With its cold winters, rugged peaks, and less consistent snowfall, the U.S. East Coast is often overshadowed by the West Coast as a ski destination. After all, the Rocky Mountains have the highest mountain peaks, deepest snow, and most rugged terrain.
But the East Coast’s rugged topography and icy conditions mean that many New England natives proudly sign their vehicles with the sign “Ski the East!” That’s why he puts up stickers. These harsh conditions have given rise to numerous excellent ski towns and some of the most decorated skiers of all time, such as Mikaela Shiffrin, Bode Miller, and extreme ski champion Chris Davenport.
Although Davenport made history by skiing all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-ft peaks in one year and has lived in Aspen for decades, the daredevil actually gained experience in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, where he grew up. Even today, Davenport carries fond memories of the landscape that shaped him; especially the cabin his grandfather built in the 1940s in the town of North Conway, where generations of Davenports learned to ski.
Davenport had hopped off the helicopter while guiding a ski tour in Northern Canada, and we caught up with him to ask for his New England ski tips.
“I’ve always believed that it’s not the size of the mountains or the quality of the snow that makes you a skier, but how much access you have,” Davenport tells the BBC. “Skiing in New England is very accessible. You can find great, affordable ski towns, incredible ski clubs, and great coaches. New England is a place for passionate skiers.”
Here are Davenport’s top recommendations for skiing east.
1. Best introduction to the area: North Conway, New Hampshire
When it comes to accessible adventure, the first place that comes to mind is North Conway in the White Mountains, where Davenport spent his childhood.
With a population of just over 2,000, this village is surrounded by 800,000 acres of national forest, including New England’s tallest mountain, Mount Washington, making it an ideal base for skiing.
“You can ski at Cranmore and then hop on to Attitash and maybe go to Wildcat or Black Mountain,” says Davenport, referring to the ski areas dotting the area. “And if you’re more skilled and want to explore the backcountry, you can head to Tuckerman Ravine ” – a glacier cirque carved into Mount Washington, known for its steep drop-offs and propensity for avalanches.
2. Best for families: Stowe, Vermont
At the foot of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest mountain, lies the charming town of Stowe. Davenport has a personal connection; His wife is local and his mother was a ski instructor at Stowe Mountain Resort. “This is a super authentic and historic ski town with a welcoming atmosphere and incredible summer fun,” he says.
Its own vineyards aside, the skiing at Stowe is world-class, offering slopes for beginners and experts alike—especially those with children. The resort features more challenging trails and family-friendly runs at Mount Mansfield with a 2,360 ft vertical drop and at Spruce Peak. There’s a fun gondola connecting the two mountains, and at the base of Spruce Peak is Spruce Peak Village, which features an ice rink, shops, and restaurants.
Beyond the resort, the town of Stowe has much to offer for adults and children. Davenport is a fan of Piecasso, a skier-friendly pizza shop. And for top-notch New England brewery destinations, there’s nothing better than The Alchemist, a local institution producing one of the region’s most in-demand IPAs. “It became a kind of religion there,” Davenport says. Of course, skiing too.
3. Best powder: Jay Peak
For those looking to experience the deepest snow on the East Coast, there’s nothing better than Jay Peak Resort . Just south of the Canadian border in Jay, Vermont, snow comes early and often in this part of the Green Mountains. Jay Peak receives an average of 350 inches of snow per year, the highest total in New England.
“Jay has a more adventurous, off-piste spirit,” Davenport says. “It has a better core local skier community than some of the big industrial mountains.”
Four hours from Boston, it takes a long walk to get there, but that doesn’t stop people from chasing the dust cloud. “I know families in Massachusetts who drive to Jay every weekend because it’s so great, but it’s a commitment,” Davenport says. Plenty of snow and 2,153 ft of vertical drop are well worth the pilgrimage.
4. Burke, Vermont
In the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont — a 2,000-square-mile area encompassing three counties and plenty of lakes and mountains — lies the town of Burke and Burke Mountain Ski Resort. “Burke is great,” Davenport praises. “What a transformation from a sleepy little ski area to this incredible place.”
The facility still feels like home. What it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in reliably enjoyable and challenging trails, sparse crowds, and spectacular views, including the remote Willoughby Gap, a glacier-carved notch between Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor.