Jay Peak Resort

Our Take

Jay Peak is to Vermont snowfall what Alta is to Utah powder -- the statistical outlier that everyone cites in arguments about where to ski in the East. The mountain sits close enough to the Quebec border that Canadian storm systems hit it first and hardest, producing 359 inches of average annual snowfall -- about 75 inches more than most Vermont competitors. Combine that with the northernmost latitude in the Vermont ski corridor and you get the closest thing to Western-style powder in the Northeast. The mountain itself has 385 acres across two connected peaks, with the aerial tram serving Jay Peak's upper terrain including the infamous Tram Trees -- some of the best gladed skiing in Vermont, period. The skiing is old-school Vermont: narrow trails cut through maples and birches, tight tree zones with natural snow on the floor, and a mountain that rewards technique over aggression. Jay Peak's ownership by Stenger and Quiros ended badly in SEC fraud charges, but the resort emerged under new management with a waterpark (Pump House -- indoor, year-round, inexplicable but very popular), upgraded facilities, and the same legendary snowfall.

Nerd Stats

Fun Facts

• Jay Peak averages 359 inches of annual snowfall -- most in Vermont, largely due to its proximity to Quebec and exposure to northwesterly storm tracks.
• The Jay Peak aerial tram has operated since 1966. It holds 60 people and serves the upper mountain's best terrain.
• The indoor Pump House waterpark opened in 2012. 50,000 square feet of water slides at a ski resort in Vermont. We have questions.
• Jay Peak is only 9 miles from the Canadian border. The Quebec market is significant -- the French and English staff ratio reflects this.