Manchester Vermont is a great holiday destination at any time of year, a pleasant New England town close to great fishing in the summer and some top skiing resorts in the winter. The largest and most popular resort near Manchester is Stratton Ski Mountain, about twenty miles away.
The owners of Stratton Mountain Resort have invested heavily in both the base village and the slopes. The mountain now has 16 lifts serving over 90 named trails with a vertical drop of over 2,000 feet.
Stratton Ski Mountain is particularly popular with snowboarders and claims to be the birthplace of the sport. It was here that Jake Burton Carpenter, founder of premier snowboard maker Burton Snowboards, tried out his first board designs. Today, Stratton Mountain Vermont is the site of the annual U.S. Open Snowboard Championships. Stratton also accommodates amateur boarders, with five terrain parks covering about a tenth of all skiable terrain on the mountain. Suntanner Park, with its legendary steep, high-sided halfpipe, is consistently voted the best terrain park in the East by Ski Magazine. The beginner park at East Meadows allows novice tricksters to practice their moves before heading to the more challenging obstacles.
Outside the terrain parks, the most challenging trails at Stratton Mountain Resort are the steep runs from the summit. Grizzly Bear, Polar Bear, and Upper Tamarack around the Ursa Express, Upper Standard under the gondola, and Upper Spruce to the right of the Snow Bowl lift are the best steep trails. The best mogul run at Stratton Mountain Vermont is the short steep World Cup just above the Snow Bowl lift. In good snow, it is fun and challenging to nip into and out of the well-spaced glades around the summit runs.
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders will be delighted with the terrain at Stratton Mountain Vermont. Many of the single-black-diamond runs are suited to the average skier and there are some great carving blues. Upper and Lower Drifter off the Snow Bowl lift and the trails around the Sunrise Expess are some of the best.
The large learning area above the main base at Stratton Mountain Vermont will suit beginners. For longer green trails, turn right from the top of the gondola and hug the edge of the ski area all the way down to the bottom or ride Big Ben run from the top of the Solstice lift.
Despite its location so close to a major Vermont city, Stratton Mountain Resort has one of the largest and best base villages of any East Coast ski area. After a day on the slopes, you can stay in a slopeside condo, shop at one of many upscale stores, or dine at restaurants ranging from the quaint and romantic to the family friendly. You can one of the year-round hotels in Manchester as a base to explore the area or book into one of the inns at Stratton Ski Mountain reminiscent of those in the Austrian Alps.
