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When the snow flies, Waterbury becomes a winter wonderland of fun with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, biking, ice climbing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, and more! Whether you are seeking an adrenaline rush from some of the biggest mountains in New England, or a more relaxing day enjoying the great outdoors, you can access it all from Waterbury. Head to town for your après activities and warm up with a delicious meal or craft beverage.
This information is only intended to give you an overview of what the region offers for winter recreation. Please consult more information prior to exploring an area or activity and be conscientious of the safety risks involved. Many trails and areas are shared by skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers and fat tire bikers. Please be courteous, aware of other trail users and use common sense to stay safe. Keep in mind that bikers and snowmobilers may not be able to easily stop or swerve to avoid slower travelers, especially on narrow wooded or downhill trails, so slower travelers should yield the right of way.
Need some gear? Waterbury Sports offers gear rentals by the day or season. For more information on winter recreation services and tours in the area, please consult the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association.
Looking for more ways to play in town? Try these fun ways to get physical while in Waterbury!
EXPERIENCE THE BEST WINTER RECREATION ALONG ROUTE 100Experience the best winter recreation along Route 100 in Vermont with more places in the Stowe and Mad River Valley regions.
Vertical Drop: 1,704’
Trails: 71
Chair Lifts: 6
Skiable Acres: 300
Bolton Valley is right in Waterbury’s backyard, with a community feel that makes it a favorite for locals and families. The trails range from beginner-friendly to double black diamond and Bolton boasts the most extensive night skiing in Vermont, as well as three terrain parks.
Vertical Drop: 2,037’
Trails: 53
Chair Lifts: 5
Skiable Acres: 915
With a motto to “Ski It If You Can,” Mad River Glen packs the most challenging skiing in the East into a compact package, with a single base to make it family-friendly. This cooperatively owned mountain is also home to the one of the only surviving single chairlifts, so it appeals to those looking for a bit more solitude with their piste.
Vertical Drop: 2,360’
Trails: 116
Chair Lifts: 12
Skiable Acres: 485
Stowe is an internationally renowned resort located on Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, with a gondola to access even more trails on Spruce Peak. If over 300 inches of snow isn’t enough, state-of-the-art snowmaking covers almost all of the mountain.
Vertical Drop: 2,600’
Trails: 111
Chair Lifts: 16
Skiable Acres: 581
Sugarbush is one of New England’s largest ski areas, with two mountains, three terrain parks, and six peaks. Lincoln Peak is great for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities, and Mt. Ellen will please those looking for a little more adventure.
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Open for snowshoeing and X-C skiing in winter, parking is limited to Best Western guests.
Blueberry Lake has 11 trails (35K) for X-C and snoesnowing as well as fat tire biking. Rentals and lessons are available for skiing and snowshoeing.
Bolton offers 100 kilometers of Nordic trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, including almost 15 km of groomed trails.
This multi-use trail is accessible from downtown Waterbury. Snowshoers can connect with trails along the river and through the fields behind the State Complex. X-C skiing is popular along some flat sections, but trails are not groomed.
Little River State Park offers a variety of terrain for snowshoeing, with markers noting historic sites (cellar holes, abandoned farms, a family cemetery and the remains of an old sawmill). Some roads and broad trails are suitable for X-C skiing.
This commercial X-C center has rentals and some groomed trails. Fat tire biking is also available.
The Notch Road is closed in winter to motor traffic, but makes for good snowshoeing, X-C skiing and an occasional dog sled. A few intrepid downhillers trek to the top of the Notch and ski back down. Parking is available at the mouth of the Notch (near the Mt. Mansfield parking lot on Route 108 North).
Stowe has 45 kilometers of groomed trails, plus an additional 30 kilometers of backcountry terrain.
The Stowe Rec Path is popular with snowshoers and X-C skiers; walking is sometimes possible after snow is well-packed. A marked “quiet path” makes for a peaceful detour across fields and along the creek, with less traffic, reconnecting with the main path.
Snowshoe through Sugarbush on the trails adjacent to the main peak or in the Slide Brook Basin; explore on your own or take a guided tour.
Trapp has 37 miles of groomed trails and 62 miles of backcountry trails, with rentals available at the resort’s Nordic Center.
Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) maintains a broad variety of snowmobile trails that are also used by snowshoers and X-C skiers. Use caution, as snowmobiles have the right of way.
Waterbury Area Trails Alliance (WATA) has snowshoeing terrain available just outside downtown Waterbury, with parking available at the trailhead.
Bolton boasts over 12,000 acres of backcountry terrain accessible from the base, which happens to sit at the highest zip code in New England. Bolton also offers the only in-house backcountry guided tours in North America, which include lift tickets to help maximize your experience on the mountain.
Not to be confused with the resort of the same name, Smugglers' Notch is a section of VT Route 108 that is closed to motor traffic in the winter. Intrepid backcountry skiers and snowboarders can trek to the top of the Notch and ski or ride back down. Parking is available at the mouth of the Notch (near the Mt. Mansfield parking lot on Route 108 North).
Slide Brook Basin sits between Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen, and has 2,000 acres of terrain for backcountry thrill seekers.
Trapp has 25 miles of ungroomed backcountry trails, with backcountry equipment rentals available at the resort’s Nordic Center (24-hr advance notice required).
Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast is packed full of recommendations from Waterbury-local David Goodman, including options for day and overnight trips, topographic maps, suggested gear, safety tips, and more.
Seasonal carriage and sleigh rides are available at Trapp Family Lodge or through Spruce Peak Outfitters.
Take a dog sled tour and try your hand at driving the sled! October Siberians offers a ride through Little River State Park and Umiak Outdoor Outfitters has daytime and nighttime tours.
Winter or “fat” biking is growing in popularity, but there are some considerations: dress appropriately, ride only on open groomed snowpack, and yield to others such as Nordic skiers and those on snowshoes. Portions of the trail networks at Perry Hill and Little River State Park are groomed, making them the perfect spots for fat tire biking! You can check the conditions here to see which routes are open. Outside of town, Ole's Cross Country Center and Blueberry Lake both offer a places for fat tire biking alongside cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Fat bikes are available at Bicycle Express.
Several routes are available at Smugglers' Notch, also known as “Smuggs” or simply “The Notch.”
Outdoor ice skating is available at Anderson Park and after school hours at Crossett Brook Middle School. The Ice Center offers rentals and indoor public skating when the rink is not reserved for hockey. Spruce Peak also has an outdoor rink with complimentary skating and skate rentals.
Waterbury has plenty of hills that are perfect for sledding, but some of the most popular spots include Waterbury Center State Park, Country Club of Vermont, and Dac Rowe Park. Bring your own sled, or sign up for a sledding tour with Umiak Outdoor Outfitters.
Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) maintains an extensive network of marked trails.
