Sample Narratives

Friendly, local and affordable best describe Ski Bradford, which opened in 1949 near Haverhill, just 40 minutes from Boston and the North Shore. This is a small, community ski area perfect for first timers and families, but a slight majority of its runs are actually rated for advanced skiers.

This 48-acre ski area has a base elevation of 1,300' which rises to 1,548' for a vertical drop of 248'. It features 15 trails—three green, four blue and eight black diamond. Most runs are short, with the longest at a quick 0.08 miles. Triple triples and five surface lists shuttle nearly 10,000 skiers per hour up the hill. Ski Bradford gets about 50" of snow a year and supplements with snowmaking on 100% of slopes. The ski area offers night skiing every evening until 10 p.m.

Advanced skiers should head straight for the top to connect with several runs heading left and right down the mountain. Intermediates will love "Queen" and "Stinger," two runs straight down the center.

Otis Ridge Ski Area was opened in 1946 by Dave Judson, a former member of the famed 10th Mountain Ski Division during World War II. Today, its tagline—"A Family Friendly Mountain in the "—pretty much says it all. This is a great place to learn to ski or board and the top of the mountain has a few steeps for those looking for more of a challenge.

The base elevation of this 60-acre ski area rises to 1,700' for a vertical drop of 400'. There are 10 runs—three green, four blue and three black diamond. The longest run is a mile. The area gets an average of 70" of snow a season and has snowmaking equipment for 90% of the mountain. One double chair and two surface lifts is all it takes to keep skiers happy and on the slopes.

Be sure to visit The Grouse House, a vintage, 1960s country inn that offers slopeside drinks and dining. Night skiing available Wednesday through Sunday until 9 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Nashoba Valley Ski Area opened in 1964 with two rope tows and four runs—and that first season lasted only 14 days due to lack of snow. Thankfully, things have gotten better for this family owned and operated ski area in northeast . Today it offers "big-resort skiing quality with the convenience and value of a local ski area" with fun and challenging terrain to satisfy skiers of all abilities.

The ski area's base elevation of 194' rises to 422' for a vertical drop of 240'. There are 17 runs across 52 acres of terrain rated beginner (20%), intermediate (50%) and advanced (30%). The longest run is 0.50 miles. Three triples, one double, and five surface tows move 11,000 skiers up the hill every hour. Noshoba Valley gets an average of 50" of snow a year and supplements with snowmaking equipment on 100% of trails. The ski area attracts a lot of skiers from Boston, only 25 miles away.

Night skiing until 10 p.m. every evening plus holidays.

Ski Butternut is nestled in the East Mountain State Forest on Warner Mountain in The Berkshires near Great Barrington in southwestern Massachusetts. It opened in 1936 and sits among a beautiful natural setting of evergreens and hardwoods. This family friendly area is known for its diverse ski terrain and will be particularly appealing to intermediate-level skiers.

With a top elevation of 1,800', Ski Butternut has a vertical drop of 1,000'. This 110-acre ski area features 22 trails rated beginner (20%), intermediate (60%) and advanced (20%). Cruisers will enjoy "Crosstown," a 1.5-mile glade run. The mountain is serviced by three quads, one triple, one double and six surface lifts that whisk 14,000 skiers to the slopes every hour. The area receives an average of 115" of powder a year and has snowmaking equipment on all 22 runs.

Take an afternoon off from the slopes and head into Great Barrington, which was named one of the "20 best small towns in America" by Smithsonian Magazine in 2012.

Bousquet Ski Area is on a northern summit of the Yokun Ridge in the heart of the Berkshires Mountains near Pittsfield in western Massachusetts. It opened in 1932 and is the oldest ski area in the Berkshires region. The area offers a diverse range of terrain catering mostly to intermediate and advanced skiers, though there are a few gentle slopes for beginner.

This 200-acre ski area's base elevation of 1,068' rises to 1,818' for a vertical drop of 750'. There are 23 runs split into beginner (22%), intermediate (35%) and advanced (43%). Three double chairs and two surface lifts have an uphill capacity of nearly 4,000 skiers an hour. The mountain gets 57" of snow annually and has snowmaking equipment for 85% of slopes.

The ski area claims to have been the first in the country to offer night skiing. Today skiers can hit the slopes Monday through Thursday until 9:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.

Opened in 1949, Blue Hills Ski Area sits on the western face of in the Blue Hills Reservation, a 6,000 acre state park in east-central Massachusetts near Canton. It's owned and operated by the state's Department of Conversation and Recreation. Unlike most small ski areas that typically cater to beginners, this one has a nearly equal number of trails for skiers of all abilities.

With a vertical of 310', the 60-acre Blue Hill Ski Area offers 13 trails—five green, four blue and four black diamond. The longest run, "Sonya," is 0.57 miles. One double and four surface lifts have an uphill capacity of nearly 2,900 skiers an hour. With average annual snowfall of just under 50" a year, the ski area supplements with snowmaking equipment on 90% of slopes. This is the closest ski area to Boston a half hour away and attracts a large number of visitors from the area.

Night skiing every night until 9 p.m.

The Springfield Ski Club opened Blandford Ski Area in 1936 in the Berkshire Mountains about a half hour from Springfield in southwest Massachusetts. Today it's the oldest club owned and operated ski area in North America. This is a friendly, affordable ski area that caters to families, beginners and developing skiers with a few advanced runs thrown in for experts.

This 158-acre ski area has a summit elevation 1,490 and vertical drop of 465'. It features 23 trails for beginners (40%), intermediates (50%) and advanced (10%) skiers. Most trails are short with the longest, "North Slope," coming in at 0.38 miles. Blandford gets an average of 60" of snow a season and uses snowmaking equipment on 80% of runs. Three double chairs and two surface lifts keep lines short and skiers on the mountain.

Night skiing on 12 runs Saturdays throughout the season plus Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday in January and February only.

Opened in 1961, Berkshire East Ski Resort sits on the 1,538' Mount Institute near Charlemont, about 100 miles west of Boston. This affordable, family owned and operated resort offers a variety of runs from steep expert slopes to gentle beginner trails. It's also the only ski area in America that generates all of its electricity using a wind turbine.

The resort's base elevation of 660' rises to 1,840' for a vertical drop of 1,180'. Its 45 runs span 400 acres and are rated easiest (30%), more difficult (35%) and most difficult (35%). The longest trail is 2.5 miles. The area receives an average of 110" of snow a year and supplements with snowmaking equipment on 100% of the mountain. Six lifts, including one quad, two triples, one double and two surface lifts, carry more than 6,000 skiers up the slopes every hour.

Night skiing on 18 trails Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.

Yawgoo Valley Ski & Sports Park sits on a hill in Exeter about 15 minutes west of Newport. It was dubbed, "Rhode Island's First Chairlift Served Ski Area," when it opened in 1965 and today is the only ski resort in the state. This is a friendly, affordable ski area catering mostly to local beginners and developing skiers.

The top elevation at this 36-acre ski area is 315' with a vertical drop of 245'. It features 12 runs rated easiest (50%), more difficult (30%) and most difficult (20%). Most runs are over quickly—the longest trail is 0.40 miles. Two double chairs and two surface lifts move more than 2,500 skiers up the hill every hour. As one of the southernmost ski areas in New England, Yawgoo Valley relies heavily on artificial snowmaking on 100% of it trails.

Night skiing Monday through Wednesday until 8 pm.; Thursday through Saturday until 9 p.m.

Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort opened in 1959 on Besek Mountain in the about a half hour from New Haven in southwestern Connecticut. The ski area closed in 2007 and reopened in 2013. This small, family friendly area offers great snow and a few runs for everyone from first timers to experts.

With a vertical of 500', Powder Ridge features 16 trails split nearly evenly into three categories: beginner (33%), intermediate (34%) and advanced (33%). One triple, two doubles and four surface lifts have an uphill capacity of more than 6,000 skiers and hour. Powder Ridge gets an average of about 60" of snow a year and uses snowmaking equipment on 100% of the mountain. Conveniently located off of I-91 about a half hour from both Hartford and New Haven.

Night skiing available. Tubing hill privileges included in ski lift ticket.

Woodbury Ski Area opened in 1972 in the Southern Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut. Its tagline, "Snow Much Fun," says it all. This is a small, affordable, family oriented ski area that offers a little bit for everyone including a few trails each for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers and boarders.

This 100-acre ski area has a top elevation of 850' and vertical drop of 300'. Its 15 trails are nearly evenly split between beginner (33%), intermediate (34%) and advanced (33%). The area gets an average of 65% of snow a year and supplements with snowmaking equipment on 100% of slopes. One double chair and three surface lifts are enough ferry 2,500 skiers per hour up the mountain. Woodbury is 45 minutes from Hartford and the closest Connecticut ski area to New York City, about 90 minutes away.

Night skiing every evening until 10 p.m. Also offers 15 day and night snow tubing trails serviced by four lifts.

Ski Sundown opened in 1964 with three runs. Today this ski area in the snowbelt of northwest Connecticut offers five times as many trails spread over 65 skiable acres. The majority of runs are for beginners with just a few for more advanced skiers. This is a perfect area for first timers, developing skiers and families looking for a fun and affordable day on the slopes.

Sundown's base elevation of 450' rises to 1075' for a vertical drop of 625'—not bad for this area of the country. Its 15 runs are rated easiest (50%), more difficult (25%) and most difficult (25%). Everyone in the family will enjoy "Tom's Treat," a green, 1-mile run that goes from summit to base. Three triples and two surface lifts shuttle 8,040 skiers per hour up to the slopes. The area receives an average of 60" of snow a year and supplements with snowmaking equipment on 100% of the mountain.

All but one of Sundown's 15 trails are lit for night skiing until 10 p.m. every evening.

Mount Southington Ski Area opened in 1964 in Plantsville about 25 minutes southwest of Hartford. This is an affordable, family friendly ski area known for its short lift lines and variety of beginner and intermediate slopes. There are a couple of advanced slopes here, too, but nothing that's going to hold the interest of advanced skiers long. The emphasis here is on family fun.

With a top elevation of 525', this 51-acre ski area has a vertical drop of 425'. It offers 14 trails divided into beginner (33%), intermediate (42%) and advanced (25%). Most runs are on the short side, but there is one run, "Dom's Way," clocking in at just under a mile. Seven lifts, including two triples, two doubles and three surface, move more than 6,200 skiers an hour around the mountain. Mount Southington averages a little more than 50" of snow a year and has snowmaking equipment on 100% of slopes.

Night skiing until 10 p.m. every evening including most holidays.

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