Magic Mountain Ski Area in Vermont is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Magic Mountain Ski Area, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
in southern Vermont is 90 minutes from Albany, New York, and fewer than three hours from Hartford, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts. The central location gives skiers travel options; they can fly into
or Boston's
. A family-friendly ski area, Magic Mountain offers a relaxed, social culture on and off the slopes where skiers enjoy a sense of community on their vacation.
The Mountain
Magic Mountain features a
and a vertical drop of 1,700 feet. The ski area's season runs from mid-December to early April and is open Friday through Monday (the mountain is open Tuesday through Thursday only following a snow of 6 inches or more). Magic Mountain averages
of powdered snow annually, but the ski area's staff supplements the small amount with artificial snow. The mountain's longest run, Wizard, spans 1.6 miles.
Trails And Lifts
Magic Mountain includes
, split evenly among easy, intermediate and advanced/expert trails. The west side of the mountain features more challenging trails reserved for experts. Adventurous skiers can navigate the woods on Magic Mountain since the resort allows skiing in
. Skiers can hop on one of the area's four lifts: two surface lifts and two double lifts. Magic Mountain describes the Magic trail as its
with chutes, bumps and cliffs for daring skiers.
In The News
Magic Mountain Ski Area's treacherous Black Magic trail hosts the
, which challenges expert skiers to navigate extreme terrain. In 2011, Magic Mountain started a
, which features skiers navigating naturally challenging terrain. The team competes in the Ski the East Freeride Tour and the Black Magic Extreme Challenge. Magic Mountain has also been featured in the
for its creative ownership structure; skiers can own shares of the ski area, and they often help maintain its grounds. For example, shareholders helped repaint the chairlifts to spruce up the ski area.
Cost
Magic Mountain Ski Area sells half-day and full-day
, with adult tickets starting at $30 for a half day and $39 for a full day; weekend and holiday lift ticket prices average about $17 more. Skiers can purchase two-day through seven-day ticket packages.
start at $389 for most people. Ski rentals cost $35 a day, and skiers can rent additional items, such as helmets and poles, a la carte for a daily fee. The
rents several brands, including Rossignol and DPS powder skis. First-time skiers can enjoy a two-hour lesson from the
for $99; private lessons start at $105.
Apres-Ski
After a day on the slopes, skiers of all ages can find entertainment at Magic Mountain.
, located on the second story of the lodge, is where guests 21 and older go to enjoy live music and Vermont-brewed beers. Even parents can enjoy the den with their kids in sight since the lodge overlooks the tube park, where kids can enjoy supervised play.