Magic Mountain

I'm letting everyone in on a Vermont's best kept secret. Magic Mountain is medium sized mountain in central Vermont. The lifts are slow, the lodge is a little run down and there isn't much for snow making. The best part about Magic is its terrain. Steep comes to mind first. The double blacks that litter the top of the mountain are scary steep, they also feature frequent drop offs, off camber fall lines and the occasional exposed rock. The best trails include Red Line - a narrow, steep shot down the face, Black Magic a slightly wider trail with 3 significant drops off of large rock faces, and Slide of Hans - a short blast through the trees where fresh powder can be found days after a storm. These are just a few, pick any black diamond from the top and you'll be happy. If you're feeling especially bold, the backside of Magic offers fantastic, untouched terrain.

I usually wouldn't include a "ski resort" here but Magic is unique in a sense is that you don't have to buy a lift ticket. Magic encourages its skiers and boarders to skin or snowshoe up the mountain to earn your turns. You'll often find many skiers with AT or tele gear so they aren't restricted by the one slow chair lift. Most eastern resorts don't allow this sort of up and down hill skiing.

Magic also has "Touring Tuesdays," where skiers and boarders can skin up the mountain and explore the front and backside of the hill with some experiences locals.

Magic is best after a good Vermont dumping. I've many knee deep days there. Another great part is there are never crowds here, mostly because no one knows its there. You'll still find freshies days after a storm and on powder days, you get fresh tracks all day. Even on the most notoriously crowded ski weekends, you won't find many lift lines or crowded trails here.

Directions:

Magic is located in central Vermont. Take I-91 to Vermont Exit 6 (Rockingham/Route 103). Turn left off exit onto VT Route 103 towards Chester, VT. Continue through Chester on VT Route 11, the Magic Mountain Access Road will be on your left.