East Coast skiers can handle it all. Ice, slush, rain, powder, wind, and good old spring corn. East Coast ski families get outside no matter the weather and there are some awesome places along the East Coast to get your turns in. Below is a list of Best East Coast Resorts that are very budget friendly.
*The Best Deals are on sale the spring before the following season and often run through summer or fall.
Best East Coast Resorts on a Budget
Jay Peak, Vermont
Jay Peak is the crown jewel of East Coast skiing. The resort averages 347 inches of snow a year. It contains one of only three Trams on the East Coast servicing a vertical of 2,153 feet.
But where Jay really stands out is its tree skiing or glades. There are glades for all ability levels. Beginner’s can start on the favorite Moon Series. They are rated a blue, but the pitch is that of the mountain’s greens. It is widely cut through the trees and beginner/intermediates will love the twists, turns, and dips of this friendly glade trail. On the opposite side of the resort Kokomo is very similar and just as fun! For more advanced skiers and snow boarders, the black rated glades that drop down from mid mountain such as Expo, Buck’s Woods, and Show Off Glades are more of blue pitch with tight trees, classifying them as a black level trail. Though all glades are marked black, the glads from the upper part of Jay have the steepness of a black trail with tight trees, classifying them more as double blacks. For the most serious of skiers and boarders, the Face Chutes offers some of the most challenging terrain on the East Coast.
The resort is quirky in the best way. Jokes on their advertising signs, great pizza, and other dining connected by tunnels between the different lodges. The resort’s offers three different lodges are ski in/ski out. And stays at the Hotel Jay offer easiest access to the resorts indoor water park. Jam packed with a lazy river, rock climbing over a pool, kids area, multiple slides, and even a FlowRider surf pool. It’s a must do, because who doesn’t love a waterpark apres?
Abilities: Trails and learning hills for all abilities including beginners.
Passes: Varies tickets available including stay and ski packages.
For the most budget friendly option, Jay Peak is on the Indy Pass.
Wildcat Mountain, New Hampshire
Wildcat is often described as underrated. The resort boasts over 200 inches of annual snowfall and 2,112 of vertical skiing. It has a high speed lift that services the full vertical and its relatively uncrowded even on weekends. Wildcat has the best views in the East as it’s runs twist and turn and provide jaw dropping views of the snow capped Mount Washington.
Wildcat prides it’s self on skiing and snowboarding….”wild style” They do make snow, but they like it natural there. And though there are groomers, The Cat is preferred ungroomed. The beautiful green groomer, Pole Cat provides a long, winding, fun trip to the base with stunning views and lots of room. This trail is sometimes marked blue on icy days which would not allow any beginner way down from the summit. That being said, Wildcat is not a beginner’s mountain. Though they have a good ski school, it’s more geared toward skiers and boarders with some experience. People watching is fun, because everyone there can really ski. The mountain has some crowd pleasers. The often ungroomed Upper Wildcat has moguls and views, and Cheeta provides a groomed blue race trail to carve on. Hairball and it’s rocky moguls and steep pitch will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and Lift Lion provides traditional New England under the lift skiing with moguls and rocks.
The mountain is located in the White Mountain National Forest and there is nowhere to stay overnight on the mountain or within about 15 minutes or so. It’s a mountain people are loyal to, because if you’re there for the day, you’re there to get some serious turns in.
Abilities: Wildcat is geared more toward intermediate and advanced skiers.
Passes: Wildcat is on Epic Pass.
For the most budget friendly option the Epic Day Pass allows for $24 lift tickets for kids and $47 for adults. You can get this incredible deal March-Summer and you can choose the number of days.
Beyond The Usual Trail 