,160 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 10.9"
Epic Pass · best time to ski · where to stay · things to do
-
10. Bolton Valley Vermont
Score 65- Snow days
- 26
- Avg snowfall
- –
- Vertical
- 1,704 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 7.4"
Independent · best time to ski
-
11. Cannon Mountain New Hampshire
Score 65- Snow days
- 28
- Avg snowfall
- 160"
- Vertical
- 2,180 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 4.8"
Independent · best time to ski
-
12. Mad River Glen Vermont
Score 61- Snow days
- 21
- Avg snowfall
- 250"
- Vertical
- 2,037 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 9.8"
Independent · best time to ski
-
13. Bretton Woods New Hampshire
Score 60- Snow days
- 26
- Avg snowfall
- 200"
- Vertical
- 1,600 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 8.5"
Independent · best time to ski
-
14. Sunday River Maine
Score 60- Snow days
- 24
- Avg snowfall
- 155"
- Vertical
- 2,340 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 8.5"
Ikon Pass · best time to ski · where to stay
-
15. Waterville Valley New Hampshire
Score 59- Snow days
- 26
- Avg snowfall
- 148"
- Vertical
- 2,020 ft
- Snow next 7 days
- 6.2"
Independent · best time to ski
The other 38 resorts we rank
- Stratton (55)
- Okemo (54)
- Gore Mountain (50)
- Mount Snow (50)
- Attitash (49)
- Holiday Valley (44)
- Magic Mountain (42)
- Timberline Mountain (41)
- Cranmore (38)
- Hunter Mountain (38)
- Mount Sunapee (37)
- Gunstock (36)
- Snowshoe (36)
- Belleayre (35)
- Greek Peak (33)
- Jiminy Peak (32)
- Windham Mountain (32)
- Canaan Valley (30)
- Seven Springs (30)
- Wachusett Mountain (24)
- Pats Peak (23)
- Elk Mountain (19)
- Montage Mountain (19)
- Jack Frost (17)
- Mountain Creek (17)
- Beech Mountain (15)
- Sugar Mountain (14)
- Blue Mountain Resort (13)
- Camelback (13)
- Shawnee Mountain (13)
- Massanutten (11)
- Whitetail (10)
- Ober Mountain (9)
- Liberty Mountain (8)
- Wintergreen (7)
- Bear Creek (6)
- Roundtop (5)
- Cataloochee (4)
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How we rank
- Snow days (40%): days with 1"+ of new snow, November to April, from our powder day odds study.
- Average snowfall (30%): resort-reported annual totals with sources, from our snowiest ski resorts list.
- Vertical drop (30%): summit minus base elevation.
- Each measure is scaled from the lowest to the highest resort in this list, then weighted. Resorts missing too much data aren't ranked. Price, crowds, terrain mix and lodging aren't scored, so use the picks above and each resort's page for those.
Questions
What is the best ski resort in the East Coast?
Jay Peak ranks first on Snow Way's score, which combines snow days (10 seasons of weather data), resort-reported annual snowfall and vertical drop. Smugglers' Notch and Whiteface are next.
Which East Coast ski resort gets the most snow days?
Wildcat Mountain: about 30 days of new snow a season.
Which East Coast ski resort gets the most snow?
Jay Peak: about 359 inches a year (resort-reported).
Which East Coast ski resort has the most vertical?
Whiteface: 3,647 ft from base to summit.
What is the best East Coast ski resort for beginners?
Smugglers' Notch: Smugglers' Notch, 19% beginner terrain.
What is the closest ski resort to New York City?
Mountain Creek: about 1 hr 15 min by car.
What is the best East Coast ski resort on the Epic Pass?
Wildcat Mountain: #5 overall.
What is the best East Coast ski resort on the Ikon Pass?
Killington: #4 overall.
More lists: Best ski resorts in the US · Best ski resorts in North America · Best ski resorts in Colorado · Best ski resorts in Utah · Best ski resorts in California · Best ski resorts in Vermont
Cite this data
Free to use with a link back. Suggested citation:
Snow Way, "Best ski resorts on the East Coast (2026-27)," November 8, 2026, https://snowway.app/best-ski-resorts-on-the-east-coast
Licensed CC BY 4.0. Journalists: reach Justin through the about page.