Mad River Glen PO Box 1089, Waitsfield, VT 05673 Phone: 802.496.3351 Fax: 802.496.3652 eric@madriverglen.com  High in the mountains of Vermont, there is a ski area like no other. A place where skiing is still a sport, not an industry. A place where skiing remains an outdoor adventure in a pristine, natural setting. A place so perfect, its loyal skiers are banding together to protect and preserve it forever.

Mad River Valley  The Mad River Valley is active Vermont, pastoral, but never passive. Drive through the Mad River Valley and you'll be struck by its classic New England landscape and architecture - a mountain ridgeline, a winding river, hillside farms, covered bridges and steepled villages.

Vermont Winter Activities

Vermont is an “outdoorsy” place and winter does not slow us down. In fact, things really pick up around here when there is beautiful snow on the ground and trees. Don’t forget your camera when you’re packing to come here. 

Skiing is huge of course but it’s not the only thing to do. There are also dog sled rides, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, skating, sledding, snowshoeing, and even fishing. Probably the easiest way to get information is to ask the innkeepers where you will be staying. They’re usually knowledgeable and current on options, conditions, prices, and discounts. But that’s just one approach and if you like doing your own research, just fire up your favorite search engine, type in Vermont and the type of activity you are interested in, and you’ll find plenty to read. 

Here’s a small list of places to get started. 

All the downhill (alpine) ski areas have websites, each of which is very in-depth. Vermont is home to 18 major ski areas, and perhaps a handful of small private and community hills. 

Mad River Glen is a gay-welcoming ski area that is ideal for the outdoors person who wants the real deal without any of the whistles and bells. It’s a place you go to ski, not pose or hang around the lodge all day. These are enthusiastic skiers and they love sharing their unique mountain with beginners and experts alike. They don’t make as much snow as other ski areas but they know how to groom and take care of what they get - which is a couple hundred inches a year. MRG is the place local Vermont skiers love to go especially when there is fresh snow. MRG is owned by some 1500 shareholders. If you’ve ever wanted to own a ski area, here’s your chance. A share costs $1750 and they have a payment plan if you can’t pony up the full amount right away. 

If you want to shop around for ski areas, go to the Vermont Ski Areas Association web site. It’s a very comprehensive and well done site. 

Cross country skiing is popular and there are 30-some cross country ski areas throughout the state. The Vermont Ski Areas Association web site also has a list of cross country ski areas. Vermont even has a cross country ski trail that runs the length of the state. The Catamount Trail is 300 miles long and free to use. It is North America’s longest cross-country ski trail. The trail starts in Readsboro Vermont on the Massachusetts border and winds its way through the Green Mountains to North Troy on the Canadian border. Along the way, the trail connects eleven Vermont cross-country ski centers, and passes by many country inns and lodges. The Trail is accessible to skiers with a wide range of abilities and offers a variety of terrain from breath-taking mountain climbs to gently rolling fields and woodlands. Snowshoers are also welcome to use the Trail.

What could be more romantic than snuggling under a blanket while going for a sleigh ride through the fields and woods? There are many, many places throughout Vermont that offer sleigh rides. Again, the best place to start getting information is from your innkeeper. Some of the larger resorts offer sleigh rides for both guests and non-guests but there are also a good number of small, independent operators who don’t have web sites. Expect to pay around $50 for a 20 minute ride. 

Have a need for speed? Try a dog sled ride. This is getting more and more popular as dog sled owners find they can supplement their hobby with paying customers. There aren’t too many people who have done this so if you’re looking for something new and unique, this may be the ticket for you. In north central Vermont, try Peace Pup Dog Sledding, Atii Sled Dogs, and Eden Mountain Dogsledding. There is also a web site that has a partial listing of Vermont dog sled ride operators. 

After you’ve tried dog sledding, you may be ready to try snowmobiling. Believe it or not, there are more than 4,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Vermont. The largest system of trails is operated by VAST, the Vermont Association of Snowmobile Travelers. This 36 year old private non-profit organization is one of the oldest snowmobiling organizations in the U.S includes over 140 clubs statewide, with over 45,000 members. If you want to bring you own snowmobile, you have to purchase a Trail Management Assessment ($95 for non residents of Vermont in 2006) and show proof of registration in your state as well as proof of insurance. See the FAQ page of the web site for details. 

If you would like to rent a snowmobile, there are several places to do this. One of the larger operators is Snowmobile Vermont which has operations in Stowe, Killington, and Okemo. They use new or nearly new snowmobiles with heated hand grips, and they supply helmets and boots. The 2006 cost for two people on one snowmobile is about $160 for a two hour back country, guided tour but there are less expensive options too. There are other organizations around the state so ask your innkeeper what is available locally. 

There are skating rinks throughout the state. In Waterbury, the indoor Ice Center of Washington West opened in 2003, and operates year around with skate rental available. In winter, there is the Jackson Arena in Stowe (covered but open on the sides); in Waitsfield, there is the outdoor Skatium; and in Morrisville, an indoor facility called CREW Arena. The web site Arena Maps has links to the 20 Vermont ice rinks with web sites. But if you want the old-fashioned kind of pond skating, that’s here too. Check with the local outdoor outfitter for possible skate rental and location of some good skating ponds and whether or not the ice is thick enough to skate on. 

There is so much sledding in VT, we even have a couple of companies that have developed high tech sleds. One is Hammerhead Sleds and the other is Mad River Rocket. Take a look at their web sites – you’ll be surprised at their products. The Hammerhead site has a great database of sledding hills around the USA. Of course, we have the old fashion sled, tube and toboggan equipment too. Your innkeeper might have a few sleds lying around and perhaps even a hill on the property or nearby. If not, there are outdoor outfitters such as Umiak in Stowe and Clearwater Sports in Waitsfield that can rent or sell you something. 

If you like looong runs, try Lincoln Gap Road in Warren in the north central part of the state, not too far from Mad River Glen. It’s right off Route 100 and easy to find. Just go to Warren and ask around if you don’t see it. Everyone there knows where it is. Use the part of the road that is closed in winter. Sometimes you will need snowshoes to get to the top. Also, we’ve tried the community hill in Stowe – it’s behind the elementary school. Good hill, fairly long, a couple of bumps, but not extreme. Rental sleds are available from Shaws General Store on Main Street in downtown Stowe. But Vermont is just one big collection of hills, so you can find a place to sled no matter where you are in the state. 

Snowshoeing has grown in popularity because it’s so enjoyable and easy to do unless you’re climbing mountains. In fact, it’s safer than winter walking in boots because the shoes have metal teeth (more accurately described as metal fangs) on the bottom. They’re great in case you reach icy hillsides. And, unlike skiing for instance, you don’t have to go to a specialized area to do it although many of the ski areas will have trails for snowshoeing. Any summer hiking trail is a snowshoe trail in winter.

If you want to do some research before you get here, the best site is Tubbs Trail-Net, a collection of great snowshoe trails around the world. Tubbs is Vermont company that has been manufacturing snow shoes for years. You can find that brand and many others at all the outdoor outfitters and many ski shops throughout the state. Some of the outfitters will have guided snowshoe tours on the best scenic trails known only by locals. Many innkeepers have them on hand for their guests too. If you’ve never snowshoed, you’ll find it easy to do and a great way to get a walk in the woods. 

Fishing in winter? Yep . . . you know . . . ice fishing! Ever seen the movie “Grumpy Old Men” starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon?* Then you pretty much have the picture. But if you’ve done everything else there is to do in Vermont and want to check off the gamut of winter activities, here is the final frontier. Some fishing guides like to work year around so they’ll add ice fishing to their repertoire. They have an ice shanty (or several) set up on the lake with all the equipment. All you need to do is show up and sit on the chair. Pretty cool, huh? Buy a red checkered wool hat with ear flaps, take your camera on the ice fishing trip, and scare your friends back home. 

A good source to find an ice fishing guide, as well as a reliable resource for any outdoor activity year-around, go the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association web site, the Vermont Recreation Directory. 

Dress in layers, be careful, have fun!

(Actually, a good movie made in 1993 also starting Ann Margaret, Burgess Meredith, Daryl Hannah, Kevin Pollack, Ossie Davis, and Buck Henry). 
Information in this article may not be accurate or current when you read it. All readers and users take full responsibility for acting on this information. 
© 2006 VGTA - Jeff Connor