I’ve Been Skiing for Almost 30 Years—and These Are the 7 Most Underrated East Coast Resorts I’d Go Back to Again and Again

If you grew up skiing on the East Coast like I did, you’ve heard every “Ice Coast” joke—and probably skied through a few icy days to match. While heading West promises bluebird skies and deeper powder, the East is home to plenty of mountains that are absolutely worth the trip, often with lower lift ticket prices and fewer crowds. In fact, the Eastern Seaboard offers quality terrain for skiers of all levels. Though a handful of big names tend to dominate the conversation, skiers willing to venture beyond the usual suspects will find true gems. These lesser-known mountains deliver striking scenery, exciting runs, and the kind of multigenerational fun—and soul—that makes skiing in the East so special.

Wildcat Mountain, New Hampshire

In northern New Hampshire, Wildcat Mountain’s diehard following swears by its exciting terrain, stunning views of Mount Washington and the great White Mountain National Forest, and intimate, no-frills feel that makes winter-sport purists feel right at home. “Wildcat is a hill for people who love to ski or ride,” Josh Laskin, a writer, photographer, and East Coast skier of over two decades, told Travel + Leisure. “There’s a basic base lodge with a bar and cafeteria, but no on-site hotels or high-end restaurants, which mostly keeps crowds away … but the terrain is unrivaled by other area resorts: tons of ungroomed areas, incredible tree skiing (especially if you know where to look), and 2,000 feet of vertical with the best view in New England.” There’s also plenty for less experienced skiers to enjoy, including the 2.75-mile Polecat beginner trail. Plus, with a solid 200 inches of annual snowfall and 90 percent snowmaking capabilities, it’s rare for trips to be impeded by a lack of the white stuff.

Mad River Glen, Vermont

As noted by T+L contributor Stacey Leasca, Mad River Glen is one of the country’s most unique ski areas. It’s owned by a co-op, strictly skiers-only, and so dedicated to preserving natural conditions that snowmaking is extremely limited. The longstanding, community-owned mountain became the country’s first ski area to be added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Its traditional ethos goes back to 1948, when it was founded by former Navy pilot Roland Palmedo, who famously spurned commercial interests. Today, it provides experienced, sport-forward skiers a chance to ski where nature has been allowed to thrive. Although Mad River’s advanced terrain is in a perfectly untouched area of the Green Mountains, if you’re on the lookout for more variety, nearby Sugarbush Resort has a wide range of terrain. For a quintessential small-town Vermont experience, stay at the charming Mad River Barn right around the corner.

Whiteface Mountain, New York

As the world gears up for the 2026 games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, New Yorkers can test their skills on Olympic trails right in their backyard. Nearby Lake Placid in Wilmington, New York, Whiteface hosted all the alpine skiing events at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Today, the mountain is still managed by the Olympic Regional Development Authority and lends its famously steep vertical to national competitions. Recreational skiers craving adrenaline will get their fix on steep acreage, and a large kids’ campus makes it a great family choice, too. Head to the summit and ski Upper Skyward for an exhilarating blind drop that served as an Olympic run, or cruise along snowcapped trees while enjoying Wilmington trail to enjoy gorgeous views of the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and the Green Mountains. Whiteface is a new member of the Mountain Collective for the 2025/2026 season, as well as a part of the N.Y. Ski3 alongside Gore (the state’s largest ski resort), and Belleayre.

Le Massif de Charlevoix

Mount Tremblant may hog the spotlight with its picturesque, tourist-friendly village, but it’s far from the only mountain in Quebec that should be on every skier’s radar. Those in the know relish nonexistent lift lines, piles of snow, and breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River at Le Massif de Charlevoix. It’s home to the highest vertical drop in Canada East of the Rockies and is only an hour away from Quebec City, which itself is worth a winter trip up north. Commute from Old Quebec to experience the closest thing to a European City in North America, stay in artsy Baie-Saint-Paul for a small-town feel, commute from Old Quebec to for the closest you can get to a European city in North America, or make things easy and book a stay at the all-inclusive Club Med right at the base of the Le Massif.

Magic Mountain, Vermont

If you’re on the hunt for twisting trails, laidback attitudes, and old-school charm, Magic Mountain will truly live up to its name. Geoff Hatheway rallied a group of local skiers and college-buddy investors to take over ownership of the mountain in 2016. Since then, Hatheway’s group has dedicated themselves to upgrading the mountain while nourishing its ever-enduring “soul.” Ticket sales are limited to keep lines at bay, and if you really want to avoid waiting on a chair, you can rent out the entire mountain. The Indy Pass member also added a new chair and revamped its snowmaking system in the 2024/2025 season, making it even easier to enjoy its steep, narrow trails.

Black Mountain, New Hampshire

The oldest ski area in New Hampshire, Black Mountain looked a lot different three years ago, when tech entrepreneur and Indy Pass managing director Erik Mogensen took it under his wing. “I built some really cool businesses, traveled around the world—have gone skiing in insane, incredible places, but they never replaced that feeling I had at that little ski area,” Mogensen said of growing up skiing an independent mountain in western New York, where a community community atmosphere sparked friendships and a sense of belonging. Mogensen has been busy making upgrades to Black Mountain ever since his aquisition. His tech company, Entebani Systems, modernized practices to increase convenience and efficiency. For the 2025/2026 season, there’s 28,000 feet of new snowmaking pipeline to complement the south-facing mountain’s sunny days, new summit trails, increased parking, and new or expanded outdoor leisure spaces around the resort. Perhaps best of all, three lift tickets cost what other mountains charge for a single skier. Tickets start at $62 for adults and $41 for kids and decrease in price-per-ticket the more you buy at once. Of course, it’s also on the Indy Pass.

Jay Peak, Vermont

Every East Coast skier worth their salt will sing the praises of Jay Peak. Its isolated location along the Canadian border gives it some of the biggest snow storms and seasonal accumulation throughout all of New England and the Mid-Atlantic. “Resorts that are 20-30 miles from here might not see the deep snow that we get—the snow quality, the snow amount, the trees, the open terrain that we have here is just something that sets us apart,” Rob Riedl, a 17-year veteran employee at the mountain and the current ski school director, explained told T+L. The mountain doesn’t let any of that powder go to waste, keeping a lax in-bounds policy that allows skiers of any and all levels to find their perfect glades. Jay’s sparsely populated zip code keeps crowds at bay, although the its built up an extensive resort system at its base. There are multiple hotels to choose from at a range of price points, several restaurants, an ice rink, and an entire indoor waterpark.