Winter in Vermont is pretty magical. The Green Mountains may be blanketed with snow, but that doesn’t slow down the outdoor fun. Vermont has loads of winter activities and I am going to round them all up for you. Whether you like ice skating, skiing, snowshoeing or sledding, there is something for everyone.
Please review information on COVID-19 safety protocols and Vermont Cross State Travel Information before you travel to Vermont. Many of these activities could be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions so check their websites for the latest information.
Things to do in Vermont in Winter:
*Locations will be listed from the southern most part of the state to the northern most part of the state.*
Outdoor Centers offering cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Vermont
Outdoor centers are a great place to start because they will offer a variety of activities. There are usually rentals available and warming huts. These outdoor centers offer seasonal or day passes.
Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center– (Grafton VT) activities, recreation, and events sure to entertain the entire family. Delight in skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, fat biking, and sleigh rides in the winter.
Viking Nordic Center- (Londonderry, VT) meticulously grooms 26 km of ski trails for both classic and skate skiing, with another 4 km of dedicated snowshoe trails. This is a great place to teach kids with their Great Cookie Hunt. Every child 12 and under gets a cookie card. Find all the cookie punch stations on the trails, and that cookie card is good for one free cookie from Wigo’s Café! Nothing motivates kids like cookies! Two pulks are available to rent (drag-behind covered sleds) to bundle your children into.
Wild Wings– (Peru, VT) this family friendly Nordic ski touring center has a trail system consisting of loop trails that will satisfy all skill levels of cross-country skiers. They have a fully stocked rental shop.
Woodstock Nordic Center– (Woodstock, VT) an extensive network of winter trails throughout Mt. Peg and Mt. Tom, the Nordic Center offers more than 45 km of groomed trails for skate and classic cross-country skiing. Snowshoers & fat bike riders may utilize the groomed ski trail areas in addition to a series of un-groomed trails for a more invigorating hike.
Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center– (Goshen, VT)- provides access to the Blueberry Hill network of trails, the Vermont Long Trail, The Catamount Trail, and the Moosalamoo National Forest Trails. Offers skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and sledding (bring your own sleds).
Stafford Nordic Center– (Strafford, VT) offers 30KM of groomed Nordic trails for skiers of all ages and abilities, a Biathlon Range, a full service rental department, ski lessons and a cozy ski lodge.
Rikert Nordic Center– (Ripton, VT) Explore this incredible forest and field terrain either on skis, snowshoes, or on a FatBike. The Nordic Center offers a full service rental shop. After your outing, come sit in their lodge to warm yourself by the wood stove with a hot bowl of soup or a cup of hot chocolate.
Catamount Outdoor Family Center– (Williston, VT) Vermont’s centrally located, most extensive professionally maintained multi-use trail network with year-round fun for active outdoor people of all ages. Offers fat biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Rentals available.
Trapp Family Lodge– (Stowe, VT)- home to the first cross-country ski center in the country. Offers snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and back-country skiing.
Craftsbury Outdoor Center– (Craftsbury, VT) Their Nordic Center offers 105k of groomed cross-country trails that cut through farms, fields and forests in the Northeast Kingdom.
Ski Resorts in Vermont
Mount Snow– (West Dover, VT)
Stratton Mountain Resort– (Stratton Mountain, VT)
Bromley– (Peru, VT)
Magic Mountain– (Londonderry, VT)
Okemo Mountain Resort– (Ludlow, VT)
Killington– (Killington, VT)
Sugarbush– (Warren, VT)
Mad River Glenn– (Waitsfield, VT)
Bolton Valley– (Bolton Valley, VT)
Spruce Peak– (Stowe, VT)
Smuggler’s Notch– (Jeffersonville, VT)
Burke Mountain– (East Burke, VT )
Jay Peak– (Jay, VT)
Ice Skating in Vermont
Riley Rink at Hunter Park– (Manchester, VT) Olympic-sized indoor skating rink.
The Ice House at Okemo– (Ludlow, VT) located at Jackson Gore, is a multi-functional, year-round sports pavilion that is open to the public. Skate rentals are available and an ice resurfacing machine keeps the skating surface smooth and in top condition.
Lake Morey Resort– (Fairlee, VT) the longest skating trail in the United States, enjoy a 4.5-mile loop around a lake! Keep an eye out for bald eagles.
Skatium– (Waitsfield, VT) Outdoor Ice Skating Rink, Hockey and Figure skates available for rental- or bring your own skates and get them sharpened for $5. Heated changing rooms and rest rooms available. Closed for season.
Spruce Peak Village Center– (Stowe, VT) Ice rink is free to use and open to the public. Bring your own skates, or rentals are available at Stowe Mountain Resort. Rink is open daily from noon to 6 p.m.
Sleigh Rides in Vermont
Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go Laughing all the way! Sleigh rides are a quintessential experience in Vermont. There are many farms offering rides, but these are our favorite.
Taylor Farm– (Londonderry, VT) I grew up visiting this authentic Vermont family farm and think they have the best sleigh rides. Stop at a cabin in the woods for hot chocolate and warm up by the bonfire.
Billings Farm and Museum– (Woodstock, VT) This heritage farm has a beautiful sprawling property.
Snow Tubing in Vermont
Sadly, most of the tubing activities have been cancelled for the season due to covid.
Mount Snow– (West Dover, VT) Magic carpet brings you up to eight lanes of tubing
Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center– (Grafton, VT) This is our favorite place for tubing. Rentals are available. You do have to walk to the top of the hill which is a workout but it’s a thrilling ride down. Currently closed due to covid.
Okemo Mountain Resort– (Ludlow, VT) The four-lane tubing park is locaSharp Parkted off the Stargazer Carpet in the courtyard of Jackson Gore.
Killington Tubing Park– The Killington Tubing Park is located at the Clubhouse on East Mountain Road across from the Killington Grand Resort Hotel and offers a multi-lane, lift-serviced good time for everyone. Looking to warm up? Step inside for a pick-me-up at the Clubhouse Grill, where they serve pizzas, pub-style entrées and hearty, warm snacks and drinks to round out the evening.
Sharp Park– (Milton, VT) Snow tubing at Sharp Park is a unique winter sliding experience. Unlike other snow tubing hills with short straight lanes, they have carved a chute into the side of the hill to create a quarter mile track for snow tubing. This is a walk up site (no lifts). Kids must wear helmets. Currently OPEN!
Dog Sledding in Vermont
I was so nervous the first time I went dog sledding. The dogs were barking and and jumping around with excitement, but the second we started moving, you could hear a pin drop in the silence. I have never seen animals so in the zone. Cruising through the wooded trails was such an exhilarating experience. Since this sport depends on snow, they will be located in the northern part of the state. I listed companies that make animal welfare a priority.
Braeburn Siberians– (Windsor, VT)
Umiak Outdoor Outfitters– (Stowe and Mad River Valley)
Peace Pups Dogsledding– (Lake Elmore, VT)
Eden Ethical Dog Sledding Experience– (Eden Mills, VT)
Winter Fat Biking in Vermont
A fatbike is an off-road bicycle with oversized tires that make it possible to ride through snow.
Stratton Mountain– (Stratton Mountain, VT)
Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center– (Grafton, VT)
Viking Nordic Center– (Londonderry, VT)
Woodstock Nordic Center– (Woodstock, VT)
Rikert Nordic Center– (Ripton, VT)
Bolton Valley– (Bolton Valley, VT)
Jay Peak– (Jay, VT)
Snowmobiling in Vermont
The best place for information on snowmobiling in Vermont is visiting the VAST website.
Here is a list of places you can rent snowmobiles or go on tours:
Snowmobile Vermont– (Mount Snow, Killington, Okemo, Stowe)
NEK Adventures– (Saint Johnsbury, VT)
Ice Climbing in Vermont
Vermont Adventure Tours– (Rutland, VT)
The more adventurous might want to try ice climbing! Vermont Adventure Tours offers beginners and advanced ice climbing classes, snowshoe tours, winter hikes, winter camping and courses in cold weather survival skills.
As you can see, there are so many winter activities in Vermont to keep the whole family busy. It doesn’t matter your age or ability level. There is a fun option for everyone. What is your favorite winter activity?
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