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A skier carves deep powder through the trees at Mad River Glen.
Explore / Mad River Glen / Lessons & Rentals

MAD RIVER GLEN

📍Waitsfield, Vermont, USA

⬛ Steep & Deep🏔️ Expert Paradise🤙 Local's FavoriteIndependent☀️ Year-round destination

Photo: Smart Destinations / PowderPassport.com · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo details

⬇️
Vertical drop
2,037 ft
🗻
Skiable terrain
115 acres*
❄️
Avg snowfall
228 in
🚡
Lifts
5

Mad River Glen Adult Ski School

Mad River Glen

Ski Lessons

Private ski coaching covers a range of abilities. Beginner and return-visit packages combine semi-private instruction with rental equipment; lift access for these packages depends on the instructor’s assessment.

Why we like it

A sensible starting point for a first ski visit or focused work on bumps and trees. Reserve ahead and choose the lesson that matches your skiing goals.

Best for:

Adult beginnersSki progression
Sources & planning details

Checked: identity, location, description, recommendation details, website, ski lessons.

Supporting source ↗ · checked 2026-10-29

Visit Website

Mad River Glen Rental & Repair Shop

Mad River Glen

RentalsTuning

Ski rental packages and higher-performance skis are available alongside tuning and repairs. Equipment is first come, first served; the shop does not take rental reservations or rent helmets.

Why we like it

Useful for a ski day without travelling with all your gear. Bring a helmet and allow time for fitting. If guaranteed equipment matters, arrange it with an off-mountain rental provider before travelling.

Best for:

Ski rentalsEquipment service
Sources & planning details

Checked: identity, location, description, recommendation details, website, rentals, tuning.

Supporting source ↗ · checked 2026-10-29

Visit Website
💡

Pro Tip: Book Early

Lessons and rentals at popular resorts often book up quickly, especially during peak season and holidays. We recommend booking at least 1–2 weeks in advance to secure your preferred times.

Sources & planning context

Historical planning figures · Figures marked * come from earlier references and may differ from current resort figures.

Other names · Mad River, MRG

Compare the kind of instruction or equipment you need. The provider can match your ability, age and dates to a current program.

Typically early December to mid April

A broad planning range from the historical guide, conditions permitting. Use the operator’s schedule for your travel dates.

Official schedules & conditions ↗
Schedule source ↗Official resort ↗
Official website
https://www.madriverglen.com/
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Summer and winter destination
Yes
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Beyond winter
Hike Stark Mountain from Mad River Glen's base, using the work road and connecting trails.
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Summer visit planning
The summit route climbs about 2,036 feet over 2.5 miles; free parking is available at the ski area.
Source ↗ · Oct 25, 2026
Vertical drop (ft)
2037
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Lifts
5
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Runs
60
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Reported average snowfall (in)
228
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Summit elevation (ft)
3637
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026
Base elevation (ft)
1600
Source ↗ · Oct 27, 2026

Historical mountain figures awaiting field-level confirmation: Skiable area (acres).

Individual listings retain their own sources and check dates. A source check covers only the named details; it does not confirm availability. Snowfall averages describe climate, not a forecast.

Plan a Trip to Vermont’s Mad River Valley ↗The destination authority lists seasonal Mad Bus service within the valley.; Named routes include the valley floor and Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak/Mount Ellen area.; The same page lists Amtrak at Waterbury and Montpelier and a taxi service covering Waterbury and the valley. · Checked Oct 29, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Best Luxury Inn & Hotel in Vermont | The Pitcher Inn ↗A Warren village inn in the Mad River Valley with distinctive guest rooms and suites and a farm-to-table restaurant. · Checked Oct 27, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Mad River Barn, Waitsfield VT | Eat. Stay. Get Married. ↗A Mad River Valley boutique inn in Waitsfield with an upstairs pub, a separate dining room, and special-event space. · Checked Oct 27, 2026. This check covers these details only.

#1 BEST Vermont Bed and Breakfast | West Hill House B&B ↗A solar-powered Warren B&B with nine individually styled guest rooms, all with private baths, plus breakfast and all-day hot beverages. · Checked Oct 27, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Home - Tucker Hill Lodge ↗A 16-room hilltop lodge in the Mad River Valley with private bathrooms, high-speed Wi-Fi, and rooms and suites for couples, families, and groups. · Checked Oct 27, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Mad River Glen’s mountain and snowmaking guide ↗The co-op identifies the Single Chair and limited lower-mountain snowmaking, including the Practice Slope. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Mad River Glen marked trail guide ↗Chute is known for moguls. Fall Line and Lift Line are described as steep technical terrain. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Mad River Glen conditions by lift and trail ↗The co-op lists Practice Slope separately from the Single Chair and individual natural-snow trails. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Waitsfield Inn ↗The inn dates to 1825, is in central Waitsfield, and offers rooms via its direct booking link. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Waitsfield Inn | About the property ↗The inn places Mad River Glen and Sugarbush a drive away. Village restaurants and galleries are walkable. The property describes continental breakfast, a fireplace lounge and a library. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Mad River Glen · Stark’s Pub ↗Stark’s Pub at the Basebox offers family dining and a place to meet after skiing at Mad River Glen. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

American Flatbread · Waitsfield ↗Original wood-fired flatbread restaurant at Lareau Farm, 46 Lareau Farm Road, Waitsfield. The farmstead includes gardens. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

Hyde Away Inn · Tavern ↗Casual Waitsfield inn tavern with board games and the full restaurant menu available at the bar. · Checked Oct 31, 2026. This check covers these details only.

  • Mad River Glen opening day of the 2026/2027 season ↗

    The calendar lists an opening target, with actual skiing dependent on snow conditions. Use the mountain report when planning an early or late visit.

  • Hiking ↗

    Hike Stark Mountain from Mad River Glen's base, using the work road and connecting trails.

  • Mad River Glen — Quick Facts ↗

    The cooperative publishes vertical, lifts, marked trails, snowfall, and summit elevation; total skiable acreage remains open.

  • Mad River Glen — Vertical Drop ↗

    Mad River Glen states that its base elevation is 1,600 feet.

SEE YOU UP THERE.

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