This Uncrowded Ski Resort Gets the Best Snow on the East Coast—and You Can See 2 States and Canada from the Summit

It’s hard to say what I loved more: The transcendent peace of weaving through a silent, snow-caked forest or the gleeful exhilaration of soaring atop a glistening summit, two states and a province unfurling into the horizon below. I experienced it all on a February day at one of the East Coast’s snowiest mountains.

My friend Ariel and I had started our drive long before sunrise, determined to spend every millisecond of daylight at Jay Peak. The ski resort is deep in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, and although there were more convenient options from my hometown in upstate New York, no slopes would have the abundance of powder or the endless labyrinth of glades we’d find at Jay.

“The Jay Cloud is completely a real thing,” Rob Riedl, the resort’s ski school director and a 17-year employee, later told me over the phone. He was referring to Jay Peak’s prime location along the Canadian border, where big northern storms funnel swaths of moist, snowmaking air to the mountain unimpeded. Or, as the locals simply put it, the Jay Cloud creates massive powder dumps. 

In addition to snow quality, Jay is famous for its unrivaled glades and liberal off-piste policy. The Green Mountain resort’s ungroomed terrain is both abundant and diverse, making it a great place for less experienced skiers to take their first turns in the trees and for veterans to chase powder stashes and private chutes.

“There’s a good progression of our glade network. We have glades for the first-timer who wants to go into the trees, where it’s very, very easy with some of our lower mountain glades. As you move up into our more advanced glades, there’s a path for progression,” Riedl said. “That’s something we take pride in: teaching the next generation that next step of getting into the trees.”

Though Jay Peak has a vast alpine forest to explore and a dizzying list of off-mountain amenities, at the end of the day, the local community is small-town to its core. Vermont’s northernmost mountain rises between the tiny villages of Jay and Montgomery. 

“Most of our employees are local,” said Dehlia Wright, Jay Peak’s communications coordinator, who grew up several miles away. “The businesses around Jay are all really involved with the Jay Peak community.”

“It really makes it feel like this hidden little utopia among a lot of farmland,” she added of the off-the-beaten-path ski area. “It’s very isolated in ways, but it creates this community that’s diehard but welcoming at the same time. It’s just a for-the-people-by-the-people kind of thing.”

Having hospitable locals around comes in handy when there are so many powdery nooks to discover. Whether you want to shred the steepest chutes or take leisurely turns where the forest grows thin, it’s a good idea to take a lesson. “[Our instructors] know this resort like the back of their hand and—to my dismay—we share some of our secret stashes as well,” Riedl half-joked.  

The ski school is located on the Stateside Base, the most convenient place for day-trippers to park, and one of two places you can access chairlifts to the trails. The other, Tramside Base, has most of the hotel accommodations and off-mountain resort amenities. Here are more details about the mountain’s layout, plus everything else you need to know about planning a trip to Jay Peak, Vermont. 

When to Go

Jay Peak is typically open from the Friday after Thanksgiving through the first week in May. Heavily discounted ski-and-stay packages are available for Thanksgiving Weekend. Thereafter, stays at Hotel Jay and Tram Haus Lodge are 25 percent off until December 25.  

According to Riedl, the best snow conditions are at the end of February and the beginning of March, thanks to a solid base that has accumulated throughout the season and large storms typically arriving later in the winter. The longer, warmer days also make being up on the slopes a bit more pleasant than it is earlier in the season, when skiers often contend with wind and chilly temperatures.   

As with most U.S. ski resorts, Jay Peak sees its biggest crowds during weekends and school vacations. In addition to leaner lift lines, midweek visits come with $20 off lift tickets purchased in advance. However, you should head up for the weekend if you don’t want to miss out on the live après music.

Where to Stay

Hotel Jay

There are three hotels on Jay Peak’s resort property. Hotel Jay is a great choice for families, offering an arcade, gym, free guest lockers, a coffee shop, a pizza place, an American-fare restaurant, and the closest access to the Pump House Indoor Waterpark. It’s within walking distance to the aerial tram, two lifts, and a magic carpet. Homey accommodations come in a variety of configurations, from doubles to multi-room suites, all featuring kitchenettes or full kitchens. 

Tram Haus Lodge

Built using local, recycled, and reimagined materials to create a cozy, artisanal feel, the elevated Tram Haus Lodge is a testament to Vermont craftsmanship. Its studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites all come with kitchenettes or kitchens. Guests seamlessly hit the trails with short walks to the tram, two lifts, and a magic carpet, plus free equipment lockers. The hotel is also home to Taiga Spa, as well as a cafe, a bar, and Alice’s Table, the resort’s most formal dining venue. A tunnel provides access to Hotel Jay and the Pump House Indoor Waterpark. 

Stateside Hotel and Base Lodge

If first tracks are your biggest priority, the Stateside Hotel is the place for you. It has the quickest lift access and the lowest rates of the three hotels. The 85 simple rooms come with mini-fridges and the convenience of a diner, bar, gear shop, and full-size lodge all under the same roof. This is the closest hotel to Jay’s ski school and the Clips & Reels Recreation Center, which features a climbing gym, arcade, and mini-golf course. 

Where to Eat

Jay Village Inn

I’ll never leave town without stopping at Jay Village Inn for some Buffalo wings, and it’s a local favorite, too: “It has a great warm, cozy inn-and-pub vibe that I really enjoy,” Wright shared. Riedl is another regular, noting the down-to-earth eatery has “great food and great service.” Sumptuous dishes include a house-smoked Cabot Cheddar burger, Alfredo Supreme pizza, and slow-smoked barbecue ribs.  

Omakase at the Tavern

What began as a beloved mountain-hopping food truck is now one of the area’s best restaurants. An eclectic Asian-fusion menu is served in a quaint, wood-paneled former tavern with two stone chimneys. Inside, the space is welcoming and warm with natural materials accented by ski-bum flair. Dine on Thai curries, pho, and, of course, Japanese dishes like tuna tataki and seafood ramen.

The Foundry

If you think poutine is best served mountainside, The Foundry is a solid pick. Located inside Tramside Base Lodge, this classic pub and grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual setting. The menu offers everything from flatbread pizzas to duck confit ragu. Expect a large selection of Vermont-made beers and ciders, as well as cocktails crafted from local ingredients, including maple syrup and raw honey.

Where to Après Ski

Bullwheel Bar

For a lively atmosphere right off the lifts, head to Bullwheel Bar in the Stateside Base Lodge. “You’ll see employees there, you’ll see locals, you’ll see the ski bums that are here every day, as well as a lot of vacationers,” Riedl said of the scene at the rustic liftside pub. Enjoy live music every Saturday.

Snow Shoe Lodge and Pub

If you want to venture off Jay’s property to throw darts with the locals, head to the Snow Shoe Pub in Montgomery. The Vermonter favorite is open later than every other venue in the area (2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) and serves a full menu of hearty post-slope fare. Keep an eye out for daily specials and events, such as open mic nights.

The Eleven Patio

New for Jay Peak’s 2025/2026 season, this outdoor watering hole is the perfect place to keep soaking up fresh alpine air long after the sun goes down. Pull up around a firepit and feast on The Eleven’s open-late bar food, or head inside to adjacent restaurant The Foundry for a more complete meal.

Off-mountain Activities

The resort’s Pump House Indoor Waterpark includes a lazy river, kids’ pool,  deep-water activity pool with climbing walls and basketball nets, FlowRider boarding pool, and four waterslides, including La Chute, a rare and thrilling looped attraction. Parents can relax in the cocktail bar or private cabanas. 

Over Stateside, there’s the Clips & Reel recreation center with a climbing gym, mini-golf course, arcade, sports bar, and 142-seat movie theater. 

Ice Haus, an NHL-sized indoor ice-skating rink, is another standout. It has a full rental shop and a heated snack and bar area where guests who aren’t lacing up can spectate. 

If you need a day off from downhill skiing but still want to be in the snow, try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or ski biking on a Sno-go. 

To recuperate from all that adventure, book a massage at Taiga Spa.

How to Ride

Tickets

If you’re skiing for four or more days or with at least three other people, take advantage of the Mission Affordable deal that includes four fully transferable one-day lift tickets for $289. Mission Affordable tickets are valid on any day, including holidays and weekends. The package is available for purchase until December 1, and $329 thereafter until December 19. 

Save $20 on lift tickets when you purchase them online in advance. Adult midweek lift tickets purchased in advance are $99. Weekends are $115 per day, and holidays are $119 per day. Junior and senior prices start at $77, while kids under 6 are $44 per day. 

Adult season passes range from $799 to $1,300, depending on date of purchase. Value days passes that exclude weekends and holiday weeks are between $499 and $749 for all ages. 

Half-day tickets are sold at ticket windows from 12:30 p.m. until closing, starting at $102 on Mondays through Thursdays. 

Visitors with proof of Vermont residency or an active season’s pass from any other ski resort receive reduced window rates. 

Jay Peak is a member of Indy Pass, along with over 270 other independent resorts worldwide.

Canadian citizens can purchase tickets at par via Canadian cash or check. 

Skinning, hiking, and snowshoeing on Jay Peak is free during operating hours. Just stop by the customer service desk to pick up a mandatory wristband before heading up the mountain. 

Rentals

Jay Peak’s rental shop offers gear designed for both beginner and advanced skiers and snowboarders. Learning equipment from Elan, Rossignol, and Burton starts at $70 per day, including helmets, boots, and poles. High-performance rentals start at $100 a day per package or $65 a day for skis only. There’s a rental shop Stateside and a smaller shop Tramside.

Jay’s Repairs & Tuning shop also offers a range of maintenance services in the Tramside Base Lodge.

Skiing and Snowboarding Info

Jay has one aerial tram and four quad, one triple, one double, and two surface lifts serving 385-plus acres of terrain and 50 miles of trails. The 81 trails are 20 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, and 40 percent advanced. 

Programming

The mountain’s ski school offers a range of specialized lessons and experiences. Children aged 4 to 12 years old are welcome to attend half-day and full-day group lessons. The Adventures Eight-week Program for kids 4 to 14 is an opportunity to work on ski skills long-term. Locally based skiers aged 7 to 17 may also want to consider Jay’s freeskiing training and competition program. 

Adults can take one-and-a-half-hour beginner or two-hour intermediate group lessons. Skiers and riders of all ages can book private lessons with one of Jay’s seasoned instructors. 

Adaptive lessons welcome students 3 years old and up, with morning, afternoon, or full-day sessions available, equipment included. 

A weekly women’s camp and the Chicadees Girls’ Camp encourage empowerment and bonding.