I've got work constraints, so we have to do an out Friday - ski Sat/Sun - back Monday trip. Want to hit a "bigger" mountain we haven't skied and can fly, so we have options.

Considering Burlington (Stowe or Sugarbush), Portland (Sunday River or Sugarloaf) or Montreal (Tremblant). I know we'll have weekend crowds, but I'm hoping to get some insight on where mountain/lift layout will help minimize some of the pain. 

Thx!

Sugarloaf is rather remote, so it can mostly be relied upon to not be crazy-busy.  I much prefer it's layout over Sunday River, feels bigger and wilder.  Sunday River gets a lot of Bostonians.

Sugarbush has the Mount Ellen peak that is rarely crowded, even when the main Lincoln peak is busy.

You didn't mention Jay Peak, like Sugarbush and Stowe, it would be accessed via Burlington airport.  It's had a very snowy winter so far.  Burlington, by the way, has a nice downtown, sort of Georgetown-ish. 

Never been to Tremblant.

Tremblant has an Intrawest "village" so plenty of slopeside lodging options, if that's of interest.  Depending on the time, traffic in/out of Montreal can be a consideration.  I've only skied a day there during early season.  It's a 360 mountain with plenty of terrain at all levels.

With all the peaks at Sunday River, not that hard to avoid the crowds once away from a base.  Sugarloaf will certainly be less crowded.  All depends on how much driving you are willing to do from Portland.  Could also depend on the driving weather that weekend.

Sugarbush over Stowe for sure.  Check lodging options for Sugarbush since there aren't as many beds.

Will you be paying for day tickets?

Thanks.

Yes, day tickets - no passes. I'll try to get out to TLine or Mass for a day in early Feb, but otherwise this may be my one trip this year. Realize it will be spendy but trying to maximize what little slope time I have in '26. 

I've heard Tremblant is nice for the village vibe. Any other places to get that on the East Coast?

Dbren wrote:

Thanks.

Yes, day tickets - no passes. I'll try to get out to TLine or Mass for a day in early Feb, but otherwise this may be my one trip this year. Realize it will be spendy but trying to maximize what little slope time I have in '26. 

I've heard Tremblant is nice for the village vibe. Any other places to get that on the East Coast?

Stowe is a ski town.  But as mentioned before, mountain could be crowded.  Traffic and parking can be an issue too.  Not really good public transportation options.

While there is a town near Sunday River, it's tiny.  There are a few good restaurants in town, in addition to resort offerings.

Lake Placid is a fun little ski town.  The Golden Arrow is a family-owned place right in town and on the lake.  A short drive to Whiteface.  Whiteface can be good skiing if you like a steep mountain, but a bit iffy in terms of snow conditions.  As is true for all of New England if a rain event is followed by a flash freeze.  Flying for Lake Placid could be to Albany, then a 2-hr drive north on I-87 aka the Northway.

Gore is actually quite a big mountain.  Pretty close to Lake George, although the town is a bit sleepy during the winter.  No slopeside lodging for Gore.